Alexei felt his gaze soften slightly at her apology. He knew he was a proud man, but in the sight of such a heartfelt apology, and regret in the girl's coutenance, he found it difficult to maintain his irritation. Setting his spoon down, he looked at her carefully, how she hid slightly, unconsciously seeking the old doctor's protection. He knew Yelkin to be a kind man, a widower whose own children were long grown and raising their own families now. Given what he knew of the girl's own father, he was not surprised to see her drawn to his kindness.<br/><br/>"Do not concern yourself, Miss DeWarren," Alexei replied softly. She was injured after all. And the fact that in spite of that injury, she gathered herself enough to come to the dinner, and look still look beautiful, spoke of a strength of spirit. "I've already forgotten about it." he assured her, his own honor not allowing to hold a grudge, in spite of the slight. After all, it wasn't as if she had been plotting against his family, it was merely a case of an injured woman inadvertantly insulting him. Sitting here with his family, and discovering his beautiful fiance had her own wicked streak had put him in far too good of a mood.