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Amy’s Point Of View
Leaving the Winter Palace was much harder than I imagined. The home of my ancestors exerted a powerful emotional pull, as any family speaking down the ages to their future loved ones would.
Victor and I took up Sergey’s offer to explore the palace after visitor closing time, and what we saw was luxury beyond reason. The extent of exquisite finery in a home too large for two hundred families was impressive and upsetting.
It was clear that the Russian Royals’ downfall was hinged on massive equity differences between the wealthy and poor. I loved browsing through the bedrooms, libraries, and living quarters of generations of my kin, but I learned a valuable lesson in every overly extravagant room, gold-leaf statue lined corridor, and over-decorated atrium.
When we arrived home in New York after a long, turbulent flight, I saw Anastasia sitting in the kitchen, looking very pleased with herself. We dropped off our luggage and hugged one another as any reunited family would.
My whole family and friends gathered in the kitchen, gaggle-like, for a midafternoon snack and refreshments, helping Diana, who’d become part of the family as though born into it. I made a beeline for my sister-in-law, followed closely by my husband.
“You are smiling too joyously. What happened while we were away, Anastasia?”
“I found Jacques Bernard.”
“Where?”
“In Antonella’s bed.”
“Oh wow.”
Rania and Katerina were nearby and moved in closer to hear. Victor, who was sitting next to me, shook his head, less surprised than I was that Jacques and Antonella had played some deceitful game. My sister-in-law tapped a stack of five Moleskin books on the kitchen breakfast counter, looking very pleased with herself.