Page 12 of The Unseen
“Count Petrov is here,” a footman announced after knocking on Valentina’s door. “He’s waiting in the music room.”
“I’ll be down presently.”
Valentina threw one last look at herself in the mirror. Everything would be different by the time she returned to her room. Her adult life was about to begin.
SIX
Alexei sprang to his feet when Valentina glided into the music room, floating on a cloud of happiness. Even if Alexei did not propose today, she was still the luckiest girl in the world. Her life was perfect, and she was astute enough to realize that. Her father worried incessantly about the political situation and rising tensions in the country, but Valentina paid little attention to his concerns. There would always be tensions and people who were dissatisfied with their lot in life. Many of them were probably even justified in their complaints, but they had nothing to do with her or her immediate future. Her life went on much as it had before, even after the war broke out, and as long as Alexei wasn’t sent to the front, she had no reason to think about it.
Alexei was in uniform, having probably come directly from the barracks. To Valentina, he always looked splendid. Even the drab gray of his uniform couldn’t dull the gleam of his honey-blond hair or the sparkle in his dark blue eyes. He’d recently grown a moustache. Valentina hadn’t liked it at first, but it was beginning to appeal to her. It made him look older and more commanding, which was fitting for an officer of the cavalry.
Alexei came forward to greet her, his hands outstretched. He took her hands in his and brought them to his lips, one after the other, brushing his lips against her skin.
“Valya, you look beautiful. But then, you always look beautiful,” Alexei added with a knowing smile, “even after I tried to dunk you in the river and you crawled out looking like a drowned rat. You flipped back your hair, flashed me a look of contempt, and stomped off in nothing but your underthings.”
“That was ten years ago,” Valentina exclaimed. “I was seven.”
“It’s a sight I’ll never forget.”
Valentina swatted Alexei playfully on the arm and invited him to resume his seat on the apple-green settee. “Would you like some tea?”
“No, thank you.”
“Then shall we get down to business? Are you here to ask me?” she demanded. “It’s not my birthday yet, but I think it’s all right if you’re a bit early.”
“Valya, for the love of God, let me do this properly. I know it’s not exactly a surprise, but for once, allow me to take charge of the situation.” He grinned, as though well aware that wasn’t likely to happen. He knew her too well, and miraculously, he still liked her.
“Well, go on then. I won’t say a word until you’ve finished.”
“Promise?”
“Promise. So, are you going to sit there all day?”
Alexei laughed at her impatience, but took the hint and dispensed with the preliminaries. He got down on one knee and took her hand in his, his eyes searching her face as he waited for her to give him her full attention. “Valentina Ivanovna Kalinina, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked solemnly.
“Of course I will, you silly. As if I’d say no.”
“With you, I never know,” Alexei replied with an indulgent grin. He extracted a thin gold band from his front pocket and slid it onto Valentina’s right hand, as was the custom. She had her ring ready as well and put it on Alexei’s finger. They were officially engaged, and the rings would become their wedding bands once the church ceremony took place.
Alexei kissed her cheek and resumed his seat on the settee, looking relieved that the difficult part was over, but he wasn’tfinished. “Valya, our parents have planned our union since we were children, but I think you know me well enough to realize that if I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t agree to the match. I don’t ever want you to think that I married you out of obligation or duty. I can’t imagine sharing my life with anyone but you. I know it won’t be easy, since you probably won’t let me get a word in edgewise, and will question my every decision and try to win every argument, but I love you, and I am prepared to embrace a lifetime of suffering.”
Valentina sputtered with laughter. “And I love you, Alyosha, because you’re the only man in my life who allows me to be myself. Yes, I will drive you mad, most likely, but I promise, you’ll never be bored.”
“Heaven forbid,” Alexei replied, rolling his eyes. He grew serious as his gaze met hers. “May I kiss you now that we’re engaged?”
“You don’t need to ask for permission.”
Alexei leaned toward her and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. His eyes were closed as he captured her mouth with his own, and she gave herself up to the sensation, eager to experience her first grown-up kiss. It was different than she’d expected, sweet and romantic, but it was also so much more than that. It made her want to move closer and wrap her arms around Alexei’s neck as she pressed her body to his. The buttons of his tunic were hard and cold against her breasts and his moustache tickled a little, but she pulled him even closer, eager for something she couldn’t quite name. They’d touched each other playfully in the past, especially at the Petrovdachawhere they went swimming in the river and spent hours traipsing through the countryside, but this was different. This was a bit frightening, but exciting at the same time, and she didn’t want it to end.
As though sensing her eagerness, Alexei deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into her open mouth and exploring it in a surprisingly intimate manner before finally pulling away from her abruptly. His pupils were dilated and his breathing uneven as hestudied her features, as if seeing her for the first time. Valentina was breathless.
“What’s the matter?” she asked him, wondering if she’d done something wrong.
Alexei shook his head and smiled in a way that made her heart flutter. “Absolutely nothing, my darling Valya. Now that I’ve had a taste of what’s to come, it’ll be that much harder to wait for our wedding night.”
Valentina blushed. She had a general idea of what took place in the marriage bed, but she’d assumed it was awkward and embarrassing, especially the first time. After that kiss, she wasn’t so sure. The only thing she was sure of was that she wanted to be kissed that way again, and again. “Do your parents ever kiss like that?” she asked Alexei. His eyes widened in surprise.
“No. My father gives my mother a perfunctory peck on the cheek at breakfast and then another one in the evening before she retires to her own bedroom. Theirs was never a love match, but they have great affection and respect for each other.”
