TWO WEEKS AFTER THE ROMANOVS’ ARRIVAL IN EKATERINBURG, Commissar Avdeyev informed Maria’s father that Konstantin Ukraintsev had been dismissed due to “lapses in security.” He told them that from now on the regime would be tightened up. They must hand over all their money to him for safekeeping; there would be a roll call every morning at ten; and their exercise breaks in the yard would be reduced to thirty minutes, twice a day. Worst of all, as far as Maria was concerned, workmen erected ladders and painted over the outsides of the windows with white paint so they could no longer see out to the street and the interior was even gloomier than before.

She found this terribly upsetting, and complained to Peter in the hallway. “It is as if Avdeyev wants us to disappear. He is trying to wipe us out as if we never existed.”

“It’s not that,” Peter assured her. “He wants to stop the townspeople gawping at you. Groups of them have been trying to peer in through the windows.”

“I would prefer being gawped at to living in this faceless prison cell,” Maria said, close to tears. “It is hard not to sink into despair. Sometimes I fear that we will be killed in this house. It has a cruel air.”

Peter was shocked. “Don’t say such things!”

She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Do you know what will happen to us? Have you heard anything?”

He hesitated. “I heard this is just a stopping place before you go to Moscow, where the new government wants to question your father, and then you will all be sent into exile.”

She felt relief flood her. “Do you know where the exile will be?”

Peter shook his head, sympathy in his expression.

“I wish they would hurry up. I have such a longing to be free. I don’t even care where we go, so long as we are together.”

Peter bit his lip. She had noticed he often did that when he was choosing his words, and waited for him to speak.

“Please don’t tell anyone—I shouldn’t tell you this—but I have heard that your brother and sisters have already left Tobolsk and will be joining you soon. We have orders to open the other rooms on this floor to accommodate the party.”

Maria clasped her hands over her mouth so she did not cry out in joy, and stood still to compose herself before replying in a whisper, “I am so grateful for this news. You can have no idea how much it has lifted my spirits.”

Peter nodded, and gave her his shy smile.

* * *