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They reached the street where the potentate’s carriage--a landau with foot for the safely ensconced within, Captain Niall stood patiently waiting to hand Sophronia up He was looking particularly well, especially by co Certainly his top hat was tied on, but he’d forgone the ubiquitous greatcoat for an impeccable black velvet cutaway jacket and matched trousers with a creaer than was fashionable, was brushed to silken, glossy waves No wonder young ladies swooned Felix was handso way, but next to Captain Niall he was boyish

Sophronia leaned in and kissed Felix gently on the cheek, a reward for good behavior "Thank you, Felix, for your understanding and your help" She lowered her eyelashes prettily

"Ria, you irl I’ve ever met You know I’ave her hand to the olf, and he assisted her inside

"Good hunting?" co back as Sophronia settled in next to her

"Son of a duke" was Sophronia’s only comment

The drive back to Hyde Park was fast, tense, and unco Sophronia on bandying accusations about without proper foundation

"I in matters of state! Even Westminster wouldn’t dare You are a stupid, fanciful child Accusing vampires willfully like that You’ve been corrupted by association with that Golborne boy!"

Sister Mattie at first didn’t understand as happening and then tried to defend Sophronia "But the eest the hive objected I encer inside, she indicated that they were upset with Picklemen actions"

Sophronia perked up at that state the danger between Westminster and the Pickle to warn us from inside the hive But when Madame Spetuna abandoned her post to infiltrate the flywaymen, there was no one to transport the cushions, and the warnings didn’t make it in time

But the potentate dismissed this evidence "Poppycock! I can not believe they would act without at least consulting me!"

Eventually, Sister Mattie merely tried to mollify him with platitudes "Please, ainst itself cannot gourd!"

Sidheag followed the whole conversation in increasing be on Captain Niall held his tongue, stiff and uncoe When they arrived back at the airship, the olf got out and skulked away into the night Sophronia had no doubt he would wait for theroundside He was no fool, Captain Niall

Back on board, the potentate strode off to visit Professor Braithith one last sharp reprimand in Sophronia’s direction

"You keep your opinions to yourself, little girl!"

Sister Mattie looked at her, face wrinkled orry "I’ll endeavor to keep hie its spots"

As soon as it was safe to speak, Sidheag turned to Sophronia in frustration

"What on earth is going on?"

"I don’t think much of our school’s patron, I’ll tell you thatback and sticking her tongue out at it childishly

"Sophronia!"

"I’ll explain while we change We have a rescue to mount and a hive house to infiltrate"

"What?"

"Co asked, as they hurried back to their rooht about her encounter with the fashionable blond va pursed her lips "I’uises, dressing in a co’s trousers and their own lace under blouses and velvet vests Real dandies would have had better-fitting clothing, not tolike so that ca adjusted her coat in the mirror "And you don’t have a jacket"

"Preshea has one of those new little short ones, you know, like the bullfighters of Spain" Sophronia went off on a raid, returning with a bright red-and-gold bolero of which Preshea was particularly proud Sophronia put it on

"God’s teeth," said Sidheag, succinctly

They did look preposterous, but Sophronia felt that would throw people off if they were caught "Here, wrap this blue scarf around your waist, and I’ll do the saed yellow one, and we can say we have been attending a fancy dress ball"

Sidheag did as she was told "What will Captain Niall think of us?"

"Does that ets us there? I do hope we have lessons soon on how tohow to get back to the hive"

"Better to worry about how absurd we look! No one in their right mind would let us into their house Wait, hive? What hive?"

Sophronia explained about Di kidnapped by Lord Ambrose and the Westminster Hive

"I think the vauidance valves altogether or hand control of the technology over to the hive Di for the Picklemen, and the vampires don’t trust Picklemen Nor do I For that matter, I just don’t trust any of the she could think of thatsalts in the waistcoat pocket, sewing scissors down the front of her corset, ribbon around her wrist, and a perfue or not, this is clearly a technology va They’re trying to ensure thisunderstood at that "Can’t have the prey bouncing about through the aetherosphere all willy-nilly, now can they?"

"Sidheag, you think like a predator"

The Lady of Kingair glowed in pleasure "Thank you veryto say"

They were discussing whether to cli the inside corridors but risk theon?" de fast and I’ll tell you," replied Sophronia

"My pleasure" Vieve whipped out her obstructor

As they negotiated the halls at a jog, blasting one ain

Vieve believed her without question "Makes far more sense for the vampires to want to influence Dimity’s parents than old Ambrose’s excuse Can’t understand why Lady Linette would believe him"

Sophronia said, "This school has a vampire patron and a vampire teacher Lady Linette wants to believe him She wants to believe the potentate has control over the hives and that they aren’t kidnapping her students on a whim I think Sister Mattie and Professor Braithwope, were he capable, are on our side Captain Niall certainly is"

"He would be Werewolves always suspect varavely