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CHAPTER SEVEN

HONEYSUCKLE ISINGLASS’S SECRETS REVEALED

"I believe I can quite confidently clai more strenuous than a note to the butcher in her entire life" Rue was circling thenear-paralytic confusion Although, obviously not exactly paralytic as she was quite definitely circling

Primrose sat placidly, hands crossed in her lap, eyes crinkled in amusement "Terrible dark family secret I hardly dare spill…" She allowed herself to trail off, heightening the suspense

"Aunt Ivy is really Honeysuckle Isinglass?" Rue gave up confusion in favour of the thrill of discovery

"Well, to be perfectly correct, Honeysuckle Isinglass is really ht it was beneath a vampire queen to publish a travel memoir, so she had to take a pen name You kno vampires are – the respectability of the supernatural , all that rot Pity, really – the book ht have done better if people kneho penned it"

"Oh, was it received poorly?" Rue tried not to grin

"Very badly indeed Why on earth did you buy it, Rue? It’s about Egypt not India, you do realise?"

"Prie the subject Explain Honeysuckle Isinglass"

Prim elucidated further "Queen Mums wrote it a few years after her metamorphosis It’s supposed to be based on notes she took while visiting Alexandria, you knoith the acting troupe and your parents back in 1876 When ere still in nappies"

"Aunt Ivy takes notes?"

Pri piece of literature Percy is particularly embarrassed by its existence"

"I suppose Aunt Ivy is ridiculously proud of it?"

"Ridiculously Of course, no one else ever mentions it if they can possibly help it, and Queen Mu it up in casual conversation Not that she doesn’t try"

"But, honestly – Honeysuckle Isinglass?"

"I believe that was your mother’s invention"