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      ‘Why, yes, indeed,’ Ekaterina replied, her tone slightly sardonic. ‘I have seen his great skill in action in a very different setting. But I never thought he’d been applying his skills elsewhere, my honoured aunt.’

      ‘If I’d known I’d been courting such a noble audience, I can promise you that I would have given you due respect, my lady,’ Andrey stated, his voice flat.

      Ekaterina lifted her chin, her eyes cold.

      ‘You don’t seem to be a fan of Andrey’s work,’ her aunt commented blithely. ‘Were you not impressed?’

      ‘It wasn’t worth remembering,’ Ekaterina said with a bitter slant to her lips.

      A crease formed in her aunt’s brow. She turned to the architect’s apprentice and patted his arm affectionately.

      ‘Don’t take my niece’s words to heart, Andrey,’ she said reassuringly. ‘She’s an excellent girl, but she has little taste for the finer things of life. Why, just look at that shabby dress!’

      Empress Anna laughed at her own joke, oblivious to the heated glares passing between the two people near her.

      ‘Now, go,’ Anna said, nudging Andrey’s shoulder. ‘Get me a drink, will you, my dear?’

      His cold eyes sliding away, Andrey strode from the throne and into the crowd. As soon as he was out of earshot, Anna turned to Ekaterina with a conspiratorial wink.

      ‘Well, isn’t he quite the catch?’ she said with a suggestive waggle of her fat brows.

      Ekaterina inclined her head, careful not to disagree but also not to show too much interest. Emotions were dangerous at court. Even so, she discreetly followed Andrey with appraising eyes. In fact, it was hard not to notice him, as he stood at least a head taller than most of the people in the hall. But his height wasn’t even his most striking feature. He was magnificent, with his thick shock of dark hair, his broad shoulders and his tapered waist. He was the picture of masculine perfection; yes, he was the perfect catch.

      Manipulative, social-climbing fool, Ekaterina thought bitterly.

      ‘He will do well at court,’ she mused aloud.

      ‘Yes,’ her aunt agreed with a sniff. ‘Especially after I take him as a lover.’

      ‘I thought he was meant to be working here as an architect,’ Ekaterina said, trying to sound uninterested.

      ‘Oh, he’s already been instrumental in designing many parts of the palace. But I’m sure Rastrelli will be able to spare him now and again,’ the Empress replied with an indifferent shrug. ‘Besides, he couldn’t do better, really.’

      ‘No,’ Ekaterina murmured quietly. ‘He really couldn’t.’

      After all, how could the niece of an empress compare to the Empress herself? Despite her determination to remain aloof, Ekaterina felt her throat constrict. She blinked back the mist in her eyes. It hurt, she admitted to herself. It hurt more than she could have imagined.

      Aunt and niece watched as Andrey walked through the crowd with purpose, neither turning to the right nor the left. He didn’t even pause, except when a beautiful young noblewoman stopped him by putting her dainty hand on his arm. He turned slightly as she drew closer, her thick lashes fluttering. Andrey’s expression didn’t change; his facial muscles were like stone.

      But the Empress was not amused.

      Ekaterina had to resist the urge to take a step away as her aunt’s face grew nearly purple with rage. The Empress stepped forward, her chest heaving and a short finger pointed accusingly at the unsuspecting noblewoman.

      ‘You!’ she shrieked, her voice piercing. ‘Come here this instant!’

      The noblewoman froze, her head slowly turning to face Anna, terror vivid in her eyes.

      ‘Yes, you,’ her aunt bellowed maliciously. ‘Move!’

      The poor woman picked up her skirts and scurried forward. She hastened to kneel, her head bobbing up and down in a desperate apology.

      ‘Your Majesty,’ she stammered, frightened out of her wits. ‘Please forgive me. I had no idea he was of any interest—’

      ‘Silence!’ Empress Anna demanded. ‘You grovel like a pig.’

      ‘Empress, please—’

      But Empress Anna stamped her foot, cutting her off. She lifted the hem of her dress, exposing the toe of one of her shiny shoes.

      ‘Apologise,’ she hissed angrily.

      ‘A thousand apologies, my—’

      ‘Not with your mouth, with your tongue,’ the Empress commanded with a sadistic grin. ‘Lick my shoes clean, you cow.’

      Trembling, the pitiful woman got down on all fours and began to lick the Empress’s shoes, to the accompaniment of feigned laughter all around. Horrified, Ekaterina took the opportunity to slowly back away, not wanting to witness any more cruelty for the day. She knew her aunt would entertain herself with such cruel divertissements for a long time yet...and her presence would quickly be forgotten. So Ekaterina quietly slipped from the hall, ready to retire to her chambers to nurse her bruised ego and conflicting emotions.

      But just as she turned into the royal wing of the palace she felt a hand latch on to her wrist. She spun away, glaring. It was Andrey, his eyes fierce and demanding. He rounded on her, backing her into the wall and placing both hands beside her head.

      ‘You were toying with me, lady,’ he growled.

      ‘I was toying with you?’ Ekaterina blurted out angrily. ‘You are the one set on advancing your rank by seducing the Empress!’

      ‘What are you talking about?’ Andrey exclaimed.

      ‘As if you didn’t know,’ Ekaterina accused, jabbing a finger into his muscled chest. ‘You will be the Empress’s new pet, won’t you!’

      ‘Her pet?’ He leaned in close so that their noses were almost touching. ‘So says the Winter Court’s sweetheart.’

      ‘I should have known better than to trust you,’ Ekaterina said, her voice trembling. ‘You got what you wanted from me, didn’t you? You sampled the wares but then hooked a bigger, better fish. I suppose you won’t be needing to seduce me any longer, now that you’ve got into the Empress’s good graces.’

      * * *

      Ekaterina turned away, blinking rapidly. Andrey frowned. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. Her lower lip was faintly quavering.

       But why?

      It struck him suddenly, like a blow to the chest, and he nearly staggered backwards. Of course, he realised, she hadn’t known his identity and he hadn’t known hers. He covered his eyes with one hand. It had been one massive misunderstanding.

      But before he could gather his wits to compose himself, Ekaterina pushed away from him with a choked cry and fled down the hall. He watched her go, his hands hanging heavily at his sides. Then he slowly turned away, a mournful expression on his face.

      Soon the hall was empty again, until one of the Empress’s maids stepped out from behind a curtain, a wicked glint in her eye.

       Chapter Four

      They were out riding, all three of them plus a retinue of courtiers. The snow was soft underneath their horses’ hooves and the air was sharp. Ekaterina sat stiffly atop her mare, her back ramrod straight and her face neutral. She hadn’t wanted to come, but it would have been impossible to refuse the summons of the Empress. Thankfully, they were on their way back to the palace now. Her aunt rode beside her, a strange smile playing about her lips. Andrey

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