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"What are you reading?" he snapped

Harry glanced down at the book, and then back up at the prince "I was under the assumption you did not wish to speak with me"

"I don’t But I am curious What is that book?"

Harry held the book up so that Prince Alexei could see the front cover "Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron"

"Is that what is popular in England?" Alexei sneered

Harry thought about that "I don’t know Lady Olivia is reading it I thought I ht do so as well"

"Is that not the book she said she would not like?"

"I believe so, yes," Harry murmured "Can’t say I blame her"

"Read it to me"

Score one to the prince Harry would have been only slightly more surprised if the prince had come over and kissed him square on the lips

"I don’t think you’ll enjoy it," Harry said

"Do you like it?"

"Not really," Harry replied with a shake of his head It wasn’t precisely true; he veryit aloud to Olivia But soic when shared with Prince Alexei Go his face ever so slightly to the side It was as if he were posing for a portrait, Harry realized Thefor a portrait

Harry ht have felt sorry for hi it," the prince said, "then I want to do so, as well"

Harry paused, digesting that He supposed he could sacrifice Miss Butterworth for the sake of Anglo-Russian relations He shut the book and held it out

"No You read it to me"

Harry decided to obey It was such a bizarre request he couldn’t bring himself to say no Also, Vladirowl

"As you wish, Your Highness," Harry said, once again settling doith the book "I assu?"

Alexei answered with a single, regal nod

Harry turned back to the opening "It was a dark and windy night," he read, "and Miss Priscilla Butterworth was certain that at anydown fro all that lay within her purview" He looked up "‘Purview’ is not used correctly, by the way"

"What are these ‘sheets’?"

Harry looked back down at the words "Er, just an expression Rather like raining cats and dogs"

"This I find stupid"

Harry shrugged He’d never been fond of the idioain the nod

"She was, of course, shielded from the weather in her tiny chamber, but the -"

"Mr Sebastian Grey," came the butler’s voice

Harry looked up from the book with some surprise "Here to see Lady Olivia?" he asked