The Paleys (1921-1927) - An Alternate Romanov Story

New People

The jazz band turned out to be a great success. If, at first, the remaining guests were sceptical about what they were going to find, once the rhythm of the saxophone, the drums and the bass picked up the tempo, the energy in the ballroom shifted into pure, infectious joy and there were very few who managed to resist the temptation of stepping into the dancefloor, even those who had never tried the new dance styles and were just trying to move along with the music. 

Natalia, on her end, was trying her best to teach Alexei how to dance the Charleston, in what was resembling very much their dance class before his own eighteenth birthday the year before.

"Come on, Alexei, it's easy! You just kick your feet out like this," she said, showing him the steps.

Alexei, however, was as hopeless at the Charleston as he had been with the waltz. His legs seemed to have a mind of their own, kicking in the wrong direction, stumbling slightly as he tried to follow Natalia's lead. His clumsiness only made them both laugh harder.

"I swear, I'm better at anything that doesn't involve my feet!" he joked, barely managing to keep up with her swift, swinging movements.

Natalia threw her head back and laughed, enjoying herself despite his lack of rhythm. 

"You're hopeless, Alexei! But it's fine, as long as you're having fun."

He grinned, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, still trying to keep up with her. 

"I'm having the time of my life, even if I'm making a complete fool of myself, so that's got to count for something."

She twirled around him, effortlessly kicking her legs out in perfect sync with the beat, while Alexei failed in his own awkward but endearing way. Despite his lack of coordination, his good-natured spirit and willingness to try made the moment all the more enjoyable for both of them. They danced, carefree and out of rhythm, laughing all the way through it.

However, after a while, out of the corner of her eye, Natalia noticed two figures approaching them. She instinctively slowed her movements, and when she realized who it was—Serge Lifar and one of his female colleagues from the Ballet Russes—a wave of self-consciousness washed over her. She came to a complete stop, urging Alexei to do the same with a gentle squeeze of his hand.

Alexei, confused for a moment, followed Natalia's gaze and noticed the approaching dancers. He straightened slightly but kept his lighthearted smile.

Serge Lifar, who always looked so commanding on stage, seemed ill at ease when he reached them. He looked out of place and it felt as if he was studying each of his movements carefully, almost like a choreography of his own. The woman at his side shared the same sense of awe and nervous energy. Serge cleared his throat softly, glancing quickly at Natalia before turning to Alexei with a formal nod.

"Your Majesty," Serge began in a respectful tone with a hint of hesitation, "I apologize for the interruption, but I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and my colleague if that's not too bold of a request."

Natalia's heart, which was still beating fast from her efforts on the dancefloor, seemed unable to settle down around Serge. He was looking particularly dashing tonight, with a tuxedo that had been tailored to perfection and his wild hair tamed and slid back. The easygoing atmosphere that had reigned a moment ago had completely passed and the sudden formal introduction made her feel exposed, especially knowing Serge's eyes were not just on Alexei, but also subtly on her.

Alexei, who was used to greeting people from all walks of life daily, acted gracious and seemed unaware of Natalia's sudden discomfort, smiling warmly at them both.