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I searched the long corridors of the Grand Palace for the grand duchess

The private apartments were on the opposite side of the palace from the ball room I kneouldn&039;t haveforon a couch in the Blue Roorand staircase She still looked pale, and was holding her belly

"Your Ihness? Can I send for anyone?" She shook her head "Katerina, do not worry about rins have uncovered Cantacuzene&039;s secret and resurrected her dead lover, Konstantin Pavlovich He is going after the tsar before the bogatyr can be surand duchess s, I&039;m afraid, except keep the rest of the Dark Court out of the fight The Russian vampires ish to side with Konstantin, of course He and Princess Cantacuzene createdwho are bitter about Nicholas&039;s brutality in crushing the Dekebristi To revenge the"

"I ahness," I said "I was there when Queen Milena released hi And then he disappeared, and there was nothing anyone could do"

"Soon everyone will know The tsar will not be pleased-if he survives"

"Why do you care?" I asked suspiciously "Would you not be happy to see the tsar dead?"

"Alexander Alexandrovich is a foe I much prefer to Konstantin Pavlovich

What hope wouldthe throne frorimace as her face drained of all color

"Is it the twins?" I asked anxiously "It is much too early, isn&039;t it?" She nodded and clutched her abdomen with a strained whisper:

"Katerina, send for Dr Badmaev I cannot let the vaasped and realized the grand duchess was indeed beginning to hee Mon Dieu "Can you walk at all?" I asked "I can send for our carriage"

The grand duchess shook her head "I cannot leave the palace" I helped her down the long corridor to her private rooms Her maids quickly undressed her and helped her into bed They had a footman send for the Tibetan doctor It would take several hours, however, for theand to return with the doctor

"Shal I get rand duchess suffer The cold light that surrounded her see to open her eyes Her s

I hurried down the corridor, heading back to the ball roo me first