Read Online The Ice King by Dinah Dean - Free Book Online

out, but apparently she accepted it as reasonable and returned to her dolls.
    There was silence for a moment, and then Tanya, who had regained her composure during this interlude, stole a look at the Prince's face. Their eyes met and they regarded one another thoughtfully. Tanya's eyes were wide and clear, with gold flecks shining in her hazel irises. Prince Nikolai met their gaze with equanimity.
    “That was a somewhat rash statement," she observed. "Perhaps you didn't mean to say 'always'?"
    “I seldom say anything I don't mean, and I only said `ask'. You are not bound to accept.”
    Tanya knew very well that it was not considered good manners to refuse an invitation to dance, but she found the Prince a little unnerving, so she concentrated on her sewing.
    “You do that a great deal more neatly than many ladies who affect an interest in stitchery," the Prince commented.
    “If one sets out to do a thing, one should at least try to do it well."
    “You would have agreed well with my father," he said in a dry, sarcastic tone.
    “I would not expect anyone to excel at everything!" she protested.
    “I observe that you are aware of his aims in educating me," Prince Nikolai said in the same tone, but with an added note of bitterness. "Presumably someone has hastened to acquaint you with the rest of my history?”
    Nettled, Tanya replied in a spirited but quiet voice, "I was informed of it from the same source and with the same kindly intent as you, no doubt, learned mine!”
    She sounded absurdly stilted in her own ears, but she was annoyed at the implication that Countess Maria had been gossiping about him.
    Prince Nikolai looked decidedly taken aback. "I'm sorry. If you refer to Maria Nikolaevna, then I deserve your anger. I, more than anyone, should be aware of her kindness. You are right to reprove me, and she was right to tell you. If we are to be better acquainted, it's as well that you should know the reason for my peculiarities. Please forgive me."
    “I shouldn't have flared up at you so." Tanya was contrite, and surprised at herself for setting him down so. The words `better acquainted' lingered in her attention for a moment, setting up a little ripple of feeling — surprise? — disquiet? —excitement? It probably meant no more than the obvious expectation that they were likely to encounter one another quite frequently while she was here.
    “May I make a peace offering?" He took from his pocket a small object which he placed in her hand. It was a mouse carved out of rose quartz.
    “Oh, how exquisite!" she exclaimed.
    “A relation of your friends at the Ruschev Palace, I expect," he said, sounding quite human after his earlier formality.
    Tanya stroked the silky stone and examined the detail of the finely carved eyes, ears and whiskers, and then, with a sigh, held it out to him.
    He shook his head. "I mean you to keep it, if you will.”
    Tanya was overwhelmed. "Oh, but it must be valuable! You are very kind, and it's very beautiful, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be at all proper for me to accept it.”
    He raised his eyebrows. "I see nothing improper in presenting a small pink mouse to a lady. I must admit it's a little unusual to find a lady who would wish to have such a creature, but it is only a mouse, not a diamond necklace! Besides, no one will know unless you tell them.”
    Tanya looked at him, startled to find that he was actually joking and that there was a tiny spark of humour in those normally expressionless blue eyes. "Thank you very much!" she said. "It's the loveliest thing I've ever had. How kind you are!"
    “If you call me 'kind' once more," said Prince Nikolai severely, "I shall depart at once for Sevastopol, and remain there until you have left Petersburg!"
    “Irina would not be at all pleased!" Tanya replied a trifle breathlessly and at random, finding the discovery that the Prince had a sense of humour rather disconcerting. The clock on the mantel struck three at that moment, and the Prince