Free Anastasia Romanov: The Last Grand Duchess #10 by Ann Hood Page B

such a shy, sad smile and such gentle eyes that she couldn’t imagine why anyone would fear him or want to overthrow his government.
    â€œI’m afraid so,” Tsar Nicholas admitted.
    â€œOf all of Russia?” Maisie asked.
    He laughed again. “All of it,” he said.
    â€œBut you’re so nice!” she said. “I thought Tsars were tall and fierce.”
    Tsar Nicholas considered this.
    â€œI suppose some have been,” he said, finally.
    Maisie’s mind was racing.
    â€œThen that beautiful woman with the auburn hair is the Empress?” she asked, just to be sure.
    â€œShe is beautiful, isn’t she?” he said softly.
    â€œThis wasn’t at all what I expected,” Maisie said, thinking of Bolsheviks and conquering Tsars and all sorts of scary things.
    â€œThat’s good,” the Tsar said. “I think?”
    â€œOh yes,” Maisie said. “It’s good.”
    â€œNow you must get better,” the Tsar said as he headed toward the door. “Next week is Easter, and you don’t want to be stuck in this bed during Easter, do you?”
    It must have been a rhetorical question because he left without even pausing for Maisie’s answer.

    Felix recognized the chubby girl with the strawberry blond hair and blue eyes immediately.
    â€œGrand Duchess Anastasia,” he said, and gave a curt bow.
    Anastasia giggled.
    â€œFelix Robbins,” Felix continued, liking the way her face lit up when she laughed.
    â€œOh!” Anastasia squealed. “You’re Maisie’s brother!”
    Her demeanor changed quickly.
    â€œDon’t be angry at me,” she said. “Please, please, please.”
    Angry?
Felix thought. He didn’t think he could be angry with this girl. Something about her made him just want to grin.
    â€œI didn’t know she was so clumsy,” Anastasia said, her voice stubborn now. “I didn’t
make
her climb that tree.”
    â€œMaisie is okay, isn’t she?” Felix asked.
    â€œOh no!” Anastasia said, and burst into tears.
    â€œIsn’t she?” Felix asked again.
    â€œIt’s her fault! I swear to you!”
    And at that, Anastasia placed her hand over her heart dramatically.
    Then she laughed again.
    â€œIt’s just her arm,” Anastasia said, dismissively.
    â€œBroken?” Felix asked with dread.
    â€œNot even! She’s absolutely fine. By Easter she’ll be . . . she’ll be climbing trees again!”
    Felix sighed with relief.
    Then a thought came to him.
    â€œWhen’s Easter?” he asked.
    â€œNext week, silly!” Anastasia said, linking her arm through his. “Come on now. I’ll bring you to this invalid sister of yours.”
    Despite her relief at seeing Felix here, Maisie was not happy to see Anastasia this time.
    â€œI can’t believe you let me go,” she said, angrily.
    â€œI can’t believe you couldn’t climb even one branch,” Anastasia countered.
    â€œMaisie cannot climb trees,” Felix said, laughing softly. “At all.”
    Maisie glared at him, her relief at finding him in front of her safe and fine fading.
    â€œWhose side are you on, anyway?” she demanded.
    â€œSide?” Felix said. “I didn’t know there were sides. I just know that you don’t know how to climb trees—”
    â€œSee!” Anastasia said with so much delight that Maisie glared harder. “It’s all your own fault!”
    Maisie closed her eyes.
    â€œI need to rest,” she said. “The Tsar insists.”
    Anastasia laughed at that.
    â€œThat’s Papa!” she said. “Tsar Nicholas II!”
    â€œAnastasia!” Grand Duchess Tatiana said from the doorway. “Mama would not like to hear you bragging like this.”
    Anastasia’s cheeks blushed pink.
    â€œI wasn’t bragging,” she muttered. “Governess,” she added under her