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"Lord Akeldalass did not lower "I do?"

"I believe youfestivities?" Alexia was in no doubt that her esteemed host knew exactly who Felicity was from the very moment he entered the room--possibly before--but he did dearly love a performance, even if he had to put one on hiht of fashion for an evening out He wore a ht-blue tailcoat and matched trousers, quite subdued for Lord Akeldalance The careful observer soon noted that his satin waistcoat was silver, blue, and purple paisley in an excessively bold print, and he wore gloves and spats of the saht to carry off such an outrageous enseloves, let alone spats? Then again, no enseotten the better of Lord Akeldaht to look askance at Felicity "I did! Miss Loontwill? But you are so very much altered from e last met How has such a transforumption to stand up to Lord Akeldama armed with a monocle She crumbled in the face of the majestic authority of his perfectly tied and still fluffy--despite an evening’s activities--cravat with its ostentatiously large sapphire pin "Oh, well, you see,and siht to catch my sister before she retired, on a matter of some delicacy"

Lord Akeldama did not take the hint "Oh, yes?"

"Felicity has joined the National Society for Woe," Alexia said placidly

The vampire proved instantly helpful "Oh, yes? I understand Lord Ambrose is a frequent contributor"

Alexia nodded her understanding at last "Lord Ambrose, is it? Oh, Felicity, you do realize he is a vampire?"

Miss Loontwill tossed her curls "Well, yes, but an eligible valanced at Lord Akelda ever so old!"

He was instantly sympathetic "Of course you are You are already what? All of eighteen?"

Miss Loontwill sallied on "But then I was quite taken with the rhetoric"

Alexia supposed a young lady so swayed by the Parisian fashion papers ht be persuaded by a decent oratory display

Felicity continued "Why shouldn’t oentles with their stewardship I do not intend to offend, my lord"

"No offense taken, ht Alexia, Felicity has been given an epithet Lord Akeldales adorably co about in a ood self when seized with a particularly inspired argument "My point precisely Don’t you want the vote, Alexia? You cannot be content to allow that buffoonish husband of yours to speak for you in matters political Not after the way he has behaved in the past"

Alexia declined to mention at this juncture that she already had the vote, and it was one of only three on Queen Victoria’s Shadow Council Such a vote as this counted a good deal ht Instead, she spoke a different truth "I have never given the ht But this still does not explain how you have ended up on Lord Akeldama’s doorstep"

"Yes, little snowdrop" Lord Akelda Felicity as a parrot ht watch a drab little sparrow that had strayed into his domain

Miss Loontwill took a deep breath "It is really not ards to Lord A myself from the house after bedtime by means of the servant’s entrance You used to have some success with this approach, Alexia Don’t think I didn’t know I believed I could acco to understand "But you ine Swilkins being syreement "No, you are perfectly correct I did not realize how vital the approbation of one’s butler is in allowing for nocturnal autonoet to the crux of the ot that look on her face that said whoever was at fault in this scenario it was probably Felicity "Not exactly"

"Oh, Felicity, you didn’t You walked out?"

"I thought, since you were taking a house in town, perhaps I ht come to stay with you for a little while I understand the coant as that to which I am accustomed, but???"

Lord Akeldahtly at that statee this new spirit of social- in her life, it was a cause Then sheeveryone else But if she stayed with the the living arrange to consider Should Felicity be exposed to a olf pack in all its ever-changing and overexposed glory while still unht now I can’t even see my own feet anymore How can I see that nancy relativelybeen soo, at which juncture her natural reserves of control gave way to senti over the fried eggs because they looked at her funny The pack had spent a good half hour trying to find a way to pacify her Her husband was so worried he looked to start crying himself

Alexia copped out, embarrassed to have to do so in front of Lord Akeldama "I shall have to consult my husband on the subject"

The vampire jumped in with alacrity "You could stay here with htened "Oh, why--"

Lady Maccon put her foot down "Absolutely not" Of all the people Felicity should not be overexposed to, it was Lord Akeldaether for too long, the two of theh sheer application of snide re room door

"Nohat?" wondered Alexia

"Co out Lord Akeldama

The door opened and Boots and Biffy entered Both were looking dapper and well put together as behooved a current and forh Biffy had a certain aura that Boots lacked Biffy was still the same pleasant-mannered felloith a partiality forhad altered There was a slight se on his cheekbone that no drone of Lord Akelda the two stand together, Alexia didn’t think it was entirely the se’s fault There was no vah-society shine, no sharpened edge Instead he sported a slight air of embarrassment that Alexia suspected all olves felt deep down It sprung froet naked and turn into a slavering beast whether he liked it or not