She glanced down at his feet. “What does this mean with feet still on the ground? They are too large and unsanitary for such a task.”
“It’s an expression. Means I don’t know when to keep my mouth shut.”
“We are speaking. Why would you wish to remain silent?”
“I don’t translate into Russian very well, do I?” Wynn laughed and set about tidying the used supplies before Gerard could come in and question the impromptu surgery. “It means I say the wrong thing sometimes. Not usually on purpose. Don’t tell me you’ve never slipped and said something you shouldn’t.”
“No.”
“Never?”
“I have been trained out of the habit.” Taking Mrs. Varjensky’s arm, she helped the old woman to her feet. “How much do we owe you?”
Wynn waved his hand. “On the house.” At Svetlana’s confused look around the room, he clarified. “We don’t charge for patients in need at wartime.”
“
“
Wynn followed them out into the grand lobby turned waiting room. The smell of eggs and bacon drifted from the industrial-size kitchen as breakfast was readied for the patients.
With the immediate distraction of wounds and blood taken care of, Wynn’s curiosity about the previous night swung back at full force. “Allow me to escort you. I would call for a carriage or one of those new motorcars, but most of them have been commandeered to support the frontlines.”
Svetlana pulled her colorful shawl over her head. “That is not necessary. We can find our way on foot.”
“You may be able to find your way, but I’d rather not find you tottered off into a gutter come morning. Doctor’s orders.” That and he had no intention of allowing two injured women to wander down the road alone. Paris was far enough from the frontline, but that didn’t make the streets safe.
“If you insist.” Without waiting, Svetlana took Mrs. Varjensky’s arm and left the building, leaving Wynn to follow in their wake.
As he hurried to take the older woman’s other arm, she winked up at him and hobbled around to the other side of Svetlana, leaving him to walk next to the princess in hiding. Seemed no matter the culture all grandmothers and
The sun peaked over the blue and gray slate roofs of buildings, dusting the world with brilliant orange light that reflected off the hundreds of windows lining the sandstone facades, rousing the sleeping inhabitants within from slumber. Paris was a city of life, but here in the quiet one could take a deep breath before the bustle seized it away. His favorite time of day.
“How long have you been in France?” he asked.
“Six months.”
“Traveling in the middle of winter. That must have been difficult. I hear Russian winters are brutal.”
“Yes.” With each limping step her mouth pressed tighter and tighter. Wynn reached for her arm. “Lean against my arm. It’ll take the pressure off your leg.”
She pulled away. “I can manage alone.”
She could manage her stubbornness sure enough. If the pain grew to be too much, he’d have to carry her. He could imagine the protests at that prospect.
“Did you travel alone?”
“No.”
“With family?”
“Yes.”
Like trying to crack a wall of ice with his bare hands. Wynn changed tactics as they bypassed Parc Monceau and with it the memories of last evening’s chase through the foliage.
“My brother and I used to travel all the time together. Growing up in Scotland, it’s easy to lose your way for a day or two. Of course, we were never lost. We knew every tree and rock by heart on MacCallan land. Got into all sorts of trouble.” Sadness pricked at the bygone days of carefree youth. “That was back before the war.”
A cat scampered by, its ribs poking against its skin. Not one element of life had been spared the hunger of war. It stared at them a moment with ancient eyes, then with a flick of its mangy tail, disappeared down an alleyway.
Svetlana dared a glance at him. “You have been in France long?”
“Ever since the war broke out. I had just finished my second year at Edinburgh Hospital. My brother was the first to sign up, but I felt I was of better use remaining a civilian. Most of my days are spent here at hospital. No military red tape to bother with there. I’ve been swabbing the mud ever since.”
“Your brother is here?”