The Crown's Game (The Crown's Game, #1)

by Evelyn Skye

“Well, I would like to ask another favor as well.” “Anything.” “There is to be a ball tomorrow evening in my honor. A masquerade, because, as you know, I’m rather fond of disguises. Invitations have been sent to all noblewomen in Saint Petersburg, but the problem is, I cannot seem to locate the one girl I wish to have attend. I thought you might be able to assist me in that endeavor.” Ludmila touched her heart. “You’re still searching for Vika.” “Yes.” Renata’s eyes grew even wider than when Pasha had first made his appearance at the kiosk. Does she know about Vika? he thought. Has Nikolai talked about her? Ludmila ushered her to take pastry orders from the tsesarevich’s guards. Renata hurried out of the pumpkin. “In the excitement of my arrival in the city,” Ludmila said to Pasha, “I’d forgotten all about telling Vika that a mysterious, handsome Frenchie was inquiring after her.” “So you could deliver my invitation to her?” “Absolutely. I’m staying in her flat on Nevsky Prospect.” “She’s here?” No wonder his messenger had returned from Ovchinin Island with Vika’s invitation, undeliverable. He turned to Gavriil, who was stuffing his face with a pear-shaped pie. “See to it that the invitation for Vika . . .” “Andreyeva,” Ludmila said. “Vika Andreyeva. Her father is Baron Sergei Andreyev.” “Is that so?” Pasha brightened even more than his usual self. So Vika was nobility. There, at least, was one of Nikolai’s objections struck down. It was not in violation of his mother’s ru...