Maria’s mother had been just twelve years old when she met her father at the wedding of her elder sister Ella to a Russian nobleman, but she said they fell in love straightaway. Both knew their own minds from the very start. Maria had felt great passion for the officer Kolya Demenkov, whom she met in 1914. She used to toss and turn in bed at night, her skin tingling as she pictured him kissing her and holding her in his arms. But she had never imagined kissing Dickie and wasn’t sure she could. She didn’t think of him that way; he was more like a brother. Did that matter? Could you learn to love someone over time?

She knew she must tell her mother of this proposal but she hesitated. When Olga came into the bedroom to retrieve her shawl, Maria slid the letter between the pages of a book. She wanted to think it through so she could know her own mind—but there was little time to spare if she must respond by next morning.

* * *

“Oh, but that’s wonderful news!” her mother cried as she read the letter that evening.

“Victoria will be delighted. We discussed the possibility of a match when she was here just before the war, and both agreed you and Dickie were very compatible.”

“You did?” Maria was stunned. “Why did you not tell me?”

Her mother shrugged. “It’s better for young people to find out for themselves. I would never force any of my children to marry someone they did not love.”

“But how can I know if I would love him? We were children when we last met. Besides, he’s younger than I.”

“Only a year. That’s nothing.” Alexandra peered at her over the top of the pages.

“There’s another thing you might consider: if you were to become engaged to a member of the British royal family, they would have to redouble their efforts to get us out of here. It could only work in our favor.”

Maria was alarmed. “So you think I should accept him for that reason? Even though I don’t love him?”

Her mother frowned. “Not accept, necessarily, but it would be kind to give him hope, surely? Then after we are rescued from here, you can spend all the time you like getting to know each other. I think it’s a charming letter, Mashka. What do you have to lose?”

Maria considered this. “Can we keep it secret from the others? They will tease me and I’m not sure . . .” Her voice trailed off. “Besides, Olga and Tatiana might be jealous if I get engaged before them.”