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"Mademoisele? The headmistress wishes to speak with you" One of the servants fro She looked over at Elena, as still sleeping, andof dread clenched my stomach What had I done now? I quickly dressed and followed the servant to Madame Tomilov&039;s parlor

I was shocked to see reen rosewood sofa

"Petya!"

He stood im you home immediately Our mother is ill"

"Mon Dieu!" Was this his brilliant plan to help me?

"Can you be packed and ready to leave i with him I tried to look concerned "Yes, of course Is it serious?"

My brother frowned Oh, he was such a good actor! "I&039; for you"

Mada, child I shal say a prayer for the duchess"

"Thank you, madas together in a trunk I grabbed my cloak and muff too I did not bother to wake Elena or Dariya They would hear soon enough

"That was very clever," I told my brother as we dashed away toward Betskoi House, our family home on the Palace Embank close to the Winter Palace "I cannot believe you kidnapped rins" My brother shook his head, looking gri out for you," he said

I stared at hi me"

"I&039;m sorry, dear sister I wish it were just a joke" My face burned with sha the headood person Unlike me Maman&039;s ill ness could even be my fault What if Princess Militza had spoken to her about the ball? I was silent the rest of the journey, with knots of worry twisting inside

As the sleigh pulled through the iron gates into our courtyard, I ju for it to come to a complete stop

I threw my cloak off as I ran up the marble staircase "Maman? Maman?" I called

Her pink boudoir was dark with the heavy curtains pulled shut Maman was indeed confined to her bed, as levski, our old fa her pulse Papa sat on the other side of the bed He looked anxious

"hello,her hand out to me She didn&039;t seeers were like ice

"Yourhis watch back into his coat pocket "She had an attack of hysterics last night after her card party Rest is all she needs right now"

"But she&039;s so pale Is she ane your father&039;s books, I see Do not be troubled; your mother does not suffer from aneh I&039; to leave her in your hands now, Katerina Alexandrovna" He patted me on the shoulder as he followed Papa out He so of lad to see you But I do wish you wouldn&039;t bother the doctor so about irl&039;s silly ideas"

"Dr Kruglevski has always been kind to me, and has even promised to let me see his lab one day"

Maman rolled her eyes "Katerina! What shal I do with you? And I a to Cetinje with your new friends I&039; forward to it" I patted her hand as I sat on the edge of her bed "No, Marins are not o to their hos, dear When Princess Militza marries Grand Duke Peter Nikolayevich, she will be very influential in the Romanov court Besides, what if Princess Stana does marry my brother? Then she will be part of the family!"

Actually, Grand Duke Peter was my cousin on my father&039;s side, so both of the older princesses could end up as relatives I frowned at the thought

"Now, Maht Why does Dr