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Back The Shoe Queen
Chapters (67)
  1. Cover
  2. “And may I say, those shoes are adorable.”
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. ( I )
  7. ( one )
  8. ( two )
  9. ( three )
  10. ( four )
  11. ( five )
  12. ( six )
  13. ( seven )
  14. ( eight )
  15. ( nine )
  16. ( ten )
  17. ( II )
  18. ( eleven )
  19. ( twelve )
  20. ( thirteen )
  21. ( fourteen )
  22. ( fifteen )
  23. ( III )
  24. ( sixteen )
  25. ( seventeen )
  26. ( eighteen )
  27. ( nineteen )
  28. ( IV )
  29. ( twenty )
  30. ( twenty-one )
  31. ( twenty-two )
  32. ( twenty-three )
  33. ( twenty-four )
  34. ( V )
  35. ( twenty-five )
  36. ( twenty-six )
  37. ( twenty-seven )
  38. ( twenty-eight )
  39. ( twenty-nine )
  40. VI
  41. ( thirty )
  42. ( thirty-one )
  43. ( thirty-two )
  44. ( thirty-three )
  45. ( thirty-four )
  46. ( VII )
  47. ( thirty-five )
  48. ( thirty-six )
  49. ( thirty-seven )
  50. ( thirty-eight )
  51. ( thirty-nine )
  52. ( forty )
  53. ( forty-one )
  54. ( forty-two )
  55. ( VIII )
  56. ( forty-three )
  57. ( forty-four )
  58. ( forty-five )
  59. ( forty-six )
  60. ( forty-seven )
  61. ( forty-eight )
  62. ( forty-nine )
  63. ( fifty )
  64. ( fifty-one )
  65. Acknowledgments
  66. Acknowledgments
  67. Questions for Discussion

“I don’t understand,” said Genevieve. “You didn’t seem so very ill. It was only this morning.”

“It’s Mrs. Shelby King, isn’t it?” The boy looked confused. “Is it you that’s moved into the apartment on the fifth floor?”

“Don’t, Viktor. She has come to take Paolo away.”

“Is he here?” Genevieve couldn’t stop herself. “I just want to know that he’s all right.”

“Now, look—,” Viktor began, but Olga put a hand on his arm.

“Go and check on your brother and sisters.” And then, more softly, “It’s all right, zolotoi. I’ll just talk to her alone for a minute.”

Darting a suspicious glance at Genevieve, the boy left the room.

“Is he here?” Genevieve repeated.

“I told you to stay away from him.”

“I love him,” said Genevieve. “I have to know what’s happened.”

A rustling, crackling sound. Something that was almost laughter.

“We were going to leave Paris together.”

There was anger in Olga’s eyes, hot and fevered, as she pulled herself forward. “You don’t know what love is until you know about suffering.”

Genevieve took a couple of steps closer. “You know about my baby. You know I’ve suffered.”

“Poor little Genevieve.”

“Don’t. Just don’t.” She took a breath. “Look, I’m sorry. I can see that you’re very unwell. Perhaps I shouldn’t have come here, but—”

“No. You shouldn’t.”

She steadied herself. Tried to make herself walk out of the room but couldn’t. And then the words burst out. “We’re in love, Olga. I can’t pretend otherwise, and I don’t think he can either. He cares about you, I know. But you’re so much older than him—”

“You stupid girl. You think I’m the one that needs him?” The cheeks were more and more pink. And then something seemed to distract her, and her expression changed subtly. “Say it!”

“Say what?” Genevieve shook her head.

“You know what.”

“Mother?” The boy was back, peering around the door.

“Say it!”

Viktor turned to Genevieve. “She needs to sleep. Let her sleep.”

“Say it,” whispered Olga, lolling back against her pillows.

“I should go,” muttered Genevieve. And, to Viktor, “Is there anything I can do for her? Has the doctor been?”

“Just go,” said the boy. “Please.”

“Say it, for God’s sake!” hissed Olga, and her eyes opened wide again. “That I’ll have to let him go soon. That I’ll have no choice. Well, I won’t let him go! You hear me? I won’t!”