1917
"Mademoiselle Bonnefoy!" Ana's shrill voice came from the top of the staircase. "I didn't think you would come!"
Nicholas's hand pressed into Marianne's back. Marianne smiled and looked up to Ana. "I know how much you wanted to see me petit enfant. " Ana had reached the middle landing in which Marianne was standing a step below looking up to her. Reaching her hand to touch Ana's face she wiped away the bead of sweat on her nose. "Besides I promised I would show you the latest fashion in gowns from Paris." Grabbing Ana's hands she stepped onto the middle landing. Opening her arms she let Ana's eyes roam over the beaded crystal dress.
"You must do that beautiful turn you do and show me all of it Mademoiselle Bon." Ana dropped Marianne's hands and stepped back waiting on her to turn.
Marianne stepped to her right showing off the taunting slit in her dress. Pivoting she walked a few paces, letting the train fan out behind her. Ana's gasp made her look over her shoulder. Ana's eyes were saucers, Nicholas's eyes seemed to travel up her dress and her legs they seemed to come to rest on her mouth. Marianne smiled, making Ana giggle and Nicholas shifting uncomfortably.
"Mademoiselle Bonnefoy. What a surprise to see you tonight." Braginsky's voice stopped the smile on Ana's face and seemed to cause an unpleasant chill in the air.
"I wouldn't call it a surprise Braginsky. You know I can not simply turn away a formal invitation to a ball. Plus here I know I'll be outstanding." Marianne had made her way to the top of the stair case and held out her hand to him.
"Outstanding is not the word I would use Bonnefoy." Taking her hand he pressed his lips hard against her skin.
"Hmm. Remember Ivan, guest are watching." Marianne pulled her hand away. Nicholas appeared at her left elbow. Marianne turned to watch Ana come up the stairs with a look of dread in her eyes. Turning she smiled at Ivan. "If you'll excuse Nicholas and I we have guest to impress."
They walked a few paces before Ivan's voice called out to her. "Bonnefoy! Remember Nicholas is a married man."
Marianna turned to face him, facing him with a dazzling smile."Remember Anastasia is just a child." Laughing she placed her hand in the crock of Nicholas's elbow.
The hall was outdone in paintings of the past and present royal family. "Nicholas I wish you would take my offer to go to Paris and bring Ana with you. It'll do you both good. There's a fire that's soon to began... I can feel it Nicholas..."
"There is nothing of the sort. Besides I already asked Ivan and he refused. He does not like the thought of Ana being away for so long..." He stopped in front of a mural of The Mother of Russia.
"She was amazing in her time Nicholas... Strong and fearless."
Sighing, Nicholas looked at Marianne. "So I have been told." Laughing he pushed on the frame and waited for the door to open. Having the door open he stepped back to let Marianne through first, looking side to side to make sure no one saw, he followed her in.
The room was a secret but to a few. In case there ever did happen to be a attempt on any of the royal family, the family had installed hidden rooms. In the rooms there were other hidden passages that led to safety, but in case those passages were blocked windows looked out from the rooms. The rooms of course were simple, not meant for a week stay. Though a little tussle in the bed? Marianne slid the straps off her shoulders, daring the dress to fall. She stopped in the middle of the room waiting for Nicholas. Nicholas took his time watching the crystals twinkle in the candelight. Even though Nicholas had not agreed with Marianne about a fire starting, he knew it would be soon and he was going to enjoy the little time he had left with her. Nicholas to be in front of Marianne, kneeling down, he softly grabbed her ankle, bringing it forward to where it was resting on his knee. He leaned forward kissing her pale leg. Hooking his finger in the back of her shoe, he lifted her foot off his knee and slipped the flat off, softly tossing it to the side. He repeated the same motion on her other foot though this time kissing the inside of her ankles and making little love bites.
"Marianne... I wish you could bear my children so I could keep you close..." Nicholas looked up at her, pleading with his eyes.
"Nicho..." She leaned down and placed her hands on either side of face. "I already have... You have a loving wife who took him in... She has kept silent about the affair... She loves you and I will not take that away from her... This is your place. Not mine." Removing her hands, she stood straight and stepped back.
Nicholas looked down, noticing the shine of shoe. Looking back up, he pushes off the floor and stands. Stepping forward, he pulls the straps of Marianne's dress down letting the dress fall to the ground. Marianne looks straight ahead, slightly blushing as Nicholas looks over her nakedness. Holding his hand out, Marianne takes his offered hand and steps out of the dress. Leading Marianne to the bed he pushes her onto her back. Kneeling in front of her, he pushes her legs open causing her blush to grow more.
He pauses to look at her face, she explains the blush."E-even though we've fucked many times...I-It still makes me nervous every time..." Nicholas's smiles leans forward kissing her clit.
Marianne leans back slightly, moaning as Nicholas's tongue enters her. "...Nicholas..." Marianne's hand in tangles in Nicholas sandy brown hair. Nicholas runs his hands up her thighs, pushing them further apart, he sucks softly on her clit. "Nicholas... Please..." Nicholas hands roamed up to Marianne's breast, squeezing them hard. Marianne's moans make Nicholas kiss his way up, stopping and sucking on her skin every now and then. Marianne's hands fumble with Nicholas pants, yanking them down hard.
Nicholas's intakes a sharp breath as Marianne mouth wraps around his tip. Moving his hands into her hair, he pushes himself into her mouth causing her to chock slightly. He pulls back and pushes Marianne onto the bed, her hair falls loosely around her shoulder. Nicholas centers himself at her entrance, pausing with just the tip in her.
He stares at Marianne, not so much of staring but studying. The way how the candlelight flickers across her skin. He looks at her small mouth that he's watched pout so many times. "Nichol..." Marianne's hand brush against his cheek, he turns his head kissing the palm. Biting it to keep her hand there he pushes into her, looking at her as she moans. "Nicholas...Yes..." Marianne wraps her legs around him, making him thrust fast and hard.
"Marianne... Maria..." Nicholas uses his free hands to roam her body, pinching her nipples, causing a gasp. Marianne grabs his hand and intertwines her fingers with his.
"Nichol... faster...Faster... Yes...yes...yes..." Nicholas could feel Marianne tighten around him.
BOOM! Nicholas froze as a palace guard came through the hidden door. Marianne had just came around him at the time of the bang causing Nicholas to come. Though he held his place inside her, he looked at the guard.
"Czar... they're coming in... the pheasants... You need to leave for safety..." The guard was panting. He took a few more breaths before returning to a normal breathing. "Your family will be waiting for you in the passages." He finally saw Marianne on the bed and turned to the open door. "I'll escort you to them once you are... Ready."
Nicholas had already pulled out of Marianne, stepping back he fixed his uniform. Walking to the middle of the room he picked up Marianne's dress. Walking back to her, he fished the small locket out of his pocket. Nicholas held out his hand for her, taking it she stood up looking up into Nicholas eyes. Stepping to the side she let Nicholas hold open the dress for her, stepping through Marianne pulled the dress up, sliding the straps back onto her shoulders.
"Marianne... I do not know when or if I will see you again... I had this locket prepared for you for a gift to give you on our sons' birthday to thank you for giving me him... I want you to have it now... In case something happens.." Nicholas grabs Mariannes' hand and forces the locket into her hands. Grabbing her by her shoulders he kisses her roughly on her forehead, stepping back he side steps her and heads to the guard. "Escort Mademoiselle Bonnefoy out to the west side of the palace. Make sure she is safe and see her safely to her home... In France. I will go find my family." Nicholas left the room.
The palace guard looks to Marianne. "We must hurry Mademoiselle." Closing the hidden door the palace guard briskly walks to a mirror. Grabbing a hold of a candle stick holder, he smashes the end of the stick into the mirror causing the mirror to cave in. Marianne had begun to gather her dress and put her shoes back on when the sound of guns going off in the hallway made her pause. The palace guard did not hesitate. He jerked on her arm pushing her through the now passage way. Pushing her into a run, the set off into the west side of the palace.
Five weeks later
Marianne had been back in France for a week and no word had reached her about the Czar or his family. She opened the locket remembering the rest of the night.
When she and the palace guard had made it back to her private resident in the country, servants were wearily. She had by then had had enough time to decide on what to do. "Pack everything up. We are leaving tonight for home. Board everything up. I do not want my home here harmed by this thing that is happening." After changing into warm traveling cloths she waited for the carriage to be packed, running her finger over the locket Nicholas had given her she opened the circle orb. Her eyes watered. The inside had a photograph of Nicholas and her and of their son when he was just born. Tears streamed down her face. On the other side he had engraved all three of their names.
"Mademoiselle Bonnefoy... Everything is ready." Nodding her head, she closed the locket and placed the chain around her neck. Walking quickly to the carriage she heard the door close behind her and boards being placed over them. Stepping into the carriage, she closed the world out and held onto the necklace.
Sitting now on the patio of her auvent, she sipped her tea. She was late and she hoped that in eight months she would be able to have another piece of Nicholas with her again.
