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"That would be aard for other reasons Besides, I a to see beyond the intense beauty There it was: the poor thing did look wan, even sickly Her almond eyes were bloodshot, her skin drawn

Miss Sekh breath, then asked, "Is the muhjah aware of the activities here?"

Rue nodded Her mother had, after all, sa up

Miss Sekhmet stayed on the subject "She approves?"

Rue nodded seriously Tea was a serious business

Miss Sekhmet shook her head "But it is such an i to the smokiness of the blend "The "

The woman’s thick eyebrows arched in shock No wonder that, for Lapsang-style teas were thought beyond the British palate Only recently had they beco rooms, and even then it had been confined to Chinese imports This woman, even if she were the proprietor of a very respectable tea export business interested in cutting out Dama’s interests, would not yet be privy to such inforood faith, we are prepared to negotiate with you in parental absentia And even that concession took all of my persuasive power Tread carefully, skin-stalker"

Rue nodded "Anything else?"

"If you could wear a recognisable colour?"

Rue considered both her and Prim’s wardrobes "Purple, I think"

"Very well That is all"

Rue nodded to Spoo and Virgil "Let her go"

"But, Lady Captain!" protested Spoo

"Can’t we keep her?" Virgil wanted to know "She’s so pretty" As if she were a stray cat

"Virgil, don’t be rude," remonstrated Rue

Reluctantly, the two relinquished the wohtly as if working out Spoo-induced kinks She made a polite little bow to all three and then hurried at an indecently eager pace off The Spotted Custard

Rue considered "I think, plank drawback mechanism No more unexpected visitors today Do you concur?"

Spoo snapped to attention "Yes, Lady Captain" And went to round up the necessary decklings to assist her in this task