A Sister's Quest by Jo Ann Ferguson

believe that?”
    â€œI—”
    â€œHonestly! Liebchen , do you honestly believe that?”
    Questions she should have asked years ago taunted her. Questions of why her mother was traveling so far from Zurich in the company of strangers, of why there had been a rock slide on a road where there never had been one, of why no one had come to Sophie D’Orage’s funeral but her daughter. And …
    She shivered and hunched into the blanket, but this cold came from the center of her heart. “You said it was your fault, Alexei.”
    â€œI should have been traveling with her. Mayhap I would have seen something she missed, but I had decided to take another route because of an obligation.” He looked up toward where Rusak was sitting on the box. “I chose between two friends, and I lost one while barely saving the other.”
    â€œYou could not have known what would happen.”
    â€œI knew. Your mother’s enemies are thorough, Michelle. They have been trying to find you, but have been stymied by how Sophie kept her life with you so private. When I learned that they were looking for you, I came to Zurich.”
    â€œBut how did you find me?”
    His smile had no warmth. “I remember all I hear, and your mother spoke of you to me often enough so I could piece the clues together.” He cupped her chin. “Until you are safe, Liebchen , you shall stay where I can watch over you.”
    â€œHow long?” she whispered.
    â€œAs long as necessary. We might be together far longer than either of us wish.” His grim tone made his words a threat as he repeated, “Far longer.”

Chapter Six
    Opening the door, Alexei motioned for Michelle to precede him into the apartment. It would be home during their stay in Vienna. She hesitated. Crossing the threshold meant another beginning, another collection of unknowns, another farewell to the safety she had known at St. Bernard’s School for Girls.
    She forced her feet forward. She was exhausted. For the past two days, they had traveled with a stop only for quick meals and for her to change out of her nightgown and into a dress that was appropriate for traveling.
    When she paused just within the door, Alexei pushed past. He lit a lamp and bent to start a fire on the cold hearth. Wrapping her arms around herself to keep out the damp chill, she stared around the room.
    She had not expected the second floor of the unremarkable, gray building to be like this. The large room had a trio of windows that overlooked the Plate . She could see snow flying past, and shook her head to dislodge the flakes that had been driven into her bonnet.
    â€œWhy don’t you take off your cloak?” asked Alexei without looking up. “I shall light the other hearths while Rusak brings in everything from the carriage.”
    â€œOther hearths?” Her teeth chattered.
    He smiled at her. Sitting back on his haunches, he held out his hands to the fire. “You didn’t think we were going to live in poverty in Vienna, did you, Liebchen ?” He got to his feet and tossed her cloak over the back of a chair between the hearth and a pair of scarlet settees. Tossing his hat on a marble table near the windows, he laughed. “We have a certain appearance to maintain. As a Russian diplomat, I must live well with my mistress.”
    She ignored his grin. Rubbing her cold hands together, she glanced at an arch to her left. The darkness beyond suggested it was a corridor leading to other rooms. She hoped one room was a kitchen. They had not eaten since breakfast, for they had wanted to beat the storm into Vienna.
    â€œWill the other diplomats live here?” Michelle asked.
    â€œYou mean from the Russian delegation?” He shook his head as he walked toward the arch. “I like being free to do what I need to do.”
    â€œWhy don’t you just be honest? You want to spy on the other delegations and can do it more