Alexei grinned at her reaction to baba. The old woman had that effect on people. And it was exactly that trait that got them to follow her orders to the letter in the hope to get her to leave them in peace. His blue eyes caught the slip of her sheet, and the flesh it revealed to him. He found it odd that his own reaction was more mild than he thought it would be. In his twenties, that small view would have spurned a strategy to get this young girl into his bed. But now.....the girl was undoubtedly attractive. But he was to attend a state dinner tonight, with the woman who would be his wife by his side. It was all so confusing.<br/><br/>"Miss DeWarrene, I am Lord Alexei Romanov, General, and cousin to the Czar of Russia," his brow furrowed when he remembered the name of the girl's father in a comunique from Victoria. Their cousin's view of the man was not kind. And he suspected Pavel would believe them remiss in returning the girl to that cruelty.<br/><br/>"Do not concern yourself, lady," he said, waving off her apology for how he was greeted. "You are not feeling well, understandable given the incident and the docks." He glanced at the Doctor standing in the corner. "Is it necessary that you are still here, doctor? The poor girl is probably beginning to feel claustraphobic. If you've made your diagnosis, leave your powders and go. Oh, and make certain Irina has some powder for my lady. It seems she suffered a slight injury at the docks as well. I have her soaking at the moment....but she will need some assistance to endure dinner tonight." Turning his attention to Nikolai, a smirk curled up at his lips.<br/><br/>"Nikolai, if you wouldn't mind knocked on Pavel's door, and reminding him time is short," he suggested to the older man. "My advice would be to not enter the room," he laughed. Nikolai would undoubtedly get an eyefull of very naked Czar and Czarina if he chose to disregard his suggestion.