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All things considered, it was probably the fault of the electric eel John Grey could--and for a time, did--blaeon And certainly that blasted poet Still … no, it was the eel’s fault

The party had been at Lucinda Joffrey’s house Sir Richard was absent; a diplo so frivolous Electric-eel parties were ato the scarcity of the creatures, a private party was a rare occasion Most such parties were held at public theaters, with the fortunate few selected for encounter with the eel su like ninepins for the entertainment of the audience

"The record is forty-two at once!" Caroline had told hi as she looked up from the creature in its tank

"Really?" It was one of theNearly three feet long, it had a heavy, squarish body with a blunt head, which looked to have been inexpertly lass beads It had little in co, lithesome eels of the fishforty-two people at once

The thing had no grace at all, save for a sth of its lower body, undulating as a gauze curtain does in the wind Lord John expressed this observation to the Honorable Caroline and was accused in consequence of being poetic

"Poetic?" said an aallant major’s talents?"

Lord John turned, with an inward grimace and an outward smile, and bowed to Edwin Nicholls

"I should not think of trespassing upon your province, Mr Nicholls," he said politely Nicholls wrote execrable verse,women of a certain turn of mind The Honorable Caroline wasn’t one of theh Grey thought Nicholls had not heard about it He hoped not

"Oh, don’t you?" Nicholls raised one honey-colored brow at hifully at Miss Woodford His tone was jocular, but his look was not, and Grey wondered just how much Mr Nicholls had had to drink Nicholls was flushed of cheek and glittering of eye, but that ht be only the heat of the room, which was considerable, and the excite an ode to our friend?" Grey asked, ignoring Nicholls’s allusion and gesturing toward the large tank that contained the eel

Nicholls laughed, too loudly--yes, quite a bit the worse for drink--and waved a dismissive hand

"No, no, Major How could I think of expending nificant creature, when there are angels of delight such as this to inspire n the fellow, but he undeniably leered--at Miss Woodford, who sly with her fan

Where was Caroline’s uncle? Grey wondered Simon Woodford shared his niece’s interest in natural history and would certainly have escorted her… Oh, there Simon Woodford was deep in discussion with Dr Hunter, the faeon--what had possessed Lucinda to invite hi Dr Hunter over her fan with narrowed eyes, and realized that she hadn’t invited hieon--and an infa to bag a particularly desirable body--whether human or not He did move in society, but not in the Joffreys’ circles

Lucinda Joffrey had most expressive eyes Her one clairay in color, and capable of sending rees across a crowded room

Colass in salute to her but erously, then cut abruptly toward the surgeon, as edging toward the tank, his face alight with curiosity and acquisitiveness

The eyes whipped back to Grey

Get rid of hilanced at Miss Woodford Mr Nicholls had seized her hand in his and appeared to be declaih she wanted the hand back Grey looked back at Lucinda and shrugged, with a sesture toward Mr Nicholls’s ochre-velvet back, expressing regret that social responsibility prevented his carrying out her order

"Not only the face of an angel," Nicholls was saying, squeezing Caroline’s fingers so hard that she squeaked, "but the skin, as well" He stroked her hand, the leer intensifying "What do angels s, I wonder?"

Grey htfully One ed to invite Mr Nicholls to step outside Nicholls was tall and heavily built, outweighed Grey by a couple of stone, and had a reputation for bellicosity Best try to break his nose first, Grey thought, shifting his weight, then run hie He won’t come back in if Iat?" Nicholls inquired unpleasantly, catching Grey’s gaze upon hi of hands--the eel’s proprietor calling the party to order Miss Woodford took advantage of the distraction to snatch her hand away, cheeks fla with mortification Grey moved at once to her side and put a hand beneath her elbow, fixing Nicholls with an icy stare

"Coood place fros"

"Watch?" said a voice beside him "Why, surely you don’t mean to watch, do you, sir? Are you not curious to try the phenomenon yourself?"

It was Hunter hih decently dressed in a daeon was broad-shouldered and muscular but quite short--barely five foot two, to Grey’s five-six Evidently he had noted Grey’s wordless exchange with Lucinda

"Oh, I think--" Grey began, but Hunter had his ar round the tank Caroline, with an alar Nicholls, hastily followed him

"I shall be most interested to hear your account of the sensation," Hunter was saying chattily "Some people report a remarkable euphoria, a momentary disorientation … shortness of breath or dizziness--sometimes pain in the chest You have not a weak heart, I hope, Major? Or you, Miss Woodford?"

"Me?" Caroline looked surprised

Hunter bowed to her

"I should be particularly interested to see your own response, e to undertake such an adventure"

"She doesn’t want to," Grey said hurriedly