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Back The Empress
Chapters (68)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1853
  4. PART I
  5. ONE
  6. TWO
  7. THREE
  8. FOUR
  9. FIVE
  10. SIX
  11. SEVEN
  12. EIGHT
  13. NINE
  14. TEN
  15. ELEVEN
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. THIRTY-THREE
  38. THIRTY-FOUR
  39. THIRTY-FIVE
  40. THIRTY-SIX
  41. 1854
  42. PART II
  43. THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. THIRTY-EIGHT
  45. THIRTY-NINE
  46. FORTY
  47. FORTY-ONE
  48. FORTY-TWO
  49. FORTY-THREE
  50. FORTY-FOUR
  51. FORTY-FIVE
  52. FORTY-SIX
  53. FORTY-SEVEN
  54. FORTY-EIGHT
  55. FORTY-NINE
  56. FIFTY
  57. FIFTY-ONE
  58. FIFTY-TWO
  59. FIFTY-THREE
  60. FIFTY-FOUR
  61. FIFTY-FIVE
  62. FIFTY-SIX
  63. FIFTY-SEVEN
  64. FIFTY-EIGHT
  65. FIFTY-NINE
  66. SIXTY
  67. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  68. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Helene’s heart pushed and pulled in her chest, part of it reaching toward her sister, knowing that Sisi must be overwhelmed by it all. The other part drawing back: Sisi had chosen—stolen—this life for herself. Helene was tired of being the bigger person; she kept her hand resolutely at her side, clutched her skirt to make sure it didn’t betray her with a reassuring touch on Sisi’s arm.

Sophie was motioning to several servants who waited silently at the top of the stairs. “Here we are. Now, please show Their Highnesses the new rose gardens.”

She took Sisi by the elbow, waving Helene and Mother away. They were to follow the servants. Helene tucked away her anger. She couldn’t tell which would have been worse: being denied the private tour with Sophie or being forced to take it knowing it wasn’t for her.

“Néné. Wait.” It was Sisi this time, her voice pleading, and oh, how Helene’s feelings shifted. Where she’d resented being sent away only seconds ago, now she relished it. Relished how alone it left her sister. If Sisi needed Helene’s help, she should have thought about that before ruining her life.

“It’s Helene.” She turned resolutely away and marched on, following the servants. And it wasn’t until she was around the corner, down the diamond-patterned hall, that her anger dimmed. Shame—her new unshakable friend—rose up to drown it out.

Helene, is this really who you want to be? she asked herself silently.

It wasn’t. It made her feel—

Out of control. A screaming, thundering avalanche. A destructive, dangerous thing that couldn’t stop itself.

She kept walking, shoes tapping out a too-fast rhythm on the marble floors, hating herself more with every step.

FORTY-FIVE

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ELISABETH WATCHED HELENE GO, HER WHOLE HEART A bruise. It wasn’t even about Elisabeth anymore; now she was just concerned that Helene would never be the same again. That she—Elisabeth—had broken something that couldn’t be mended. Helene’s fury was a fire and Elisabeth worried she’d burn herself down to ash.

Where was the Helene who’d always saved her? The Helene who’d sacrificed the soles of her feet to sticks and thorns to chase Sisi down the river? The Helene who’d hidden her in a trunk when the trouser-unbuttoning count had come calling? Would she never see her again?

“She won’t talk to me anymore. Not a word.” Elisabeth’s voice was smaller than usual.

Sophie reached across her then, taking her shoulder and gently guiding her down the ornate hall.

“We seek forgiveness from God alone, Elisabeth,” she said simply. “Anything else is vanity. Not to mention a waste of time.”