Romanova in Gallica
Grand Duchess Maria Kirilovna at her Marriage Ceremony
Afternoon, 29th of June 1928
Saint-Geneviève-des-Bois, Essonne, South of Paris, France (1)
Sweet sister, despite the circumstances, having you back in my life was beyond all hopes and dreams.
However, I have made mistakes, and it would seem I shall now have to pay for them. I hope to see you alive and hale, but should that not prove possible I beg that you look over my children for as long as they should need it. Let them grow up in safety, away from the horrors of Russia, and when the time comes, let them decide on their path forward.
Until we meet again, in this life or in the Kingdom of God,
Your loving sister,
Olga Romanova (2)
Anastasia hugged sweet little Sophia to her chest as she came to the end of her sister's letter.
How had it come to this? After so much, so many horrors, dangers and obstacles, her family had finally returned to the heights of power. She had her sister back, a life she thought lost restored overnight. And just like that, it was gone again.
The cruelty of it had helped her realise that the bloody lessons learned in the revolution should not be forgotten again. She had become complacent. Had forgotten how perilous their position was. That was what they were now paying for.
There were times when she hated Russia, but it was her family's birth right. Without the Romanovs, Russia was nothing. The proof was everywhere you looked in that godforsaken country, given over to hunger, sickness and death, to godless communists and greedy, overeager parasites. Her family sacrificed itself for Russia time and time again, and now it was going to take her sister as well.
A peal of laughter shattered Anastasia's gloom as Nikolai rushed into the conservatory, a bright smile lighting up his face and an immensely long worm gripped in his fist - his clothes covered in dirt and mud. The sight brought an indulgent smile to Anastasia's face, even as Sophia's screwed up in disgust.
"Auntie! Look! Look! It is so long!" He jabbered, taking hold of the writhing creature at both ends and stretching out his arms to demonstrate.
"I see, it certainly is. Did you find it while digging amongst my rosebushes?" She slowly let her face turn stern.
An expression of guilt began to spread across Nikolai's face before it suddenly evened out, "Nuh uh." He seemed to hesitate a moment before continuing "I didn't! I found it on the tiles!" An earnest expression almost making him convincing.
Anastasia held her silence for a moment before replying, "I am sure. Now why don't you put that away and go ask nanny if she can help you clean up?".
Nikolai hesitated for a moment, seeming to realise that his fib had been discovered, before slumping off - dropping the worm in a nearby bush.
The moment he was out of eyesight, Anastasia gave a quiet laugh and hugged Sophia tight, determination to protect her family rising in her.
She looked over another letter, this one from Savinkov in San Francisco outlining the latest news from Siberia and an update on the situation in America. Near the end of the letter was yet another pointed question towards her decision to settle down in France, rather than in America.
She would need to get back to him soon, she would be needing more support if she was to stay here.
As to the reason why she had to stay in Europe - the answer to that lay next to Savinkov's letter, an invitation from Uncle Kiril (3), that bloody vulture, inviting her to a family dinner.
It had shocked her when she first arrived in Paris, only to find out that the plight of Siberia was ignored, her sister treated as a pretender and her niece and nephew declared illegitimate heirs to the Russian Throne. In France, in fact, in much of Europe, Russian Royalists supported His Imperial Majesty Kiril Vladimirovich Romanov as the legitimate heir to Emperor Michael.
She felt rage as she gripped the invitation: Pretender? Illegitimate? Where did they find the nerve? What had they done for Russia, what sacrifices had their family made? Petrograd had barely fallen before they fled the country, living the high life in France while she and her siblings died one by one on the long flight across Siberia. The first time Anastasia had seen little Masha (4) on arrival, laughing with her husband and cradling her little son, she had nearly screamed in fury. Her family had been abandoned, and now those vultures who pretended to be family were going to steal what was rightfully her nephew's.
No, this was not over. Not by a long shot. They would get was was their due, as all who had turned on her family would.
Footnotes:
(1) There was a large White Russian Emigré community in France IOTL and ITTL, and it is this community that Anastasia is settling into.
(2) Anastasia initially left Russia with her nieces and nephew in order to take them somewhere safer while their mother dealt with the crisis, but the moment Olga learned of the Red Invasion she could read the writing on the wall. That is why she is so fatalistic in this letter. Worth noting that Anastasia Maria - known as Ana Maria to distinguish her from her aunt - is in school during this scene and as such doesn't play in here.
(3) This is Kiril Vladimirovich Romanov of OTL, who became the OTL Romanov candidate to the throne. ITTL the greater interest in Russia given its extended civil war and division has meant that the Russian Emigré community is better off financially - being able to muster more resources and interest - and as such the Vladimirovich branch of the Romanovs have made a killing. They have been the main Romanov candidate to the throne in the eyes of Europeans and the Russian Emigré community in Europe, which largely views the Siberian Romanovs as illegitimate claimants. By contrast, Savinkov has been able to build a robust Siberian Romanov following in America and the Vladimirovich line of the Romanovs is largely disregarded there.
(4) Masha is Grand Duchess Maria Kirilovna of Russia, Kiril's eldest daughter.
A Criminal and Revolutionary
Wild Bill Lovett, Leader of the White Hand Gang and Ruler of New York's Criminal Underworld
Evening, September 23rd 1928
Brooklyn Waterfront, New York City, United States of America
Wild Bill Lovett had a glint in his eyes as his guest entered his offices. The man was in his late thirties, clean shaven with a sharp gaze, and had his hat in hand.
Bill let a grim smile cross his face as he rose from his seat, arms wide in welcome, "If it isn't the esteemed Michael Collins, Hero of the Irish Republic and exiled leader of our dear Emerald Isle! What can I do for you today? Here to demand another handout? (1)"
The mockery and anger in his voice was clear, a result of much financial investment in a cause without much in the way of returns.
"Not today. We both know you have been a dedicated supporter in the struggle for freedom, and I thank you for the donations, but today I am not here for your money."
"Oh? Then do tell, what reason do you have for visiting?"
Collins smile took on a trace of vindictiveness as he replied, "Nothing much, I just wanted to let you know that I have had word that the AILE has reached a dead end in their persecution of the Italians. McAdoo is demanding results, and someone in Boston thought it would be a good idea to mention your name."
"How do you know?", Bill's expression had turned sour and a flash of anger was swiftly suppressed.
"We have friends on the docks and in boardrooms. There are those dedicated to the cause spread across much of the American nation. Is it so hard to believe that we might have a few in the AILE? (2)"
Bill's expression turned incomparably sour before he gave a shallow nod of thanks, "I am in your debt, Collins, now if there is nothing else, please bloody well get out of here."
"I will come calling if there is anything. Word to the wise, you might want to reconsider your friendship with Gustin and his boys (3) - and you should probably stop using the Brooklyn docks for the next couple months."
With his piece said, Collins placed his hat on his head and left the building. Left behind was a brooding Bill Lovett, his adept mind already hard at work countering the calamity the Irishman had brought word of.
It was going to be a hard, bloody couple months to come.
Footnotes:
(1) The Irish Republican leadership fled into exile in America after the Glenveagh Massacre and have had to find various ways of sustaining itself as they wait for an opportunity to restart their revolution in Ireland. Luckily for them there are numerous patriotic Irish-Americans who are willing to make donations, as well as others - like many of the Irish criminal gangs - who have found that being part of the patriotic effort brings a variety of perks with it.
(2) Irish Independence had a significant degree of support in large parts of American society and enjoyed considerable support in the Irish-American community. The fact that there are Irish-Americans in the AILE willing to leak information to support the cause should give an idea of how significant the movement is. The American government, and the AILE in particular, have had a blind eye to a lot of this - which is part of why the Italians have been hammered so hard by the government while the Irish have made it through relatively easily. With the Italian gangs largely suppressed and the Irish ever more visible, it has become hard to keep avoiding a crackdown against them. Luckily for the Irish gangs, they have friends and contacts in high places.
(3) The Gustin Gang is the preeminent Boston criminal gang at the time and is tied in a loose alliance with the White Hand. As obliquely referenced, the Gang has begun leaking information to the AILE.
