She had no confidence that Yurovsky would take action if Tatiana reported him. Her father had thought he would treat them more favorably than his predecessor, but every day it seemed new rules were introduced: less time in the yard, even though they were sweltering in their airless rooms; more frequent searches of their possessions; he even decided that they should pull a rope attached to a system of bells whenever they wished to leave their rooms to go to the bathroom. That way, guards throughout the house would know their movements.

“I absolutely refuse,” Maria’s mother declared. “I will not have my intimate habits scrutinized by a bunch of uneducated commoners. It’s absurd.”

Maria thought it might help to protect her from Bolotov if bells rang whenever she left the family rooms. She looked away when she was forced to pass him in the hall but could feel his slanting eyes upon her, burning into her flesh. If only they could hurry up and leave this place. She longed to be sent somewhere she would never have to see him or think about him again.

* * *

They were disturbed one evening by gunfire in the city and Tatiana hurried to Yurovsky’s office to ask what was going on.

“He says that some Czech troops are advancing on Ekaterinburg,” she told them on her return to the drawing room. “If they come any closer we are to be moved elsewhere for safety.”

Nicholas frowned. “It must be the Czech Legion,” he said. “Czech and Slovak volunteers who were attached to our Third Army from 1914. They hoped for independence for their country after the war.”

“If they are so close that we hear gunfire, perhaps we should leave now?” Alexandra suggested.

Maria hugged her knees to her chest, scared by the thought of these strange soldiers. Who knew what they might be capable of?

Tatiana went to the drawing-room door to check no one was listening outside, then returned to the group. “Papa, you know that rescue plan I told you about?”

Maria frowned. She had not heard of any such thing and worried it would not be safe.

“You mean Dmitri Malama’s plan?” he asked.

Tatiana nodded. “I think it will be soon. The Czech soldiers are favorable toward us so it is an ideal opportunity.”

“No!” Olga gasped. “It’s too risky. The guards in the turrets have machine guns. We would all be killed.”

Tatiana hurried to reassure her. “There are several people involved in this plan, including the British consul. Malama wants me to slip out tomorrow evening to hear the details so I can brief you all on what we must do.”

Maria’s heart lurched. Tatiana’s beau was a loyal friend to the family but his plan sounded terrifying. She wasn’t brave enough for this kind of intrigue.

“How will you slip out of here without being missed?” Nicholas asked.