“Nothing at all.” Gray paused. “Might I ask, Your Highness—”

“No, please.” Pruzinsky shook his head. “As I am traveling merely as Count Pruzinsky, I much prefer not to be addressed as ‘Your Highness’ but simply as ‘Count.’ ”

“Do you?” Gray’s brow rose. “How very unusual.”

“No, it’s not,” Camille said firmly. “It’s enlightened.”

“In truth, it’s not at all unusual for my family.” Pruzinsky chuckled. “We have long had a tradition of traveling the world without the accoutrements of our royal stations. Sort of a surreptitious grand tour, as it were. It enables us to see the true nature of the world and other lands. Quite beneficial when the time comes to rule. Diplomacy is an art, you know. And people treat you differently if they know your true position in life. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, I suppose,” Gray said. Would Camille treat him differently if she knew he now had the wealth and power he hadn’t had eleven years ago? He slanted a quick glance at her. While she had adopted a calm air, her gaze when she met his blazed with fury. At this moment, probably not.

“But you had a question for me, Mr. Elliott.”

“I was just wondering why, given your comment about being with family at Christmas, you choose to spend Christmas here in England.”

“I have to confess, Christmas caught me unaware,” Pruzinsky said wryly. “I have been away from home, traveling the continent and, most recently, the British Isles for nearly a year. I simply lost track of the days. No doubt the direct result of meeting your cousin. I daresay, she could make anyone forget their own name.” He directed a warm smile toward Camille and she beamed back at him. “By the time I realized how close Christmas was, it was too late to make the journey home.”

“I see,” Gray said. “Forgive my ignorance, Count, but where exactly is your country?”

“No apology is necessary, Mr. Elliott.” Pruzinsky smiled in a benevolent manner. “We are a very small country and quite secluded, wedged between the Russian, Austrian and Germanic empires.”

“But from what you have said, it sounds quite lovely,” Camille said. “I should very much like to see it someday.”

“And I would very much enjoy showing it to you. There is nothing as beautiful as the view from the castle of the snow-covered mountains of Avalonia in December.” Pruzinsky sighed wistfully. “Unless, of course, it’s the green hills and valleys in the spring.”