The Last Romanov: Book One

Windsor Castle

 The warning that the Romanov ghosts gave me last night disturbed me.

What would happen if Geoffrey did decide to break up with Vivienne Anjou? Will something bad happen to him? And did she really want to marry him just for fame and riches? Wasn't she already famous enough in France and around the world?

The last question threw me off. Marrying someone for riches and fame was not okay. Of course, if I ever dated, and eventually married Geoffrey Windsor, I would not want to marry him for wealth or fame. I was already rich enough. And wasn't Vivienne already rich enough, as well? The whole situation seemed off and disturbing. But what was the most weird of all, was that my past relatives, the Romanovs — who had been brutally murdered by the enemy, might I add — had visited me in the middle of the night. Never have I ever had a weird experience like that before in my entire life!

I wondered how I'd tell Geoffrey about my strange occurrence with my relatives. On the way to school, I debated on whether or not I should tell Geoffrey if he should break up with Vivienne. It would probably be best if he didn't. But at the same, I didn't want him to get hurt if he broke up with her.

"You're awfully quiet back there," Andrei finally commented after we spent ten minutes in silence, as I continued my debate in my mind. I jumped. I had almost forgotten that he was there.

"Sorry. Lost in thought," I commented.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

I shifted uncomfortably around in my seat.

"I would rather not. You wouldn't believe me if I did, probably."

Andrei stayed quiet, though he kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror, as if he was concerned about me. But I just stayed quiet, not saying anything.

When we got to the school, Andrei told me that he'd pick me up at three o'clock in the afternoon, when classes were over for the day. When I walked into the school, the first thing I did was immediately ignore Geoffrey. I didn't want to, but I didn't want to blurt out anything that happened last night between me, and my deceased Romanov family.

"Are you alright? Why are you ignoring me?" he asked. I still didn't answer. I bit my lower lip. My heart pounded as I debated on telling him what was going on. I could tell that he was becoming a bit frustrated, as well. Probably confused. And I didn't blame him. "Stace, can you please let me know what's going on? Why are you ignoring me? You weren't ignoring me yesterday."

I sighed, slammed my locker shut, and walked away from him.

"Was it something that I said or did?" he called after me as I walked quickly away from him.

During the morning classes, I continued to ignore him as he kept prodding me to get my attention. And I would be one of the first people to escape classes. But when it was lunch time, he approached me again once I'd sat down at the marble table. When I glanced over at him, I could see that he had been crying, which made me feel bad for him.

"Please tell me why you have been ignoring me today, Stace," he pleaded again as he sat next to me.

I bit the inside of my cheek. I didn't want him to get upset over this.

"I can't tell you. You probably wouldn't believe me if I did."

"Please, Stace! All day, you've been ignoring me! Did I do something wrong?"

"No, you did not do something wrong," I answered quietly.

"Then, what is it? It's Vivienne, isn't it?"

That comment startled me. I sighed but didn't say anything. I jumped from my seat and walked away quickly.

"Stacey!" I heard him calling out pleadingly.