After betrothing the eleven-year-old Emperor Peter II to his daughter, Menshikov promptly took him and his sister Natalia to his palace. Fearing the bad influence on the teenager from the Dolgoruky family, and especially from Elizabeth, with whom Peter II was very much in love, the prince deprived him of any relations with the Tsar's court. For his intention was to be able to keep Peter II in seclusion until he came of age.
