by JG Hampton
Thank you for civilizing me and teaching me some manners. Because of your efforts, another polished diamond -me- has been added to Mama's collection. With love and kisses, Alexei Romanov, the Last Czarovitch
I put these in white envelopes in Mama's empty jewel box where I was certain the pair would find them. I wound up the music box so that it would play The Sleeping Beauty Waltz when the lid was opened and wiped the tears from my eyes.
13 August 1917 - 26 August 1917 - Everything is ready for our departure. Almost three dozen people were going with us although the destination is still unknown. Were we really going to Siberia as rumored? Perhaps we'd be sent to Rasputin's village and I'd be able to sleep on a stove alongside of my Mama and Papa in order to keep warm in quilts stuffed with straw during cold nights. Our two doctors, Botkin and Dervenko, were going with us along with Dr. Botkin's two children, Gleb and Tatiana. Imagine having to take your children into exile! Mama said that he couldn't very well leave them alone, besides, they were well mannered children and were like part of the family. Anastasia and I had often entertained them and they reciprocated.
M. Gilliard, Prince D. and Ilya Tatichev, Count B.'s replacement, were the men accompanying us into exile. Anastasia Hendrikov and Mademoiselle Schneider would be the women attending us along with a few faithful cooks and servants. Auntie Annya was also being left behind. What would she ever do without us?
I was nervous, but excited at the same time. One of my uncles was allowed to meet with Papa before we left. I wasn't to see him. I still had mixed feelings about my uncles. Had they done enough to save the throne and the family dynasty?
Hadn't King George managed to save his throne in England? Even Uncle Ernie appeared to be saving his throne in Hesse-Darmstadt. Had I not been a bleeder, I tell myself, I would have saved my own throne. What were my uncles' excuses? They had the best of health.
The dogs including Tatiana's small spaniel were placed in their carriers along with a good supply of dried dog food and ingenious bottles of water which dripped drops of water when licked. My clever Mama had thought of everything.
Taking my diary, I wrapped it in a waterproof tarp and went down the cellar. Under the dustiest bottle of wine I could find. I placed my diary.