The Sisters Of The Court

Chapter 70: Alice

St. Petersburg 1914
I help feed the poor today. That was the task for the Noble Sisters Charity, founded by me. We set up our stands in a public building helping feed the poor. Nuns, wives of the wealthy, noble women, come to help out at these events. This shows the real work, not some silly ball. "Come Victoria" I say as the carriage stops. We arrive early in the morning. Victoria quietly follows me out the carriage as I am met by one of the heads planners, making sure everything is in place and organized.

Victoria stands next to me as the women explains that everything is in place except that we are missing a few tables. "Missing a few tables?" I repeat. "Y-yes your grace" the woman responds. "Well I am sure that one of the generous ladies joining us today will be happily to give one of theirs" I say calmly before walking to the kitchens to make sure that the food is being prepared correctly. I find the help and chiefs working on different foods and packing them so that we can distribute them later at 8:00. "See Victoria, this is the work that god demands, not silly games" I remind her.

"Yes mama" she mutters. I sigh and look at her, "Let's find something for you to do" I say looking around. More people arrive to help and Victoria is too young to do any of these things. I look at her, "You can knit scarves for the poor" I say taking out my knitting supplies from my basket. "Knit?" She says. "Yes knit" I repeat. "You can sit on these steps so that I can keep an eye on you. Remember, don't fool around, you don't want people to freeze" I say strictly.

Victoria loves to participate in childish antics, she has been involved less since Alexander is in Denmark with their grandmother. It disappoints me that she doesn't use her time wisely, her head filled with god knows what. I see that cousin Ella arrives to help. I walk up to greet her. She smiles as we kisses each other's cheeks, "Hello Alice" she smiles, "Hello Ella" I smile. "This is such a wonderful charity you organized today, I am sure that many people in St. Petersburg will be saved by your generous soul" she says.

I smile, "well let's get to feeding the less fortunate" I say. The day goes by and we reach the afternoon. Jesus did not rest for the needy neither do we. No breaks for anyone. I glance at Victoria only to find George, Scarlett's son speaking with her as he stands looking down at her. She stopped knitting. I walk up to them. As long as he is here he must do something useful. "Victoria don't waste- oh, good afternoon george" I say to him. "Aunt Alice." He kisses my hand respectfully "I'm here to assist." He winks at my Victoria.

I observe george. He is dressed rather plain for once. He keeps looking down at my Victoria and I don't particularly like it. He always somehow shows up where ever she is. He is a married man, he has a child. What foolish behavior does he have in store for my daughter? I will not have Victoria put up with it especially since her life with the church is ahead of her. I'll be the most proudest mother if she decides to become a nun. Dedicating her life to the church, the right way of life, to helping the less fortunate unlike the people that bathe in silly money that the wealthy keep with greed.

I look at him, "you can fold the scarfs she knits. Don't get distracted remember this is gods work" I sharply remind before going back to aid the poor. As I help the needy I would glance at Victoria to make sure she is doing her work. I hear laughter and I snap my head towards her direction. She stopped knitting and george keeps giving her this look. She needs to spend less time around him, he will poison her mind with unfaithfulness. I see the way he looks at Victoria, he should be ashamed, he is married, has a daughter.
I turn back to help the less fortunate.

The next day I get a call from Alix, telling me to arrive at the palace. I leave Nicholas to rest has he has been feeling ill recently. Once I get there we sit in the mauve room together. Alexandra looks out the window with misery in her eyes. I sit filled with worry, "Sunny what's wrong?" I ask with concern. She looks at me, "Russia has entered the War". My heart stops, "What?!" I almost shout. She wipes her tear, "Russia has entered the war" she repeats. I sit in disbelief, the war? We were doing just fine before the war. Now thousands of lives will be sacrificed for pointless fighting, families will be left with grief for the rest of their lives.

I make the sign of the cross, my boys will have to participate, My boys. I can't loose them, I can't loose them like I lost their father. But then again, they are doing what god would want them to, to fight for their country, to fight for their land. I shut my eyes trying to process what the future holds for everyone. "Mama is coming home with Alexander tomorrow since the news of the war broke out" Sunny adds. Alexander, after being gone for over a year, is coming home.
***
I stand outside the doors of the palace with Victoria next to me. I watch slowly as the carriage arrives. Relief fills me that they are home safe and reunited again. I hope Alexander changed for the better, for his god. The carriage stops and Marie comes out. I greet her respectfully and I see Alexander come out. He changed a lot, grew into a man. His hair neatly combed, wearing nice clothes, not loud or obnoxious. I look down to see a baby in his hands. I look at Marie which shifts uncomfortably. She opens her mouth but Alexander speaks for her, "Meet your first grandchild" he says to me. I stand in shock, my blood runs cold, "Grandchild?" I say quietly and much more in disbelief.

Alexander keeps the same serious tone as the baby sits quietly in his arms gurgling. "You are married?" I ask him. "No" Marie quickly answers. I keep my eyes on the baby, "It is a bastard then?". They stay silent, "Who is the mother?" I ask. "Princess Margaret of Denmark" Alexander clears his throat. "And why didn't you marry?" I ask while grinding my teeth. "Because she said no" Marie steps in. She was supposed to keep an eye on him, help his horrid behavior. He is a lost cause, showing up with a bastard after he was supposed to change for the better.

I stand trying to keep my cool as Victoria smiles as she stands next to Alexander, playing with the baby. "Alice this might be good for him, he will have some responsibility in his life" Marie explains, noticing my temper. Maybe she is right, maybe he will change now since he has a child to raise, to take care of. I take a deep breath as I look at the baby. Victoria holds it as she rocks it in her arms. She looks up at me, "want to hold him mama?" She asks me. I take out my arms as she gently places the baby in my arms. "His name is Peter" Maria smiles at the gurgling baby. I look down at the little boy in my arms, Peter. I think of all of those portraits of the Peter the great that I first saw when I came to Russia. I smile at the little baby, a miracle.