She rolled her eyes at the endearment. He’d been taking far too much pleasure in using them since Paul had given them their documentation identifying them as married.

And she didn’t mind nearly as much as she pretended she did.

Rather than call up to him, she simply rushed up the stairs, sidestepping a cluster of babbling children, one of whom stuck her tongue out at her. In some indefinable way, the girl reminded her of her littlest sister.

A surge of affection welled but was chased quickly away by the resentment that had possessed her when she watched Anya fade away. Starving, fevered. All the food of her own Nadya had given her, all the hours she’d spent nursing her instead of pursuing her own dreams—worthless. If there was a God, He was capricious and cruel to snatch away the brightest of them and leave the rest to mourn without ceasing.

She snapped her teeth at the English brat and stormed on by.

Evgeni opened the door for her as she neared. “Is early a good thing?”

A grin stole her lips again. As soon as he closed the door behind her, she pulled out the passport. “Early is a very good thing.”

Eyes flaming bright, he laughed, picked her up, swung her around, and set her on her feet again with an enthusiastic kiss. “I knew you could find it. What was it like? His flat?”

She tossed the passport onto the tiny table. “Too large for one man. He has fine artwork on his walls, books on his shelves, and his kitchen was overflowing with more food than he could possibly eat—probably the work of that gaggle of fools trying to match him with one of their daughters.”

Evgeni had turned to the table, but he paused, turned back to her. “Do not begrudge him that, if he wants it. Especially today. It would have been his wedding day.”

Was that why Evgeni had looked so muted this morning? Why hadn’t he said something?

All right, she knew why. She was the one who had taken that from his brother. Why would she be the one he spoke to about it? Even so, the realization that he’d been mourning that today and kept it to himself made her go prickly.

She sneered. “I’m sure he could replace her easily enough. If the mothers are any indication, the daughters would be happy to accept the handcuffs and bow to his patriarchal authority. None of them would dream of stepping outside expectations—just like Alyona.”