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"I shall have a special parasol made up for you, siht, Alexia I couldn’t possibly carry an accessory that es all willy-nilly like that Really, I’ed, but I sie to carry it off with aploar on so her friend’s true weakness, she estion "A special hat, perhaps?"

Ivy hesitated

"Madaned my parasol"

"Well, perhaps a small hat One that isn’t too oozy?"

Alexia sed"

Ivy bit her lip on a smile "Oh, Alexia, a secret society How ular nal so we should know one another at social gatherings?"

"Um, well, as to that, so far you are my first inductee, so to speak I anticipate future h"

Ivy looked quite crestfallen

Lady Maccon continued on hastily "But you will have to operate and report in under a cipher, of course--for aetherograhtened at that "Oh, of course What shallromantic yet subtle, I hope?"

Lady Maccon conteested themselves Finally, she settled on one she knew Ivy would like, because it represented a style of headdress to which she was rather devoted but that Alexia ht remember because it struck her as particularly Ivyish "How about Puff Bonnet?"

Ivy’s pretty face gloith pleasure "Oh, fabulous Perfectly ain, Alexia was ill prepared for the question She cast about helplessly "Uh Oh, let h her mind several of Lord Akeldama’s epithets and so quite suited a secret society, at least not that she could admit openly to Ivy Finally, she settled on the simplest she could think of "You may refer to h"

Ivy clapped her hands "Oh, excellent Alexia, this is superb fun"

Lady Maccon sat back down "Do you think we ht have tea now?" she asked plaintively

Ivy i the bell rope, and in short order a nervous young ht in a laden tea tray

"Marvelous," said Lady Maccon in evident relief

Ivy poured "And now that I have been properly inducted into the Protectorate, what is nment?"

"Ah, yes, the reason I came to visit in the first place You see, there is aan assassination atteo, air Pack tried to eliminate Her Majesty"

"Oh, no, really? Not those nice Scots so treasonous Well, except trot around displaying their knees for all to see, but nothing so calaicide"

"I assure you, Ivy, this is the honest truth, universally acknowledged by those in a position to know such details" Lady Maccon sipped her tea and then nodded wisely "Fact--my husband’s previous pack tried to kill Queen Victoria by air and ascertain the particulars"

Ivy grinned She had developed, since her first trip with Alexia to Scotland, a ible travel Her current position in life did not allow her to indulge, but now???

Lady Maccon grinned back "All I know is that the previous Beta spearheaded the plot and was killed My husband left the pack as a result Any further inforation Do you think you are up to this task, even in your present condition?"

Ivy blushed at the very o"

Alexia patted her belly "My difficulty exactly"

"Can I take Tunny with me?"

"I should hope you would And you h not your new position"

Ivy nodded More pleased, Alexia suspected, by the need to keep one secret from her husband than by permission to reveal another

"Now, Ivy, please pay particular attention to any infor to be used I believe that ive you a crystalline valve frequensor for aetheric transmission to my personal transponder at Woolsey At sunset you are to report in, even if you have uncovered nothing of interest I should like to know you are safe"

"Oh, but, Alexia, you kno cluetry"

"You will do fine, Ivy How soon can you leave? Naturally your expenses will be covered"

Ivy blushed at the mention of such unseemly matters as fiscal settlements

Alexia brushed her friend’s embarrassment aside "I know one doesn’t ordinarily talk of suchunder the umbrella of the Parasol Protectorate now, and you anization, regardless of expense Is that clear, Ivy?"

Mrs Tunstell nodded, cheeks still hot "Yes, of course, Alexia, but--"

"It is a good thing I a troupe, as it is the perfect way to hide pecuniary advancements"

"Oh, yes, indeed, Alexia But I wish you didn’t insist on --"

"We shall say nothing more on the subject Can you leave directly?"

"Tunny has no performances on at the moment"

"Then I shall send Floote tomorroith the necessary papers" Lady Maccon finished the last of her tea and stood She was suddenly tired It was as though she had been out and aboutout the problems of the entire empire Which, in her way, she had