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And Vladiet about Vladimir

"I wonder where my mother is," Olivia said, because, really, it was odd that she had notroom had been left quite properly open the entire time, so her presence was not needed as a chaperone, but Olivia would have thought that she’d have wanted to greet the prince

"Is it necessary for her to be here?"

"Well, not really" Olivia glanced over at the open door "Huntley is right there in hall…"

"I alad we are alone"

Olivia sed, not sure what to say to this

He srew heavy "Are you nervous to be alone with me?"

I wasn’t until now

"Of course not," she said "I know that you are a gentleman And besides that, we are not alone"

He blinked several tihed abruptly "You do not mean Vladimir?"

Olivia felt her eyes dart back and forth across the rooain, several tiht…there And-"

Alexei waved away her concern "Vladirew "I don’t understand"

"It is like he is not here" He smiled at her, and not in a way that made her comfortable "If that is hoish it"

Olivia’s lips parted, but she had absolutely nothing to say

"For exaasped

"-it would be the same as if ere alone He would not tell anyone, and you would not feel any o, Your Highness"

"I should like to kiss you first"

Olivia stood, knocking the table with her shins "That won’t be necessary"

"No," he said, rising to his feet as well "I think it is necessary To show you"

"To shohat?" she said, unable to believe she was asking the question

He gestured to Vladimir "That it is as if he is not here I must have protection at all times He is with me always Even when-I should not say it in front of a lady"

There was quite a bit already he should not have said in front of a lady Olivia scooted along the edge of the sofa, trying toarea and over to the door, but he was blocking her way