A Claim to the Throne

Preface

In the years after the brutal assassination of the Russian Royal family in 1918, there have been numerous persons pretending to be a daughter of the Tsar who had survived. Most of these proved to be charlatans soon, but others played their role quite convincing.
Also, in this story there will be a meet again with a woman from „Russian Roulette“, my very first story.

Chapter one

The „Royal Oak Hotel“ was perhaps not one of the best hotels in London, but sure it was well above average. Sally would have preferred a cheaper house, since they did not have that much money, but Dorothea had decided against it. They were still wearing the clothes of Daniela Cortese which were quite expensive and so, they would have been suspicious in one of the cheap hotels in the East End. They still were on the run and so, she had decided that the „Royal Oak“ was a compromise between their vanishing money and the attitude they represented.

Since they had also bought some new clothes, Dorothea had estimated that they could stay at the hotel for one more week before they would have to find a job. Without any certificates, this would not be easy, but the blonde German was quite sure that they would find something to make a living from without having to sell their bodies.

She looked from her book when she heard Sally entering their room.

„Tada, here I am! How do you like it?“

Dorothea could see that Sally had not only been at the harbour to check out about a cheap passage to France, but also been at a hairdresser. And, according to what he had done to her, it had been an admirer of the latest fashion. Sally`s long brown hair now was reduced to shoulder-length and cut in a pixie style. She looked very modern and stylish, but to Dorothea, who would have preferred to die instead of having her long hair cut, it was hardly an improvement. At least, Sally had not changed to one of the really short haircuts some women now were wearing.

„Eh – cute!“, she murmured when Sally took off her coat and showed that she had also bought a dark green dress that left her shoulders bare and ended just at her knees. Also, Dorothea could see a pair of new black pumps and a long pearl necklace.

„Sally, you look like the mistress of one of these gangster bosses from Chicago! And if you keep on wasting our money like this, this will be what you will end up soon.“

Sally pouted and then, she smiled:

„They always say that you should dress for the job you want, not for the job you have. And besides, you haven`t done anything to improve our financial situation either. Have you interrupted reading that old book since I left?“

„At least, this book hasn`t cost me a single penny.“

The last evening, she and Sally had been visiting a cinema and when they had arrived back at the hotel, there had been three new guests, a blonde woman and two men, checking in into some of the adjacent rooms. The men had been carrying a huge suitcase and they had been quite impolite towards Sally and Dorothea when trying to get their luggage through the narrow corridor. One of the men had bumped into Sally and the woman had uttered a curse in Russian.

So, when Dorothea had recognized that a small book with a leather cover had slipped from the woman`s coat, she had decided not to hand it back to the unfriendly person, but to take it and take a look inside instead.

Dorothea was fluent in English and French, but during the last year of the Great War, when she had volunteered as a nurse, she had been at a hospital near the Eastern Front where she had also learned some Russian. And so, she had seen an opportunity to improve her skills in reading that language. First, Dorothea had hesitated when she had seen that it was a diary – but then, her eyes had fallen on the date of the first entry – December 23th 1761. so, whoever the author was, she could hardly disrespect his privacy. Or rather her privacy, since the book had been written by a woman.

Dorothea was not used to read Cyrillic handwriting and in addition, the Russian from the 18th century was also a challenge, but more and more, an intriguing story was unfolding to her. Intriguing and maybe also worth some money.

„Why don`t you just tell me what`s so fascinating about having to translate every single sentence?“, Sally asked and sat beside her on the bed, kicking off her new shoes.

„Well, since you like detective stories, you would sure love that one, too. And since this will perhaps keep you from wasting more money, I will read it to you.“

Sally yawned and lolled about on her side of the bed.

„Well then, start from the beginning and try to sound like my grandma.“

However, after only a few sentences, she too was intrigued by the story Dorothea was unfolding to her.

***


I am Katharina, Grand Duchess of Russia and the future Tsarina. I will have to remind me of this fact again and again, for it seems that now even my closest friends have betrayed me.

Until yesterday, my greatest sorrow was that Peter, my husband and the heir to the throne, would try to get rid of me in favour of his mistress once the Tsarina had passed away. Peter`s a fool and so, I had no problem in finding some friends who would help me if it had to come to the worst. Especially G., my beloved, and his brother A. had proved to be loyal to me – or at least, that was what I thought.

Here, Dorothea interrupted her reading and explained to Sally that if these lines had indeed been written by Katharina II. Of Russia, „G.“ and „A.“ sure were the Orlow brothers, Grigori and Alexej, who had helped her to kill her husband and to ascend the throne half a year later. This intrigue was no secret, but perhaps, a historian would pay quite a sum for a first hand description of these events.

„Yesterday, I had to find out that A.`s plans are quite different from mine. He pretended that he only has my best in mind and only wants to keep me out of the line of fire, but the lack of respect he showed towards me was more than overwhelming.

Before I fully realized what was going on, he had bound me to a helpless bundle. In addition, I was stark naked. He had gagged me with another woman`s knickers, I felt I would choke from sheer nausea. But worse was still to come. He put another pair of knickers over my head and enforced my gag and blindfold with more cloths and also, a tight rope was tied between my legs. A. told me that a lookalike of me would take my place until Peter was out of the way and that he would keep me in his custody. Somehow, I am still sure that he will not hurt me, but this is no way to treat his future Tsarina!

Drawing by hugues66

Dorothea once again looked up and could see that Sally now was fascinated by the story. Sure, she remembered, like Dorothea did, that they both had been naked, bound and gagged with each other`s panties only a few days before.

„I have seen pictures of the underwear of women of these days. How did they manage to get a whole pair of knickers into her mouth?“, Sally asked with a mixture of disgust and fascination.

„Maybe, the Tsarina had a mouth as big as yours. But be quiet, perhaps, she will add a description.“

She continued her lecture and indeed, Katharina was quite frankly when she described how she was brought to Orlow`s rooms with her head tied between the legs of that criminal Vera that had been caught by Alexej little before. The head of this Vera was tied to Katharina`s crotch rope and the Tsarina even gave a hint that the great proximity of the other nude woman and the intimacy of her plight had had some – erotic effect on her.

After some time, they had been brought to a room where they had to wait for more agonizing hours in their humiliating position until Alexej had freed them from each other and pulled the hooding knickers from the two women`s heads. Katharina described that Alexej showed some glee about the fact that they both badly needed to relieve themselves and only freed them after a while.

A. has left us in our prison and it is obvious that no one could hear our screams. The walls are very thick, the windows are too high to be reached and also seem to be made of massive glass and the door to the outside is also very strong. In addition, the door and the walls are covered with thick, upholstered leather and the floor is covered with a carpet. So, even if we would bang at the door with all our strength, this would not help.
I have looked through our prison and at least, there are some precautions for my comfort. In a cupboard, I could find some nightgowns and robes, albeit no proper dresses. The criminal I have been imprisoned with has, like me, taken some to get dressed. I don`t like her around, but I will have to accept her for the moment and besides, after what we have endured, I prefer her to be dressed, too.

Our prison also offers a poster bed and two plain beds – obviously, I and Vera will have to share the same room, but at least, she will not be allowed to sleep in the same bed as me. In another corner, there is a small desk with a chair where I found some ink and the book in which I am writing down this confession now. I am not sure what future will bring, but this journal will help me to remember every detail of my imprisonment and sure, A. will have to pay.

A knock at the door pulled both Dorothea and Sally back to the 20th century and both could hardly oppress a squeal. Dorothea quickly hid the book under the pillow and went for the door.

It was the Russian woman and after a short hello, she directly asked whether Dorothea had seen an old book she obviously had lost the day before. Dorothea shook her head and looked directly into the other`s eyes. She had grey, cold eyes and was even a bit taller than Dorothea with her 5`7``. like Sally, she had shoulder length hair that was fair blonde and Dorothea was sure her long coat was hiding a quite sportive body. Even from her few words, she could clearly hear a strong Russian accent.

„Well, if you find my book, my room number is 136. Since this book matters to my family, I will pay you five Pounds if you give it back to me.“

The blonde Russian left and Sally, who had risen from the bed, whispered:

„How much do you think the book`s worth if she offers us five Pounds?“

Dorothea shrugged.

„If it`s just a more or less spicy description of how Katharina accessed the throne, a researcher would pay some 20 or 30 Pounds for it. After all, everyone now knows that she plotted to kill her husband and that Grigori Orlow was her lover. And besides, the Romanows are no longer the rulers of Russia. So, I don`t think we really have a gold mine here – that is, if there aren`t more secrets hidden inside this book.“

Sally threw herself on the bed, reached for the diary and held it over to Dorothea who began to read on the descriptions of the Tsarina.

***


Yesterday, our beloved Tsarina Elisabeth has passed away. A., my dungeon master has told me when he visited us. He seems to be afraid of me, since he took a precaution to make sure I could not reach him: before opening the door, he let down an iron portcullis, giving him some square-meter. He looked ridiculous, as if he was imprisoned and not me. However, what he told me kept me from laughing.

Obviously, Peter had been quite joyful when he had heard about the Tsarina`s death and he had joked around with his mistress. The only one behaving decent and showing respect and grief had been – me. Or, of course, the woman who pretended to be me. A. told me that she was playing her role well so far and that within a few months, I could leave my dungeon and access the throne. I screamed and threw myself against the iron bars, but he just waited until I had calmed down. I asked for G., but A. told me that I would have to wait until he could manage to leave the court unnoticed. Then, he left me alone with Vera who still refuses to serve me. My revenge will be brutal, and maybe, I will even punish G., but only after he has watched his brother die.

***

The woman who had knocked at Dorothea`s and Sally`s door had returned to her room to which shortly after her two colleagues had returned, too. They had asked all the guests and the hotel staff about the book and hadn`t found a sign of it.

„Maybe, someone has just thrown it away because he couldn`t read it. Then, at least the secret would remain hidden, Nympha!“

The blonde woman frowned at the man. Nymphadora, as her full name was, knew that Wladimir was right, but if the book had fallen in the hands of someone who knew what it meant, their plan was about to fail. Now, Fjodor, the other man, spoke:

„We could of course make sure that none of those we asked has got the book. But there are some two dozen rooms we would have to break into. However, we can perhaps reduce this number a bit.“

Nymphadora raised one of her perfectly plucked eyebrows and listened. Fjodor sometimes was a bit lazy, but this meant that he was interested in finding a way to reach goals without too much effort.

„You said you definitely still had the book when we left the taxi yesterday evening. And after that, we only talked to the hotel clerk.“

„And to these two women you nearly bumped into. You are right, we have been distracted at that moment. I have just been there and the blonde pretended that she hasn`t seen the book. Well, we have to start somewhere anyway. Wladimir, just keep an eye on their door. Once they leave, we will break into their room and see if they have told us the truth. And if they have lied, we will show them that this has been a bad mistake.“

She smiled sardonically and both Wladimir and Fjodor also grinned when they imagined what they would do to the two pretty girls. Then, Wladimir went at the corridor and Fjodor also left to ask some more guests about the book. Nymphadora closed the door and locked it carefully. Then, she pulled the big suitcase from under her bed. with the help of three keys she was wearing around her neck, she opened the three locks and opened the lid. Usually, Wladimir and Fjodor had one of these keys, but here, in the hotel, she was mainly responsible for it`s content.

Inside, the suitcase was heavily upholstered from all sides. So, no matter how much the bound and gagged woman inside moved, she could not knock against the walls.

Not that much movement was possible. The woman had her arms trapped in a leather sheath that covered them from the tips of her fingers to the middle of her upper arms. Two straps emerged from the sheath`s top, went over her bare shoulders and were crossed over her chest before they went under her armpits. These straps prevented the tight sheath from slipping down the woman`s arms. Nymphadora knew that under the leather her arms were wrapped in a silky cloth and then tied at her wrists and elbows with two narrow belts. The position was not only very uncomfortable, but it also forced the naked woman to thrust out her breasts towards the viewer.

Her legs were leashed together by several more belts. One went around her thighs, two tied her legs above and below the knees and one bound her ankles. Also, a leather thong tied her big toes together.

More belts that were attached to the suitcase`s bottom forced the girl to remain in her lying position. One went over her bound ankles and one over her neck whilst a third one covered the girl`s middle. This last belt was some 12 inches wide and covered the damsel`s hips and pubic area, but it had not been applied for modesty.

The woman had a balloon catheter forced inside her and every twelve hours or so, they allowed her to empty her bladder. Since they had not planned to keep her inside the box for more than a few days, they had just given her an enema and then plugged her butt before putting her inside. A tight belt bisecting her crotch that was attached to an equally tight belt around her waist held everything in place.

Nymphadora smiled when she remembered that the girl now was inside the boy for some 24 hours. And she would have to stay inside until they had booked a passage to France, reached Paris and brought her to a save house.

„Just another two or three days, your Imperial Highness“, she whispered. There was no reaction from her prisoner, but that was hardly surprising. Her head was totally covered with a black hood, but underneath, Nymphadora knew that the other woman had her mouth thoroughly stuffed with copious amounts of cotton wool. A tube had been forced through her gag, allowing them to give her some water or soup from time to time. Then, a whole roll of tape had been wrapped around her lower face. The woman`s ears were stuffed with cotton wool, too. And so, unable to move, speak, hear or see, she was forced to remain in a dark, narrow and warm hell. Minutes must feel like hours, hours like aeons and by now, the girl sure was overobsessed by her body`s needs.

„Her Imperial Highness Olga Romanowa. It`s hard to believe if one sees you like that!“
She knew that her captive could not hear her, but Nymphadora was quite sure that she was awake and aware of the fact that she had opened the lid. She leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on Olga`s left nipple.

„Uuhhhmmm!“

A faint throaty groan emerged from underneath the hood and a trembling told Nymphadora that the bound and gagged girl desperately tried to squirm and flail. Just to emphasize her helplessness, Nymphadora kissed her nipples for a while longer – until she could see that they had become hard and erect.

Nymphadora carefully locked the lid and pushed the suitcase back under the bed. Then, she decided to prepare for their next moves.

***


At least, A. has answered my complaints about Vera`s behavior. This morning, I told him that she still refuses to serve me and to treat me with respect. He left a little later without saying anything and Vera mocked that we would be both just worthless prisoners for the time being. However, when I was about to lose my temper and to beat her, the door opened and three soldiers stepped inside. They had brought some ropes with them and before any of us could react, they had grabbed Vera and tied her wrists behind her back. Then, her skirts were lifted and a rope was tied from her wrists, between her legs and around her neck. Vera screamed, but they had brought some cloths, too and gagged her thoroughly before putting a sack over her head and taking her with them.

Later, A. came and brought a young women with him. He introduced her as Polina and that she would become my new lady`s maid. He also told me that I should not worry too much about Vera, since he had ordered to get her to a place where she could do no harm, but where she would suffer no harm. I would have preferred a punishment, but obviously, I will have to wait longer for such things. Now, the world outside is preparing for Elisabeth`s burial, wilst I am here, buried alive!

Now, Dorothea began to flick through the pages, for the diary of Katharina had become quite boring. Her new maid Polina seemed to be docile, but a bit naive and shy and since the Tsarina was not allowed to leave her prison, there wasn`t much happening in her life. Her perpetual swearing of revenge was also not very interesting to read and Dorothea knew from history that the Orlow brothers had never been punished by Katharina, but instead had been given land and titles by her.

Dorothea remembered from school that Peter had been overthrown and killed in July 1762 and so, she looked for that date. However, there was a surprise. After a rather unspectacular entry late in June, the next entry was dated on November the 3rd 1762 and it was written with another ink.


After all what had happened the last months, I never would have thought that I would ever continue that diary. But now, I want to end my confessions, since no one knows what will happen next to me.

I remember when A. told me that the Imperial Guard had started a revolt and that Peter had been imprisoned whilst „I“ had ascended the throne as the new Tsarina of all Russians. First, I was overwhelmed and then, I was glad, since this would mean that I would now be allowed to leave these rooms. However, A.`s face showed a concerned expression and he continued to tell me the latest events:

„Peter – he`s not just sitting in some prison cell. There – there has been a quarrel and now – Madame, he`s dead.“

A. bowed and I had to sit down, too. I had never loved Peter, but he had been just an idiot, not a brute and he would have deserved a fate better than that. Then, I rose and said:

„Well, of course, I will have to pretend that I knew nothing about my husband`s assassination. But be sure, you and your brothers will not be punished.“

I hoped that he would believe that little lie. However, A. cleared his throat and avoided my view – something he never had dared before. Then, when I tried to reach him through the bars, he told me what else had happened:

„As you know, quite a lot of people knew that you and my brother had an affair. And so, he and your lookalike had to spend some time together. And it seems that both played their roles quite well.“

I wondered why this should be a problem. During our affair, G. Had always had some other women in his bed and now, he had slept with my lookalike, too. I was not pleased, bu this wasn`t a drama either. However, Orlow had more to tell:

„Your lookalike – she`s pregnant. And quite a lot of people at the court know it.“

I sank to my chair again. This was indeed a problem! But then, I seemed to have found a solution to that and told A. that I would just stuff my dresses and later pretend that I had lost the child. It seemed strange to me that A. hadn`t thought about that obvious solution. However, it seemed that he still was concerned about something. He apologized and left, ignoring my pleading and shouting.

Polina tried to calm me down, but I just threw things against the walls and screamed my lungs out before I started to cry. Why did A. not just set me free? And why had G. Not been here?

We got the answer little later. I just wanted to write in my diary when the door opened and six members of the guard entered. First, I thought that they had come to escort me to the palace. I was a little embarrassed, both because my face still looked horrible from crying and because I was clad in just a nightgown and a bathrobe. However, it turned out that this was my least problem.

„To ensure the safety of our Tsarina, you will be brought to another place!“

It took me some time to understand the meaning of these words, but when two men roughly grabbed my arms, I started to fight and scream. I told the men that I was their rightful Tsarina, but these bastards completely ignored me!

Dorothea lowered the book and looked at Sally who hung on her lips. If this story was true, it was far more than just an interesting marginalia! She continued to read:

The men ripped the robe from me and bound my wrists with rough hemp. When I continued to scream, one grabbed my scalp and forced my head back. Another one stuffed a huge rag into my mouth and tied a piece of cloth tightly between my lips. Then, they tied my elbows, too. I managed to kick one of the soldiers in his groins, but cursing, he grabbed the hem of my nightgown and ripped it from me, leaving me stark naked. Then, I was forced on my knees and before A sack was forced over my head, I could see that Polina was just removing her clothes, her face covered with tears.

I felt them binding my legs at knees and ankles and tying my feet to my hands. Then, I was thrown over a shoulder and carried away. For the first time in months, I left my prison, but sure I had never thought it would be other than in triumph.

After a while, I was thrown on something soft and seconds later, I recognized it was a cart, since we baegan to move. I tried to wriggle my hood off or to remove my gag, but strong arms held me tight and whenever I tried to scream, a hand was pressed over my face and squeezed my nose, nearly choking me.

I could hear that we were driving through some crowded streets. To my horror, I could even hear them scanting my name. Obviously, my lookalike was presenting herself to the public whilst my loyal underlings were totally unaware of the fact that their Tsarina was currently naked, bound and gagged and was carried off to an unknown fate.

Then, the noise became weaker and finally, the cart stopped. Again, I was carried down some steps and thrown on what seemed to be a straw heap. Then, I heard the sound of disappearing steps. Again, I tried to squirm and to at least get my eyes free. Suddenly, the sack was pulled from my head. When I looked up, I could see a woman standing in front of me. She was pretty, but despite her expensive clothes, there was something lascivious and vulgar in her attitude. She was playing with a stray of her long, dark brown hair and looked at me with her also brown eyes as if she was taxing some cattle – which was more or less what she was doing.

Beside me, I could see Polina, also stark naked, gagged and hogtied. She looked at me and tried to say something through the cloth stuffing her mouth. Then, the other woman spoke:

„So, you two want to work for me? Well, this one is a little old, but I think she will get her customers, too.“

I screamed through my gag when I understood what she was talking about. This woman was a brothel keeper and A. had given me and Polina to her! Then, I heard a laugh from behind. When I looked over my shoulder, I nearly fainted. It was Vera, now dressed in a fine silk dress with a daring cleavage, and she was holding a riding crop in her hand.

„Oh, she sure will have to learn how to behave first. I am afraid she is a feisty one, but sooner or later, she will de a docile member of our happy little family.“

When Dorothea stopped reading this time, Sally gasped. This was indeed explosive stuff! The woman whom later generations had given the epithet „the Great“ - the only woman to be called so! - had been replaced by a lookalike and the real Tsarina had ended up in a brothel!

„If that`s a true story, it would mean that all Russian Tsars during the last 150 years have been illegitimate!“

Dorothea shook her head.

„Katharina was succeeded by Paul, her son who had been born long before these events. And besides, there is no longer a Tsar on the Russian throne. The new Sovjet rulers would even be happy if this would help them to discredit the remembrance of the Romanows even more.“

„But there must be a reason why these Russians are so keen on getting this book back! They don`t look like historians to me! But they also don`t look like some Russian noblemen who want to prevent that people learn about this exiting, but also obsolete story.“

Dorothea was thinking about the situation, too. She had not the slightest idea whether this was something still important in the year 1925, but there were people who knew it. And these people had even given them their room number.

„Sally, would you mind to go on a little trip with me? Later, when it`s dark?“

Sally smiled.

„You mean, we will do some investigation in a case that is 163 years old? Well, it sounds better than just sitting here and staring at the walls!“

***