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former was straightforward enough but the latter was profoundly confusing, since the social structure
of the Romanov court, to put it charitably, was far less linear than that of Great Britain. So much so
that even Victoria apparently needed to refresh her memory before her visit and had requested that
Emma – whom Trevor had evidently portrayed as some sort of general consult on all matters arcane –
should stand before them all and outline the rules of the Winter Palace.
It would never do for the Russians to realize they were being spied upon, so back in London
they all created some plausible role for themselves, some way to explain why they were traveling
with the Queen. As detectives, Rayley and Trevor could easily pass as bodyguards. Davy was a bit
trickier, but since the Queen maintained excessive correspondence, even while abroad, it might be
plausibly explained that she traveled with her own messenger boy to handle the post and telegrams.
They decided to place Tom in the circle as royal physician. He was suspiciously young, but they
concocted a story that Victoria’s primary physician was too elderly to travel, so his assistant had
stepped in for this particular journey. Despite her age and her girth, Victoria was remarkably healthy
and did not customarily travel with a doctor of any sort, but the Russians certainly didn’t know that.
But Emma, how to explain the presence of Emma? Serving as a maid was the most likely ruse,
but such a role would severely limit her usefulness once they got to Russia. The Queen had confided
to Trevor she already had a Lady in Waiting in surveillance, so a second would be superfluous.
Trevor eventually declared that Emma would pose as the governess of Alix, a role which would
allow her to interact across a broader social spectrum once they were inside the Winter Palace.
Emma shifted in her chair and took a big gulp of air. Brisk and refreshing, just as promised.
Salty on the tongue. She wished that Gerry was traveling with them. There was no way they could
explain an elderly heiress as a true member of the forensics team and Geraldine herself had quickly
pointed this out, thus saving Trevor the discomfort of raising the issue. But without Gerry among
them, Emma mused, the entire forensics team seemed a little… at sea. Geraldine was possessed of no
practical skills whatsoever but still somehow managed to be one of the most useful people Emma had
ever known, and her presence would be missed in many small ways. Gerry is my family, Emma
thought, pulling the blanket around her and taking another deep breath in an attempt to steady her
nerves. By the age of twenty, Emma Kelly had buried her mother, father, and sister and her brother
was somewhere in America, likely never to be seen again. Gerry had stepped into the void, serving
as an unorthodox but unfailingly compassionate parental figure in Emma’s chaotic life.
And perhaps these men are my new brothers, Emma thought soberly. We make our family
where we find it.