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"Ah, so," said Alexia, looking back and forth between the two gentleant solution," she said at last

"He was always verra good at elegant solutions," said Lord Maccon softly Then he bucked up "Well, young Biffy, I suspect with you as ain be allowed out without a cravat"

Biffy was aghast "Certainly not, my lord!"

"Good to knohere I stand frorinned amiably at the boy

Ruht out of retirement to take over for Floote as pack butler He’d set up as an innkeeper in Pickering after the vampires took over Woolsey but ju and innkeeping, as it turned out, were not all he had hoped

"Lady Maccon, there’s a gentleman to see you" The butler had a certain curl to his lip that in Alexia’s experience could only mean one man

"Ah, show him into the front parlor If you will excuse me, husband, Biffy, I’ to consider, if nothing else"

"Oh, blast it Channing," muttered Lord Maccon

Alexia let herself out

Lord Akelda crossed over the other, blue eyes bright and slightly accusatory He earing pea green and sal colors to counteract the gray weather they’d been experiencing of late

"Alexia, le button!"

"My lord, how are you?"

"I ahter"

"Of course, of course Rumpet, fetch Prudence for his lordship, would you? She’s sleeping in the back parlor Did you ! The droney poos and I have been bereft, quite bereft I tell you!"

"Well, she was very useful, in her way"

"Of course she was And Matakara--are the rumors true?"

"Where do you think Ivy acquired her new hive?"

"Yes, Alexia, pigeon, I mean to discuss that little incident with you Did you have to bring theyptian va souvenirs back fros back souvenirs fro"

"Well, dewdrop, I don’t object as such, but…"