Nathlia stiffened.
“Before we go away! What do you mean? Who is thinking of going away?”
“I hope that I am mistaken,” Richard said, “but I cannot help feeling that last night your brother had received bad news and perhaps it means that you will be returning to Russia.”
Nathlia gave a cry of horror.
“No! No! We cannot go back there. I don’t want to leave here.”
“And Meta and I don’t want to lose you either,” Richard said. “But perhaps your brother will have different ideas.”
Nathlia was very still and then she said in a voice which sounded almost strangled,
“I – cannot go. I – will not leave – here whatever Alexis – may say.”
Richard knew from the sound in her voice that she was suffering.
Without really meaning to, he moved a little closer to her before he said,
“I have no wish t
