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Sophronia had nearly forgotten "Of course! Soap said it was a special shipatha, who had been listening with interest, said tiown, Sophronia? What if so’s duds?" asked Sophronia "I’ll take the blaatha puffed out her cheeks but then nodded, disappeared, and reappeared with a faumption Sophronia put them on and knotted her hair at the base of her neck She was supposed to put her hair up in rags each night, but she rarely found the tis was Monique Sophronia wasn’t about to ask her for help, even at Lady Linette’s insistence

She followed Vieve down into the lower part of the rear of the airship, where storage chambers thrummed to the loud hum of the massive propeller

It was via this warehouse that Sophronia had first entered Made Ladies of Quality--an ignorant covert recruit There was astudents or goods The cavernous storage chah the slats froreasers, and fireines

The noise of the propeller allowed the girls to be less cautious with their footsteps, but they still hugged the wall At the far end, near the propeller roo supplies, but these were now stacked outside Inside, so quietly

Sophronia held Vieve back The propeller was loud, but if it was Professor Braithwope inside that shed, he ht still be able to s forward slowly, her bare feet whisper-soft Vieve took her cues froirl They reached the side of the shed, and Sophronia pulled out her ear truainst the small space at the bottom where wall met floorboards

"… too bad these were delayed We could have used this infor "How could the intermediary let them all pile up like that?"

"She seized an opportunity to infiltrate flyway, but she was afloat, so no one was left to alert us It wasn’t until I realized we hadn’t had a shipo after them ourselves" Of all the possible teachers with the vampire, it appeared to be Sister Mattie

"Are they all from her?"

"No She’s our best, but even she is not that prolific"

"But all hers say the sa, whot?"

"Indeed they do The question is--how ned "And why? They knoe have to enter the results of the test into public record"

"Are we overlooking so, Aloysius? Are we certain this is only about the technology?"

"Isn’t it always, whot?"

"I suppose we should head to bed, then We aren’t getting anything new"

Vieve and Sophronia dove to the back of the shed, squeezing in behind it

The two teachers eh in one hand She stood by while Professor Braithwope locked the door to the shed Once finished with the task, the vampire tucked the key into his waistcoat pocket and turned to offer the lady his ar his head to one side "Who’s there?"

Sophronia and Vieve barely dared breathe

"You ed terrified looks, and then Vieve got a very set expression "You stay," she mouthed at Sophronia "I owe you"

Vieve unclipped the obstructor about her wrist and passed it over Then she carefully nicked one finger with the sharp edge of her shirt pin, drawing blood She’s hiding my smell, Sophronia realized Vampires senses could be befuddled by fresh blood Then Vieve stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jodhpurs, pulled her cap over her eyes, and sauntered out

"What ho, Professors," she said jovially Just as though she strolled about the ship at all hours turning up where least wanted--which, Sophronia supposed, was exactly what she did do

The vampire looked none too pleased to see her

"Oh, it’s only little Genevieve," said Sister Mattie, relief in her voice Really, thought Sophronia, she ought to be better at hiding her e was Lady Linette’s speciality

"You are a sca "How much did you hear?"

"Not erous thing"

"I think you e," corrected Vieve

"No, I do not" Sister Mattie was very opinionated on the subject of herbs

Quicker than the eye could follow, even had it been broad daylight, the varabbed Vieve’s ear

"Ouch!"