He towered over her, the frying pan's handle clutched tightly in one fist. She huddled on the floor, terrified, her eyes sweeping frantically first left and then right, futilely searching for a way to escape. The frying pan came down, down...

She awoke with a scream, and for a minute couldn't remember where she was and what had happened. Then she became aware of strong arms holding her, a soothing voice comforting her, and she remembered that she was with Michael and they were on a train.

"Don't be afraid, malenkaya. You're safe now, and everything's going to be all right." Michael held her and spoke softly to her until she felt herself begin to relax in his arms. Both of them eventually fell back to sleep that way.

The morning sunlight streaming through the windows awakened them a few hours later. Natalya blinked at the passing countryside in wonder.

"We're not in Russia anymore, are we?" she asked.

"No." Michael smiled. "We're far away from St. Petersburg. I have some friends in Vienna. You'll be safe there. He won't be able to find you."

"But why did you rescue me, Your Grace?"

Michael smiled. "Please, just call me Michael, or Misha, if you prefer. I rescued you because I knew that he had been abusing you and you're far too lovely a woman to have to take that kind of treatment."

"You're a very kind man, Your...Misha." She smiled shyly and blushed.

"Think nothing of it, malenkaya. As a member of Russia's royal family, it's my responsibility to protect and defend all its citizens."Michael smiled and gently touched her chin. "You are very beautiful, malenkaya. Much too beautiful to be with a brute like him."

"Thank you." Natalya's face was burning. She couldn't meet his eyes. "He was perfectly nice at first, handsome and charming. I was very young and didn't know anything. I feel for him head over heels. Everything was good for a while. Then he started drinking a lot, and...everything changed. Lots of times, when he was drunk, he would...hurt me. I wanted to get away from him, but I didn't know where to go."

"Well, all that's behind you now, Natalya. He'll never be able to hurt you again." He gazed at her hair and longed to touch it, but he was afraid that that would appear too forward.

"Have you never married yourself, then?"

He shook his head.

"Yet your brother had a bride brought in from Germany especially for him."

Michael laughed. "One of the perks of being the heir to the throne is that you get your bride chosen especially for you from amongst all the eligible European princesses. As for me, I'll just have to be happy with someone more local."

"Yet that isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it?"

He noticed the teasing lilt to her voice and laughed again. "Of course not!"

"Your nieces and nephew are absolutely adorable. I'd love to meet them someday."

"Thank you. I'm sure that you will."

"Yet I fear that your nephew has a serious health issue, does he not?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm not at liberty to comment on that. It's a personal family matter."

"Of course. I apologize. I didn't mean to sound intrusive. I was only concerned."

"It's quite all right. I appreciate your concern."

Michael and Natalya were so busy talking that they almost forgot to get off at their stop.