29 The earrings..

As expected, he invited me for dinner later that same evening. I accepted the invitation but I cancelled the last minute pretending to had sea- sickness.

The next morning, I received huge bouquet of fresh flowers which he bought to a flower shop inside the ship.

That ship was like a floating palace. People who had money were placed on first class accommodations at the top floors while those with less money were cramped beneath us.

At the upper deck, there were small boutiques for bored rich people who wanted to spend more money for suits, dresses, shoes, gowns, jewels, flowers, antiques.. and the lists went on and on.

There was a note on the bouquet saying how he missed my company and he was praying for my speedy recovery.

I instructed my servant Amelie to passed him a note telling him that I would be glad to join him for dinner that evening and again, I cancelled at the last minute.

" Keep them chasing.." That was my mother used to say. " Don't be too available and always be mysterious.." Those are few of her advices about men that she used to tell me and my sisters.

When my parents were still alive were still the Emperor and Empress of Russia, there were negotiations about our future.

My eldest sister Olga was being matched with the Crown Prince of Greece. My other sister Tatiana was being courted by one of the Granddukes of Orange and Nassau.

There were still no plans for me and my youngest sister Anastasia because our Papa were not yet ready to lose his two youngest daughters.

If my older sisters were married off and sent away a year earlier or two, they could still be alive by now.

But it wasn't meant to be..

The next morning, I received another gift. A set of new earrings made of emeralds and rubies and shaped like the north star..

I finally agreed to meet him for lunch later that day but I never expected things to go out of control..