The baron spoke through clenched teeth. “Anyone can be an agitator. They don’t advertise the fact. Miss Mason, can you say you’ve never met a traitor at the Tamms’ house? If you have, now would be a good time to say so.”
I hadn’t actually met the playwright. “I’ve never met anyone at the Tamms who spoke against the czar.”
The baron raised an eyebrow and then gave a smile that was more of a sneer. “That’s surprising. A man was arrested just a few hours ago, a playwright. He was at the Tamms’ last night, and there is a report he was definitely making his views known. Somehow you didn’t hear him?”
I couldn’t believe I’d fallen right into the baron’s trap.
I squeezed my fists so hard my nails bit into my hand. “I didn’t hear every conversation nor meet every guest,” I said. “Their parties are very crowded.” Who had reported the man, and how had the baron found out so quickly? The baron had to be working closely with the secret police. But if he was, I still didn’t understand why he had warned me the other night.
The baron pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it. “The playwright also had in his possession several dozen leaflets that he’s admitted he was going to distribute. He hasn’t yet said where he got them, but he may soon realize it is better to cooperate. This is a bit different from ones we’ve seen before. However, there are some interesting features that are similar to other ones passed around last week.”
He handed the paper to me instead of Papa. “As I told Miss Mason the other night, most of our revolutionaries quote the French, not the Americans.”
I took the paper, trying to keep my hand steady as I held it up to read. There were the usual claims that the czar and czarina were leading the country into ruin. Down near the bottom I saw why the baron had mentioned Americans. The very last statement read We have it in our power to begin the world over again. —Thomas Paine, American revolutionary.
This time my laugh was real. “Surely you don’t think I’m behind these?” I handed the paper to my stepfather. “That’s absurd.”
I saw the vein throbbing on the baron’s forehead again. “It is no laughing matter. For the well-being of your family, I would suggest that none of you visit these theater people until the situation is brought under control. Or, even better, send your stepchildren back to America, at least for the time being.”
“No!” I burst out. “Papa, we don’t want to leave.” I felt hot, like the anger inside me was going to catch fire. The baron was a vile man, and I wanted him out of our house.
Papa tossed the paper down on his desk. “They’re not going anywhere. What nonsense!” His voice was shaking. I examined his face, trying to determine if he was feeling ill again. “I’m sure the baron didn’t mean to imply you’d written it, Lottie,” Papa said. “But he is right. Best to avoid the Tamms for a few weeks. It won’t take long to get the country back on the right track. Then you’ll be able to see your friends as much as you want.”
The baron cleared his throat. “There is one more issue.”
I tensed, waiting to hear him accuse me of black-market activities.
“People are talking about the hospital your wife founded,” he said.
“Yes, they do fine work,” Papa said. He sounded impatient, like he wanted the baron to leave.
“No, you don’t understand. The facility could be put to better use. You should consider turning it into a real hospital for patients who actually need the care. Hospitals for our soldiers are overwhelmed with patients. I’m sure a doctor could be found who would be happy to run the facility. It could only enhance your reputation.”
“We’re not closing the hospital!” I shouted. I didn’t know how much longer I could sit in the room and listen to the man.
Papa got to his feet. He straightened up as if he were standing at attention.
“I think you overstep yourself, Baron.” There was a coldness in my stepfather’s voice that I’d never heard before. “My reputation needs no ‘enhancement,’ as you call it. I have spent my life in service to the empire. No one would question that. And as for the hospital, my wife dedicated many hours and much work to it. It will remain as a tribute to her. She was a wonderful woman. Pity you never married, Baron. Perhaps then you would understand. Now, if you don’t mind, I must get back to work.”
The baron stared at Papa, disbelief written on his face.
I wanted to clap. I’d never felt more proud of my stepfather.
The baron picked up the leaflet, folded it, and put it back into his pocket. “I’ll see myself out.” His face had turned so red I feared he was going to have an attack of apoplexy.
“It would be rude of us to let you do that. Lottie will show you out,” Papa said. “My children know their responsibilities even down to the smallest of duties. Lottie, please come back once the baron is gone. I may need your help.”
I saw him take hold of the edge of the desk with one hand. I stood up and nodded my head, then walked out the door of the library as fast as I could, wanting to get the baron out of the house so I could see if Papa was actually feeling ill.
The baron followed me, though he didn’t speak.
Osip stood by the door, the baron’s cloak in hand, as if he had known the man wouldn’t stay long.
The baron snapped at him. “If you were my servant, you’d be out on the street after the sort of behavior I witnessed here today.” He spun on his heels and stalked out the door.
As soon as the door was shut, Osip made a rude gesture at it, or rather at the baron on the other side of it.
At another time I would have laughed, but I was too worried about Papa. I hurried back into the library to see him sitting there gazing down at an empty spot on his desk.
“Papa, are you ill?”
He looked up at me. “Lottie, please be careful.” His voice was so low I had trouble making out the words. “I can put on a good show, but I don’t know if I can really protect you. I’m just an old forgotten man now, and the Okhrana are ruthless.”
I sank down in the chair. “I didn’t have anything to do with that leaflet! Surely you know that.”
“I know you didn’t, but that doesn’t matter. The secret police fabricate evidence if they need to show they are successful. They can try to make an example of you to scare off others. Since you are an American and female, I don’t think they’d send you to prison, but even an interrogation would be terrible.” His voice trembled. “They wouldn’t just question you. They could deport you, and you’d never be allowed to come back.”
“But I don’t know how to convince the baron he’s focused on the wrong person. It’s all so ridiculous!”
“If you see him again, just be polite. Perhaps it is better that you laughed. It made you sound innocent.”
“I am innocent!”
“I know. I know. But do avoid the Tamms. They will be watched even closer now.”
“I’ll be careful.” I couldn’t promise I wouldn’t see them.
He nodded and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face with his hand. “How I wish I could turn back time. I would have been a voice against so much, back when I had a voice that mattered.”