I need advice...pretty pleaseeee

Danielita -- that's wonderful that you have three chapters of a manuscript,  That's no small thing.  As to your question, readers of historical romance will expect the facts to be accurate (any objects used, etc. as well as historical figures).  I don't think you would need to know the language and the streets have probably changed since your ms. was set., but you would need to do enough research to know that.  Of course, your story is fiction so much of what you create is, of course not researched.  Attitudes of the people in your book should reflect attitudes of the era.  Clothing the same.  Actually, at some point, you will need to do a fair amount of research for your book.  At the present though you might keep writing for a while as it is your first manuscript and it might be best to write a rough draft and then start your research ( wouldn't want the research to stop you prematurely).

Janet

First of all,  rather than having two Russians, you might want to have one of your characters be going to Russia. say an English  governess or a diplomat's daughter.  It would give you a chance to explain the system without having to be an insider.

Second, Russia, for a number of reasons can be a hard sell, so you will want to have your novel be as strong as possible. I am not saying IMPOSSIBLE, simply that the bar is set fairly high. so you will need to make sure the romance is very strong  But there again the competition for any publishing slot is very tough...

Third, the focus of any romance novel should be the romance and not the setting. Everything, including all the details should forward the emotional growth of the relationship. You need detail to give a vivid impression but it needs to be done with a fine hand.

Finally, all historical fiction is anachoronistic by definition. The writer has never directly experienced the period. Someone who lived in that era might have an entirely different perception of the era. There again every era (including contemporary) is about  creating fworlds, rather than exact duplication.

 Visiting an area may or may not help. Researching an area can be done. For example, attempt to find woodcuts of the area from biography set in that era. r perhaps look at old maps.  See if you can pick up clues from other sources. Can you get a picture of it in your mind? And what details will the characters notice because of who they are?  It is all about recreating the milieu, rather than providing an exact snapshot. Everything is always seen through the filter of a character's pov. You are trying to make the characters' world come alive.

FWIW

Michelle S

...fantastic advice, Michelle!  And it gave me a tiny glimpse of your own process when you're writing your books.  You start with the character's romance (the bones), then fill in the historical details (which I know you've researched thoroughly).  I always wondered about the order of the two.  It certainly makes sense to do the most important part first.