“Furthermore,” Win continued, “I have not been as cordial to Camille these past eleven years as I should have been because I was under the mistaken impression that she had toyed with your affections. Not that I have had many opportunities, mind you. Camille and I have only seen one another in passing at one social event or another. I have long thought she was actively avoiding me.” He shook his head. “Now I understand why.”

“I was an idiot, I admit it.”

“As long as you admit it.” Win studied him closely. “Given your accomplishments, I suspect you are no longer an idiot, although that may not be the case when it comes to Camille. At least there is hope. You have insinuated yourself into her household under the guise of lending your assistance. That’s rather clever.”

Gray smiled modestly.

“Now what can I do to help?”

“Nothing, really, I . . .” Gray paused. “There is something. . .”

“Oh, I do hope I get to wear a costume.” Win grinned.

“Nothing like that, but this prince of Camille’s . . .”

“Yes?”

“I don’t trust him.”

“Because he has interest of a prurient nature in the fair Lady Lydingham?”

“Not entirely, although I admit I would be distrustful of any man who looks at her the way he does.” Gray paused to pull his thoughts together. He was probably being absurd about Pruzinsky. Still, there was something about the man that did not sit well with Gray. His instincts had served him in the past, and instinct now told him something was not right. “He travels alone, without retainers or accompaniment of any sort, claims it’s a tradition in his family.”

“And this is a genuine royal?”

“Apparently.” Gray nodded. “Prince Nikolai Pruzinsky, of the Kingdom of Greater Avalonia.”

“ ‘The Kingdom of Greater Avalonia’?” Win frowned. “Are you sure?”

“That’s what he said.”

“That is interesting.” Win got to his feet, crossed the room and studied a shelf of books.

“What are you looking for?”

“Give me a moment.” Win ran his finger along a row of books. “This is it.” He pulled a book from the shelf and leafed through it.

“What are you looking for?”

“Patience, Cousin,” Win murmured. “Aha! Here it is.”

“What?”

“I thought so.”

“Thought what?” Impatience drew Gray’s brows together.

“The Kingdom of Greater Avalonia was annexed by Russia nearly seventy years ago after the death of the last king.” Win scanned the page. “It says here his son, Crown Prince Alexei, renounced all claims to the throne after Russia annexed the country. A wise move, no doubt, as Russia would certainly crush a small kingdom without any hesitation.”

“So there is no Kingdom of Greater Avalonia?” Gray stared. “No castle overlooking snow-covered mountains in December or green valleys in the spring?”