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"Did not Napoleon say that he was surprised when a hussar reached his thirtieth birthday?" the prince murmured He turned to Olivia and said, "They have a reputation for…how do you say it…" He ers in a circularhis memory "Recklessness," he said suddenly "Yes, that is it"
"It is a pity," he continued "They are thought to be quite brave, butmotion across his throat-"they are cut down"
He looked up at Harry and Sebastian (but ave them a bland smile "Did you find that to be true, Sir Harry?" he asked-softly, stingingly
"No," Harry replied Nothing more, just no
Olivia’s eyes darted back and forth between the twoHarry could have said-no protest, no sarcastic remark-could have irritated the princeher any attention
"How old are you, Sir Harry?" the prince asked
"How old are you?"
Olivia sed nervously That could not be an appropriate question to ask of a prince And she knew he had not used an appropriate tone She tried to exchange a wary glance with Sebastian, but he atching the other two erously, and indeed, beside hiuard ht," Harry said, and then, with a pause just long enough to indicate that it had been an afterthought, he added, "Your Highness"
Prince Alexei’s mouth slid into a very sood on Napoleon’s prediction, then, do we not?"
"Only if you plan to declare war on England," Harry said lightly "Otherwise, I have retired from the cavalry"
The two men stared each other down for what seemed an eternity, and then, abruptly, Prince Alexei burst out laughing "You amuse me, Sir Harry," he said, but the bite in his voice contradicted his words "We shall spar again, you and I"
Harry nodded graciously, with all due deference
The prince placed his hand over Olivia’s, still resting in the crook of his ar him a victorious smile "After I have danced with Lady Olivia"
And then he turned so that their backs were to Harry and Sebastian, and led her away
Twenty-four hours later, Olivia was exhausted She hadn’t got ho, then her ing her to Bond Street for final fittings for her presentation gown for the prince Then, of course, there were no naps for the weary because she had to go and be presented, which seemed like a bit of nonsense to her, as she’d spent the better part of the prior evening in the prince’s coet "presented" to people one didn’t already know?