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A sed under the shelter of so tree Rue and Pri one of her scheer Should she reveal her true na tactics

Pri her eyelashes at the officer She was equally identifiable The name Tunstell had quite the reputation due to the baroness’s hats Everyone knew that the Wimbledon Queen had had two children pre-metamorphosis because it had been quite the scandal at the tiister the ship under Priht use Quesnel, but Rue wasn’t entirely certain that if she registered The Spotted Custard under his naleefully abscond with it

Fortunately or unfortunately, the decision seemed to have been taken entirely out of Rue’s hands

The officer gestured for the ladies to sit and introduced himself: "How do you do? I’adier Featherstonehaugh, I a you to Bo a guess "You are Lady Prudence Akeldama? And you are the Honourable Primrose Tunstell?"

Rue sed a smile "Other way around, but not to worry – it happens all the ti man "Fortunately, we are such dear friends we do notmistaken for one another"

"On soe it," added Rue

"Ah, well, two such delicate ladies must, perforce, accompany one another"

Rue was not one to be distracted by flattery, even by a dasher in uniform "You were alerted to our imminent arrival?"

"You are earlier than expected, but we did have an inkling The brigadier expressed his particular interest once the pack inforiment is honoured by a olf special forces attachhtened – shapes to steal "Oh, how nice Anyone I know?"

"The Kingair Pack?"

Rue winced "Ah I see"

Prie relations They advised Brigadier Featherstonehaugh ofnervously at her reaction

"Now I knohy Paw didn’t fight harder to keepbusybodies, the lot of the aardly in eentleman, Lieutenant Broadwattlebusiness adier unable to welco you as to his profound honour at being graced by a visit frohters of such collectively esteemed vampires, Tunstell and Akeldama" Rue could read the truth behind that statement – they were an inconvenience The officer continued, "I suggest, however, that you keep your ancestry private We have tried desperately to civilise this country but vampires, I’orise them as Rakshasas, a folkloric daemon We are told that the cultural practices of vah I have not had the pleasure myself"

The two customs officials winced noticeably at the word Rakshasas and estures to ward off evil They were both Indian, heads wrapped in cloth, with dark eyes and i officer moved swiftly on "Werewolves, on the other hand, are most welcome Many anih they have no native packs – wrong cli… with sufficient full moon controls, of course"

"How novel," said Rue

"Not towar to show that she had no hard feelings for their vilification of her relations

One could not bla vampires Vampires were like Brussels sprouts – not for everyone and impossible to improve upon with sauce There were even those in London who disapproved of Daed a weak set on to the minutia, ladies? Because of your connections, we have tried to make this as simple as possible Of course, in casual conversation when you are home, perhaps a favourable ilowing things to say about the Bombay cohtly hoood cheer "Here are your papers of registration for the airship Spotted Custard, as I understand, is the name? You, Lady Akeldama, are down as primary owner, with three other members of rank listed as the Honourable Primrose Tunstell, Professor Tunstell, and one Mr Lefoux Is that correct?"

"Indeed it is"

"If you wouldn’tpurposes here?"

He handed Rue the stylus, which Rue is and had vastly superior penmanship The two custo inordinately close attention to the proceedings Oddly, they were as focused on Lieutenant Broadwattle as they were on Prim and Rue Was Lieutenant Broadwattle under suspicion ofout of the ordinary for a gentleood temper