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"Have I mentioned recently how loathsome I find the current fashions?"

"Take it up with the varumbled "I and mine, however, have no need to hide our necks"

"No," quipped his wife, "si down the shawl collar of his waistcoat "There Very handsoe supernatural husband looked shy at that "You think so?"

"Stop fishing for co"

He pulled her against hi kiss "You are always hungry, wife"

"Me with a true states"

They were only slightly late for breakfast

Most of the rest of the house was not yet up Lady Kingair was there--Alexia wondered if the woair Pack Of course, Ivy and Felicity were still abed They kept London hours, even in the country, and could not be expected to appear until s to occupy himself until the ladies came down

The castle put on a decent breakfast, for the middle of nowhere There were cold cuts of pork, venison, and woodcock; potted shris and toast; as well as a nice collection of fruit preserves Lady Maccon helped herself, then settled down to tuck in

Lady Kingair, as eating a bowl of unseasoned porridge and a piece of plain toast, gave Alexia’s loaded plate a telling look Alexia, who had never let the opinions of others sway her overmuch, especially where food was concerned, usto

Her husband shook his head at her antics, but as he hih as his wife’s, he could not cast aspersions

"If you are back to being huet rotund eating like that"

"I shall have to take up some sort of abrasively atrocious athletic sport"

"You could go in for the hunt," suggested Alexia "Tallyho and view halloo"

Werewolves, as a general rule, were not big on riding Precious few horses illing to carry a wolf on their back, even if he did look te a teaet Since they could run faster in wolf form than a horse anyway, this fact did not tend to trouble the packsbefore their meta? I should think not," he said, gnawing on a bit of pork "Foxes are practically cousins; wouldna sit ith the fa you would look in shiny boots and one of those flashy red jackets"

"I was conte or possibly lawn tennis"

Lady Maccon stifled a giggle by stuffing her face with a forkful ofaround all in white with a little netted baton in his hand She sed "Those sound like lovely ideas, dear," she said, deadpan, eyes bright and dancing "Have you considered golf? Highly suited to your heritage and sense of style"

Conall glared at her, but there was a bit of a s about his lips "Noife, there’s no cause for blatant insult"

Alexia was not certain whether she was insulting hi he was its ideal participant

Lady Kingair watched this byplay with both fascination and repugnance "Goodness, I had heard it said that yours was a love match, but I couldna countenance it"

Lady Maccon huffed "Why else would any wo caught Alexia’s attention out of the corner of one eye So near the door to the roo the table conversation, and went to investigate

Upon closer examination, she squealed in a most un-Alexia-like manner and jumped away in horror Lord Maccon leaped to her rescue

Lady Maccon looked at her great-great-whatever-daughter-in-law "Cockroaches!" she accused, horrified out of any politeness that dictated she not mention the filthiness of the abode "Why does your castle have cockroaches?"

Lord Maccon, with great presence ofinsect He paused, examined it for a split second, and then squished it flat

Lady Kingair turned to one of the clavigers "How did that get in here?"

"Canna keep the, they do"

"Then sulanced furtively in Lord and Lady Maccon’s direction "Would he ken how to deal with"--a pause--"this particular type?"

"Only one way to find out Hie yourself into town iood,table, but her appetite had deserted her She le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>