To Dream of Snow Read Free

presently blocked out all else for her. Promotion with her own atelier and needlewomen of her choice, once her most cherished dream, was more than secondary now. All she could contemplate was this gateway to finding again in joyous memories the man she had loved so deeply.
    â€˜But I will accept the appointment, Madame la Comtesse!’ she exclaimed swiftly.
    The Comtesse was staring at her in disbelief. ‘You would seriously consider obeying this demand for your presence?’
    â€˜Yes, Madame.’
    â€˜Are you aware just how far away Russia is?’
    â€˜Yes, indeed! I know that journeys there take many weeks.’
    â€˜But you still do not seem to realize what you would be accepting. The Empress is insatiable when it comes to clothes. Your hours would be long. On a whim of the Empress you might have to work twenty-four hours a day to finish something for her.’
    Marguerite thought to herself that this aristocrat and others born to riches like her had no idea how often
grisettes
like herself slaved through many midnight hours until dawn to finish some garments ordered imperiously at short notice before continuing the normal day’s tasks.
    â€˜I’m used to working hard,’ she said quietly. ‘When there are no immediate orders for embroidery at Madame Fromont’s establishment I take my place with the other seamstresses and often have the dullest of dressmaking tasks instead of the creative work that I love.’ She leaned forward eagerly, putting forward the only argument that the Comtesse would understand. ‘In the Tsarina’s employ I would have my own atelier and always have wonderful work to do. I’d take pride and pleasure in it. And I’m sure I should soon learn to speak Russian.’
    â€˜I’m sure you would. The Grand Duchess Catherine, who is only a few years older than you, mastered it early in her marriage and she is German by birth. Fortunately she is also fluent in French, which is the language of the Russian Court. But it is a barbaric court with a glittering veneer of great ceremonies and magnificent palaces and fine clothes that hides an abysmal lack of culture.’ She shook her head disdainfully. ‘It is as different from the Court of Versailles in that respect as chalk is from cheese. Several of the Russian aristocracy are common people to whom on a mere whim the Empress – just like Peter the Great before her – has given a title with property, land and probably as many as a thousand serfs. Naturally the old noble families dislike all the upstarts and yet few of the ladies, whether noble or otherwise, are literate! How the Grand Duchess, who comes from a cultured family, has adapted to such barren ground I do not know.’
    Marguerite answered carefully. ‘But I shall not be involved in the Court itself. My world will be on a different level with only the Empress and the Grand Duchess to please and I’m sure that I could do that.’ She had had plenty of experience in dealing with difficult women to be confident on that score. Even the Comtesse had never been easy!
    Although normally the Comtesse had no interest in working people beyond their capacity to wait on her, she felt it would be a great loss if this young woman’s exceptional talent should be damaged in any way.
    â€˜Think carefully,’ she urged, leaning forward. ‘Let me emphasize again the Empress’s terrible temper. As for the excesses of her immoral way of life, I cannot bring myself to mention them.’ She passed a hand delicately across her lips in emphasis. ‘She plays vicious and humiliating tricks on both her male and female courtiers. Her ministers all go in fear of displeasing her in case she should banish them to some distant place! She could send you back to France for the slightest error.’
    â€˜What kind of man is the Tsar? Why does he indulge her whims?’
    â€˜There is no tsar. The Empress has never