CHAPTER NINEAt last Chiara was alone!
Mrs. Fulwell and her daughters had gone to a party and they had made no objection when she had asked if she might stay behind in the rented apartment that overlooked one of the beautiful canals that ran through St. Petersburg.
In point of fact, since they had arrived in Russia, they seemed to prefer it if she did not accompany them to the Society salons and other events to which Mrs. Fulwell had managed to arrange invitations almost every night.
“You must understand, my dear,” she had said to Chiara on several occasions, “that I simply cannot allow you to spoil my girls’ opportunities in any way. After all, we must remember how lucky you are. You have already had a very respectable proposal of marriage!”
And Chiara could not help smiling as she tho
