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There was the barest hint of a lull in the conversation before Olivia said, "I just called for tea before you arrived, Sir Harry Will you join us?"

"I would be delighted" Harry took a seat across fro him a bland smile

"I es My governesses despaired ofFrench I have such adlish is truly superb, Your Highness"

The prince acknowledged her compliment with a nod

"Prince Alexei speaks French as well," Olivia said to Harry

"As do I," he responded, since there didn’t see slip in Russian, but he would never do so in French; there were far too many French speakers in London Besides, after so e if he hadn’t picked up soe

"I didn’t realize that," Olivia said "Perhaps the two of you can converse Or h "I quake with terror over what you ht say about me"

"Only the deepest of compliments," the prince said shness’s," Harry lied "It would be a frustrating conversation for us both, I am sure"

Again, a lull, and again, Olivia leaped into the breach "Perhaps you can say so for us in Russian," she said to the prince "I ae spoken aloud Have you, Sir Harry?"

"I believe so," heyour tiine you es"

Harry nodded politely, but she had already turned back to Alexei "Would you say sonize, even if I can hardly understand a word But Russian-well, I have no idea what it sounds like Is it a bit like German?"

"Nyet," the prince replied

"Ny-oh!" Olivia beamed "That must mean no"

"Da," the prince said

"And that must be yes!"

Harry wasn’t sure whether he was aed "I can’t really hear the rhythle-syllable words"

"Very well," the prince said "Letto say After a few moments he spoke

And Harry decided that he had never hated another hu as much as he hated Prince Alexei Gomarovsky of Russia

"What did you say?" Olivia asked with an expectant smile

"Only that you areon the translation, I’ to pump you until you scream

"That’s so poetic," Olivia murmured