“Put me down, rascal,” the Duchess nearly shouted. “Have a care for my age, if you please.”
She was flustered. Such strength! Anastasia had every reason to be nervous after all. If this towering giant did decide to give her the thrashing she so richly deserved…
“J’en suis au regret.”
“Never mind that French rubbish!” she snapped. “You’ve a good English tongue. I’ll thank you to use it while you’re in my house.”
Dimitri threw back his leonine head and laughed, a deep, rich sound, so very masculine. And he was still grinning as he set Lenore back in her chair.
“I said I was sorry,Babushka, but you utterly destroyed my apology. You are still as feisty as ever, I see. I have missed you. You should come to live in Russia.”
“My bones could never withstand one of your winters, and well you know it.”
“Then I will have to come here more often. It has been too long,Babushka.”
“Oh, do sit down, Dimitri. It hurts my neck to have to look up at you. And you’re late.” He had thrown her for such a turn that she couldn’t resist putting him on the defensive.
“Your letter had to wait until the spring melting on the Neva before it could reach me,” he said as he grabbed the nearest chair and pulled it closer to her.
“I knew that,” she replied. “But I also know your ship docked in London three days ago. We expected you yesterday.”
“After weeks on my ship, I needed a day to recuperate.”
“Good Lord, that’s the nicest way I’ve ever heard it put. Was she pretty?”
“Immeasurably.”
If she had hoped to disarm him with her frankness, she failed. No blush, no excuses, just a lazy smile. She should have known better. According to his Aunt Sonya, who wrote Lenore often, Dimitri never lacked for feminine company, and half that company was married women. Anastasia was correct. He would be hypocritical to upbraid her for her few indiscretions, when his own numbered in the hundreds.
“What do you intend to do about your sister?” Lenore ventured while he was in this pleasant mood.
“Where is she?”
“In her room. She’s not too happy that you’re here. She seems to think you’re going to be rather harsh with her for having been called here to fetch her home.”
Dimitri shrugged. “I admit I was annoyed at first. This was not a convenient time for me to leave Russia.”
“I am sorry, Dimitri. None of this would have been necessary if that silly woman hadn’t made such a scene when she found Anastasia in bed with her husband. But there were at least a hundred guests at this particular party, and half that number rushed to the rescue when they heard the woman’s screams. And Anastasia, foolish girl, didn’t have sense enough to hide her head under the sheets so she wouldn’t be recognized. No, she stands there in her shift and argues with the woman.”
“It is unfortunate Anastasia was not more discreet, but do not mistake me,Babushka. Alexandrovs have never let public opinion influence their actions. No, my sister’s offense is that she did not followyourdictates.”
“She was just being stubborn and refusing to run from censure, another trait you Alexandrovs have in common, Dimitri.”
“You defend her too much, Duchess.”
“Then relieve my mind and tell me you don’t intend to beat her.”
It took a moment for Dimitri’s bland look to change, but suddenly he burst into laughter. “Whathasthe girl been telling you about me?”
Lenore had the grace to blush. “Obviously nonsense,” she said disagreeably.
He continued to chuckle. “She’s too old for a spanking, not that I didn’t relish the idea for a while. No, I will simply take her home and find her a husband. She needs someone who can keep a closer watch over her than I can.”
“She’ll balk at that, my boy. She’s told me more than once that marriage isn’t for her and that her views on the subject come entirely from you.”
“Well, perhaps she will change her mind when she learns that I intend to be married before the year is out myself.”
“Are you serious, Dimitri?” Lenore asked in surprise.
