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

Alexei to Natalia - June 1924

Hertfordshire, 10 June 1924

My dear Natasha,

I'm not going to lie—I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Tata has actually agreed to marry Bodia. Of course, I'm absolutely thrilled for them both, and the more I think about it, the more I can see how their contrasting personalities could balance each other out. Still, it's a bit hard to picture Tata in a committed relationship. You know how she's always wrestled with finding herself and carving out an identity beyond her mother's shadow. I can't help but feel she hasn't quite reached where she wants to be yet. Then again, Tata isn't the sort to accept a proposal unless she's completely sure about it. I suppose I'll just have to wait until I see her in person in a couple of weeks to get a clearer sense of it all.

Speaking of proposals, you're going to find this next bit absolutely hilarious. For the past few months, Prince Henry (yes, that Prince Henry—the third son of King George V) has been visiting my parents' estate in Hertfordshire every chance he gets. Naturally, we were all a bit puzzled by his frequent appearances. The poor man never offered any explanation, and it was starting to feel like a proper mystery. My father was convinced Henry was being sent by the King to check in on how we've settled here and to see if we needed anything.

Well, it turns out my father couldn't have been more wrong! Last Friday, Henry arrived with the intention of spending the weekend with us. But this time, before he so much as unpacked, he insisted on speaking to my father privately. Imagine my father's shock when Henry confessed that he had developed feelings for none other than Anastasia and was seeking his blessing to propose to her!

The funniest part? Henry and Anastasia had never discussed this—not once! According to Nastya, they've barely exchanged more than a few words during his visits, and those conversations were always about turnips, pumpkins, or whatever vegetable happened to be in season. My father later admitted that he had to work very hard to keep a straight face while Henry poured out his heart. He told Henry that he's a fine young man, that we've all enjoyed his company, and that he should absolutely try his luck with Anastasia. But he also warned him, gently, that her answer might not be quite what he was hoping for.

The poor man must have truly been smitten because, even after my father's very sensible warning, he still took Anastasia aside after dinner to confess his feelings. The rest of us, of course, were shamelessly eavesdropping from behind the door. Nastya's reaction was... well, entirely in character. She burst out laughing—not a polite chuckle, mind you, but her loudest, most uninhibited crackling laugh. She later claimed she genuinely thought he was joking, but I know her well enough to suspect she was laughing at him rather than with him.

Poor Henry left the room utterly red-faced and decided to return to London that very evening despite the pouring rain. I can't help but feel bad for him. He and his brothers are all terribly shy, which likely explains why he hadn't worked up the courage to express his feelings until now. For a day or two, Anastasia found the whole thing terribly amusing, but eventually, even she began to feel guilty. She ended up writing him an apologetic letter, though I doubt it did much to soothe his bruised ego.

My mother, of course, has latched onto this incident as a sign that her youngest daughter might finally be on the path to marriage. But I wouldn't be nearly as optimistic. Anastasia seems perfectly content with her current situation. She's settled into her little cottage on the estate, with only a small staff to manage, and while her life is far from the opulence one might expect for a Grand Duchess, she seems to prefer it that way.

Her days are simple and fulfilling. She walks to Masha's house every day to spend time with her nephews, and she's become an indispensable companion to my father. With my mother fully immersed in her religious and charitable pursuits, he's often left to his own devices. Although he enjoys involving himself in the farm work, there's no denying that Anastasia's presence brings him comfort. They walk together daily and share tasks, and she's become his steady anchor in this quiet life.