Count Andrei Shuvalov, chamberlain to Catherine, the future Empress consort to Russia's Tsar Peter III, knows the diarist James Boswell well, and Boswell reports that Shuvalov shared private information regarding the monarch's intimate affairs.

Some of these rumors included that Peter had taken a mistress (Elizabeth Vorontsova), while Catherine will be said to carry on liaisons with Sergei Saltykov, Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov (1734–1783), Alexander Vasilchikov, Grigory Potemkin, Stanisław August Poniatowski, and others.

She has become friends with Princess Ekaterina Vorontsova-Dashkova, the sister of her husband's mistress, who has introduced her to several powerful political groups that oppose her husband.

Peter III's temperament has become quite unbearable for those who resided in the palace.

He announces trying drills in the morning to male servants, who later join Catherine in her room to sing and dance until late hours.

Catherine becomes pregnant with her second child, Anna, who only lives to four months, in 1759.

Due to various rumors of Catherine's promiscuity, Peter is led to believe he is not the child's biological father and is known to have proclaimed, "Go to the devil!" when Catherine angrily dismissed his accusation.

She thus spends much of this time alone in her own private boudoir to hide away from Peter's abrasive personality.