The Sisters Of The Court

Chapter 62: Alice

"I beg you Alice to reconsider!" Alix pleads. "I simply will not! I told you, I will not remarry!" I say annoyed. "Think of the children" Nicky says, "They need a father figure, especially your sons". I look at him, "Please I can not handle more stress at the moment after Nickie suffered a serious attack" I say rubbing my temples. The doctors aren't helpful about it either. "See Alice, you need support, think of your ill son!" Alexandra says. Nicholas wasn't paying attention and fell down the stairs, he is terrible wounded and I'm scared for his life. I have been going to church everyday, praying for god to not take him from me as well.

"They have Micheal, they have you!" I point at Nicholas although it is improper to point. "I don't need a stranger trying to raise my children, their family is enough, all of you are enough for them, they don't need a stranger" I explain. "George would be so thrilled to see that you are the one helping raise his boys and not some other silly man" I say to Nicholas as Alix comforts him in lost thought.

"But Alice, what about you? What about when times will get difficult, you will need support" Sunny says. "I have my children and I have you, I will be fine." I tell her. Alexandra looks at Nicholas as I say, "Imagine you are in my shoes Alix, you wouldn't wish to remarry either" I say. Alexandra stays quite as I know I have my answer. "I have enough money that George left behind to support myself and my family comfortably. We will all be fine." I explain to them.

Nicholas nods his head, "Thank you for coming Alice" I bow to my tsar and before I am about to leave Alix asks me, "Will you be able to serve as my lady in waiting again?". I think for a moment, what other things will I have to do better? My children will have lessons most of the day and then they could join me at Alix's palace and see Nicky more and their cousins. I will also be making money which will help me if there is ever an emergency. "Yes dearest cousin" I say. Alexandra smiles and bids me farewell as I leave the office.

When I step out Anna Vyrubova, Alexandras lady in waiting immediately runs into me. "Excuse me" I say walking past her. "Wait!" She says. I stop walking and turn around to look at her, "Yes?" She walks up to me, "I heard that your son is ill" she whispers the last part. I look down at her, "yes and?" I say rudely, this is not her business. "And the doctors are failing to help?" She asks again. How is this any of her business? It is rude to bombard someone with questions.

"The doctors are doing their best" I say. "Your Grace I know that the doctors are being very helpful because they usually aren't, there's this man that I know that can help your son." She says in a hushed tone. " do you know a man that can help my son is he a doctor?" I ask her. "no he's more focused on alternative medicine" she says. I frown at her I'm not going to let some maniac near my son. " I am sorry but I'm going to have to decline your offer" I say turning around. " he has a gift from God he can speak to God" she says. I turn around again, "what?" I say. "Many have witnessed his power your grace, I guarantee that he won't fail you" she says convincingly.

"Where can I met him?" I ask her. "We will come by at 4"
She says. I agree to the time.

I exit the palace and get into my carriage. I change the course of route. I shut my eyes and think of my George, my love, my only love. He was perfect from the way he smiled to the way he was with our children. There is no one as perfect as he was. Georgiana, I pray for her soul everyday. I refuse to believe that she is dead as the guards suggested after the search for her. She must be somewhere out there. Who would want to harm such a sweet beautiful innocent babe? My heart aches in pain for her. The carriage stops at a halt as I almost fly forward into the carriage wall. Thankfully I stopped myself before I could. What is the meaning of this nonsense? I open the carriage door and step out, "What happened?" I ask the carriage driver.

"Your imperial highness- there is nothing to worry about" he tries to assure me as I peer over his shoulder to see a small child standing barely 2 years old, in the middle of the road looking malnourished and frightened to death. "Oh heavens sake" I quickly walk past him as my other carriage driver yell at the small shaking child. "Enough!" my voice booms as my carriage driver stops yelling at the child.

I walk up to it and see that it is a little girl. Her clothes can be considered rags. She is dirty, barely can see any facial features because of it. Her eyes are large and brown, filled with fear and her hair is short and disheveled even though it is straight. Her hair is a dark brown. She looks up at me in fear. "What are you doing on the street? Don't you know it is dangerous?" I ask her. She stays silent, observing my face.

"Can't you speak?" I ask her sharply although I did not mean to. She slowly nods her head. "Where are your parents?" I ask her, looking around the street as commoners start to stand and watch but I ignore them and look down at the little girl. She keeps observing me as I start to get irritated at her lack of responses. "May you at least tell me your age?" I ask her. "Three" she answers quietly.

"I am glad that I know that you are able to converse, now tell me, where are your parents?" I ask her. She shrugs. "What does that mean? Where do you live?" I ask her. She gives me a confused look. "Your home, the building you go to when you sleep" I explain. "Your grace, I consider going back into the carriage" my driver says as the crowd gets larger. I look around and look back down at the little girl. "Come" I take her cold clammy hand and take her back into the carriage with me.

She sits down across from me as the carriage starts moving again. "So, do you have a mama and papa?" I question her. She shakes her head no, "where do you live?" I ask her. She points to the sidewalk. "You sleep on the street?" I ask her. She nods her head. I look at her in shock, "You are an orphan?" I state out loud, more towards myself as the girl stays quiet looking out the window. She looks as if she hasn't eaten in days.

The carriage stops, we have arrived. I look at her, I can't leave her in here alone. "Come with me" I tell her as I get out the carriage. She follows me as we enter the cathedral. I walk over to his grave with the flowers I brought for him. I lay them down at his stone. I kiss it and pray. "My love, my darling, give me a sign, any sign" I mutter under my breath. I need to be sure that he is okay, that Georgiana is okay. I shut my eyes as I pray, pray that my love will send me a sign.

I open my eyes to find the little girl putting her hands all over his grave stone. "Stop!" I yell at her as she flinches. She steps away from the stone. "Do not touch that" I say sharply at the child. She looks at me with a red face as tears start to stream down her face. Guilt immediately consumes me as I hug the child close to my chest. "I'm sorry darling" I say as I hold her close.

We leave and get to the house. I order Miss Wood, (the new governess for my children since I fired Miss Evelyn) to go bathe the girl and to get her fed and put into fresh clothes. I go to my baby's room and walk in quietly. He looks deathly ill but is asleep. My poor baby, I kiss him gently and close the door gently behind myself. I check my watch and find it close to 4:00pm. I go to my receiving room and sit down. One of my maids ask me if I wish for tea I agree and ask her to make extra for the guests that are to come.

"Mama!" Little Victoria runs up to me and engulfs me in an embrace with her small arms. "Victoria, manners"
I say as she backs away. "sorry mama" she says. "I miss you" she looks at me. In her eyes I see george, I don't look at her, "go, I have guests arriving soon this is no place for a little girl" I say. "Okay" she says leaving the room. "Your grace, some guests have arrived" my butler announces. I immediately stand up, "let them in"

The door opens wider and in walks in Anna and- and a monk? He is tall, has long dark hair that matches his dark long beard. His skin looks leathery and his eyes are neither blue nor green yet they stare into your soul, already knowing your every secret. Intimidating would be a weak word use describe the aroma of his presence. "Your grace, this is Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin" Anna says. I expect the man to bow, kiss my hand but all he does is take my hand and looks me in the eyes and says, "I can see the suffering of a broken heart through your eyes".

I stand shocked. He continues, "A misssing child, a husband that has passed, an ill son" he says holding my hand tightly. My face burns as my heart races, how- how does he know? "I-I" I can't manage to say anything as I look at Anna she smiles at me. I look back at Grigori, "You are here to help my son" I say, "Not tell me information everyone already knows" I take my hand away. I turn away and walk out the room expecting them to follow and they do.

I open the door to my baby's room and walk in. The monk and Anna follow me in. He walks up to Nickie, places his hand over his forehead and mutters something I do not know. After a few moments he stops and looks at me, "He shall be better again tomorrow". I look at him with skepticism, "Alright"

I walk them back to the front doors as I say farewell to Anna, before Grigori leaves he says, "And your husband wanted to tell you that the little girl you took in today, that was your sign" and he leaves. My maid shuts the door after them as I stand paralyzed in place before bursting into tears.