Page 39 (1/2)
"ProtectMis-tresss ," Count Cherht once rand duke or hadn&039;t cared He was still trying to tear Count Cherrand duke barked I stood up,
"Do not hurt the count," I begged "He was only trying to protect me"
"Now, Duchess" His face was hard He looked years older at thatdown my face, and headed toward the palace
The sound of another shot ain "No!" I ran back down to the edge of the woods A lone creature lay in the snohiri out here, anyway?"
I wiped the tears fro hiround had merely been slowed down by the bullet hole in the side of his head He was already dead, so the grand duke could not have killed hiht over
"Demidov," he said "He rabbed the grand duke&039;s jacket sleeve "Dr Kruglevski&039;s toxin screen! He&039;d been poisoned with herand duke stared at the revenant&039;s body "He seemed perfectly healthy before he died" I shook my head "It&039;s the same poison that made an to stir, and the grand duke pulled me back protectively "You must leave, Duchess"
"But the hemlock-"
"I&039;ll look into it But you must return to the ball" Derand duke pulled his saber from the scabbard at his side "Go back to the ball, Katerina Before your fiance ht I had to play the infatuated young girl For the grand duke&039;s safety as much as for my brother&039;s I nodded sadly and headed back inside the palace
"Unless you still need to be rescued," the grand duke said softly over his shoulder
I turned around to face hi back more tears I tried to keep hts My true feelings "I thank you, Your Ihness But I can take care ofto watch hirand duchess Xenia and Princess Alix were sitting in the drawing roo for me Princess Alix jumped up when she saw me "What happened to you?" she cried I looked down and noticed theto explain that? I sighed
"Forgive me," the princess said "My French is very poor and I have learned very little Russian since we have been here What is &039;led and whispered into the princess&039;s ear
Princess Alix blushed "I see," she said "I thought it looked likeus soe ht of the chandeliers, and on the carriage ride hohed "Thank you for helping rand duchess asked eagerly "Did he kiss you?"