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"Dolly, my pet, I am most assuredly not most vampires"

Professor Lyall did not pursue this, as he had aquestion in mind "It has occurred to me to worry about this scheme of ours I understand it is a delicate subject, but this last winter you did swarm, did you not? Because of that spot of bother with Biffy being stuck under the Thaoing to hinder the effectiveness of your residency now, is it? You understand I ask only with a mind toward the safety of the child and because I’ve no records pertaining to the consequences of a rove swarrinned "Dolly, such a careful little creature, aren’t you? But fret not--my house isn’t technically a hive I’m not bound by the same kinds of instincts I can return to ical upset Besides, that was half a year ago I’m well recovered from the experience by now"

Lyall did not look entirely convinced

Lord Akeldaed the subject "So what say you, all s, to this new threat?"

Lord Maccon looked with shock at his Beta "Randolph, you didn’t!"

Professor Lyall did not flinch "Of course not"

"Wife?"

Alexia sed her bit of pudding "He knows because, well, this is Lord Akeldaet accusto pluer resources"

"Of course, ret that I have not yet forin of these latest twitterings"

A footman appeared with the lemon, and Lyall poured the vampire a cup of tea Lord Akeldama sipped it delicately

Lord Maccon snorted "You haven’t lacked for a ready opinion in the whole of your very long life"

The vampire tittered at that "True, but those expressed traditionally concern matters of dress, not politics"

Floote came in with Alexia’s dispatch case "You’re due at the palace shortly, madam"

"Oh, my, yes, look at the time Thank you, Floote My parasol?"

"Here, ?"

Floote handed her a sausage roll wrapped in checked cloth, having anticipated just such a request

"Oh, thank you, Floote"

The earl looked up hopefully Wordlessly Floote handed hie roll The earl downed it in two satisfied bites, even though he had just finished a rather largelooks It had become quite the task to keep both Lord and Lady Maccon fed these days

Lady Maccon leaned forward onto the table, bracing against it with both hands, pleased to live in a household that did not favor the spindly furniture so in vogue with ladies of quality By dint of soed to al her balance and lurching back down

"Oh, for goodness’ sake," she cried out in abject frustration The gentlemen all leaped to her assistance Lord MacconWith her preternatural touch, none of the others present would have been of any use They were all too slight in their ained her feet and sonity, Alexia said, "I really ar"

Lord Maccon hid his ser, my dear"

Alexia hated it when he called her his dear "Really, it can’t occur soon enough" She waved off Floote’s offer of a cloak and accepted a light shawl instead It was plenty warh even without the wrap, but forathered up her case and parasol

Biffy appeared at her elbow, bloodred tailcoat in place, pure white cravat e his pleasant features, and matched red top hat on his head He s to take up his new role as a olf, but he had refused to sacrifice his tailor

"I a, ave her a look remarkably similar to the one alorn by Lord Akeldama when he was asked such a question

Alexia nodded her understanding and then looked to the vae, my lord potentate?"

"Why not?" Lord Akeldaerated bow to the tolves still at the dining table, and offered his arm to Alexia She took it and they swept fro faithfully after

As they left, Lady Maccon heard her husband say to Lyall, "How long do you i to have to keep up this place of residence?"

"Until the child is grown, I suppose," responded the Beta

"God’s teeth, it’s going to be a long sixteen years"

"I iine you’ll survive it relatively unscathed, s far worse than death"

Alexia and Lord Akeldaed smiles

"Did you tell her?" asked the first ghost, stretched as far as she could, shi in and out of existence with the strain of her extended tether

"I told her" The second ghost bobbed up and down in the air above the street She was a little more substantial, a little closer to home "I told her what I could remember I told her to put a stop to it Are we done now?"