When the group from St Petersburg arrived at Mavara, Valerie was overjoyed to see his tall figure leaping down from the carriage. Both he and Andrei were still wearing their white summer uniforms with gold buttons and braid and epaulettes glinting in the sunshine. But as they were eager to change into light attire, they went swiftly to their rooms promising to join the ladies shortly on the verandah.Conrad had met them at Kamenka railway station and he and Feodor helped to carry the luggage upstairs. Vera went with them to see to her mistress’s unpacking and Sophia joined the countess and Valerie on the verandah.She looked fresh and lovely in a cream muslin frock edged with honey-coloured lace. Her shiny black hair was curled into ringlets reaching to her shoulders, and her wide-brimmed straw hat sported a honey-coloured ribbon with a bunch of velvet primroses clustering on its brim.Was this the same straw hat redecorated to match each outfit? Or did Sophia possess as many different hats as she did dresses?
