Read Online Imperial Dancer: Mathilde Kschessinska and the Romanovs by Coryne Hall - Free Book Online

their lives to a lucky chance. Boris had once bought some pictures from a struggling artist in Paris – this man was now the Bolshevik commander. Lestchinsky returned them to their villa thenext day with an escort of his own men because he did not trust the local soldiers. Even at the last minute the Piatigorsk soldiers were still unwilling to let them go without an order from the local Soviet.
    Back at the villa Lestchinsky set up a guard of his own men and advised the Grand Dukes not to go out as their safety could not be guaranteed. The next day Kube was freed from the local prison. Lestchinsky strongly advised them to flee into the mountains before the Piatigorsk Soviet had them re-arrested. It would be more difficult for him to intervene a second time.
    Armed with false papers provided by Lestchinsky, which stated they were on the business of the Soviet, Boris, Andrei and Kube left on 26 August. In a two-horse brake they headed for the Kabarda where the chief Circassian tribe, the Kabards, lived on the north slope of the mountain. They wandered at first from village to village but finally Andrei found a trustworthy man who promised to let Mathilde know where they were. Although she could not communicate with Andrei, Mathilde was relieved to know he was safe, yet it has never been explained why she was not arrested.
    In late September Shkuro captured Kislovodsk and the Bolsheviks fled. The townspeople were able to live in peace again – but not for long. On 5 October rumours circulated that the Cossacks had left. Mathilde and her party were advised to go at once to the Grand Hotel, from where they were sent on a wagon to join other fugitives at Piatnitzky Market. It was a false alarm. The Bolsheviks had been repelled. Shkuro told everyone to return home but they kept their bags packed. To Mathilde’s delight Andrei returned with Boris and Kube the following night, escorted by a party of nobles from the Kabarda.
    Two days later they all had to flee. Civil war was raging between the ‘Reds’ (Bolsheviks) and the ‘White’ Volunteer Army formed early in 1918, which comprised monarchists, former members of the Tsar’s army, even republicans – anyone, in fact, whose goal was to overthrow the Bolshevik regime. 9 In this atmosphere Mathilde, Vova, Julie, Ali, Zina and her companion Marie were taken to Piatnitzky Market in a wagon. Andrei and Boris arrived in their own car. Andrei joined Mathilde and Vova on the crowded wagon, Boris and Zina used another wagon, while Julie and Ali (who may have been unwell) were given the use of the Grand Ducal car. Presumably the Grand Duchess travelled in a separate vehicle. Most of their possessions were left in Kislovodsk with Ludmilla and Ivan. All around refugees werefleeing, some on foot, carrying everything they could salvage. When the Bolsheviks arrived a week later they took 101 people into the mountains and shot them in front of an open grave.
    Shkuro instructed the group to take the road to Tambiev. In a mountainous area, where travelling was always difficult unless travellers stuck to the railways or the carriage route, Mathilde and her companions faced an arduous journey. The 1914 Baedeker guide advised that the best method of travel was on horseback as the only vehicle procurable was the primitive Telega, a four-wheeled cart without springs. Those who intended to leave the beaten track should bring with them everything from rugs and a lantern, to bread, tea, soap, insect repellent and writing materials. Baedeker, of course, gave no advice about how to cope when fleeing from the Bolsheviks in a civil war. Luckily Andrei had brought some blankets.
    In autumn the days were short, the nights cold. Among the refugees was an old friend from Strelna days, Boris Gartmann, whose wife Princess Marie Bielosselsky had been paralysed while still young. She lay helpless in a wagon, never losing hope, her courage never faltering, neither under Bolshevik fire nor torrential rain. Nor did