A daughter’s a daughter …
Alix drowsily rolled over in bed and instinctively, she reached for Nicky. But instead of a warm, loving husband, she found herself clutching an armful of bed linen, cool and clean.
Sitting up, she glanced at the bedside clock. Oh dear! Surely he wasn’t still dealing with Mashka’s crisis, was he? She’d been there with him for a while but had gone to bed hours ago. Picking up the bedside telephone, she dialed the extension for the working study. Voronov, still on duty, answered.
“Is the emperor still with his ministers?” she asked, stifling a yawn.
“No, madame. That meeting has ended.”
“Very good. Thank you, Captain.”
“Good night, Your Majesty.”
Sliding out of their lovely antique brass bed, she pulled on her robe and padded out into the den. The television was blaring away but the room was empty. One of the kids, probably Anastasia, must have left it on. She picked up the remote from the cocktail table, turned it off, and then proceeded to the Pallisander and Maple rooms. Still no Nicky – but the outside balcony door was open.
She found him sitting there staring out into the not-quite-darkness of the northern Russian night, his hands folded, his legs stretched out and crossed at the ankle. The half-light accentuated the lines on his face, making him look every bit of his 50 years. His cigarette case and lighter were on the table beside him, but the ashtray was empty.
“Nicky?” she said softly.
He startled slightly and looked up. “Sunny! What are you doing up?”
“I could ask you the same question,” she replied as she drew up a chair. Sitting down, she took both his hands in both of hers. “Did anything get resolved?”
He nodded. “It’s a hoax and a retraction’s going to be printed tomorrow. Jagoff probably has a libel case against this Ania person, but I don’t think he’s going to press charges. He and Mashka just want it to go away.”
“That’s understandable,” she said. “The less fuss that’s made over this, the sooner it will blow over. The whole thing strikes me as odd, though. One would think one of Jagoff’s old flames would pull a stunt like this, not an acquaintance of Mashka’s.”
“Just one?” he said wryly. “Out of half the female population of Europe?”
“I know,” she said. “But the ones who have been quoted in the press all wish him well – no one’s had a bad thing to say about him. Surprising, isn’t it?”
They fell silent, listening to the night sounds of the palace park beyond the balcony. Then she laid her hand against his cheek and said “There’s something else bothering you, Nicky love … what is it?”
He swallowed hard and said “She went to him, Sunny. When she came into my study after she found out about the news story, she was in tears. I went to comfort her, but she just patted my shoulder and went to him. People say ‘you’re not losing a daughter; you’re gaining a son-in-law.’ But losing the daughter … I guess it never really hit me until now.”
Alix sighed and stroked his arm. “I know. It’s different when they go off to university. That’s hard enough, but at least you know they’re coming home to you at the end of the term.”
“But Mashka won’t be coming home to us again, at least not in the same way,” Nicholas said. “And I don’t know if I can handle it.”
“And this is just the beginning, my love. We’ve got three more to go – four if you count Alexei. With a boy, it’s different somehow, though. The Americans have a saying, or maybe it’s the Irish – ‘A son’s a son until he takes a wife, but a daughter’s a daughter all her life.’”
“Or not,” he said morosely.
Alix brushed the hair back from his face. “Oh, Nicky, Mashka still loves you and needs you. Just because she’s in love with Jagoff doesn’t mean she loves you any less.”
Nicholas nodded. “At least he’s not taking her off far from home. They’ll just be in Petersburg.”
“And in Tsarskoe, eventually, if they buy that English-style house in town that’s up for sale. You know all Mashka’s ever wanted is a husband and family. She’s really come into her own these past few months. And as for Jagoff, well, it’s amazing what devoted husbands some of these playboy types make once they finally settle down. Really, so far this whole thing is working out better than I dared hope.”
“So far,” Nicholas interjected. “Jagoff’s been on his best behavior, but anyone can clean up his act for a few months. I’ll be interested to see how things are going a year from now.”
“It’ll come alright, you’ll see. Remember how hard it was when they were babies and moved out of our room upstairs to the nursery? We made it through that and we’ll make it through this.” Alix rose and placed her hands lightly on her husband’s shoulders. “Lovy, you’re so tense! Here …” She dug her fingers and thumbs into the muscles of his shoulders and neck, kneading and massaging in all his favorite places until she felt him start to relax.
“Mmm! OH! Oh, yes! Right there! Ahhhh!” Nicholas smiled up at his wife and sighed with satisfaction.
She lifted her hands from his shoulders and laughed softly. “Nicky! Do you have any idea what it sounds like we’re doing?”
“Mmm-hmm … and it’s almost as good.” Reaching back, he pulled Alix onto his knee and kissed her. “But you know what the Americans say… ‘”Almost” doesn’t count except for horse shoes and hand grenades!’”
“Aren’t we full of Americanisms tonight?” she laughed. “Maybe we should just be Tsar and Tsarina of America– you know how they love royalty over there.”
“And stick this country with George W. Bush? I don’t think so,” Nicholas observed. “Just think of the riots and protests …”
Alix laughed again. “Against us or him?”
“Both!” He took her in his arms and kissed her again, slowly and passionately. Then they rose and left the balcony together, hand in hand as always.
To be continued ... any questions, comments, or derogatory remarks, please PM me ... thank you for reading!
