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"Ah, Lady Maccon, do co to rural life, I see"
"For a girl with as unsullied a nature as I, the countryside is unobjectionable"
Lady Maccon paused, verbally styirl to describe herself
The vauised discomposure "Thank you, Dr Caedes You may leave us"
"But, My Queen!"
"This is a matter for Lady Maccon and I, alone"
Alexia said quickly, "Countess, ?"
"Youand I are already acquainted I’ us a fewlooked like he wouldthat Dr Caedes was about to leave his queen with a preternatural decided it was all in good faith
"I shall be just outside the door, "
Alexia nodded "Thank you, Channing I’m convinced all will be well"
So Alexia found herself alone in a blue room with a vampire queen
After Felicity and Madame Lefoux departed, the shop turned into a frenzy of fashionable ladies in pursuit of hats, but Biffy’s staff of assorted shopgirls had it well under control He did a quick lap to ensure no lady was purchasing anything that did not suit her coloring, complexion, demeanor, station, or creed He then left his accessories to the tenderpublic and retired down to the contrivance chaed at first, itthe corners and adding necessary swirls and flowers to the text
It had all happened rather organically Because he was there eon for Lord Maccon’s wolves, Biffy had assuanization Professor Lyall didn’t seem to mind In fact, he rather approved, so far as Biffy could tell He wondered if the professor, after decades of sole stewardship, was relieved to have someone else take on part of the burden
Since Madaets, the contrivance chaht it could use some nice rose-patterned wallpaper and a brocade cushion or two But, given that its new purpose was as a full- wallpaper on olves
The dandy circled the huge roo about a massive ballroo the security of the pulley systee headdresses Everything seemed to be secure Gustave Trouvé had done an excellent job The h to hold even Lord Maccon, yet they rose to the ceiling via a cranking er could operate Biffy looked up conteht not turn them into some kind of chandelier Or at least ornament them with some ribbons and a tassel or two
He settled behind his small desk in one corner of the room There was pack business to attend to: a puzzle over one of the new recruits and a petition froers to be put up for metamorphosis Several hours later, he stood, stretched, and packed away his work He considered the fact that all around town, plays were ending, clubs were filling with se Perhaps he ’s entertainment before sunrise He had been required, by dint of association, to give over so a olf, but not all of theered delicately the unruly curls of his hair So men about town had recently assumed a certain level of scruff and simulated messiness Biffy liked to think it was his influence
The pack town house was dark Everyone was taking advantage of the lures that London had to offer with little risk of accidental change for the youngsters or chronic boredoht a smell, an unusual one not ordinarily associated with his abode So to think--sandy He turned, tracking with s the alien scent toward the back of the house and the servants’ domain
Biffy heard thehih the shut kitchen door Men’s voices, one of the The first sounded familiar, but it was difficult to tell who it was, as they both were speaking in a foreign tongue Biffy couldn’t quite place
The conversation ended and the outer door to the kitchen opened and shut, letting in the sound of the back alley and a brief whiff of rubbish Lightning fast, Biffy nipped into the shadows under the staircase at the far side of the hall, watching for the other party of the conversation
Floote eed fro about his duties
Biffy stood a long tie it had been Interesting that Lady Maccon’s pet butler spoke fluent Arabic
"Well" Alexia stood before the queen of the Woolsey Hive and narrowed her eyes at the woman "Here I am, Countess, at your disposal How can I help?"
"Now, Lady Maccon, is that any way to address your betters?" Countess Nadasdy didn’t move frohtness of the dress, that she couldn’t
"You have takenwith my family, Countess"
"Yes, on the subject of which, we understood Lord Akeldama would have primary care for the abomination and yet…" The vampire let her words trail off
Alexia understood perfectly "Yes, and he does Prudence lives with hihter by her name"
"But you live next door and visit quite frequently, I understand"
"It is necessary"
"A mother’s love or a child’s affliction?" The countess widened her cornflower-blue eyes significantly
"Sorinned suddenly "Difficult is she, the soul-stealer?"
"Only when she isn’t herself"
"Fascinating way of putting it"
"You simply must learn to relax your standards, Countess, or Prudence could run ragged all over London, even getting so far as Barking" Alexia, nettled that she had been offered neither seat nor tea, allowed some of her annoyance to creep into her voice "Is this the nature of your su particular you wished to discuss with me?"
The vampire queen reached out to a small side table Alexia was certain she heard the dress creak The queen gestured Alexia to co there
"Someone wishes to meet the abomination"
"What was that? I’m afraid I didn’t quite catch it Wishes to meet who, did you say?" Alexia looked pointedly out a nearby
Countess Nadasdy showed fang "Matakara wishes to meet your child"