Nikolai gave a nod and walked off towards the church, and Rachel and Libby watched as the three men stood on the steps of the church. A photo was taken of them with Naomi and then the photographer called for Libby to join in.
Rachel watched Libby make her weary climb up the steps to smile widely for the camera and then Libby and Naomi stepped aside and there was a photo taken of just the three men. Rachel glanced to her side and saw that Anya was standing nearby.
‘It’s a shame the other one isn’t here,’ Rachel said, and watched as Anya frowned. ‘Roman,’ Rachel clarified.
‘If he was here there would be trouble.’ Anya shrugged. ‘He would make sure of that.’
‘Still, it would be nice if Daniil could find his twin.’
‘Some people don’t want to be found!’ Anya dismissed the notion. ‘Daniil should accept that fact.’
‘It’s his identical twin.’
‘So?’ Anya said. ‘Sometimes you just have to get over things.’
She really was incredibly cold, Rachel thought as Anya walked off. If she hadn’t seen her dance, she would have thought Anya incapable of emotion.
Except she had seen her dance!
And Rachel wanted to see it again.
Nikolai rode in the car with Rachel and Libby, who told him where the reception was being held.
‘Your husband bought the hotel last year?’ Nikolai said.
‘He did.’ Libby smiled. ‘So you’ve been keeping an eye on him?’
‘A bit,’ Nikolai admitted. He looked over to where Rachel sat and saw that she was freshening her lipstick, and when she spoke he liked it that she had more important things on her mind than finding out about him.
‘Do you think I should simply ask her?’ Rachel asked Libby. ‘Maybe I was too subtle in the church.’
‘Rachel,’ Libby said, ‘I don’t think anyone could ever accuse you of being subtle.’ Libby turned and explained the conversation to Nikolai. ‘Rachel is desperate to see Firebird but it’s completely sold out. She was hoping that Anya—’
‘Anya?’ Nikolai broke in, clearly recognising the name.
‘I believe that she was the cook’s daughter at the orphanage.’ Libby nodded. ‘Well, her stage name is Tatania and she now plays the lead in Firebird. She was standing behind you in the church.’
‘She will be there at the reception?’ Nikolai asked.
‘She will be.’ Libby nodded. ‘Though only for a little while, she has a performance tonight.’
‘And I’m going to ask for tickets for next week,’ Rachel said as the car pulled up at the hotel. ‘Just watch me.’
He was!
Given the venue and that Daniil owned it, of course things went smoothly. Nikolai’s name had even been added to the table plan. He was seated beside Anya and another guest but Rachel shamelessly got out her pen and moved things around so that he now sat next to her.
‘We can’t have you not knowing anyone.’
Canapés and champagne were served as the guests waited to be invited into the ballroom and he took a drink as did Rachel, though again she chatted to Libby rather than to him.
He liked that. He appreciated how neither woman pounced on him for information, though possibly because they had something more pressing on their minds.
‘How are you feeling now?’ Rachel asked.
‘I’m fine.’ Libby smiled as she took a glass of sparkling water from a waiter. ‘I haven’t had one since the church.’
‘It’s probably just a little warm-up for next week,’ Rachel reassured her.
‘Have you rung your doctor?’ Nikolai asked, and Rachel blinked at his rather assertive intrusion into what was clearly girls’ talk.
‘I don’t think that’s necessary.’ Libby smiled politely and then, as she went to turn back to Rachel, she wavered and spoke to Nikolai. ‘Do you?’
‘It can’t hurt to check.’
‘I’m sure you’ll be fine,’ Rachel said, and shot Nikolai a look that told him not to worry her friend, but Nikolai just gave her a small shrug in response.
‘Anyway, less talk of babies.’ Libby tried to drag her mind from imminent birthing. ‘Rachel, you still haven’t told me. Who’s André marrying?’
It was only then, for the very first time, that Nikolai saw the rather forward Rachel appear just a touch uncomfortable—her neck went red and she took a sip of her drink before answering.
‘I don’t want to talk about André.’
‘Oh, come on,’ Libby pushed. ‘I miss all the gossip. Who is she?’
‘Just someone he met when we were on tour.’
‘You’re not going to go to the wedding, are you?’ Libby said. ‘How bloody awkward would that be, given that you two were—’
‘Libby,’ Rachel snapped. ‘Can you just drop it?’
He could see Rachel’s discomfort—more than that, he could feel it. He watched as she almost leapt on a passing waiter, holding up her glass and asking for more champagne.
Her glass was replaced with a full one and as Rachel took a grateful sip she met Nikolai’s slightly questioning gaze but thankfully they were then summoned to go through.
The ballroom looked incredible.
Dressed in shades of white, from the lavish white roses to the crisp tablecloths, it was picture perfect. The air was fragrant and as they took their seats thankfully Libby seemed to have forgotten what they had been discussing.
‘Anya!’ Nikolai stood as she approached and kissed her on the cheek. ‘It is good to see you. I hear you are doing well.’
‘I am,’ Anya said, and, out of the corner of his eye, Nikolai watched as Libby and Rachel shared a small smile at Anya’s arrogance.
It was a lovely meal, at least, for those who ate it.
Libby was struggling. She could barely manage to drink her water and declined an entrée, whereas Anya shook off the dressing and nibbled on a small piece of Cornish crab.
Rachel and Nikolai dived in.
‘It’s such heaven not to have to watch my weight,’ Rachel groaned as her main course of beef Wellington was served.
Anya’s meal wasn’t so gleefully received and she promptly pushed her plate away.
‘Is there a problem?’ the waiter checked.
‘No problem,’ Anya responded.
Nikolai chatted in Russian to Anya and made no apology for it. It was nice to speak with her because Anya was so self-absorbed that she really asked nothing of him.
‘I will have to leave as soon as the speeches are finished,’ Anya explained, and then told him about her rise to the top, her career, and then Nikolai asked her a question.
‘How long have you been in touch with Daniil?’
‘He and Libby came and saw me perform a few months ago. Since then.’
‘And what about Sev?’
‘I don’t really know him.’
‘What about Roman?’
Anya shrugged. ‘I don’t spend my free time looking up people