Read Online Anastasia Romanov: The Last Grand Duchess #10 by Ann Hood - Free Book Online Page A

that. “Yes!” she said. “
This
white house has one hundred and sixteen rooms!”
    She pointed to the palace.
    â€œAll four facades are different,” she said. “Isn’t that creative?”
    The girl took up her end of the trunk again, and she and Maisie continued toward the palace.
    â€œWhat happened to your king when the government changed?” the girl asked Maisie.
    Maisie shuddered, remembering what was going to happen to this royal family.
    â€œWe never had a king,” she told the girl. “When we became independent from England, we decided to have a president.”
    â€œHow odd!” the girl said.
    When they reached the palace, the girl put down the trunk, motioning for Maisie to do the same.
    â€œI’ll get someone to take it from here,” she explained.
    They walked through a large rose garden, the smell of the flowers so heavy and sweet that it was almost too much to breathe in.
    Glass doors led into a large, blindingly white dining room.
    Almost immediately a beautiful woman with red-gold hair piled on top of her head and a loose, flowing white dress with lace at her throat and hem swept into the room. At the sight of the girl, she looked horrified.
    â€œWhy, you’re filthy!” the woman exclaimed.
    The girl grinned at her.
    â€œI’ve climbed almost every tree in the south grove,” she said proudly.
    â€œThe priests are arriving soon,” the woman said. “You must get a bath immediately.”
    The woman’s gaze swept over Maisie.
    â€œAnd who are you?”
    â€œMaisie Robbins,” Maisie said politely, and surprised herself by curtsying.
    Maisie produced the letter of introduction and handed it to the woman.
    â€œYes, yes,” she said, barely glancing at it. “We’ll get you and your . . .”
    Her eyes settled on something written there.
    â€œYou and your brother settled,” she said.
    â€œYou’ve got a brother?” the girl said happily.
    â€œFelix,” Maisie said.
    â€œAnd where is he?” the woman asked.
    Maisie had practically forgotten about Felix. Where was he?
    â€œOn his way,” she said.
    â€œFine, fine,” the woman said, tossing the letter on the long dining-room table. Above it, an elaborate chandelier glittered in the bright sunlight.
    Something caught the woman’s attention.
    â€œIs that for me?” she asked, her eyes widening.
    Before Maisie could answer, the woman had taken the lace-wrapped Fabergé egg from her.
    Slowly, she untied the knot that held the corners together and let the lace fall away to reveal the egg.
    â€œIt’s lovely!” the woman gasped, holding it up so that the sunlight caught the shine of all the jewels. “And . . . it’s made by Fabergé, isn’t it?”
    Maisie nodded.
    â€œYou Americans do bring the most decadent hostess gifts,” the woman said. “Thank you. And thank Mr. Pickworth for us.”
    Who’s us?
Maisie wondered.
    She thought this woman might be the head of the household, in charge of the servants and the kitchen. Surely she should
not
have the egg.
    â€œDoes it have a surprise inside?” the woman was asking Maisie.
    Maisie swallowed hard. She didn’t know whom the egg was for, but the treasure was never for an adult. This woman, whoever she was, couldn’t take the egg.
    But she was already sweeping back out of the room, saying, “I must show Nikki.”
    The girl left with her, skipping out the door, and leaving Maisie very much alone.
    Someone who clearly was a maid showed Maisie to her room, which was small and plain and disappointing. It did have a little balcony that looked out to the sea, and Maisie stood out there taking in the beautiful view and wondering where Felix had landed. She watched as two footmen carried her trunk inside, and soon enough they knocked at her door and deposited it in her room. Before she’d even finished