Alvita thought it odd, but she could understand that it would be wrong to say anything which was really private in front of Nicholas or anyone else.
She therefore said,
“I am so glad, dearest Ivor, that we are together. I would have been afraid if you had left me behind. And don’t leave me when we reach another country, even if we are safe from the Revolutionaries.”
“I will not leave you,” Ivor promised. “I know that Papa would want me to look after you and protect you. But I don’t think that you will be in any danger if we do what Nicholas wants us to do. I hope that he will be able to tell you all about it when we go on board ship.”
He sighed before he added,
“If we get on board! After all I am quite sure that we are not the only people escaping from Russia now that the Revolu
