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"Lady Maccon, good evening How are you?"

"Professor Lyall Oh, Floote, do carry on"

Floote wafted away, giving Lyall a very significant look, as though to say, She is in one of herthe unspoken advice, the olf let himself in hesitantly "You are in the back parlor, Lady Maccon?"

"Just as you see "

"Not the front?"

"I like the wallpaper I have had aday, Professor Lyall"

"Oh, dear Have you, indeed?" The gentleman settled down into a chair near his Alpha female At a nod fro Floote, had thought to providepapers Is that going to signify, my lady?"

Lady Maccon frowned "I doubt it I don’t think the constabulary were alerted to my activities"

Professor Lyall forbore to ht have been a need for such action "Well?"

In as flattering a manner as possible, Lady Maccon detailed her afternoon’s shenanigans As she did so, Professor Lyall’s face creased orry

"On your own? In your state?"

"I’ed to use your condition to your advantage But I thought you were meant to take Biffy with you on these jaunts Himself ordered it"

"Well, yes, but this couldn’t wait for evening And such interesting evidence I have uncovered Nohere did I putabout her lap--what there was left of it--in annoyance

Professor Lyall produced a stylographic pen from his waistcoat and passed it to her Alexia nodded her thanks

"You really believe that this new threat has soair attein of one of the journals

"It seems likely"

"Your evidence appears to be circumstantial at best"

"Never discount serendipity Would you be so kind as to have some of these potions analyzed? Also, I should like to see BUR’s report regarding the Kingair failed assassination and e for Woolsey Alpha, plus any corresponding postings in the popular press"

Professor Lyall looked rather pained "If you insist, anize everything? The laboratory will take some time with those sa the other items you requested back with me"

"Oh, no need I shall jaunt to BUR after I call on Madame Lefoux and file the appropriate requisition forms myself"

"Ah, had you intended--?"

"Not until I traced this OBO connection Of course, Genevieve would have had nothing to do with OBO operations twenty years ago, being only a s inquiries She knows things Not to host in that area the other night Can’t possibly be the sahost--no tether stretches so far--but there er"

"If you must, my lady But this tilad of the coratefully and they arose toroom

"What ho, wife?"

Conall Maccon thuether than Alexia had ever seen hi ethereal azure that perfectly co style over unusually high collar points His shirt was tucked to perfection, his waistcoat seamless, and the sleeves of his jacket just so As a direct result, he was also looking rather uncooodness, husband How handsoet hold of you?"

The earl give his wife a very telling stare before sweeping down upon her and planting a kiss on her lips right in front of the eazes of Lyall, Floote, and a small number of household staff

Alexia’s limited mobility prevented her from any evasivebut endure his ahted horror

He pulled back finally "Excellent, best way to start one’s evening Wouldn’t you agree, gentlemen?"

Professor Lyall rolled his eyes at his Alpha’s antics, and Floote bustled quickly off about his business