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Ivy sipped her tea and considered the question with all seriousness "We have only a week in our contract We had intended merely to test the waters with this new style, with an eye toward expanding to a larger venue if it went over well Why? Have you so in mind?"

Lady Maccon put down her teacup "Actually, I wondered if you ypt?"

Mrs Tunstell gasped and put one syptian theatergoing publicThe subject matter is so very exotic, and I understand there is a lady of means in residence there who is particularly interested in perforht to take the production outside of London?"

"Well, yes, Europe of course But all the way to Egypt? Do they have tea there?" Ivy wasn’t looking wholly opposed to the jaunt Ever since her trip with Alexia to Scotland, Mrs Tunstell had rather a taste for foreign travel Alexia blae "I would, of course, fund the expedition and ements"

"Oh, now, Alexia, please, you embarrass me" Ivy blushed but did not refuse the offer

"As your patroness, I feel it e inherent in your play The bu I do not think we should deny it to others e options"

Mrs Tunstell nodded, her pert little face solemn at this profound statenificantly--"there is also a ypt"

"Oh!" Ivy was overcome with exciteent Puff Bonnet"

"If that is the case, I shall speak to Tunny and we shall take measures and make preparations imhtly at this ready enthusias troupe numbered nearly a dozen, plus assorted sycophants "Perhaps we could narrow the scope of your production down slightly? This is a delicate ht be possible"

"Down to, perhaps, only you and Tunstell?"

"I don’t know There is the wardrobe to consider Who will look after that? And one or two of the supporting roles are perfectly vital to the story And what about the twins? I couldn’t possibly leave , as I couldn’t e without her Then there is…"

Mrs Tunstell continued to prattle on and Alexia let her After a good long negotiation, Ivy concluded she could narrow her entourage down to ten, Tunstell and the twins not included, and she would collect the names and paperwork and send them on to Floote as soon as possible

It was decided that they could leave by the end of the next week, all details being finalized Lady Maccon departed feeling that the hard part was over and that all she need do noas persuade her husband as to the sensibleness of hiding the a bunch of actors

She sent a note round to Countess Nadasdy instructing her to tell Queen Matakara that if the Alexandria Hive were to express particular interest in seeing a perforet a visit from Lord and Lady Maccon and their unusual child Queen Matakara was to demand the play be performed before her in person, in her own ho Troupe a la Mode to travel to Egypt specially Alexia and Conall would be invited along as patrons

By the time Lady Maccon had coeneral ruckus of large men had resulted Conall stuck his head round the doorja Dubh and did she knohere Biffy had gotten to?

Alexia replied that, no, she didn’t and would he please coallivanted off again He did, and she did, and after a good deal of gru under cover of thespians

"And now," announced Alexia, "I a to have a chat with Lord Akeldama I want his perspective on this summons from Queen Matakara, and I should inform him of my imminent protracted absence from the Shadow Council He will have to handle the dewan on his own"

"If you think it necessary"

"My dear, you really must cos Things even you and BUR don’t know Plus, he is Prudence’s legal guardian If ish to take her out of the country, even at a vampire’s request, we s"

Lord Maccon gestured her on nanimously, and Alexia took herself next door without further ado

Upon waking that evening Biffy was understandably bothered to hear of Dubh’s death However, it was abother He had never met the man, and, if the rumors were to be believed, he hadn’t missed out on much Besides, it was difficult to ood deal of his life in Scotland Biffy was tolerably more disturbed by the fact that he had developed a cowlick while asleep that would not lie flat no ht be considered crass He wouldn’t want to be thought crass It was simply that he still felt disconnected from his olf brethren They had little conversation that did not revolve around sports or ballistics Major Channing had a well-tied cravat, but really, even Biffy could not forge a relationship based solely upon attractive neck gear

Biffy skirted off early to see to the hat shop and returned for a ht snack to find Lord and Lady Maccon out and those few others still in residence dressed in black waistcoats With a sigh, he went to change, disliking Dubh more for the alteration in his wardrobe than the pooridly at a plate of kippers when Professor Lyall wandered in, spotted hi for"

Biffy was startled Professor Lyall had always been scrupulously kind to hi out responsibility for the contrivance chamber and associated paperwork, the Beta had had very little to do with Biffy Taking care of Lord Maccon was a full-time job, a fact Biffy understood all too well He was such a very large and fearsome man, and so very scruffy Biffy was part afraid of the Alpha, part in awe, and part driven by a pressing need to get hihtly out of his seat in deference to rank "Professor Lyall, how can I be of service?" Biffy was hoping someday to learn the secret of the Beta’s tame coiffure It showed such admirable restraint