Book3 & Book4. God Works in Mysterious Ways & Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

By Olga Kryuchkova

Book 3. God Works in Mysterious Ways
Imperial Russia. 19th Century. The Estate of Count Selivanov.
Emma is getting closer to her cousin Stanislav Selivanov. An alliance arises between them, which then develops into a serious feeling. In addition, Emma finds in the library a manuscript telling about the adventures of a certain Count Savin and how he became rich in South America. Emma suspects that Count Savin is her father. The girl carefully studies the manuscript in the hope that the manuscript will help her find treasures. However, the manuscript mysteriously disappears.
Meanwhile, the manor manager is spying in favor of the monastery, which intends to take possession of the treasures of Count Selivanov. The manor manager in every possible way harms the heirs and hires a maid who writes letters to the heirs in the hope of quarreling them. Meanwhile, the ghost has repeatedly appeared on the manor. The heirs think that the spirit of the late Count is displeased.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Moscow, a peasant finds a dying man. He takes this person in a cart to the nearest hospital. The unhappy man comes to his senses, but he has lost his memory. After a while, he remembers who he is and that his uncle the Count died and left him an inheritance. The man recalls that he should be at the reading of the will in the Kaluga estate of Selivanovo. Meanwhile, the confrontation between the heirs in the estate continues with renewed vigor. And one of these heirs is an impostor.

Book 4. Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
After a month of being at the manor, it turns out that there is a con man among the heirs. He took advantage of the external resemblance to one of the Count's relatives. It was the fraudster who dressed himself in the ghost in order to instill fear into the inhabitants of the manor, and then to manipulate them. Anna Riger-Artemyeva, Emma’s mother, arrives at the manor. She immediately understands that someone is harming the heirs. She begins to suspect the manor manager, the maid, and the lackey.
Anna Riger-Artemyeva is attacked by a certain creature, similar to the devil. A woman loses consciousness due to fear. Emma admits to her mother that she is in love with her cousin Stanislav, but is afraid of their close relationship. However, Emma intends to break with her fiancé. Anna is unhappy with her daughter's behavior. At night, Anna is visited by the ghost of Count Selivanov, who asks her not to impede the love of Emma and Stanislav, promising to leave the treasures and the manor to them.
The next day, Anna tells her daughter a long, complicated story about her relationship with Count Selivanov and admits to her daughter that the Count is not her father. Emma is shocked, however, at the same time she is glad: now nothing can stop her love with Stanislav. As it turned out: Emma and Stanislav have no consanguinity.
By the end of summer, some heirs for various reasons leave the manor. The heirs remaining in the manor despaired of finding treasures. They have a picnic in the park near the old manor destroyed by the fire. Not far from the ruins is a cannon, cannonballs lie next to it. The deceased owner also liked to shoot from a cannon for fun. Men decide to arrange a funny battle and attack the ruins. Esmeralda shows discontent about this, assuring that in this way they can disturb the spirit of the deceased owner.
The heirs resigned to their defeat and do not pay attention to the exhortations of the medium. They have fun: after all, the yard is the last summer day and will soon have to leave the manor. Tired of fun, the inhabitants of the manor retire to rest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olga Kryuchkova
• Release date: Jan 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215934753

Olga Kryuchkova

Olga Kryuchkova began her creative career in 2006. During this time, the author had more than 100 publications and reprints (historical novels, historical adventures, esotericism, art therapy, fantasy). A number of novels were co-written with Elena Kryuchkova.

Book preview

Olga Kryuchkova

Emerald Summer Series

Book 3. God Works in Mysterious Ways

Book 4. Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

Book 3. God Works in Mysterious Ways

Chapter 1-3

Chapter 2-3

Chapter 3-3

Chapter 4-3

Chapter 5-3

Book 4. Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

Chapter 1-4

Chapter 2-4

Chapter 3-4

Chapter 4-4

Chapter 5-4

Chapter 6-4

Book 3. God Works in Mysterious Ways

Chapter 1-3

Two weeks before the will is announced, the outskirts of Moscow

A small forest on the outskirts of Moscow, between the Kaluga road and the Moscow river beyond the Crimean shaft, was green with fresh young foliage. Under one of the trees lay a man: a middle-aged man, a bloody wound gaped on his head.

A cart loaded with sacks rode past the forest. An elderly peasant pulled the reins: the horse stopped. He got down from the cart and went to the woods to pee.

Before he could take off his pants, he heard a moan. A man urinated and put on his pants. He decided that a groan seemed to him, for the other day he had drunk too much homemade cherry liquor prepared by his economic wife. However, a groan repeated.

Mother of God, intercessor, the peasant whispered and decided to see who was groaning. Maybe someone needs help.

He plunged into a small forest and saw a man immobilized on the ground under a birch. Just in case, the peasant crossed himself and headed for him. As soon as the compassionate Muscovite approached the man, he again issued a long moan.

Now the peasant had no doubts: probably dashing people attacked the poor fellow and robbed. He bent over the victim and saw that the man had blood oozing from his head.

Barin! You’re like? I often go here, but I have never met robbers, the peasant reasoned. Yes, you are truly of noble origin. Your hands are white and clean, and a shirt of fine cloth.

The peasant carefully examined the victim: the unfortunate man was without a frock coat and vest (therefore, a purse and pocket watch were stolen from him). Then the peasant tried to bring him to his senses.

  The unfortunate opened his eyes and looked with a cloudy gaze at the peasant, then again lost consciousness.

How unlucky you are, the peasant sympathized and scratched behind his ear. And if he is from the noble, or from the gendarmes in general? It is necessary to help. I will not take sin on my soul. he reasoned.

After such reasoning, the peasant picked up the man and dragged him to the cart. With difficulty, he laid the stranger on the full bags and climbed onto the cart himself. Then the peasant shouted at his old horse, striking the animal with his whip on the bony sides:

Go ahead, darling! Hurry up!! Don’t be afraid, barin; there is a hospital nearby, maybe they won’t let you die.

Indeed, half a mile from the ill-fated forest, the Golitsyn hospital is located. The hospital in 1802 was opened by the imperial chamberlain Alexander Golitsyn.

Representatives of all segments of the population were admitted to the Golitsyn hospital for free treatment. A peasant drove a battered stranger to this hospital.

The doctor approached the cart, the barin was still unconscious. Aesculapius examined him quickly.

Brain concussion. The man was hit with something heavy on the head ... I think he will live. The doctor summed up and went for the orderlies. They transferred the man to the emergency room, dressed him in hospital clothes. The doctor handled the wound and did the dressing. After which the barin was sent to the ward for the seriously ill.

How do I record this patient in the registry? the young doctor thought.

Write it down: Unknown nobleman, Foundling, one of the orderlies prompted.

Hmmm ... the doctor said, and made the corresponding note.

Three days later, the Foundling came to his senses, but he could not remember his name or surname. Dr. Zinger diagnosed him with traumatic amnesia caused by a concussion. But the doctor was full of confidence that the patient’s memory would certainly return. And for this, he needs peace and good nutrition.

For almost two weeks, Foundling was in the Golitsyn hospital. He was still worried about headaches and dizziness. But he gradually recovered, but he couldn’t remember who he was and where he came from.

The nannies and sisters of mercy spared the barin and were especially attentive to him. He even tried to court Pauline Vlasova, one of the nurses. It seemed that the woman was not opposed. He enjoyed talking with Paulina when she had a free minute. Soon, the nameless barin learned that Pauline came from a wealthy merchant family, but she lived separately, earning a living on her own. She was carried away by a certain revolutionary-anarchist as a young girl and left her father's house.

The poor anarchist died of pneumonia, after which Paulina graduated from women's medical courses and got a job as a nurse in the Golitsyn hospital. She worked as a sister of mercy for almost ten years, many of the doctors tried to look after her. And this fact did not surprise the Foundling: Paulina was an attractive woman.

Once, having forgotten himself, the nobleman grabbed Paulina by the hand and exclaimed with fervor:

Ah, if only I could make you happy!

She smiled sadly.

Sir, first you have to make yourself happy: remember who you are and where you come from.

Yes of course! But I put it in a figurative sense. Sometimes it seems to me that some memories come back to me, he admitted.

Paulina hastened to inform Professor Sergey Petrovich Zinger about this. Zinger was a doctor, as they say, from God and devoted himself to the Golitsyn hospital. His grandfather, Christian Ivanovich Zinger, served as a hospital manager just after its opening.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, when Napoleon’s troops occupied Moscow, the manager remained in the hospital and managed to prevent its looting, and also saved the hospital money left for him in storage. For conscientious service, Christian Ivanovich received the title of hereditary nobleman.

Despite his noble rank, the current Zinger healed the sick both physically and mentally. Indeed, many of his patients were poor. The case of a nobleman found unconscious in Zinger's practice was not the first. Often, poor people with head injuries were admitted to the hospital, injured for various reasons, including while intoxicated. However, the professor was interested in the nobleman Foundling. For Zinger was sure: the barin was attacked, robbed, and he miraculously survived.

A professor, dressed in a snow-white robe, entered the room, leaving behind a trail of the smell of valerian.

Well, dear. They told me that your memory is gradually being restored. the professor sat down in a chair near the Foundling, who was sitting on the bed.

Yes, professor. True, the head is still spinning, nausea and weakness in the legs, the patient answered.

In your condition, this is quite normal. So will you tell me about your memories?  asked the Aesculapius.

The Foundling nodded.

I remembered that the package was an envelope with a courier. The package was large, made of wax paper, he began and fell silent.

Probably the package was official, Zinger suggested.

I don’t know, the Foundling said thoughtfully. I remember how I opened the package and read the letter, he tried to recall the contents of the message. So one of my relatives died! Here! He said joyfully.

Yeah... the professor muttered and looked out from under his glasses at the patient. In such packages, and even with a courier, it is customary to send to the addressee only news of extreme importance. Yes... I think the letter said about the inheritance, summed up the professor.

The nobleman looked perplexedly at the professor.

Exactly. As you rightly noticed everything, Sergey Petrovich.

Well, my dear, I’m not only a surgeon, but to some extent a psychiatrist.

I remember the gambling house. The cards were on a green cloth, the Foundling continued. I played, even won. I drank with a certain player. I don’t remember his name. I only remember that this is a man with good manners, probably a nobleman. But I have a feeling that I know him well. I think I told him about the letter and that I was going to leave Moscow.

I got it. concluded the professor. You won a decent amount, you were robbed on the way home. I do not exclude that one of the losing colleagues did this.

Perhaps... But why did he take me and leave me on the outskirts of Moscow?

Probably the attacker wanted to hide the traces of the crime, suggested Zinger. Now you need to recall your name, and we will assume that you are healthy.   

The professor hastened to other patients, pleased that the Foundling was on the way to complete healing.

The Foundling woke up in the middle of the night. The reason for this was a terrible dream. He dreamed that he was riding in a carriage with a man, the one from the gambling house. They had a friendly conversation.

Was your relative rich? he asked.

Very rich! answered the drunken Foundling.

  I would have such relatives! And that he bequeathed to you the whole manor?

I don't think so. There are other heirs besides me. But I have the right to count on a large sum of money, admitted the Foundling.

  The interlocutor laughed.

  The Foundling darted out of bed.

    Mother of God! I remember everything!

He threw on a hospital gown and rushed to the preparation room, where Paulina could be found during night watch. When the patient literally burst into a small room, she was dozing on a small sofa.

Paulina! Paulina! he rushed to the woman.

She opened her eyes.

You? What happened? You feel bad?

The man crouched next to Paulina.

"No,