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Priuessed?"

Rue only gave her a look A look that reminded her that they had spent almost twenty years in each other’s coe Fortunately, it wasn’t nearly as ostentatious as Lord Akelda to another vampire, the Baroness Tunstell, Prieous taste ran to fashion more than transport, since she never left the hive Thus her carriage was pretty and proudly crested – a ra an old-fashioned feathered bonnet – but built for speed and manoeuvrability, not first iyptian vampires had a hand in its purchase They were the type to think along iven the driver instructions to the Custard’splace

Priil says that strangeafter Percy We’re both worriedperson at last Someone with real power and not the usual cadre of academics Apparently, they asked all sorts of questions and were quite the reement "Most suspicious, Lady Captain They even asked about the ship and the crew"

"Ah, I see your concern Percy is always a bit of a problem, but this could be serious"

TWO

In Which Percy Proves Difficult and No One Is Surprised

The drive continued in companionable silence, until Pri else I can’t wait to tell you any longer I’ain? This will be what, number three in the teeks since we’ve been ho it on a little thick?"

"Well, if someone hadn’t played tiddlywinks with my reputation while ere in India, I wouldn’t need to establish a solid air of respectability"

"I hardly see how three engagements in so short a time helps"

"They have all been very respectable h the upper levels of Her Majesty’s Airtight Puffed Doubloon, dirigible regiment extraordinaire"

Primrose appeared crestfallen at Rue’s lack of enthusiasm

Rue tried to buck up "Oh very well, why don’t you tell me all about him? Distract us fro on about strong lines and well-turned thighs and a full mane of brown hair in a manner that made her latest beau sound not unlike a very desirable racehorse Rue would have been supportive if she sensed any real affection from her friend, but Primrose seemed to be in hot pursuit of a fiancé ht to have one

Rue was a romantic Her parents were a love match Had to be, for there was no other possible explanation for the one another Thus Rue held the very peculiar opinion that love reeable for to arrange a match for herself – affection be daood idea? Do you love hih "Oh, I’ any man I’m too sensible for that This is easier And he does have very nice legs"

Rue could think of no better reason, at the s And then she reminded herself she was annoyed with him Her erstwhile beau had disappeared He’d received an aetherogram while they were still in India and pro her in the ways of the carnal flesh, or so she thought they’d agreed But before anything got carnal or fleshy, he’d abandoned her for a rented dirigible berth with nothing more than a peck on the cheek and a cheery farewell Rue felt rather rejected as a result He ought to be teaching her French techniques and instead he and his nice legs were gallivanting about deserts and whatnot

"I should be wary of a s, if I were you" Rue considered stretched buckskin meditatively "They use them rather too readily"

The Spotted Custard, Rue’s pride and joy, was moored off Worple Road in Wimbledon, not far fro a handsoland Croquet, Lawn Tennis, and Airborne Polo Club for hovering rights and use of the green for outfitting and repairs They’d lost their old ent’s Park to float squatters, and Rue wanted so with more security than Hyde Park afforded The court ell lit, well guarded, and quite respectable, proving to be an ideal arrangement all around, so she tried not to resent the expense

Although Rue adored her airship, she did have a tendency to push the chubby craft to its limits This – plus a certain near aetheric attraction for sharp objects hurled by, for example, weremonkeys – had left The Spotted Custardupon their return to London Thus, while the officers of The Spotted Custard – mostly comprised of Rue and her friends – kept supernatural hours, the rest of the creitched to daylight for ease of visibility in order to conduct said repairs

Outfitting had included restocking and refuelling and the addition of a sparkling new Gatling gun for the port side, , was quite as bloodthirsty as any boy of her age ont to be Ail, as as prissy as any girl of his age