Ingrid was shocked to her core. The few times she and the cabin 'boy' had chatted, she had thought that 'he' was no more then a youth just on the brink of manhood. But Alexei's revelation had shown it all in a new light.<br/><br/>Frowning, feeling she had been made a fool of by the 'boy' and still concerned for 'his' well-being, she said coolly, "Could we not take her back to the palace, my lord? Perhaps see to it that she is attended by a physician and can rest while the ship is in port?"<br/><br/>She felt generally unhappy at the way everything had happened. This was not how she had pictured making her grand entrance into Russia, with brawling sailors, a devious cabin boy, and general embarrassment all around.<br/><br/>Nikolai jumped in, sensing a good moment to intervene and ease the tension that seemed suddenly to have sprung up between the two.<br/><br/>"Her Highness could ride back to the palace with the Czarina and the cabin bo...er...the young lady in the carriage. His majesty the Czar can ride my horse back with you, and I'll hitch a ride in the carts. Would that please my lord?"