“What is he doing here?” Diana yelped. “He’s not supposed to see her dress until the wedding day!”
Rumi frowned and looked at Oleg, who only shrugged.
“Is this a tradition?” Oleg asked. “Lady Tatyana?”
She turned her head but clearly was trying to hold steady for the tailors working on the hem of her garment. “Diana, that’s a modern thing. There’s no bad luck for Lord Oleg to see me in my dress.”
“In fact” —Oleg strolled around the platform— “it is my duty to ensure that your dress meets the standards for such a grand occasion as marrying the knyaz of the Kievan Rus.” He looked it up and down, trying not to appear overly awed by the sight of the woman standing on a pedestal in front of him.
She was a goddess. The waist of her gown sat just under her gently rounded breasts, and the rich amber silk of the skirt was adorned with gold and silver thread, gemstones, and pearls. There was ermine trim along the bottom of the sarafan and more fur edging the shoulders and sleeves.
She was magnificent. A queen. No human could even compare.
Oleg felt Tatyana’s eyes on him. “Does the gown please you, Lord Oleg?”
“It is sufficient for the event.” He nodded. “When you are finished with this fitting, you will join me in the treasury so you may choose your wedding gems and see your crown. We should make sure it does not need adjustment before the ceremony.”
Tatyana blinked. “There is a crown?”
“Of course there is a crown.”
Her stylist was quick to answer him. “We will be most pleased to join you after the fitting, Lord Oleg.”
“Not you.” He looked down his nose at Diana. “Just your lady.”
Diana’s mouth dropped open, but she quickly shut it.
“That will be fine,” Tatyana said. “It’s visiting the treasury, Diana.” She looked back at Oleg. “I will join you when I am finished.”
“Very well.” He glanced at Rumi. “I will be in my library. Please alert me when your mistress has finished her fitting.”
Rumi nodded. “Yes, Oleg.”
“Of course!” Diana had regained her composure and her voice. “We will tell you right away when?—”
“Diana,” Tatyana murmured her name.
“Yes, Lady Tatyana.” The human’s cheeks were a little bit red.
“Shortly then.” Oleg looked down his nose at the tailors. “We will see you shortly.”
Chapter 18
Tatyana
“Do you positivelyneedto terrify my staff when you speak to me?” Tatyana rolled her shoulders as she shut the double doors of Oleg’s library behind her, enjoying Oleg’s familiar scent of smoke and cedar that lingered near the entrance of the room.
Before she could turn, her husband was on her, pressing his hand over her mouth to cover her gasp as he swung her around and captured her lips in a violent kiss.
“Shhh,” he murmured against her skin. He pointed to the doors where her Hazar waited on the other side.
She nodded, desire for him rocketing through her body.
She’d been annoyed by his seeming indifference to seeing her in that wildly beautiful dress, but clearly he was not as indifferent as she’d thought.
Tatyana could barely think as Oleg lifted her up to sit along the edge of a cabinet and pushed her back against wire-fronted bookshelves.
The room smelled of vanilla, almond, and smoke. She could feel the currents of amnis running between them, and her heart thudded slowly as Oleg thoroughly devastated her with his kiss.
