Page 73 of You Belong to Me
Alexandra had to bite back a laugh that he was so horrified at the thought of her eating in front of the queen, and she decided to tease him. “Actually—”
“You’renothungry, Alex, believe me you’re not,” he stated emphatically.
At which point Tanya placed both hands on her hips and demanded, “Whatis going on?”
“Nothing, just a private joke,” he assured her, and to change the subject, he added, “I must say you’re looking pleasantly plump—quite different from the last time I saw you.”
It was a subject guaranteed to lighten the queen’s mood and she grinned. “I am, aren’t I? Which reminds me. Before I get any more plump, I want to arrange a ball to introduce Alexandra to—”
“No!”
He’d actually shouted, and Tanya said in exasperation, “Why ever not?”
He didn’t bother to prevaricate this time. “Because Alex would find some reason to show up just as she is.”
“Oh, come now,” Tanya scoffed, but she looked at Alexandra to deny it, and found an expression that was just too inscrutable. After a thoughtful moment, Tanya suggested, “Vasili, why don’t you go find Stefan? I believe he’s on the training field—and from what I’ve heard, you could use some practice yourself.”
“Lazar and his big mouth,” Vasili grumbled. “You make it sound as if Ichosewhips. And besides, I don’t dare leave you alone with—”
“Run along, Petroff,” Alexandra cut in dryly. “I’m not going to murder your queen, butyouaren’t going to be so lucky if you say another word.”
He winced, and she was right. By trying tokeep her from embarrassing herself, he was doing it for her, which hadn’t been his intention.
He tried to make amends. “I’m sorry, Tanya, if I’ve given the wrong impression. She’s really very…” He had to pause to think of something nice to say other than “kind to animals.”
“Go!”
That from Tanya, in complete annoyance now, and he sighed and went. The two women shared a moment of silent communion, having found something in common—easy exasperation where Vasili was concerned. And yet they were still strangers, Tanya hoping to change that, Alexandra wary of trying.
Accordingly, Alexandra offered an innocuous subject as Tanya led them to a group of comfortable chairs. “You speak English very well.”
“I was raised in America. It’s pretty common over there. And you?”
“My tutor insisted I learn French and English, though my English was not so good until—much later.”
Tanya didn’t notice the pause and said, “What little French I know, I learned from the patrons where I used to work, though not enough to manage a decent conversation. But I’m delighted we won’t need an interpreter. So often I do require one, though I’m learning Cardinian. I understand it’s very similar to Russian, so you should have much less difficulty learning it than I.”
Alexandra had no intention of learning it, but she didn’t say so, and her curiosity had been aroused despite her determination to remain aloof. “You used to work?”
“Didn’t Vasili tell you? I was raised in a tavern without any knowledge of who I was. When Stefan and his friends found me and tried to convince me I was a princess from this country, betrothed from birth to the Crown Prince, I didn’t believe a word of it. I thought they were playing some elaborate practical joke at first, and then when they insisted I come along with them, I’m afraid I thought they were planning to sell me to some brothel. Such things were known to happen along the Mississippi.”
Alexandra’s eyes had gone wide during Tanya’s story, but now she burst out laughing. “A brothel?”
Tanya grinned. “I know how farfetched that sounds, but it happened to be much more believable than my marrying the king of some country I’d never heard of.”
“I see your point. What finally convinced you they were telling the truth?”
“When they had me on a ship bound for Europe, they finally admitted that Stefan was the king, rather than Vasili.”
“Vasili?”
Tanya snorted in remembrance. “That was Stefan’s idea. I was giving them trouble right from the beginning, and he thought I’d come along with them more willingly if I was told Vasili was the king I was to marry.”
“I can’t imagine why.”
“Neither could I. I positively detested the man at the time, he was so condescending and downright insufferable, but I have to admit I’m quite fond of him now.”
“You mean it’s possible to get used to his arrogance?” Alexandra asked doubtfully.
