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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Jun 23, 2019 10:42:12 GMT -5
Chapter 22
Tatiana felt much better after a little nap as she laid back in the bed and watched as Jack adjusted his tie in the mirror. Even the mirror was made of a translucent purple glass as he adjusted his tie and then combed his hair. "You're acting as though we are going to meet the Queen", she teased.
"In a way we are, my paternal grandmother Fleur is the head of our clan. Hugo is a Lacroix of course but he's often busy so our grandma is the head of the clan, she's lovely", said Jack.
Tatiana got out of bed and looked though her bag for something appropriate to wear. She carefully laid out a white lacy dress she similar to one she had worn in the family's formal portraits and then took it to the adjoining bathroom to change. Several minutes later she emerged as Jack gave her an appreciating smile, his blue eyes turning a warmer shade of violet and a small smile forming on his lips. "You look absolutely smashing, Tessa Parker", he murmured.
Tatiana blushed at his compliment and looked at herself in the mirror. With a sudden realization, she remembered this dress was very similar to the one she and her sisters had worn in their formal paintings for the Romanov tercentenary when they had posed for the artist. Her hair was longer now instead of the bob in the painting and her expression was more open and less regal as she posed in front of the mirror. "I've seen that painting, the short hair really suits you but I think you'd rather have long hair, correct? Your hairstyle actually became very popular in the 1920's with film stars and a lot of girls had that hairstyle. My mother had a bob haircut when she started dating Dad", he chuckled.
"Everyone said they liked my haircut but I liked having my hair long, I am the only dark-haired sister and I'm afraid I was quite vain about my hair, then I got sick and had to cut it all off and wear a wig until it grew back a bit. I suppose short hair is practical but I prefer long hair", she said.
"Either way you are still the most beautiful girl in England, Tessa", he drawled.
Tatiana let out a little giggle and tried to control the blush creeping up her neck as she reached for her little purse with the makeup inside. "Pierre might be right, you have too much French swagger", she teased.
"I do, he got all the cloddish Polish genes. Then again, some siblings get all of one or the other", he said.
Tatiana carefully applied her makeup the way Skye had showed her as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Are Skye and Veteema's family going to meet their clan leaders?", she asked.
"Yes, the clans are interconnected but each have their own rules and leaders. The Lacroix, Sutherlands and Torres' are required to be Catholic or can pretend to be Protestant if necessary but the Jarvinens are allowed to be pagans and also to live with their partners in a ménage a trois or whatever combination they like. Yes, even polygamy. It's all right since they aren't Christians", said Jack, chuckling at the shocked look on her face.
"But that's wicked!", she exclaimed.
"Not if you're pagan, Ian can tell you all sorts of scandalous things about Alexander and the ancient Greeks. Did you know Alexander had three wives and male lovers, including his best mate and a eunuch?", asked Jack with a gleam in his eyes.
Tatiana blanched and felt faint. "Oh dear, I suppose it was because they weren't Christian. And being a eunuch sounds horrible, poor lad", she said sympathetically.
"Not if you were an ambitious bloke, if you had a rich boyfriend you could rise very high in court. Being a rich bloke's eunuch could be a good deal if you were queer and poor and good-looking", said Jack with a laugh.
"I don't want to hear about Alexander's personal life, in Russia that would be seen as blasphemy. Him having three wives makes some sense, but the eunuch is too much. Surely he didn't learn that from the Greeks", she said, raising an eyebrow.
"Not quite, he learned it from the Persians since they had a thing for pretty eunuch boys. Luckily I am very hetero and not into blokes, but I suppose if in Rome, do as the Romans do", he joked.
Tatiana finished adjusting her makeup and followed Jack outside the room. The corridor led to a large set of purple wooden doors with a gleaming purple metal knob as Jack said something in a vaguely French-sounding language and it opened.
If she had thought the bedroom was beautiful, the reception room was stunning and made the other room look like a stable. The floor was made of gleaming marble in different shades of purple from the palest lavender to the darkest purplish black with pale swirls, shining almost like polished glass. The walls were painted a lovely lilac shade and adorned with paintings of lavender fields whose sunlight and bright blue skies were that of Provence, stained glass windows in various shades of purple letting in purple light. The room had a glorious lavender scent that was pleasant and not overwhelming, like an old-fashioned potpourri instead of strong perfume.
At the very end of the room was a throne-like chair made of purple wood where a handsome older woman sat as Jack and Tatiana knelt to her. In spite of her long white hair and wrinkles around her eyes, she was still lovely and must have been stunning as a young woman. Her skin was slightly olive but mostly unlined except for the wrinkles around her eyes and a few spots on her hands, her bluish-purple eyes marking her as a Lacroix. She wore a long purple velvet robe trimmed in white ermine around the collar and a golden circlet with purple gemstones around her forehead, looking at them impassively until she motioned for them to rise.
"So you are the Grand Duchess Tatiana Nicholaevna Romanova? Or should I say, Tessa Parker", said the older woman in kindly voice with a slight French accent.
"Yes, Your Majesty", replied Tatiana.
"Please call me Madame Fleur, I am not royalty even though we are more powerful than royals. I am glad to see that our mission was successful, those horrid men destroyed Russia", said Fleur.
"I know, I cannot wait until they are destroyed", vowed Tatiana.
"Good, you are not a silly girl. Hugo tells me you want to join. First you will see our ceremony as Jack and Skye have completed their first successful mission, and then you will see how we do things. But you must study history and be open minded and willing, not all our missions are easy and involve Christian or European peoples", said Fleur.
"I had an idea, Madame Fleur. But it is not going to be easy, until our exile in Siberia we didn't know about ordinary people or that Russia had so many different kinds of people", said Tatiana.
"You learned, did you not? You will learn many things, Tessa Parker", said Fleur kindly.
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Post by Tim on Jun 24, 2019 23:19:42 GMT -5
Perhaps the Sol Duga lot can give the Romanovs a glimpse of the end of Communism. Show then the Berlin Wall being torn down, for example.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Jul 20, 2019 13:35:43 GMT -5
Chapter 23
Tatiana had thought that the little bedroom and the Lacroix chambers were very beautiful, but they did not compare to the magnificence of the main audience chamber of the Sol Duga. It was nearly half the size of the Catherine Palace or the Hermitage and made of the same shiny glassy material as the Lacroix chamber, but it was even more impressive. Each wall was in one of the four colors of the Sol Duga: Lacroix purple, Sutherland green, Jarvinen blue and Torres amber. Torches cast brilliant multicolored lights reflecting the colours in all their shades like a kaleidoscope. The floor had the clans' colours in jewel-like tiny tiles which seemed to glimmer and sparkle like the facets of cut gemstones with every flicker of the torchlight. On a raised dais were a group of chairs with the largest in the center, flanked by smaller chairs. A gilt chandelier suspended from the smoky gray ceiling held fragrant bayberry candles in the four colours as they added to the shimmering effect of the tiles.
"None of our family's palaces had anything like this", she murmured.
"I've seen pics in books, some of your palaces are quite beautiful. But no earthly king is quite as powerful as Hugo", said Jack.
"Of course not, but we mostly spent time at the Alexander Palace at Tsarkoe Selo, Papa and Mama didn't like the city palaces. I think I much prefer a smaller house, I don't we ever saw all the rooms", Tatiana mused aloud.
"Clever girl, a big house is a pain to clean. I hate cleaning our house", said Skye.
Tatiana mused that it made sense, realizing how many people were employed at their palaces and how their absence was acutely felt during their arrest. She tried not to blush when Jack's arm brushed against hers as he reached for her hand. Instead of a suit like one would normally wear at such an event, he wore a long dark purple robe the colour of a ripe plum shot through with silver thread which shimmered in the candlelight. Skye's gown was in a warm green with a slight golden hue and Veteema's was in a lovely turquoise blue with both women having their hair loose and flowing.
Everyone came to attention when Hugo entered the room along with the heads of each clan. Hugo had reverted to his true form, not looking any of his 3,000 years. He stood over six feet tall and his silvery-white hair fell to his shoulders and shone like polished coins, his long beard pure white and his eyes silvery as his beard. He wore a similar robe but his was of a black material shinier than silk or satin that gleamed like polished onyx and appeared to shimmer and shine as though the threads were alive. The heads of the clans each wore robes in their clan's colours but Hugo stood out with his height and black robe.
The room became even more quiet and Hugo stepped forward. "Welcome to Hvit Orn, we are here to honor our members who have succeeded in a dangerous and sensitive mission. The Romanov family and their loyal servants were rescued from a ghastly fate and are to live in peace in England and in Finland. Jack Lacroix, please come forward", said Hugo in a deep, commanding voice.
Tatiana gave him an encouraging smile as Jack walked up to the dais and knelt before Hugo. The tall black-clad wizard placed a silver circlet around his brow which contained a large purple amethyst in the center as Tatiana realized the heads of the clans wore crowns with five jewels, sort of how different ranks of nobility had bigger cornets.
"You may rise, Jack Lacroix", said Hugo as Jack stood up and went back to his seat.
Skye and Veteema each got a similar circlet with a jewel before going back to their seats. "We have just witnessed the induction of the newest three members who have completed a mission. We will adjoin to the dining chamber and then there will be dancing", said Hugo.
"Do you keep your circlet when you leave?", asked Tatiana.
"No, it stays here. And with our next successful mission, my crown will be bigger", he chuckled.
"You still have a crown of sorts, Jack. And when will you know when you have another mission?", she asked.
"Hugo will let us know, but there aren't many missions. When we get back home, you'll have to go to university", he said.
"Home, I like the sound of that. I thought of Tsarkoe Selo as home all the time we were in Siberia, but now I realize our home is in England. And in Manchester, no less. I never thought our home would be in Manchester", she mused aloud.
"It is your home now, Tessa Parker. And a much safer and calmer place than London, we'll be home soon. Tomorrow we leave for Reykjavik and fly back in the afternoon. Yes, on a plane", he teased.
"Is it safe?", she asked in alarm.
"Of course, I fly a lot and I've yet to be involved in a crash. And at least we're not spending much time in Reykjavik, Iceland has the most amazing scenery but the capital is so bloody boring. The residents get drunk each night and there's little to do, no decent museums and some of the ugliest modern architecture on Earth. They're building a ghastly church that looks like a rocket ship from a comic book, it is quite hideous and I fear the completed structure will be breathtakingly ugly", said Jack with a grimace.
"Oh dear. Then how long shall we stay in Reykjavik?", she asked.
"Just a few hours, then we fly out from the airport at Keflavik and will be in London by nightfall. In two days, you'll see the family and I can't wait to see Mollie", he said wistfully.
"I know", she replied.
Jack put an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. Tatiana felt more comfortable now as she leaned against him and let his arm stay around her waist. "This is rather nice", she giggled.
"Well, we are a couple after all. And I haven't dated anyone since my divorce, a lot of women don't want a bloke with kids. And especially not a divorced chap with a mixed-race daughter", said Jack with a sardonic laugh.
"Mollie is a sweet little girl, and you are a good father. They sound like awful women", said Tatiana in dismay.
"That is in the past and we ought to look to the future. Shall we, Miss Parker?", he asked gallantly.
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Post by Tim on Jul 20, 2019 16:36:46 GMT -5
Nice to see these stories starting up again.
Tatiana likes the Alexander Palace. And Olga liked Livadia.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Jul 25, 2019 10:23:44 GMT -5
Chapter 24
"Tessa Parker, you're gawking like a child", teased Skye.
Tatiana blushed. "This is a very large plane, much bigger than any I've ever seen", she replied.
"That's just a regular BOAC plane, the ones I've taken overseas are much bigger. This is only about 50 passengers", said Jack.
"I see. And you were right, Reykjavik is a dull place", said Tatiana with a grimace.
"I know, but they are rich. That's why Icelanders go to London to shop and party. One cannot even find beer stronger than a fizzy drink here", said Jack in distaste.
Keflavik airport outside Reykjavik was considerably smaller than Heathrow, most of the other planes little propeller ones going to other parts of the island or the outlying islands. A few SAS and BOAC planes dwarfed the little native planes and the glass surrounding the terminal looked out onto the runway shrouded by grey skies, Reykavik's namesake. "We'll be in London soon, later this week Pierre is going to pick up his mother in law from Heathrow. Don't worry, she'll like Maria. She wants him to remarry and for Nicole to have a Mum", said Jack.
"I do hope so, it's always been Maria's dream to have a husband and children. And Nicole already likes her", said Tatiana.
"Our daughters need mums", said Jack softly.
"BOAC Flight #74 to London now boarding", announced the voice over the tannoy followed by the Icelandic translation.
The passengers quickly boarded and Tatiana willed herself to remain calm as though she had flown before. She followed Jack and Skye to their seats in first class and then sat down, watching as the other passengers fastened their seatbelts before following suit. The other passengers found their seats and fastened their seatbelts while baggage was loaded into the belly of the plane, the workers like busy ants below them.
After the last few passengers were finished boarding and the doors were closed, the pretty blond stewardess in her neatly pressed blue uniform stood at the front of the plane and demonstrated how to inflate the life vest and deploy the oxygen masks. Tatiana was fascinated and more than a little alarmed at the demonstration, wondering what were the odds the plane would crash into the sea. Jack gave her a reassuring squeeze of the hand and kissed her cheek as she immediately calmed down. "Think positive, Tessa", he murmured.
"Ladies and gentleman, welcome aboard BOAC Flight #74 to London, Heathrow. Our flight will be approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes, the drinks trolley will come around later in the flight. Sit back and enjoy the flight", said the pilot from the cabin.
Soon the plane had taxied over to the runway and stood still for a moment and then began its gradual acceleration down the runway. Tatiana felt her heart leap into her throat and her stomach sink and flip-flop as the plane went faster and faster, tilting upwards until the hind wheels left the ground and then they were airborne. Tatiana held her breath as she looked out the window and saw the ground tilted at an odd angle and receding further away, the sight both frightening and fascinating.
She breathed a sigh of relief when the plane reached cruising altitude and leveled out as the window showed they were nearly above the clouds. "We'll mostly be flying over the Atlantic and then the North Sea since it's non-stop. We won't see anything interesting down there. I got an extra book", said Skye as she handed her a worn paperback of The Hobbit.
"When we get back I'll show you my library. I get first editions of my books from the publishers and I have lots of books on Japan and the Orient", said Jack.
Tatiana nodded and saw that Skye was reading from a dog-eared copy of Jane Eyre and Jack was reading a fat paperback in Japanese. "It's the Tale of Genji, I read it every few years. It's the first proper novel and yes, I can read Japanese. I do have Genji in English if you're interested", said Jack.
"I'd like that", she replied.
"Not the Hobbit, Skye", said Jack in mock-horror.
"Tolkien is a brilliant writer and Lord of the Rings is an amazing series of books. I would love to be among the horse-lords of Rohan, ridding the land of Orcs. And Eowyn is the best sort of princess", said Skye defiantly.
"Well, I'll read it and let you know what I think", said Tatiana diplomatically.
The trio spent the rest of the flight reading their respective books, only interrupted by the drinks trolley. Tatiana sipped her gin and tonic and turned back to the front of the book to the map of Middle Earth, trying to see where Bilbo and the Dwarves were going. The story had a pleasant, homely feel in the beginning at Bag End in the Shire but then escalated as the Elves held them captive in Mirkwood. She sipped her drink and her fingers curled around the cold glass and she was appalled by the wretchedness of Gollum, glad that Bilbo had won the ring from the horrid little creature.
Tatiana was disappointed when the novel ended and the plane landed at Heathrow. "Now, I really want to know about what will become of Bilbo and the ring", she said as Skye beamed proudly.
"Then you ought to read the Lord of the Rings trilogy, it shows what became of Bilbo and the Ring", she replied.
Jack just shook his head. "Another Tolkien nerd has joined our family", he teased.
"The Hobbit is a lovely book", Tatiana protested.
Jack gave her a wink and put an arm around her waist, kissing her cheek. "I'm only teasing you, Tessa Parker. I just never got into fantasy things, I prefer my literature to be historical and realistic, fantasy isn't my thing", he said.
They got their bags from the claim and he hailed a cab outside. "The Jenkins", he told the driver.
"I can't wait to go home, I don't like London", said Skye.
"You're a country girl at heart, Skye Rose", teased Jack.
"I know, I'm a Yorkshire girl. London hasn't been good to us Yorkshire people or to Yorkists, too many wankers about", said Skye proudly.
"I do want to see more of London", said Tatiana.
"You will, but first we rest up", said Jack.
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Post by Tim on Jul 25, 2019 11:25:04 GMT -5
Of course, Tatiana wouldn't know about the Tolkien books. They were published in the decades she and her family skipped over.
And her reaction to a modern plane (of 1963, that is) is believable. It was in her lifetime that the Wright Brothers made their first flight.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Aug 1, 2019 9:41:05 GMT -5
Chapter 25
"I love this place, since the owners of the Blue Cat went away on holiday and this is my second favourite place in London. It doesn't have a liquor license so it attracts younger people", said Jack as he led Tatiana and Skye into the Marquee club.
"What does that mean?", asked Tatiana.
"You need a special license to serve alcohol in a club, if it has a license young people can't go there. It's so that teenagers don't go to a club with alcohol", Skye explained.
"Oh, I see. What sort of music do they have here?", asked Tatiana.
"Jazz, blues, some folk. Alex might like this place since they have good bands here, unfortunately the youth clubs in Manchester have naff pop bands all trying to sound like the Beatles", said Jack dismissively.
The women found a small empty table near the stage. The club was filling up with patrons as a band set up equipment onstage, a drum kit, a bass and two guitars along with a microphone and PA. Many of the patrons were teenagers who milled about and drank soda from tiny glass bottles and straws, the girls in knee-length skirts and short-sleeved blouses with their hair teased into beehives. The boys mostly wore tight drainpipe trousers and sport jackets over white shirts, their hair slicked down with a point in the back or in longish Beatles haircuts, trying to look tough by posing and smoking cigarettes even though many still had acne.
Jack felt an insistent tingling sensation in the back of his neck as his senses became more acute. The sensation grew stronger when he walked back to the table with three Cokes, feeling like an antenna which had picked up a signal. He took a deep breath and his hands were steady as he lit Tatiana's and his cigarettes but even after the first drag the tingling sensation still endured.
Jack exhaled and took another drag. The mostly teenage crowd drank Cokes and a few smoked, the boys trying to chat up the girls who tended to stick together like a gaggle of hens. Apart from the crowd was an older teenage boy who stood by the side of the stage and watched the band set up with rapt attention. He was of average height and skinny with wavy jet-black hair in a longer than normal Beatles cut which contrasted with his chalky-white skin. The boy turned momentarily in his direction and he had a pretty, almost girlishly delicate face but Jack realized he had the Sutherland green eyes.
He remained calm and continued smoking his cigarette, flicking the ashes into a white plastic ashtray on the table. Jack knew the boy had to be a Sutherland, but for whatever reason his parents didn't know or tell him. He decided to play it by ear and see if he could approach the lad, or perhaps some time in the future.
Tatiana realized Jack was outwardly calm but something seemed to have startled him. She saw he was looking at a teenage boy by the stage and thought he was too pretty for a boy. Then she saw his face fully and noticed his eyes were the same colour as Ian and Skye's greenish-hazel eyes. Jack nodded wordlessly and she couldn't wait to ask later.
The band took to the stage to polite applause and started playing a loud electric blues number, the singer a short, skinny young man with a blond Beatles haircut. In spite of his sight, fair appearance he had a surprisingly deep voice and played a wickedly good harmonica as the crowd cheered after every song. The black-haired young man didn't clap but instead watched the group with a laser-like intensity, focusing on the guitarists and not moving from his spot. The dim light shone on his ebony hair and turned it a vivid blue-black like raven's wings which combined with his eerie pale skin made him look like a ghost.
Jack had to admit the band was pretty good as he tapped his fingertips on the table top in time to the beat. Tatiana nodded in agreement and Skye discreetly tried to get a better look at the boy, her expression calm even when she caught a better look and saw the trademark Sutherland green eyes.
Jack groaned in frustration when the boy quickly left the club immediately after the set and the crowd pushed towards the exit. The trio remained outwardly calm but the cab ride back to the hotel seemed to take forever even though there were few cars on the street. He paid the driver and led the women back upstairs to the room before ordering a bottle of gin from room service. Fifteen minutes later the waiter arrived with a bottle of Tanqueray and three glasses as Jack tipped him generously. His hands were steady as he poured them each a generous amount of gin and then took a generous swallow. "That boy is a Sutherland, but he doesn't know", he declared.
"But why?", asked Tatiana.
"Some don't want to be part of our organization, they don't want the obligation. Some people are descended from those sorts and never realized it, others find out later and get mad and upset at their families. This is why we don't confront them directly, it's not their fault if their families never told them", replied Jack.
"And we have a sixth sense when we're near a Sol Duga member, like radar", added Skye.
"Poor boy, I hope he doesn't get angry", said Tatiana in alarm.
"He ought to be angry at whatever ancestor never lived up to our obligation, wanting to live a dull life in Surrey", said Jack dryly.
"A lot of that sort end up in Surrey or the Home Counties, the British members of Sol Duga are Northerners. Plus Surrey is bloody dull, just suburbs and grass. We got castles and better scenery", Skye quipped.
"Imagine, giving up a chance to save people and change things to live in the Stockbroker belt", said Jack sardonically.
"After what you've done for us, I want to help. It's only fair", said Tatiana.
"You will. After seeing Hvit Orn and the ceremony, you still want to join us? This is a big decision, Tessa Parker", he said.
Tatiana looked straight at him, his blue eyes turned a vivid purple with intensity. "Yes, I will join you", she vowed.
"Good. When we got back home, you'll have to enroll at university. How good are your nursing skills?", asked Skye.
"At the hospital, I helped during surgery and did whatever the doctors needed. Olivia couldn't handle seeing the wounded men, she had to shift over to clerical duties", replied Tatiana.
"I understand, Mum was a Red Cross nurse during the war and she doesn't like talking about what she saw. Do you want to serve as a nurse?", asked Skye.
"Do you need any nurses?", asked Tatiana.
"I'm actually our nurse, luckily you lot don't have any major illnesses thanks to Hugo. Being a primary school nurse is the perfect cover", Skye laughed.
"Then I will study history", declared Tatiana.
"Good, we'll see if Olivia wants to join you. And by the way, university is free in Britain if you pass the entrance exam. Plus we came up with a report card of passing O and A levels for you lot, just in case", said Jack with a grin.
"I will do my best for Sol Duga", she vowed.
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Post by Tim on Aug 1, 2019 11:06:16 GMT -5
Tatiana studying history. Good idea.
She has some forty-five years to catch up on before.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Aug 19, 2019 8:02:30 GMT -5
Chapter 26
Tatiana was still unsettled as the trio boarded the morning train for Manchester. The young lad had very girlish good looks and those trademark Sutherland green eyes, the way he watched the band with such intensity almost frightening. Not to mention it appeared as though his family had never told him of his true heritage, which sounded to her like a shirking of one's duty. She hoped that however he found out, he didn't get angry and hurt his family.
Jack nodded in understanding. "Let it go and it will sort itself out, Tessa", he said.
"Will Mollie like her new dolls?", she asked.
"Yes, she collects dolls I get her from different countries and writes little stories about them", he chuckled.
"Ah, she's a writer like her father", she teased.
"Of course, it's in the blood", he laughed.
The train's whistle tooted as the last few passengers scrambled aboard. The train pulled out of Euston and gradually headed north past the London suburbs. With each passing kilometer Tatiana felt as more and more eager to see her family and arrive home in Manchester. Barely little more than a year ago home had been Alexander Palace at Tsarkoe Selo and then there was the uncertainty of Siberia, but now home was a cozy brick house with lovely white roses and they would soon be there.
"Soon the cherries will ripen and they'll enough to make pies and preserved for a long while. Pierre's cherry tree isn't for show, it grows actual fruit. And Mollie loves cherry pie, I do make a good one", Jack chuckled.
"You can cook?", she asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, I had to learn since unlike my brother I don't have a Greek mother-in-law. Mostly English and simple French dishes, I make pierogis but Mum does them better. Unfortunately I don't make Japanese food since it's hard to find the ingredients and the only Japanese restaurants are in London", he replied.
"Yes, if only Ian learned to cook. But I don't mind, it's only the two of us", said Skye.
"Then I want to learn to cook as well", declared Tatiana.
"I'll teach you", said Jack.
The train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly three hours later and Jack hailed a cab and gave his address. Tatiana was startled when the driver let them out an unfamiliar small brick house she didn't recognize. "This is my house", he explained.
"We're going to drop off some things and then see your family and fetch Mollie", said Skye as Tatiana relaxed.
"Trust me, my house is not a dungeon. I just want to drop off my bags and put my laundry in the basket", said Jack.
Tatiana watched as he unlocked the front door and led them inside. It was a small one-story brick house with a parlor that led into a kitchen with a round table and three chairs. The parlor had a TV and sofa covered in a blue cloth adorned with pink roses, but around the perimeter of the room were shelves of books and vinyl records. A cabinet in the corner held a record player hooked up to the latest model hi-fi speakers and above it was a framed Japanese painting of Mount Fuji in spring.
"Later on I'll show you my collection, if the house was bigger I would collect more art. That's a vintage Japanese painting of Mount Fuji, from 1870", he explained.
"Lovely", she replied.
"And here is my room and Mollie's room, you can tell which is which", he chuckled.
Tatiana laughed. Jack's room was larger, dominated by a king-sized black wood framed bed topped by a heavy black quilt. The walls were white and adorned with lacquered wood panels depicting either geisha or Japanese landscapes. Mollie's room was smaller and done all in pink and white with a brass-framed daybed topped by a white and pink quilt. On a shelf were a variety of dolls from around the world, organized by country.
"Mollie collects them and she writes stories about them. Since she's too young for my book tours, I get her dolls", he explained.
"Beautiful dolls", she replied.
"And I'm afraid this isn't as interesting", he joked. The tiny room in the back held two machines, one with had a glass door in the front and the other with a metal lid on top.
"The one with the lid is a washing machine and the other is a dryer. They wash and dry clothes", he explained.
Jack opened his bag and dropped the clothes into a large wicker box with a lid. "When it's full, I do laundry. Trust me, it's better than a tub and washboard", he chuckled.
"We got one in our house too", said Skye.
"Does everyone have one of these?", asked Tatiana in disbelief.
"Some do, some people live in a block of flats that has a laundry room or there's a launderette on their street. But nearly everyone has access to a washing machine", said Skye.
The Lacroix and Sutherland homes were further down the street and at the Lacroix house they were mobbed by the family. "Daddy!", squealed Mollie.
Jack laughed and picked up his daughter as she clung to him. "I'm home, Mollie-Chan. And I got more dolls for your collection", he said.
"Ohh, thanks Daddy! Me and Nicole can make stories for them", she said eagerly.
"Yeah, Mollie. Uncle Jack, is Mollie going to have another Mum? Since Miss Tessa is your girlfriend?", asked Nicole.
Both Jack and Tatiana blushed. "Uh, it's a little early for that", he mumbled.
"I do hope so, Miss Lacroix", said Nicholas as he gave Jack a look.
"Trust me, sir. I took my duties as a chaperone seriously", said Skye.
"Good, Miss Sutherland. And your daughter behaved very well, Mr. Lacroix", said Alexandra.
"Of course, madam", she replied.
"What was Iceland like?", demanded Olga once they got back to the Sutherlands' house.
"Lovely country and the Midnight Sun was stunning. Late at night the sky is a lovely shade of red and orange. The Sol Duga headquarters is underground and larger than any Papa's palaces and more beautiful", said Tatiana.
"Ian said that, now I want to go. I've been reading from Ian's library, especially the Greek books and the Indian ones. Perhaps I will go to university and study Greece", Olga mused aloud.
"And you can help Ian. Olishka, I really wanted to stay with Jack, but it isn't proper", said Tatiana.
"Because you like him very much, Tanya. He's good-looking and a good father to Mollie, she is a very sweet girl. Did you snog?", asked Olga mischievously.
"That sounds like a question Alexei would ask. No, Skye is a thorough chaperone", said Tatiana ruefully.
"Snogging is very nice, even better is sharing a bed", teased Olga.
Tatiana's eyes widened in shock. "Olga Nicholaevna Romanova, you are not married!", she hissed.
"We haven't shagged, Tanya. The room is too quiet without you and Alexei's room is too small, Ian and I shared a bed. Trust me, we stayed on opposite sides. We did snog but nothing further. And I did see the book", said Olga with a wicked gleam in her blue eyes.
"I hope you don't get any ideas, Olivia. But why would people want to do that sort of thing, it's for making babies", said Tatiana dubiously.
"If people only did that to make babies, there wouldn't be many children. Do you think Mama and Papa would like the book?", asked Olga with a laugh.
"I don't want to her that, Olivia", warned Tatiana.
"All right. Ian borrowed this from Jack, it's the only Coltrane album he likes", said Olga.
Tatiana watched as Olga took an album from the shelf and slid the disc from the sleeve. The cardboard sleeve showed a well-dressed black man holding a saxophone silhouetted against a blue background. Olga dropped the needle on the vinyl and a lilting piano melody played for a few measures before the saxophone joined in.
Tatiana thought the song was pretty at first and then her attention was brought to a sharp focus by the saxophone. Her lips parted slightly and she nodded in approval, her eyes going wide in delight as the song went off into a different direction. The song took the simple tune from Sound of Music and took to a place more akin to an Indian raga or the music that would accompany whirling dervishes. By the end of its thirteen minutes, the song sounded completely different from when it started.
"What amazing music!", she exclaimed.
"That's John Coltrane, My Favorite Things. He's an American jazz saxophonist. It's not bad, but I prefer Brubeck", said Olga.
"Brubeck is boring, now hush and let us listen to Mr. Coltrane", ordered Tatiana.
Olga chuckled at her sister's familiar bossiness and found a book while Tatiana sat on the edge of the bed and gave her attention to the music. each of the four songs started out simply and with pretty melodies but Coltrane improvised with them until the songs were barely recognizable. Yet the music was still beautiful and retained its melodies, reminding her of a bird which flew high but remained in sight of trees.
Tatiana was disappointed when the record ended. "It ended, you turn it over and it starts again. Perhaps you can find your own copy", said Olga.
"I know that, but I wish it never ended. This is the most amazing music", she said reverently.
"I'll leave you alone before this music drives me mad", teased Olga as she left the room.
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Post by Tim on Aug 19, 2019 11:47:12 GMT -5
Nice that Tatiana likes the music.
Wonder how she'd like Lady Ga-Ga or any other modern singer.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Aug 21, 2019 8:28:27 GMT -5
Chapter 27
"Perhaps Jack is right, Tanya. Perhaps that boy doesn't know or his parents don't know", said Olga with exasperation.
"We've been brought up to do our duty, I cannot imagine how anyone can just shirk their duty like that. And for what, life in a dull suburb", said Tatiana in dismay.
Olga sighed and reluctantly closed the book she'd been reading. "Tessa, come what may, the boy will find out eventually. I have been reading a brilliant history book of Mughal India from Ian's library", she chided.
"Sorry, Olishka. But you must see the Sol Duga headquarters for yourself, it's as big as any of our family's palaces and more beautiful", said Tatiana.
"I can believe it. And Skye is taking us shopping, the whole family is going to the south of France in August", said Olga as her blue eyes sparkled with delight.
"Grandmama says the south of France is like Livadia. And I remember how lovely it was at Livadia", sighed Tatiana.
"I know, Ian's parents and the older Lacroix live there. I suppose when gets old you want to live in a hot place", Olga mused aloud.
"In the winter, perhaps", said Tatiana.
"Southern French people are nice as long as they're not posh, the regular folks are nice. And the swimming is divine, you can't go in the water on an English beach since the water is either too cold or dirty", said Skye as the her and the four sisters got into Ian's green Morris Minor.
"Like at Blackpool, the water looked grey", said Anastasia in distaste.
"It is, it's waste from the factories. One stays on the pier or at the fun fair at British seaside town", said Skye.
She backed the car out of the driveway and onto the street. "Alex and your parents are going shopping with Pierre tomorrow and Jack already did the shopping for him and Mollie, I wouldn't know how to shop for older people or teenage boys or little girls", said Skye with a laugh.
"What kind of bathing suits do ladies wear?", asked Maria.
"Don't be alarmed when you see a bikini, it's what fashionable young women wear at the seaside. And in France there's nude beaches, mostly older folks and the beaches are signposted", said Skye.
The department store was crowded with families buying clothes for holiday or school uniforms for the upcoming year. The swimwear display in the back was just as crowded as teenage girls tried to persuade their mothers to let them buy bikinis: "I can swim across the ocean in these", said Anastasia gleefully.
"Those are legal to wear?", asked Tatiana in disbelief.
"Yes, and like I said France also has nude beaches. It's perfectly respectable and plenty of normal people do so", said Skye as she examined a cute white and green polka dot bikini.
"Oh dear, I feel faint at the idea", said Tatiana in a daze.
"I suppose nude bathing could be beneficial to some people, I'll take it as it comes", said Olga pragmatically.
Both Maria and Anastasia started giggling like children. "Naked people are not a big deal, surely you have seen Classical sculpture", chided Skye.
"Yes, with a fig leaf", said Tatiana.
"Oh dear, the ancients would have laughed at you", said Skye, shaking her head.
With some persuading, the sisters bought new bikinis and some beach towels. "If you go to France and don't wear bikinis, people will stare and think something was amiss", she explained.
Tatiana was still thoughtful after the sisters had gone home from shopping and found it hard to read a book from Ian's library. "Jack told me about the lad at the Marquee. When the time is right, he'll find out. Some of our members opt out for whatever reasons, usually it's because they're involved in show business and don't want the press to find out. Or perhaps they want to be normal", said the blond girl.
"I've never been normal and I will never be normal, if you mean living dully in the suburbs. I'm like Mama, duty and country come first", said Tatiana with a rueful chuckled.
"Excellent qualities, but not if taken to extremes. Plus I doubt the lad is barely sixteen, let him have some fun until he finds out and tries to murder his parents", Skye deadpanned which earned her a weak chuckled from Tatiana.
"If you want, you can go to London when Pierre goes to pick up his mother-in-law. Maria's going along with Nicole, and perhaps Jack will come along with Mollie", said Skye.
"Good idea. Olivia and I have never been separated before and I used to think it would be a horrible thing, but it wasn't", Tatiana mused aloud.
"You're growing up, Tessa", said Skye. She glanced over at her watch and an idea came to her. "Let's go to Liverpool, to the university, and get admissions forms. Since Ian and Olivia are dating, she can't go to Manchester University since he's a professor there", she said.
"Is it far?", asked Tatiana in alarm.
"No, about a half hour on the train. Ask Olivia if she wants to come along. Perhaps we can walk along the Mersey, see a museum or even spend the night, many people are away on holiday", said Skye with an eager smile.
"I thought you don't like Lancashire", she teased.
"It's all taking the mickey, us Northerners take the really big mickey out of people from t'South. Us Yorkshire people and Lancashire people rag on each other, but we really rag on the Southerners. And besides, you ought to see more of your new country", she joked.
"I want to go", demanded Anastasia.
"Uhm, what do you think, Mr. and Mrs. Parker?", asked Skye.
"Nastya, will you be on your best behavior?", asked Nicholas.
"Yes, Papa", she replied.
"Pierre and I are taking Nicole to the cinema later, we're going to see Captain Sindbad", said Maria.
"That sounds like a child's film, Mashka. Ian and I are going to see the James Bond film with Mama and Papa. It has a Russian girl named Tatiana in it", said Alexei excitedly.
"Oh dear, blokes love those films. James Bond is a British secret agent who has a lot of weapons and many sexy ladies, blokes love him", said Skye dryly.
"That sounds boring", said Olga as Tatiana nodded in agreement.
"Have a good time, girls", said Alexandra as she embraced her daughters.
Ian drove them to the train station. "You're showing them the bunghole of England, Skye", he teased.
"No, Hartlepool is worse", she quipped.
"Very funny, they did hang a monkey once thinking it was a Frenchman. So I suppose you won't be joining us for James Bond?", he chuckled.
"No, but I know Lyoshka will enjoy it, Such a film sounds as though it would be popular with boys", said Olga.
"I want to see it, but I want to go to Liverpool more. Is James Bond handsome?", asked Anastasia.
"Yeah, if you like big Scottish blokes", said Ian.
"When I come back, I'm going to see it", vowed Anastasia.
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Post by Tim on Aug 21, 2019 11:16:40 GMT -5
At this time, there were only two James Bond movies, Dr. No and From Russia With Love. I believe the latter one is the one with the Tatiana character in it.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Sept 2, 2019 8:07:15 GMT -5
Chapter 28
The train to Liverpool only took 45 minutes from Manchester and passed through dull suburbs and mill towns before stopping at the grand Victorian Lime St. station. "I hope they never replace this with a ghastly modern design, architects have gotten very bad at their job", said Skye as she pointed out the elegant stained-glass windows over the atrium and the original latticework.
"All right, what do we do first?", asked Tatiana.
"We check in, we're staying at a hostel. They are more interesting then hotels, you get a bunk and meat all sorts of people. Mostly uni students but also foreign people tramping across Britain, it's fascinating", said Skye.
"Like a dormitory? But that's for soldiers", said Olga in dismay.
"Not really, most hostel patrons are perfectly ordinary people", said Skye.
The sisters followed Skye and tried not to look around like tourists. The street around the train station was half-full of office workers returning from a lunch break, scurrying into doorways like mice hiding from cats. Just around the corner was a handsome brick building with a bored-looking guard who immediately came to attention when he saw them. "Excuse me, ladies", he said gallantly, stepping aside and taking off his cap.
"Thank you, sir", said Skye.
The hostel was quiet as many of the guests had left for the day. The clerk at the front desk looked up and smiled when they approached. "How may I help you ladies?", he asked.
"Four bunks, we're going to be here for the night", said Skye.
The clerk checked a ledger and nodded. There's four bunks available here in the upstairs, we've been getting more people since the Beatles became so popular, a lot of young people are obsessed with the lads", said the clerk with a chuckle.
Skye paid the fees and the security guard showed them about. "On the ground floor there's the showers and canteen, supper is from 6 to 8 or you can go out. Lights out is at midnight, no one is allowed in or out so as to not disturb the guests. Here is the common room where you can hang around", he said as he showed them a parlor with sofas and a table piled high with newspapers and magazines. The canteen had long tables and benches and a stainless steel kitchen empty except for a few kitchen ladies chatting and a radio tuned to a pop music show on the BBC. The showers were divided by gender and had tiny cubicles each with a shower head and soap with curtains drawn around each space.
Upstairs the dorms were lined with bunk beds each with a pillow and plain but clean bedding. Each bunk had a locked compartment for their bags as the security guard handed them each a piece of paper with a combination number. "Put your bags here and lock it, otherwise someone can nick your things", he explained.
"Excuse me, sir, is smoking allowed in the dorms?", asked Tatiana.
"No, miss. But there's a porch up here where you can light up, because some kids are here and some people have got asthma", he replied as he showed them a little porch on the top floor.
Tatiana smiled gratefully as the women went out on the porch and she reached for her cigarette case and lighter. "Tessa, they stink", said Anastasia with an impish grin.
Tatiana lit a Regal and took a drag before exhaling, the tiny curl of smoke barely visible against the perpetually cloudy sky. "Do you want to visit the university all shaky and cranky, Natalie? I need to calm my nerves", she replied.
"And your GCSE results are in the briefcase, since you're over 8 the school doesn't have to send your transcripts", said Skye.
"What sort of results did we get?", asked Olga with a sly grin.
"Excellent ones, plenty of O and A levels. Nothing but the best", said Skye with a grin.
Tatiana chuckled as she took a final drag and deposited the butt into an old flowerpot on the porch. "Of course, nothing but the best", she echoed with a knowing grin.
The handsome Victorian campus of the University of Liverpool stood haughtily in the city centre, its brick facades conveying a very satisfied dignity. The main hall was guarded by a middle aged man who smiled and doffed his cap. "Excuse me, sir, but where are the admissions?", asked Tatiana.
"The big office on the 2nd floor, Miss", he replied, a slight blush on his cheeks as he placed the hat back on his bald head.
"The old chap likes you", teased Skye.
Tatiana blushed. "I only want Jack to notice me that way", she hissed.
"Tessa, you are an uncommonly pretty girl. Blokes will notice you whether you like it or not. Which is why you're lucky to have both brains and beauty", replied Skye.
The admissions office was empty except for a secretary typing. "Excuses me, but where are the admissions forms?", asked Olga.
The secretary looked up and adjusted her glasses. "There's a stack over there, you fill them out and write an essay on why do you want to enroll here. If you're accepted, we'll send you a letter", she replied.
Olga and Tatiana each took a form and thanked the secretary. "Straightforward enough", Olga mused aloud.
"It is. The essay is usually something like why do you want to enroll at university and why do you want to study your major. Sometimes they ask odd questions such as what is your most embarrassing moment in primary school or summat like that", said Skye dryly.
"Aren't the Beatles from Liverpool?", asked Anastasia suddenly.
"Yes, but I think they moved to London since they record there", replied Skye.
"Ohh, I wanted to see them! I want to sit up front and see Paul, he is quite handsome", she sighed.
"Oh dear, all the girls fancy Paul. Thankfully I'm too old for this", said Skye.
"Then I don't want to get old, if that means finding the Beatles boring", declared Anastasia.
Olga and Tatiana exchanged a look. "We will all get old, Natalie", said Olga.
Anastasia harrumphed as she followed her sisters and Skye, wanting to get her schooling out of the way so she could do adult things. She mused that if she were a fully grown adult, she would never feel so grown up and boring that she would never listen to the Beatles or go dancing. Anastasia vowed that no matter what, she would always be a cool old lady.
"I can't wait to go to France and go swimming. It must be divine to swim in a bikini", she said.
"It is very nice and one can swim further. Southern France and the country areas are lovely, it's Paris I don't like. It's too crowded and the people are wankers even if you speak French", said Skye.
"You say the same thing about London", teased Tatiana.
"I know, I don't like cities. Manchester isn't so large and neither is Liverpool or Leeds, London is terrible", said Skye.
"How do we get to France?", asked Olga.
"We'll fly Nice from Heathrow, we're also picking up Nicole's gran since she is flying in from Cyprus. St. Roche de Mer is lovely, it's a little town on the Riviera where Mum and Aunt Barbara and our Babcia live", said Skye.
The women walked about until Anastasia realized they were around the Cavern Club. "The Beatles played here!?", she stage-whispered.
"That is the famous Cavern Club, just a hole in the wall place", said Skye dryly.
"So, magical music was still made there. And there's a band playing here tonight, Gerry and the Pacemakers and another called Herman's Hermits", she said excitedly.
"Oh dear, the Beatles and their sound-alikes will take over the world", said Olga in mock-horror.
"They will take over the world and get rid of boring jazz music", Anastasia vowed as her older sisters shook their heads.
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Post by Tim on Sept 2, 2019 11:32:55 GMT -5
Funny their comments about the Beatles. They're right at the beginning of what was called the British Invasion.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Oct 6, 2019 13:18:42 GMT -5
Cranslow is where our family stayed while in London
Chapter 29
"After we pick up Giagia from the airport, we fly to France. I love France, France is so pretty. Babcia and Grandpa have a beautiful house on the beach", said Nicole excitedly while they waited for the cab to Manchester Piccadilly.
"I wanted to visit a jazz club in Paris, but the south of France sounds lovely. It's been so long since we went to a beach", said Tatiana.
"I want to get a suntan and go swimming", declared Anastasia.
"Me too", said Alexei.
"This is going to be like Livadia, Nicky", sighed Alexandra.
"I know, after all this insanity we need time to relax until the children start school", said Nicholas.
Several cabs stopped in front of them and everyone got in. "You lot all going on holiday?", asked the driver with a knowing chuckle.
"Yes, have to bring along the family of our ladies, you know", teased Jack.
"Oh yeah, bring the old folks along for the hols. Don't want to indulge in any nonsense", agreed the driver.
They arrived at the station and the rest of the family were surprised at the modern trains but discomforted by the squawking coming from the tannoys. "That's the tannoy, it gives out the information about the trains and where they are going. We take the train to London Euston and the Tube to Heathrow", said Pierre.
The family boarded the train as porters loaded their bags into the baggage car. The carriage gradually filled up with passengers until the train's whistle blew and the last few passengers scrambled aboard. The doors closed and it slowly pulled away from the station to leave it behind. Tatiana had to chuckle as she took out a book, watching her parents looking out the window. Nicholas wore a proper black banker's suit with a tie, his face clean-shaven except for a little mustache. Alexandra wore a long black skirt and a puffy white silk blouse with long sleeves, her graying hair pulled into a knot behind her head and topped by a straw hat with white silk flowers. In contrast the younger Romanov siblings were dressed more casually with Anastasia and Alexei in white t-shirts and jeans. Olga, Tatiana and Maria wore summer dresses in pink and blue with sheer white stockings and black high heels, while Skye wore a summer dress in apple green. Ian, Jack and Pierre wore suits with white shirts, Ian and Pierre in conservative suits but Jack wore a fashionable collarless Pierre Cardin suit of the sort popularized by the Beatles. Both Mollie and Nicole wore their Sunday best dresses with lots of ribbons and lace, straw hats with bows on their dark heads.
The trip down to London was uneventful and they arrived at London Euston five hours later. "Follow us to the Tube, we take it to Heathrow", said Pierre quietly.
The Tube was very different from any train they had ever seen. They had descend down a long flight of stairs and stand on a platform deep below the earth as the train arrived and the train itself was cylinder-shaped and narrow. The few people inside were looking at newspapers and magazines and didn't seem to notice them as the group entered. Three stops later they transferred to the Piccadilly line and no one noticed them either since many of the other passengers had baggage with them. At first the train was underground and it gave the family an odd sense of claustrophobia as the train went westwards deep below the ground. Everyone was relieved when they surfaced above ground at Baron's Court and pleasantly surprised at the green suburban areas to the west of London. They passed suburbs of brick and wooden houses with trees and flower gardens, shops and pubs which showed the middle-class character of the area.
The train stopped at Heathrow and the group went straight to the international arrivals terminal. "Mama and Papa, don't gawk when you see the planes", teased Tatiana.
"They are enormous, Tessa", whispered Nicholas.
"We'll be on one soon enough", she replied.
"Yes, Mr. Parker. Daddy and I take lots of planes to Japan and some are really big", said Mollie.
"BOAC Flight #74 from Nicosia has just landed. Passengers will be deplaning shortly", said the clipped male voice over the tannoy.
They watched as a BOAC jet parked at the gate and the workers attached the tube to the plane. Soon the doors opened and passengers got out, many of them British tourists or Cypriot families returning from holiday. "Giagia!", shouted Nicole when she saw the middle-aged woman in a black pantsuit.
"Nicole, agapi mou!", she exclaimed as she hugged her granddaughter.
"Giagia, these are Daddy's friends the Parkers. And Miss Maria is Daddy's new girlfriend, she's so kind and pretty", said Nicole happily.
"Very glad to meet you, Madam Angelakos", said Nicholas politely.
"Ídia edó, kyría sou (Same here, your majesty)", she whispered.
"Now let's get the bags and go to the hotel. How was your flight, Mitera Athena?", asked Pierre.
"Very pleasant, now I go back to cold and damp from a hot place. Why cannot England have the Cypriot climate, and Cyprus have British culture?", she teased in her soft Greek accent.
After retrieving her bags, the group boarded a bus to the adjoining town of Cranslow. "It's nice to stay in town and be around normal people, there's better eating options", said Jack.
"I will eventually get used to this cold English weather, but I was born and raised in sunshine", said Athena Angelakos with a rueful chuckle.
"You're going to see sunshine again soon, Mitera Athena. Wait until autumn and winter in England to see real cold and damp", Pierre teased his mother-in-law.
"I like Cyprus and I like France", declared Nicole.
"And I like Japan", said Mollie.
Their hotel in Cranslow was a simple place as they checked in and found their rooms. Tatiana was concerned that Maria was staying with Pierre and his family as Jack just chuckled. "Trust me, they're not going to shag, not with Granny and Nicole in the same room", he teased.
Tatiana blushed. "I just worry about my younger sisters. And we are sharing a room so I don't want to look hypocritical", she said.
"Your parents have a suite with Alex and Natalie, Olivia is sharing a room with Skye and Ian. Athena is a nice lady, Nicole is her only grandchild", said Jack.
"What is St. Roche de Mer like?", she asked.
"Lovely and gorgeous, stunning. It's a small fishing village that hasn't been discovered by tourists like St. Tropez or Cannes. The water is a brilliant blue and it's sunny a lot, the people are friendly and not wankers. The food is terrific and nearby are lavender fields, they are smashing. And you'll really like our Mum and Dad, our Mum actually met your parents at Spala before the revolution", he said.
"And there is anything I ought to know?", she asked.
"If you mean if they are insane, then no. They know you're all coming and are glad the mission was successful, and they'll be glad to know I have a girlfriend", he chuckled.
"And your father?", she asked.
"Dad owned a cinema for many years, he cashed out just after everyone bought a telly and stopped watching films as much. Plus he invested in Tesco back in the day and it's paid off a lot in dividends, he retired with a lot of money. Ian's dad too. So our family is quite wealthy even without the Sol Duga money", he said.
"So, you buy a portion of a business and if it's successful you get money. So one has to invest wisely", she mused aloud.
"Yes. In any event, let's get some supper. There's a kebab place across the road and we can take it back here", said Jack.
"Really, so you buy the food and bring it back to eat at the hotel? Does the hotel mind?", she asked in surprise.
"No, as long as you don't make a mess or eat in the common area", he replied as she shook her head in understanding.
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