One afternoon, George and I went horseback riding together in the palace gardens.

"I thought Nicky was coming as well," I said when I saw that he was unaccompanied. I knew that the two brothers enjoyed one another company and usually did things together.

"He said he had a headache," George told me. I had a funny feeling that there might have been more to it than that, but, determined to have a good time, I let it go.

We'd been riding for less than an hour when lightning flashed in the sky, and it was suddenly raining, hard. Chagrined, we took our horses into the stable and rubbed them down, then went inside.

I was on my way back to my room to change into dry clothing when I heard muffled voices from behind a closed door. Curious, I stopped to listen for a minute. A male voice that I immediately recognized as Nicholas' was speaking in low tones, and then a female voice laughed, a high-pitched, tinkling laugh.

I went on my way to my room and changed clothes, then went to find George. As I was walking back down the same hallway, I saw Mathilde hurry out of the room and run in the opposite direction. I only saw her back, but I knew it was her.

At the evening meal, Nicholas and George both acted exactly as they always did. I wondered whether George knew that Nicholas and Mathilde had spent the afternoon together.

A few days later, I finally received a letter from my parents.

Dearest Bonnie,

We were both so pleased to hear from you, although we were, of course, quite perturbed in your change of plans. I cannot believe that the traveling agency we contracted with were inept enough to make such a colossal mistake, especially after all the money we paid them.
Even so, it appears that things have worked out rather well for you. It was indeed a stroke of good fortune that set you in the path of the Russian royal family. A Grand Duke! That exceeds the highest hopes we had for you in terms of marrying well.
Please, darling, remember what we told you about not compromising yourself, as you know that, although that may initially succeed in capturing a man's attention, in the end you will lose him, as he shall choose a woman of virtue when he is ready to marry. We trust that you have the wisdom to make the right decision where such matters are involved.
It grieves us, especially your father, to know that you are so far away, and we have no idea when we shall ever see you again, but we know that as you are now an adult, we must allow you the freedom to choose your own life.
Please remember that we will both always love you very much.

All our love,

Mother and Father

Suddenly I felt an unexpected pang of homesickness and began to cry. A few minutes later, I felt the soft touch of a feminine hand upon my shoulder. Expecting to see George's mother, I turned around and was shocked to see Mathilde instead. Both of us just stared at one another for a moment, unsure of what to say.

"I was crying because I'm homesick," I finally told her, breaking the silence. "I miss my parents and brother and sister."

"You're George's American friend." She nodded in understanding. "Nicky told me about you. I'm Mathilde."

"My name is Bonnie Blue Butler." I smiled and shook her hand. As curious as I was about her, I suddenly found myself tongue-tied.

"I've seen you around." Her dark eyes were fixed on me, as if she were trying to read my thoughts. "Tell me about America. I've never been there."

"The state I come from is called Georgia. It's in the South. It's a lot warmer there than it is here in St. Petersburg. There are pecan trees and peach orchards and peanut farms and lots and lots of cotton fields."

"And what does your family do?"

"What do they do?" I wasn't really sure how to answer her question. "My father's always been a businessman, dealing in...various different things. My mother grew up on a huge plantation with many slaves. After the war, she owned and operated a sawmill for awhile, but she gave that up when I was a little girl." I hesitated, and she waited for me to continue. "What about your family?"

"We've always lived for the dance. I've been studying ballet since I was a very young girl."

"George told me that was how you met Nicky."

"Yes. My family and his have close ties. We've always performed for their Imperial Highnesses."

"And yet you cannot marry him."

Mathilde's eyes narrowed. "Who told you that?"

"George. He told me that the heir to the throne has to marry royalty."

She sighed. "I know that Nicky must some day marry and take over the his duties to his country, and yet...I sometimes wish so that things could always continue as they are now between us. I love Nicky very much, and I know that he loves me as well."

I thought of Alix of Hesse and also of the contents of my parents' letter and concluded that Mathilde may be in for a heartbreaking surprise in the future.