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"Biffy says that he has traced the epicenter of the God-Breaker Plague to one particular bend in the Nile River, near Luxor"

"And this relates to Pried to, well, um, bribe a few of the dahabiya captains down at the dock"

The earl raised an eyebrow

"Madame Lefoux definitely hired a boat, one of the fastest and best on the line, to take her upriver But not to Cairo, only by way of Cairo No, her fare was for Luxor, or that’s what onehands She had a mysterious bundle with her and she asked a lot of questions So what do you think?"

"Very suspicious I think we should go after her"

Alexia bounced slightly "Me too!"

"How are Mr and Mrs Tunstell?" Lord Maccon switched topics

"Coping tolerably well Tunstell, at least, has been responding to direct questions Ivy is difficult but then that is Ivy for you I think we can leave theht, then The sooner we set out the better" Conall lurched out of bed

Alexia tried to be practical "But, ru an endearment

"Oh, very well But, Conall, we still need rest"

"Ever the pragmatist We can rest on the train to Cairo I think we can still catch one It won’t be as fast as Madame Lefoux, not if she hired one of the new steam-modified dahabiyas But it will put us only a day behind her"

Alexia nodded "Very well, I’ll pack You tell the others And get Prudence, please She’s asleep in the nursery I’ her behind with a baby snatcher on the loose"

The earl lu loose about his wide frame and his feet bare, before Alexia could stop him and make hiht to take u she could think of into two sured they ought to travel as light as possible Prudence would have to leave herbehind

Lord Maccon returned a quarter of an hour later with a sleeping Prudence tucked casually under one ar behind

"Are you certain I can’t acco frazzled His trousers were not as tight as usual

"No, Tunstell, it’s best if you stay Hold down the ho track, that Mada the culprits Someone with a reasonable sense of responsibilitya stink, keep the"

Tunstell’s face was serious, no smiles for once "If you think it best"

Conall nodded his shaggy head "I do Now, don’t hesitate to bandy my name about if you need the authority"

"Thank you, my lord"

Alexia added, "If Ivy feels up to it, there are raphor station every evening just after six Here is a letter of per Mrs Tunstell the authority to receive them in my stead Even so, they may not accept a substitute without my presence, but it’s the best I can do at short notice Only if she feels up to it, mind you"

"Very well, Lady Maccon, if you’re certain I won’t do?" Tunstell was clearly falling back on his claviger training in order to deal with this crisis

"I’ the es from London will only respond to me or Ivy"

Tunstell looked puzzled but didn’t question Lady Maccon further

"Good luck, Tunstell And I am sorry this has happened to you and Ivy"

"Thank you, Lady Maccon Good luck to you I hope you catch the bastards"

"As do I, Tunstell As do I"

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

In Which We Learn Why Werewolves Don’t Float

There were no more trains to Cairo that day, which meant Lady Maccon and her husband were forced to return to the dock and hire river transport It was easier said than done Despite the fact that they were now familiar with Lady Maccon and her autocratic demands, the captains did not want to set out until the following otiate Very few dahabiyas carried any kind of mented small-craft outboard stea thened to be pulled slowly up the river by mule or, worse, human power!

"It’s all so very priht ordinarily have enjoyed such a leisurely mode of transport

Her excuse for such bad behavior must be that she was, at this juncture, exhausted, dusty, worried about Pri Prudence It was after sunset and the toddler was entirely in her charge Under such circu, even Prudence, as hungry The quintessential Egyptian lack of urgency and insistence on haggling and negotiation was driving the efficient Lady Maccon slowly insane

It was alhth captain in a rohen a tap came on Alexia’s shoulder She turned around to find herself face-to-face with an extraordinarily handsome man, his features familiar, his beard cut neat and sharp--their Drifter rescuer fro of the father?" His voice was deep and resonant, his words clipped by an Arabic accent and lilish

Alexia looked hiet me any closer to Luxor?"

"Follow" The man turned and walked away, his dark blue robe a swirl of purpose behind him

Alexia said to her husband, "Conall, I believe we entleman"

"But, Alexia… what?"

"It has worked in reen earth is the man?"