She still chatted to the guards in the hallway and was delighted when a new batch of men arrived on June 7, including one particularly handsome one with black hair and bright blue eyes. Tatiana had told her it was unseemly to consort with the guards, and Avdeyev had expressly forbidden it, so Maria waited until the coast was clear before introducing herself.

“Hello, welcome to the house,” she greeted him. “I’m Maria Romanova.”

“Ivan Skorokhodov,” he said. “Charmed to meet you.”

“Are you a factory worker?” she asked. “It seems all our guards come from the local factories.”

“The Zlokazov brewery,” he replied. “But I am much happier here. It smells more pleasant, and the view is infinitely superior.” He looked her up and down with a cheeky grin.

Maria smiled back, enjoying the flirtation. “My goodness, what would your mother say if she heard you talking like that?”

“I think she would say I have extremely good taste,” he replied.

Maria continued to her room, a grin on her face. She knew she shouldn’t encourage him, but what harm could it do? She had always enjoyed chatting to men.

The next time she saw Ivan was the following afternoon. Kharitonov had just made an urn of tea, and she asked the guard if she could get a cup for him.

Ivan’s eyes widened in surprise, but he replied, “Thank you. It is thirsty work standing here all day.”

Maria fetched some tea and brought her own cup so they could stand by the top of the stairs and drink it together. She glanced nervously at the door of Commissar Avdeyev’s office.

“He’s out today,” Ivan said. “Or else I would not dare accept this tea.”

Maria asked about his interests when he was not working, and he told her he liked to play cards.

“Bezique is my favorite,” he said. “I enjoy planning tactical moves.”

Maria wondered if he was flirting again; there always seemed to be a hint of mischief in his eyes. “I enjoy bezique too. Perhaps we might have a game sometime. The days here are so long . . .” She paused. “But I have a feeling my parents would forbid it. Pray, tell me, is the countryside pretty around here?”

“It’s all right, I guess. There are mountains, forests, and rivers, like anywhere.”

“Do you have brothers and sisters?”

“Two older brothers, but no sisters. That’s why I find women such a mystery,” he told her. “I have no idea what makes them giggle so much. I never know if they are laughing at me, because they refuse to share the joke.”

“I expect you will find they are laughing over something entirely inconsequential. Anastasia and I giggle at the most childish things: a mispronounced word, or the silly behavior of the dogs. It is not worth wasting time over.”