Chapter Fifteen

Dinner for Five plus One

Two hours, two hours was all the time I had to get ready for the meeting that could probably change the rest of my life, or at least make it even more interesting than it already was.  Not to mention that thirty minutes out the two hours was used up by trying to decide what to wear.  Mandy and I were lucky to go shopping a few days prior to the trip, and we were able to buy some dinner dresses, and even a formal gown, if we needed it, however I didn’t know how formal this dinner was suppose to be.  Was I supposed to know this Count Dubrov was royalty? Was I supposed to know that Mr. Poloski was royalty too?  How was I supposed to act at dinner? Do I bow, do I shake his hand?  What if he notices the resemblances of me to my other royal family, which I still had yet to meet?  I tried to remember the last minute lessons that Nunna taught me just days before we left to come to St. Petersburg, and then I even helped Mandy for a brief moment before we walked out of our hotel room and went down to the awaiting car that was for us.

“I’m never going to remember all of this you know Lisa.” Mandy said as she tried one more time in her dress and heels to do a proper semi-formal bow.

“Me either, I’m just going try to remember to not fall, I mean I don’t know why I decided to dress in these heels.” I said nervously as we walked outside of the hotel to the black Lincoln town escort car.

“Maybe because they look amazing with your dress. Don’t worry, you won’t trip, and if you do, just remember to fall gracefully.” She said with a little giggle causing me to crack a smile with her while remembering when I told her about my grandmother’s last minute etiquette lessons and her telling me if I must fall to fall gracefully, whatever that means. 

“Good evening ladies.” The driver said as he opened the car door for us allowing us to slide into the car where Mr. Poloski and Eric were already waiting for us in, and boy did those two clean up good.

“Wow, Eric, I haven’t seen you looking this fancy since prom.” Mandy said with a smile as she slid to the middle seat next to him.  He was looking great in his all black suit ensemble, yet I began to laugh when I saw his black and white checkered chucks underneath his pants.

“Hey don’t laugh; I forgot to bring my other shoes.” He said as he smiled and adjusted his pant legs over his shoes a little more.

“Well, I’m sure no one is going to be paying attention to your feet.” I said with a smile, as I tried to ease his embarrassment.

“Yeah whatever, I don’t really care anyways, I’m a guy, and I don’t have to be all into fashion like you two ladies.” He said with a shrug and a smirk as he finally checked out the dresses that Mandy and I were wearing.

I was grateful that the awkwardness had subsided for a little bit as we drove towards the restaurant that Mr. Poloski had arranged for us to eat at with his uncle.  My nerves were beginning to grow more and more noticeable with every moment that passed, and even when I glanced at Mr. Poloski, he seemed to be unusually quiet himself because of this meeting.  I just prayed that I would represent my family well tonight, that I could act like a Grand Duchess that I am, and that I could become mentally prepared for the possible royal life ahead of me.

Finally, about forty-five minutes later of the nightly traffic we arrived at 1913 a very upscale restaurant, from the outside look of it. As our town car approached a white gloved valet personal opened the door, allowing me to step out “gracefully” as Nunna had taught me. This was it, I had to now act like the royal that I am, which meant to think tall and gracefully. Like I had said a dozen times in my head and now again, I was so going to have to thank Nunna for those last minute lessons.

“Thank you.” I said politely in Russian to the young male who had opened my door. However, he didn’t say a word back just gave me a slight nod, as he went to open Mr. Poloski’s door.

“Thank you lad, tell me, has Count Dubrov arrived yet?” He asked softly, and again the young male just nodded slightly. My nerves were now going crazy, and I couldn’t keep myself from playing with the imperial ring on my left hand that I wore. Every step that we took towards the entrance to the restaurant seemed to match the beat of my heart, as if a loud drum was thumping, creating a feel of a grand entrance.  Was this how Nunna felt every time she went places when she was younger? I wondered to myself.

Mr. Poloski continued to walk in front of us, as we walked into the restaurant, and I could just feel the eyes of people who stood in line waiting for a table, I could just imagine what they must be thinking or wondering, however when Mr. Poloski gave the name for the table that had been reserved, that’s when just about all eyes who were in earshot turned to look at us.

“Right this way Sire, Count Dubrov has only just arrived himself.” A very well dressed server appeared and guided us to a very secluded room towards the back of the restaurant. As we walked, more eyes seemed to look up and stare at us, some quickly glanced away as I looked back at them and gave them a little “take a picture, it’ll last longer” smile. My eyes and my mind were going everywhere, was I prepared to be the center of attention like this all of the time, like Mr. Poloski was saying? Was I prepared to meet my cousin? Then Nunna’s words echoed in my mind again like it had been for the entire trip, “you are a Grand Duchess of Russia.  Act like it.” I took a deep breath and thought in my mind how Nunna would have acted like when she met other royals, and then my mind started to have images of Audrey Hepburn in the Roman Holiday, as well as, My Fair Lady, and somehow that helped me gain my confidence, I can do this. I encouraged myself.

“Ah William, welcome! It’s good to see you.” A low deep voice which spoke Russian said enthusiastically.  My eyes quickly took in the room and assessed the salt and peppered haired royal standing before Mr. Poloski and the rest of us.  Yet my eyes quickly went from the older man to the young male that was standing directly behind him.

“Ah you remember your cousin Rostislav Romanov from your last trip, I hope.” Dubrov said as he stepped aside revealing more of the young, and very good looking guy who had to be in his early twenties, yet the last name was what made my heart begin to beat harder and louder.  Romanov, he was a Romanov. My mind kept saying over and over in my mind.

“Nice to see you again Ros, and Uncle, may I introduce a few friends of mine. Miss Annalisa Peterson, Miss Mandy Johnson, and Mr. Eric Lawson.” Mr. Poloski said as he introduced us one by one. Mandy and I gave him a little curtsey, and Eric just stood there after he shook his hand.

“Welcome, shall we sit?” Dubrov asked as he turned his hand towards the long oval dinner table that was very elegantly set.

I walked around the table following Mr. Poloski, feeling the eyes of both Dubrov and Ros, probably analyzing me to see how I being an American will react in front of royalty. I glanced up as I took my set and caught the eyes of Dubrov who gave me a fatherly wink as I smiled back looking back at my friends who I could tell was starting to become awkwardly uncomfortable.  Then I turned back glancing at Ros who was studying me. Okay why are you studying me, Creeper? Was all that I could think of in my mind, and I guess he got the vibe because he quickly started up a conversation about the states, and asking us all questions.

Turns out that Ros was actually from Lake Forest, Illinois, and he had moved back to Moscow to live with his relatives after high school to improve of his Russian, and to be reconnected with his family, and was considered to be the last remaining direct descendant of the Imperial Romanov Family line. I guess you’ve got some competition in the “last direct descendant” category. I thought to myself briefly as I looked from him and back towards Mandy, who had not taken her eyes off of him, which I accidentally giggled softly out loud causing everyone to look at me briefly before turning back to the current conversation of Mr. Poloski’s secondary school teaching position.

Before I knew it we were all laughing, and actually having a good time.  All my nerves were put aside, and I actually felt like I was just having dinner with friends, despite three of them being royalty and related to me.

“So, Lisa, how do you like Russia so far?” Ros directed the next set of conversational questions to me, with a half smile.

“I’m loving every moment of it.” I said honestly, yet in my head I was totally flipping out with what I wanted to say, like how being this close to where my family came from was just amazing, how Russia has been calling my name ever since we landed.  Oh and I’m your long lost cousin, so you’re not the last Romanov.

“What has been your favorite part?” Dubrov asked as he took a bite of his Siberian meat stuffed dumplings, which was exactly what I had ordered myself, and it was so good.

“Probably today’s tour of The Catherine Palace.” I said as I thought about my short time here.

“Ah, yes isn’t it spectacular. You know Ros here is a direct descendant of our beloved Empress Catherine.” He said began to finish up his main course meal.

“So is Lis….” Mandy started to blurt out before I nudged her and interrupted her by saying, “Oh that is really interesting, so that makes you a Duke?” I finished asking Ros.

“Yes in away, but most tend to just say Prince.” Ros said with a bit of hesitation on the last part, watching both mine and my friends’ reactions.  I could only just smile while my friends began to ask him so many different questions, about what it was like being a prince, and much more questions.  Not me though, in a way I pretty much assumed that he was a royal since he was related to both of the Counts in the room, but he wasn’t just a Count, he was a Duke, a Prince, and in a way it kind of eased a little bit of nervousness and terror in my body and mind with the thought of being the last Romanov. However, if he was a Prince and a Romanov, why didn’t he or couldn’t he rule? I thought to myself briefly before asking the question out loud.

“So, if you are indeed the last Romanov who is a Prince, why haven’t you taken the throne?” I asked softly, my mind still asking so many other politics questions, yet also wanting to know how this answer was going to apply to me as well.

“Ah, I believe you are one of the only few people that have caught on to that missing part of my responsibilities of my job title.” Ros began to say with a smile, as Mr. Poloski and Count Dubrov ended their conversation to hear his response as well as Mandy and Eric.

“Well, the major reason why I have not taken the throne is because of politics.  Our prime minister is more or less the real leader of Russia, and well to go against him, is going against an entire country itself.  However that’s another day’s history lesson on its own and I won’t bore you all, well besides William here.” He paused as he glanced over to Mr. Poloski who liked his little remark before he continued to explain. “You see my name is really Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich Romanov.  I am technically one of the heirs to the Russian throne, and could take it if there wasn’t so much political battles going on with it, but there are speculations that I’m only not the only one that is eligible to take the throne, that there is others, or according to some of my cousins there is one other. Yet, every time we try to get a name, they either claim they don’t know or they simply say it’s not a name to tell. However, I hope within the next few years, the government will finally see me and my family’s reasoning and finally claim me as the rightful King of Russia, even if it’s only to have the title like the British Royals do.” He said as he took a sip of his glass of water before looking at Count Dubrov who looked proud to be related to him and in the same room at possibly the next future King of Russia, and then to Mr. Poloski who held no emotion on his face, as if he had just taken everything that Ros had said and just ignored it completely.  At last his eyes glanced to the three of us, Mandy with her jaw slightly dropped, and Eric who almost looked like he was trying to hold back from saying something. Then finally his gaze came to meet mine, which I was sure showed the shock of the words that he had just spoken of. Was this guy for real?  He was thinking about taking the Russian throne? To think that if the government wasn’t so in the way, that the one person that was standing in his way of becoming King was me.  All these realizations and questions were spinning round and round throughout my mind.  I had to get some air or I was going to pass out not so gracefully on this table.

“I’m sorry, will you please excuse me I need to get some air.” I said quickly as I got up from the table, not waiting to be properly dismissed or for anyone to come with me.  I walked quickly out the door of the restaurant causing more stares I was sure off, but I had to breathe in the sweet Russian air.

So many thoughts raced throughout my mind as I went over to the closest bench near the sidewalk, and began to try to calm down.  Gosh if Nunna could’ve seen what I just did, she’d be very disappointed.  I thought quickly in my mind as I felt a tear fall down my cheek.  I had just completely embarrassed myself in front of everyone, but I knew I had to get out of there before I completely blurted out the haunting truth that was inside me.  Nunna had been right, just a few of our family knew that I was indeed the heir to the throne.  They were the same ones that had told Ros, Prince Ros, that he wasn’t the rightful heir to take the throne.  However, did it matter?  I surely didn’t want to take the throne of a different country, of a country that I am just now stepping foot in, just weeks after finding out that I was the great granddaughter of the Grand Duchess Anastasia. Sure, with only one day of being in Russia, I have grown to already love almost everything about it, but did I want to give up everything back at home to stay here?  Sure I had a few times thought about what it would be like if I did have to run a country, and I constantly became terrified.  Mr. Poloski was right, I wasn’t mentally prepared for this at all. I agreed with him in my mind.

“Lisa? Are…are you alright?” I heard the voice of Ros ask softly as his footsteps became closer to where I was sitting.

“Yes I’m fine.” I said back in Russian, without really thinking about it.

“Oh, so now you decide to speak in Russian.  You’ve been holding out.” He said with a smile and laughter in his voice as he spoke back half in English and half in Russian.  I couldn’t help but giggle myself.  All night I had wanted to use the language, but just didn’t find the right opportune moment.

“I’m so sorry for back there, I just needed…” I began to say before Ros finished my sentence.

“To get air, I get it, and I’m sure you have your reason, but I just wanted to come out and check on you.” Ros said as he slid a jacket over my shoulders, I hadn’t really noticed the chill in the air until I felt the warmth.

“Oh, thanks.  I guess I should go back.” I smile quickly trying to hide the fact that I had cried a little, and to hide my new nerves that were starting to take over my entire body, which was screaming that Prince Ros, the guy who was trying to take my throne, but was really cute, and nice, was sitting less than a foot away on the bench. My eyes quickly looked over again his features of his defined jaw line, and his brown eyes that were just a little lighter than his slick back brown hair.

“Are you sure you are alright, Annalisa?” He asked with a concern look on his face, as he stood up offering his hand to help me up and to escort me back into the restaurant.

“Yes I’m fine now; I just needed to get some air.” I said with a soft smile, as I noted the way he said my name in Russian.  However before we even got to the doors our entire dinner crew were exiting the restaurant and began to walk towards us.  My eyes quickly going from Mandy who had a smile on her face to Eric’s who looked a little annoyed, which caused me to become aware that I was still wearing Ros’s jacket and my arm was around his.  I quickly dropped my hand from his arm, causing him to look at me for a brief moment with the question of “why” in his eyes, before turning back to re-greet everyone.

“Lisa, I hope you are not ill.” Count Dubrov said as he looked at me before glancing at Mr. Poloski.

“I apologize for the way I so rudely left; the dinner was divine Count Dubrov.” I said half in English before finishing in Russian.

“You speak Russian, dear child? Why am I just now hearing your fluent tongue? William is this one of your teachings in your American classroom?” He said with a laugh and a smile, before slapping Mr. Poloski on his shoulder.

“She is very gifted in the Russian native tongue Uncle, however I did not teach her.” He said, trying to end the conversation there.

“Well, however you learned it; you speak very fluently, which is difficult to do.” He said with a smile before looking me over, before leaning towards Mr. Poloski and then Ros.

“William, you must bring your friends and Annalisa to my home later this week to meet and see some of your other relatives.  Annalisa you fascinate me, I would love to speak to you more about your visit to Russia and about other matters.” He said as he glanced from me to Mandy and Eric who were standing very quietly beside Mr. Poloski.

“As you wish Uncle, I will call you in the morning to make arrangements.” Mr. Poloski replied, before signaling for the car to be brought around with the driver.

As the car pulled around, we said our goodbyes, and quickly got into the car, however it was about ten minutes in the car ride that I finally noticed that I still had Ros’s jacket on.  Whoops, I said in my mind, also mentally reminding myself to bring it to the next meeting with Ros and Count Dubrov. Just thinking of the next meeting completely took over my mind, as the car drove back to our hotel.  I could hear Mandy, Eric, and Mr. Poloski talking about tonight’s dinner, and yes it was all very interesting and fun, but what seemed to have my attention and my thoughts was both Nunna and Mr. Poloski’s words mixing in with tonight’s facts; I was a Grand Duchess of Russia, the true heir to the throne, but was I mentally prepared to handle all of this, and if not right now, could I be, and oh yeah I just had dinner with two royal family members, and one of them is really cute and trying to take my throne without knowing it.

I didn’t talk to anyone, I didn’t know what to say, as I got out of the car and went up to the room with Mandy, who was desperately trying to get me to talk, to give the inside scoop about what happened out side with Prince Ros and the fact that I still had his jacket.  Yet, my mind seemed to have control over my mouth, I had was coming to two realizations tonight; the first being that this trip was definitely one that I was going to remember the rest of my life, and the second was that I was going to have to make a decision soon if the royal public life, dealing with all the political issues, and possibly taking the Russian throne was something to start considering, and possibly do. I had to talk more with Mr. Poloski about this, I had to go visit The Alexander Palace, and I really needed to start thinking about more my future, because something inside of me knew that time was running out. 

A decision was going to have to be made, and soon. 

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Author's Note: Hey Yall, I hope you enjoyed Reading! Please take a moment to click the orange VOTE button that's on the left hand side of the screen.  Thanks so much for all your support.

Also, this chapter is dedicated to NikkiTorvik, because of her awesome insider information about the Russian Prime Minister.