Chapter Twelve
Lessons
The next several days were some of the busiest and the longest days of my life, at least that’s what it seemed anyways. You would think that shopping for a graduation dress was hard for me with all the life changes going through my mind, but nothing compared to the craziness of shopping to go to a foreign country, and to perhaps meet other Royalty. This meant I had to look my best, and to actually put effort into the shopping trip, which lately I just couldn’t get motivated. However to make matters worse Nunna had surprised me during my weekly Thursday visit with last minute lessons, lessons that I would have to use the rest of my new life.
“No Lisa, you must bow lower. You are a duchess for goodness sake. Tilt your head down; allow your long neck to extend…much better.” Nunna instructed from her wheelchair as I bowed for her. I had probably been practicing for almost an hour by the time I first heard her say the words “much better”. Now I really felt sorry for Anne Hathaway in the movie ‘Princess Diaries’, having to learn how to act like a princess just for that movie.
“Nunna, I don’t see why this is necessary since I’m only going for a week, besides; I thought you didn’t want me to tell people any more people? Why do I need to know all of this?” I said as I tried my bow again, trying to be more natural and graceful.
“Annalisa, William has informed me that he will be introducing you to a few of the Royals that already know about you. Besides, all young ladies should know how to bow and do other proper tasks. I’m not telling you to do anything that I haven’t done myself.” She said with a soft smile. Her eyes weren’t lighting up as much as they were over a month ago, and I could tell that life was taking its toll on her. She was fading, but the question was how much longer was God going to give her? Now that I was getting to know her, I wasn’t prepared to lose her, I couldn’t.
“Besides, I want to prepare you for anything that you may encounter once and if the news about you ever gets out in public. You’d be expected to know how to act royal, and that my dear is another challenge on its own.” She said as she turned away from me and looked out the window, probably remembering her first time being introduced into society.
“Ugh, fine. But everyone has promised that they wouldn’t tell Nunna.” I said again for the tenth time to her.
“I know dear. But we must always be prepared. Please be on your guard once you are in Russia. Make sure you stay with William, and have your friends stay with you. You will become a target for those who still hate our family, who learns your true identity.” Nunna said with intense eyes. Could people really still want Nunna and me dead? It was over ninety years ago. The world was a different place now. Besides, my friends accepted me, and even Mr. Poloski. Wouldn’t it just be the same? I wondered to myself.
I was still wondering the same thing throughout the entire weekend while shopping with Mandy. What if more people really did find out the truth, would it be so bad? I know I couldn’t rule Russia, and I didn’t even want to, but what would happen if people discover that the heir to the Russian throne still lived? I had meant to ask Mr. Poloski about the difference between Parliament and the Royal family ruling over England and the United Kingdom on Friday after class, but I had been rushed out of the class by Eric. I had asked Mandy her opinion while we were at the mall getting last minute clothes for the trip.
“Maybe it won’t be so bad. I mean all the Royal family does in England is put on great parties, and attend lots of charity events. It would probably be the same thing right?” Mandy said as she flipped through a rack of dresses. In a way, it was kind of weird that this had become a normal conversation between us now, even though I had just told her the truth a few days prior.
“Mandy, I was wondering about something from the other day…” I started to say as I began to try to think of a way to ask Mandy if she had feelings for Eric or not. Was this even a good time? Or should I even mention it, perhaps she’d tell me when she felt like I should know, I thought briefly to myself as I walked towards the jewelry department of the store with Mandy casually tagging along.
“Yeah? What’s up? Oh that one is so pretty.” Mandy said as she pointed towards a small sapphire ring.
“Hello can I help you young ladies?” An elderly woman with glasses and a little bit too much make-up for her age said with a cold smile. She probably knows we are just window shopping and probably thinking why are you wasting your time you high school girls. I thought negatively in my head.
“No we are just looking.” Mandy said softly as she continued to look at the rings as I pointed at one also with my left hand.
“Oh my dear, would you at least like to have your ring cleaned? I ring that beautiful and precious should be cleaned whenever you can to make it shine.” The elderly said with a smile as she held out her hand towards me. I had honestly forgot about the ring that I always wore on my left hand, the one that Nunna had given me several weeks again saying the warning, “never take this off”, the day that she had revealed that she was the long lost Grand Duchess Anastasia and that I myself was a Grand Duchess.
“Oh that’s okay, I couldn’t really afford a cleaning at the moment.” I said honestly. I had heard the prices of jewelry stores who charged for cleaning of engagement rings, I did not want to spend that type of money when I myself didn’t see the need for it. My ring was just as shiny as ever, I mean I guess it had gotten a little dull, but nothing like a little rub down couldn’t handle.
“My dear, it is free. Please it will only take a few moments. It will give me something to do, than watching you and your friend walk around the cases and not buying anything.” She said with a small smile.
“Oh Lisa, just let her clean it. It will be all shiny for our trip.” Mandy said with a smile as she walked past me to look at the earrings.
I slid my ring off slowly, now feeling weird with it off my finger. It was probably because the weight of the ring was gone. Yet, I still handed it to her with pleading eyes as I told her to please be careful with it, because it was antique.
“My dear, it will be fine. Although I’d say, this ring looks oddly familiar. No frets though my dear, it will be cleaned in just a few minutes.” She said as she turned to go towards the far side of the counter. My eyes following her and looking around to make sure no one else hand the chance to distract her or take the ring.
“Lisa, relax, it will be fine. So what was it that you wanted to ask me?” She asked as she pulled me to her side.
“Oh, right, well I was wondering if you by any chance liked anyone these days.” I asked casually as I twirled a rack of earrings.
“Um, well, I don’t know, I mean I did, but I don’t anymore. It was just a silly crush.” Mandy said softly as she shrugged and went past me.
“Mandy…who? Who was it?” I asked with surprise in my voice. How was I just now hearing about this? I asked myself.
“Oh it doesn’t matter, really it doesn’t.” She said, and I could tell that she wanted to drop the topic, but I wasn’t giving up that easily, I had to be that nosey friend right now.
“Was it Alex from church?” I asked as I named a random guy that was part of our social circles.
“No it wasn’t, he doesn’t go to our church.” She said softly.
“Who? Mandy I promise I won’t laugh or tell.” I said as I smiled and looked at her.
“Well, I’m more afraid that you’d be mad.” She said as she looked down, avoiding my eyes. Eric. I instantly thought in my mind.
“Is it Eric?” I asked slowly. My heart speeding up as her eyes locked with mine and I knew my answer. So she did have or had a thing with Eric. I won’t lie, I did have a feeling of jealousy for a few minutes before I realized that I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing Mandy unhappy, especially when I myself didn’t know my own emotions towards the guy.
“Mandy, why would I be mad? I think that would be great if you liked him, or that you did like him.” I said with an honest smile.
“Yeah? You do? But I just thought because of the other day, that you two liked each other.” She said hesitantly. Okay well I did know that Eric liked me, but we had hoped to put that behind us, because of all the awkwardness. I didn’t anywhere close to want a boyfriend, not with everything that’s going on in my new exciting life.
“Well, I don’t want him as a boyfriend, Mandy. I don’t need that now. We are just friends. So, if you want to like him go for it.” I said again with a smile. I did want her to be happy. I wanted both of them to be happy and if Eric wanted to like someone I’d rather it be Mandy than some other random girl.
“Okay, well we’ll see, right now I think we are just friends.” She said as her gaze looked up at the elderly woman coming back towards us.
“Here you are dear. I must say, that ring is just incredible. May I ask how you came to own an Imperial ring my dear?” She asked as she handed back the ring to me, which really did look amazing now that it was all cleaned. The blue of the dark sapphire glistened and diamonds sparkled like stars against the gold.
“Well…um…” I started to stutter out, not really sure how to answer when Mandy answered for me.
“It was a gift from her great grandmother.” I looked at Mandy with intense eyes, nudging her a little, hoping that she wouldn’t tell this random nosey old lady anything else.
“Well, did your great grandmother know that she passed down a Romanov Imperial ring? I’ve only seen two of these in all of my life, both of the times they were in museums. You must take good care of it my child. It is very valuable.” She said as she glanced back down at the ring then back up at me, giving me an eerie stare as if she was trying to look for something.
“Yeah well, I guess it was a good gift. Anyways, I guess we ought to be going.” I said as I started to pull against Mandy’s shirt heading out the door.
“Well, come back again.” The elderly woman called out as we left.
“That was a close one.” I said as we headed out to Mandy’s car. I had to remember to listen to Nunna from now on about not taking off the ring.
I couldn’t believe that a random woman had recognized my ring. I had to be more careful. Just like Nunna had said, few people must know. Yet, as more days passed, the more instances like the one in the jewelry store seemed to happen. Even the elderly man from the store Nantiques seemed to be asking me more questions than normal and before I knew it the other kids in my class were asking Mr. Poloski on Tuesday where he was going for a whole week before exams, and that just sent me in straight paranoia. I was starting to think that maybe my Nunna was right, for me not to go to Russia, what if something happen? What if people found out? I had originally thought it wouldn’t be a bad thing, but something inside of me thought differently.
However it was the last piece of advice before the trip from my great grandmamma later that Tuesday afternoon that I would remember throughout my time in Russia and my life when she said, “Annalisa, you will be fine. Don’t be nervous. You are a Grand Duchess, so act like it. Trust yourself, and learn from your mistakes. Life is full of lessons that you must learn from. We all do. Have fun and be safe.” My mind echoed her words the next day as Mr. Poloski, Mandy, Eric, and I boarded the plane and bounded for Russia. I am a Grand Duchess so act like it, Life is full of lessons to learn from, I kept telling myself over and over as I looked out the window as the plane took off to Europe.
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