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

Flirting

The first few moments of Natalia's close proximity to Serge were not as magical as she had anticipated. She was not one to be easily intimidated, but, in this case, it seemed her mind had opened an exception. The thought of dancing with a professional ballet dancer—a man who seemed more suited to Mount Olympus, blending effortlessly with the gods, than to her ballroom—left her feeling unusually self-conscious.

Then, even as she followed Serge's lead, gracefully stepping to the rhythm, Natalia couldn't shake the strange feeling that Alexei's reaction had left in her. She saw him and Anna begin to dance out of the corner of her eye. Alexei's movements were polite, and it was impossible for him to hide his awkwardness entirely, but something about the way he carried himself still seemed off. She noticed how stiff his smile appeared, how his eyes seemed to wander back toward her and Serge, almost unconsciously.

Natalia tried not to dwell on it, forcing herself to focus on the moment with Serge. After all, this was what she had been looking forward to for months. And yet, the shadow of Alexei's earlier expression lingered in her mind, casting a small cloud over her excitement.

"You seem a little distracted, Your Highness," Serge commented, forcing her to be back at the moment.

She smiled politely at him and, when her eyes met his, she felt more than a little dizzy.

"It's... it's nothing," she stammered, struggling to piece together a full sentence. "Alexei doesn't usually dance with people he doesn't know, and I feel a bit guilty for pushing him onto your friend."

Serge's lips curled into a half-smile. He could have glanced at Alexei and Anna to see for himself how they were doing, but his grey eyes remained fixed on her, unwavering. The intensity of his attention made her palms sweat.

"Don't worry, Anna knows how to put people at ease," he replied gently. "Though, I didn't realize you were so close with the Tsar..."

"Oh, we sort of grew up together," she replied with a nervous laugh. "Well, maybe 'grow up' is a bit too strong, since I was born here in Paris and didn't move to Russia until I was eight. And, even then, I don't think his mother ever quite approved of my family. But when his family went into exile, we grew closer. I must have been twelve or thirteen at that time and he's not much older than me. He became my dearest friend on this Earth."

She smiled softly as she spoke, finding a bit of comfort in the familiarity of the topic. This was easy ground, something she could talk about without stumbling over her words, and to her relief, she realized she could actually manage to say full sentences in front of Serge.

Serge's gaze softened, though a hint of curiosity remained. 

"It's rare to find such a bond, especially considering his position. I imagine it's hard for him to find people he can really trust."

Natalia nodded, relaxing even more. 

"Yes, it is. Alexei carries so much on his shoulders... but he's always been there for me."

Serge tilted his head slightly and, in a casual tone, asked. 

"And how long will you be staying in Paris?"

"Just until the end of the month," Natalia replied. "My semester at school is ending, and I'll be heading back to Russia soon."

"Ah, I see. That doesn't leave much time, then." Serge's eyes flicked momentarily toward Alexei before returning to her. "Are you planning on making the most of it while you're still here?"

Natalia chuckled, her nerves fully dissipating. 

"I hope I can! I've been meaning to show Alexei around the city. It's so rare for him to go out and enjoy himself."