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Sophronia said, "And how are you enjoying your sojourn on board our ship?"

Lady Linette said, "Nicely played, except, of course, no va that Lord Mersey is a hive-bound va Vauxhall Gardens of an evening"

Felix’s eyes twinkled at her "I’ardens, at the moment"

Sophronia persisted "Have you ever visited Vauxhall before?"

"Indeed, but I find this a whole new kind of garden experience, now that I have met you"

Sophronia stepped away frolare "Lady Linette, Lord Mersey is not speaking by the rules Either for vaentle only standard niceties Examine your subject and tailor your remarks to his taste"

Given permission, Sophronia took in Felix Golborne, Viscount Mersey, froht and slender build He is a man of means, but not overly interested in fashion His hair is a little long Thechronic ennui Peculiarities include kohl about the eyes, fake gears sewn to the waistcoat, and a top hat with a brass ribbon" She pointed to the hat where it sat atop an articulated bronze hat rack "In short, an average hive-bound toff with a few eccentricities"

Felix looked re of observations "You wound me"

Lady Linette was delighted "Note, however, the expense of the haircut? It takes a great deal ofspent any at all The precise fit and cut of the waistcoat? That is next season’s color We have here a vampire of more than considerablebut his own as well His eccentricities ly Kohl is sourced where?"

Sophronia did not know; cos point

Preshea spoke up "Oh, ood, Miss Buss" Lady Linette turned back to Sophronia "What ather from that?"

"He has business concerns overseas, is possibly a collector of antiquities, or thinks his eyes are so pretty they th of his eyelashes, seeuffaw "Got you there, Felix!"

Lady Linette finally realized Sophronia’s antics had distracted the entire class "Ladies and gentlemen, please return to your own encounters! Sophronia, proceed with your discourse, applying our new inforhed and faced Felix "My lord, are you interested in ancient Egypt?"

"I’th of ritted her teeth "Does your hive have historic ties to exotic lands?"

Felix’s intense focus on Sophronia was mo of exotic, your reticule seems to have moved of its own accord"

Felix was not the only one to have noticed One of Lady Linette’s cats was a full fluff ball of bristling offense, staring up at Buuise of retrieving her shawl, she gave Bu still The ears The cat took further offense and hid under a sofa

"What, for aether’s sake, is wrong with Artemisia?" asked Lady Linette, distracted by her cat’s behavior

Felix followed Sophronia and leaned in to whisper, "Italian design, did you say? I ain, if all the best households have one, she may already be blessed"

Luckily, shortly after that, they were required to switch partners Then the class got thoroughly distracted by the spectacle of Di lady, positively bristling at a surprised Lord Dingleproops Their vampire-meets-maiden conversation was full of hissed undercurrents Sophronia observed that when Diher ire He was either a very good actor or had no involvement in the fiasco on the squeak deck Sophronia was relieved that she had interfered and set the airdinghy falling But if Lord Dingleproops wasn’t involved, as? The flywayet hold of the stationery? And the question still remained, why Dimity?

Sophronia tried to approach her friend after class with her concerns "Dimity, about that letter…"

Dimity, practically in tears, only brushed by and scuttled off as fast as she could, trailing a worried-looking Agatha and Sidheag in her wake

Felix, thought Sophronia as she , is liable to be a problem Despite all due attention to deport of hi hi tea and delusions with Mades, and pree, despiteprospects like Monique and Preshea, who practically hurled themselves in his direction I wonder if I should warn him about Preshea She does so desperately want to murder her first husband Sophronia had no idea why Felix was so intent upon her She had not yet received lessons in seduction, or she ht have understood the appeal of sharp confidence, a topping figure, and green eyes All Sophronia’s intellect was directed at sos coentlemen Soap could have told her that

The boys were per the tables Lord Mersey, Lord Dingleproops, and Mr Pluroup because they were the youngest of the gentleest of all, at thirteen, and was distressed at having been singled out for special treatood a student," he confided in Sophronia "This trip was supposed to be a reward for the top evil geniuses I’ve no idea why Professor Shrimpdittle choseon board What is going on with you and Di pain but not the type to snub a friend"

Sophronia winced "Set up, I’m afraid Some kind of test"

Pillover nodded "Ah, well, she’ll come around eventually"

"I certainly hope so It’s terribly boring without her constant gossip"

"Really? I don’t miss it at all You are an odd duck"

The supper was served--broiled salmon, hashedmen had passable tableladies either flirting or nervously silent at the prospect of using the wrong fork

Despite his best efforts, Felix was not sitting on Sophronia’s left She sat isolated at the end of the table next to Preshea, who turned to speak with Lord Dingleproops Pillover was a godsend, sitting across the way, although he would shovel mutton into his maw as if sheep were soon to be obsolete

"I must say," he commented between bites, "you eat better at this school than we do"

"And in greater style, I iine"

Pillover looked at the tablecloth and flower centerpiece as though he had not noticed them before, which he probably hadn’t "Rather"

"We are training to handle such things for the rest of our lives You are training to be evil geniuses Table settings and the like are regarded, I am sure, as beneath you"

"You are disposed to see this as careless?" wondered Pillover