"Oh," Ivan says with a grin, "it was. I suspect Uncle Aral covered for us, once he realized where we'd gone off to and that we'd gone off together. He's got an odd sense of humor for a man with his political and military clout." The fact that he has a sense of humor at all, honestly.

"Nothing much. Just wandered into a side room -- the one filled with all the gold coins once the Counts had been through and presented them. We stole more than our fill of hors d'oeuvres -- stuffed 'em under our tunics -- and feasted away from adult eyes. At least for a little while." And also thrown them at each other, and watched Miles attempt to make a grandiose speech while Ivan laughed and Gregor watched with silent amusement.

It's hard to open a door for someone when you're wrapped around them and with a blanket around your shoulders, but Ivan attempts it once they've gotten to their destination.