Catherine The Great Journey

4 January 1744, Zerbst. She leaned forward, taking my chin in her hand. "You must tell no one what I'm about to say - not your brother, not even Mademoiselle. Understand?" I nodded. Was she afraid that if others knew the truth they might convince me to run away, thereby spoiling her scheme? "If the King approves of you . . . then you and I shall be driven by sleigh out of Prussia, all the way to St. Petersberg, to meet with Empress Elizabeth. . . . She has selected you, my poor ugly daughter, to be Peter's fiancee. Unless you spoil things, the two of you will marry and one day rule all of Russia."