The Seeds of Power Read online

  ‘I am sorry, Your Highness. But he fought us.’

  ‘And the woman?’ Jennie Cromb’s face was also marked.

  Golkov grinned. ‘She did not fight us.’

  ‘But you manhandled her anyway. All right, sergeant. You and your people wait outside.’

  ‘But Your Highness...’

  ‘I have given you an order, Golkov.’

  The sergeant then saluted, and gestured his men to the door. And close it,’ Dagmar said.

  The door clanged shut. ‘Well, Vassily,’ Dagmar said. ‘You have killed your father. Did you know that?’

  ‘My only regret is that I did not kill you as well.’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ Dagmar agreed. ‘You will regret that. How much you regret it depends entirely upon me. I have sent for Colonel Vorontsov, but I do not suppose he will reach here until tonight. Then he will take you back to Poltava, and treat you very badly. Do you wish that to happen?’

  ‘Does it matter what I wish, bitch-sister?’

  ‘I’m sure it does, at least to you.’

  ‘Are you offering me clemency?’

  ‘No. You killed Papa. However, I am offering you the choice between several weeks, or perhaps even months, of agony, followed by a rope, or a single bullet in the head now, without any previous pain at all.’

  Vassily glanced at Dubaclov, who still wore his revolver. ‘You have no right to execute me without a trial.’

  ‘My dear brother, as I am now Princess Bolugayevska, I have the right to do anything I choose, here on Bolugayen. You need to remember this. But for publicity purposes, you would be shot attempting to escape.’

  Vassily’s breath rasped as he inhaled. ‘What is it you wish to know?’

  ‘The names of your accomplices. Where you got the revolver; it is not one of ours. Where the Will of the People meet in Poltava. I will think of the questions. All you have to do is answer them. First tell me this: when you were being arrested, you shouted out, Help me. To whom were you speaking?’

  ‘Everybody.’

  ‘You hoped my servants would assist you? I see. But you were looking at Jennie.’

  ‘She was closest.’

  ‘I do not believe you,’ Dagmar said. ‘I believe there are certain of my servants who are still members of the Will of the People, and are your accomplices. I wish to know who they are.’ Her tone suddenly lost its banter. ‘Now!’

  Vassily inhaled again. ‘I do not know what you are talking about. I hate my father. I have always hated him. Thus I determined to kill him, once I knew that Georgei was dead.’

  ‘And thus you would have only me to deal with,’ Dagmar said. ‘I think you have made a mistake, brother. But you meant to kill me as well. Had my husband not pushed me into the grave you would have done so. So you see, your wish to kill only our father will not stand up. You intended to kill the entire family, Vassily. Tell me who commanded you to do this?’

  ‘I hate you all,’ Vassily said.

  ‘The police will get it out of him,’ Dubaclov suggested.

  ‘Of course they will. But why should I not get it out of him first? I can be just as searching as any policeman.’

  ‘He is your brother,’ Dubaclov protested.

  ‘No,’ Dagmar riposted. ‘It may please him to think of himself as my brother. But he is merely the product of my father’s semen, carelessly distributed.’ She turned to Jennie. ‘But you are not even my father’s child,’ she remarked. And you have ample cause to hate my father. You are a member of the Will of the People, are you not?’

  Jennie gazed at her.

  ‘She knows nothing of this business,’ Vassily said.

  ‘How gallant you are, brother. Are you one of her lovers?’

  ‘She knows nothing of it,’ Vassily said again.

  ‘We shall see. I am going to ask you the same questions, Jennie. And I expect you to answer. First, was it you Vassily was appealing to, at the graveside?’

  ‘I do not know,’ Jennie replied, her voice low.

  ‘All right. Are you a member of the Will of the People?’

  ‘Yes,’ Jennie said.

  ‘Well, now, there is cooperation, eh, Captain?’ Dubaclov gave a sigh of relief.

  ‘And Vassily?’ Dagmar said.

  ‘I do not know.’

  ‘Of course he is, as he fired the gun. However, obviously the pair of you are not alone in this conspiracy. I wish to know the other members of this obscene organisation. Is Igor a member?’

  ‘I do not know,’ Jennie said.

  ‘Then tell me who is.’

  ‘I do not know.’

  ‘Do you seriously suppose you can defy me, simply because you bore my brother’s son? He is nothing, now. Do you understand that?’ She patted her stomach. ‘I carry the next heir to Bolugayen, here in my womb. And even if I did not, there is no way I would ever allow Georgei’s brat to inherit. Now give me names.’

  Jennie licked her lips. ‘I do not know any names, Your Highness.’

  *

  Dagmar seized the neck of Jennie’s blouse, tore it down to her waist, then seized each side of the material and ripped it apart. Beneath was a single shift. Dagmar ripped this in turn, exposing Jennie’s breasts, heaving as she closed her eyes. ‘Is that not a pretty sight?’ Dagmar asked Dubaclov.

  Dubaclov stared at the exposed flesh.

  Dagmar released Jennie’s waistband, and gave a jerk on the skirt; it settled on the floor around her ankles, to leave Jennie naked. ‘Oh, yes,’ Dagmar said. ‘A pretty sight. Dubaclov, would you not like to mount her?’

  ‘I...’ Dubaclov shifted his feet, uncertain whether she was laying a trap for him.

  ‘Of course you would,’ Dagmar said. ‘But now is not the time. There may never be a time, for her. Fetch me one of yonder meathooks.’

  ‘Your Highness,’ Dubaclov protested. ‘Please!’

  ‘Fetch it!’ Dagmar snapped.

  Dubaclov went across the room and took down one of the meathooks from the wall. This was about four feet long, its end curved into a hook, its sharp-pointed tip capable of being driven firmly into any carcase. ‘Thank you,’ Dagmar said, taking it from him. She turned it over, so that the hook was downwards, then inserted it between Jennie’s legs, thrusting it through, and at the same time raising it so that it stroked Jennie’s genitals. Jennie’s eyes flopped open at the touch of the steel.

  Dagmar turned the meathook over, hook now uppermost, and drew it forward, so that the tip just touched the flesh at the base of Jennie’s spine. ‘Do you realise,’ Dagmar asked, ‘that if I pull on this hook, hard enough, I can tear you in two?’

  Jennie gasped, and her body seemed to sag. ‘I shall enjoy doing that,’ Dagmar said, softly. ‘Tell me who else is in the conspiracy with you.’

  Jennie’s mouth clamped shut.

  ‘You are a courageous little bitch,’ Dagmar said. ‘I will do it, you know.’

  ‘For God’s sake, Your Highness...’ Dubaclov protested.

  Dagmar glanced at him. ‘And you call yourself a man? Are you afraid of the sight of blood? Of the sound of a woman’s screams?’ Dubaclov bit his lip. And you would marry my sister?’ This time Dubaclov’s mouth fell open in consternation. ‘Oh, yes,’ Dagmar said. ‘I have seen the way you have looked at her. Or did you just hope to fuck her and then make your escape?’

  ‘I...I...’ Dubaclov glanced desperately at the door.

  Dagmar smiled. ‘I think you would make a good brother-in-law, Captain Dubaclov. Constantine. I will accept you into the family. If you are truly a man.’

  ‘Your Highness overwhelms me.’

  ‘If you are truly a man, Captain,’ Dagmar repeated, and looked at Jennie. Now, bitch, are you ready to tell me what I wish to know?’

  ‘I know nothing,’ Jennie said, and tensed her muscles for the agonising pain she anticipated.

  ‘She knows nothing!’ Vassily shrieked. ‘I am the one you should ask.’

  ‘You are the one I am asking,’ Dagmar said. ‘But she i
s the one who will suffer if you do not tell me what I wish to know. Now!’ She pulled the meathook towards her, just enough to mark Jennie’s flesh. Jennie’s entire body tensed, her breasts and stomach and thighs arching forward.

  ‘Igor,’ Vassily gabbled. ‘Igor is the leader of the Will here on Bolugayen. Igor, and...’ He reeled off a string of names, only stopping when he ran out of breath.

  ‘Where did you get the revolver?’

  ‘From the bookseller, Woskov, in Poltava.’

  ‘When?’

  ‘The last shopping expedition.’

  Dagmar turned the meathook over and slowly withdrew it from between Jennie’s legs. Jennie gasped, and her body slumped. ‘But you did not go on the last shopping expedition,’ Dagmar said softly. ‘Jennie went.’

  ‘So did Madame Smyslova,’ Vassily panted.

  ‘That is true. And very disturbing. Ah, well, no doubt Monsieur Woskov will tell us the truth. But you are condemned out of your own mouth, brother. Quite apart from having been caught red-handed.’

  ‘Do what you wish with me,’ Vassily begged. ‘But let Jennie go. She is innocent.’

  ‘We shall see. Thank you, Vassily.’ She handed the meathook to Dubaclov. ‘Replace that, Captain.’ Dubaclov obeyed, and turned to watch in consternation as Dagmar released Vassily’s breeches and pulled them down. ‘Bring me that stake,’ she said.

  Dubaclov picked up the wooden stick, one of several that stood against the wall, and handed it to her. Dagmar grasped the stake in both hands and stood to one side of Vassily. Vassily’s eyes opened wide in fear. ‘Just in case you manage to escape both justice and the police,’ Dagmar told him. ‘I am going to make sure that you do not father any more Bolugayevskis.’

  She swung the stick, and Vassily’s body jerked as the wood smashed into his thighs. Dagmar took a step back to adjust the range and swung the stick again. This time it thudded into Vassily’s genitals, and he uttered an animal-like scream. Dagmar swung again and again, while Vassily jerked and screamed.

  Dagmar hit her half-brother twelve times. Between his legs was a bloody mess and blood had gathered on the floor beneath him. He was still conscious, but could do nothing more than whimper. Dagmar threw the stick on the floor and went to the door. She stepped through, and Golkov and his men stood to attention. They were in a state of some agitation, having heard the screams. ‘The police will be here later on,’ Dagmar said. ‘You will remain on guard here until then. I do not wish any of the servants to speak with those two. Especially Igor. Do you understand me?’

  ‘Yes, Your Highness.’

  ‘You may amuse yourselves with the woman, if you wish.’

  Golkov grinned. ‘And the man, Your Highness?’

  Dagmar raised her eyebrows. ‘Why, you are a man of unsuspected depths, sergeant. By all means, the man as well, if you wish. If you can find anything of his to amuse yourself with.’

  Dubaclov followed her to the steps. ‘You promised to let the woman go,’ he muttered. ‘You promised your brother a single bullet in the brain.’

  ‘No, no, Captain,’ Dagmar corrected. ‘Vassily offered to tell me what I wanted, if I would let her go. I never actually accepted his proposal. As for the bullet, he refused that offer, when it was made.’

  ‘You are a devil.’

  Dagmar, halfway up the steps, paused to look down at him. ‘I am a Bolugayevska. It remains to be seen, Captain, whether you are capable of belonging to my family. Come now, to my room, and we will find that out.’ She smiled at him as he hesitated, unsure of what she had just said. ‘You wanted to fuck that woman, didn’t you, Constantine? Well, I found her equally attractive. But I am much more attractive. And if you wish to marry my sister, you must also belong to me.’

  ‘But...are you not pregnant, Your Highness?’

  Dagmar tapped him on the shoulder with her fan. ‘My dear Constantine, I did not say I was going to let you fuck me.’

  *

  Colin blinked at the light, and felt a resurgence of the pain. ‘I seem to be making a habit of this,’ he muttered.

  Dagmar kissed him on the forehead. ‘I intend to make sure it does not happen again. Your shoulder is broken, but Simmars tells me it will mend.’

  ‘My God, was the fellow mad?’

  ‘You mean Vassily? No, he was not mad. He is nothing more than a hired assassin.’

  ‘But to shoot his own father...How is the Prince?’

  ‘Papa is dead.’

  Colin gave a little gasp, and his face twisted with pain.

  ‘That means,’ Dagmar said carefully, ‘that the Prince Bolugayevski lies before me.’

  His eyebrows raised. ‘You cannot be serious.’

  ‘Certainly I am serious.’

  ‘I am so very sorry about your father.’

  ‘He lived a full life.’

  ‘I must be honest and tell you I never liked him.’

  ‘And I will be honest in return and tell you that he never liked you. But he is history, now. You are the future.’

  ‘Prince Bolugayevski,’ Colin muttered. ‘My God! Whatever will they say in England?’

  ‘I am sure they will congratulate you most heartily,’ Dagmar said. ‘Now you must hurry up and get well. There is a great deal to be done.’

  *

  Michael Vorontsov had been appointed to Poltava simply because there had been no sign of sedition there. Now he could not be sure whether this outbreak of violence was going to earn him promotion or censure. But although this was his second visit to Bolugayen in connection with this business, he was very nervous as he stood to attention when the Princess Bolugayevska entered the room. Then he clicked his heels as she presented her hand for him to kiss. ‘Your Highness. I can only repeat my condolences. This is a most tragic business.’

  ‘Thank you, Colonel. It is good of you to call. Yes, it is a sad business. When one thinks of people with whom one has grown up...Please be seated.’

  Vorontsov seated himself, as did Dagmar, ringing a little silver bell as she did so. ‘We will have tea, Igor.’

  The butler bowed. Vorontsov opened his mouth in surprise, and Dagmar touched her lips with her forefinger. Igor withdrew, closing the doors behind him. ‘You are concerned, Colonel.’

  ‘Your Highness, you know that man is accused of being a member of the Will of the People?’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘I have a warrant for his arrest.’

  Dagmar smiled. And he is about to serve you tea. I assure you that it will not be poisoned; he assumes himself to be safe. Tell me, Colonel, have you also a warrant for the arrest of Madame Smyslova?’

  Vorontsov swallowed.

  ‘And several other of my people, I fancy. I assume you learned this from my bastard brother, Vassily. Or was it from the Englishwoman?’

  ‘I am afraid your brother seems to have been rather badly beaten, Your Highness...’

  ‘I know,’ Dagmar said. ‘I did the beating.’ Vorontsov gulped.

  ‘But you did question the Englishwoman?’

  ‘Yes, we did, Your Highness. She was reluctant to talk to us, but we managed to persuade her.’

  ‘I am sure you found that very enjoyable,’ Dagmar said. ‘And you have the bookseller, Woskov?’

  ‘I’m afraid not, Your Highness.’

  Dagmar raised her eyebrows. ‘You didn’t let him escape?’

  ‘No, no. But when my people knocked on his door, he shot himself.’

  ‘What a pity. But you have enough.’

  ‘Oh, indeed. And when I take the butler, and Madame Smyslova, into town...’

  ‘That would be even more amusing, would it not, Colonel? To be able to interrogate a member of the middle class? However, I must ask you to forego that pleasure, at least for the time being.’

  ‘Your Highness?’

  ‘What I would like you to do, Colonel,’ Dagmar said, ‘is arrest those people who have been accused by my step-brother, or by the Englishwoman. But not Igor, and not Madame Smyslova.’

/>   ‘I do not understand, Your Highness.’

  ‘It is very simple...ah, Igor. Thank you.’

  Igor placed the tray on the table, and poured. Vorontsov gazed at him, and Igor attempted not to notice. The door closed again. ‘As I was saying, Colonel. There was a cell of this secret society on Bolugayen. My father and I thought we had weeded out the main part last February.’

  ‘Bondarevski is the ringleader,’ Vorontsov said.

  ‘I understand this. I will be responsible for him. The same goes for Tatiana Smyslova.’

  Vorontsov stroked his moustache. ‘This is a dangerous business, Your Highness.’

  ‘I do not think so.’ Dagmar sipped tea. ‘You will give me those two warrants, and serve the rest.’

  ‘If that is what you wish, Your Highness. But I can take no responsibility for anything that may happen here, because of your misplaced clemency.’

  Dagmar smiled at him. ‘Who said anything about clemency, Colonel?’

  *

  Dagmar stood with Anna, Captain Dubaclov and Smyslov on the front porch of the palace to watch the arrested servants being driven away in the police wagons. Dagmar glanced at Igor, who was also standing by the door. ‘You will have to replace those people, Igor. I will receive your list after luncheon.’

  Igor bowed.

  ‘Your Highness,’ Dubaclov said. ‘May I ask when the funeral of your father and your brother will take place?’

  ‘As soon as the Prince is able to attend it, Captain. Why are you in such a hurry?’

  ‘Because I must rejoin my regiment, Your Highness. There is a war on.’

  ‘If you wish to remain, Captain, for the funerals, I will write your commanding officer and obtain an extended furlough for you.’ She went up the stairs.

  Dubaclov looked after her. ‘How I admire her. She is so strong.’

  ‘Her strength is frightening,’ Anna remarked, and went into the card room.

  Dubaclov followed. ‘What makes you say that?’

  ‘You were with her when she questioned Jennie and Vassily. Vassily could not walk when the police took him away. He had to be dragged.’ She turned to face him. ‘What did she do to him?’