She awakened in his arms the following morning, fond memories of the previous night's tender lovemaking filling her mind. It surprised her that she didn't feel guilty at all for having bedded a man who wasn't her husband. With Illya, it somehow had just seemed right. Was it because he'd saved her life, and those of her children? Was it because he'd become such a good friend, showering her with presents and attention, sharing confidences as she and Nicholas had done? Was it a combination of reasons? All she knew was that when she was with him, she felt young again, as if all the heartaches and trials she'd been through simply melted away and she still had a shining future to look forward to.

"What are you so deeply in thought about?"

She looked to see him smiling at her. "Only how happy I feel right now, and how full of hope the future seems to be."

He chuckled and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I love you, beautiful Alexandra."

"I love you too, darling Illya." She realized that it was true.

"I must be honest." Illya sounded grave, and Alexandra felt her heart do a flip-flop. "I cannot marry you, darling. It is forbidden in my profession. I cannot even promise you a future together, as my position is so dangerous and unpredictable. All I can say is that I will be here for you when you need me, for as long as I am able to be."

"I would never ask any more of you," Alexandra told him. "I was married for almost a quarter of a century to a man who was my life, as I was his. That's all anyone could ask for in one lifetime. But you, dear Illya...you have never experienced that joy. It's my fondest hope that you will some day, if not with me, then with someone else."

Illya's eyes held a faraway look. "I realize what I have given up in order to pursue this life. Yet it is the life for me, and I have no regrets about it," he said softly.

"I pray that you never will," said Alexandra.

"You are a wonderful woman," Illya told her. "I hope you realize how precious you are to me."

"And you to me." Suddenly there was a lump in her throat. Fearful that her face would betray how she felt, she turned it away from him, but a moment later, she felt him holding her tightly to himself. She sighed and relaxed into his embrace, and he slowly ran his hand up and down her arm.

"How are Mr. Kharitonov and Mr. Trupp liking their positions?" he asked her. He'd find a position in the UNCLE headquarter's cafeteria for the former cook and an entry-level security position for the former footman.

"They are both doing very well, thank you," Alexandra replied. "I cannot thank you enough for the kindnesses you've shown my family and our former servants."

"You have already thanked me plenty." Illya grinned.


The following morning, Alexandra asked Anna how her date with Napoleon had gone.

"It went wonderfully," Anna told her. "Napoleon was a perfect gentleman. We listened to some music and danced, and I began to feel very comfortable with him. He was so romantic and flattering. I remembered everything you'd told me about him, and I guess he could tell that something was amiss, because he asked me what was on my mind. I told him that I wasn't sure what was expected of me. He reassured me that he wouldn't expect me to do anything that I was uncomfortable with, which was a tremendous relief to me. I did have a very nice time with him, and we have planned to get together again soon."

"I'm glad it worked out so well for you," Alexandra told her former servant, who was now in training to become a cosmetologist.


Illya sent the photos of Maria and Alexandra that he'd taken to a fashion magazine, and the editor was very impressed and wanted to meet the girls. In the end, they were both offered part time positions as models. They were thrilled, and their mother was pleased that they'd found something to do to make them happy.

Over the next few weeks, Alexandra began to experience troubling physical symptoms. They weren't new to her, as she'd experienced them before, but the last time had been about a decade and a half ago, and she'd truly never expected to experience them again in her life. After telling herself for days that there must be some other explanation for the symptoms, she finally visited a physician.