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At first, Alexia had thought she would never acclirown men--she, who had been reared with only sisters But she rather enjoyed it At least with alued down Rumpet, the pack butler "Tea in the library when you have a moment, please, Rumpet? I have some research to undertake And, would you be so kind as to ask my husband to attend ht away, my lady"

The library was Alexia’s favorite roo she intended to use it for its actual purpose--research She headed toward the far corner, where behind a massive armchair she had carved out some space on the shelves for her father’s collection He had favored tiny leather-covered journals of the type used by schoolboys to keep accounts--navy blue with plain covers dated in the upper left corner

Froleaned, Alessandro Tarabotti had not been a very nice person Practical, as all preternaturals are, but without the ethical grounding Alexia had ed to cultivate Perhaps this was because he was male, or perhaps it was the result of a childhood spent in the wilds of Italy far froan the autu his first tere to Alexia’s mother They were sporadic at best, constant for weeks and then absent of a single word for months or years They were mainly concerned with sexual exploits, violent encounters, and long descriptions of new jackets and top hats Nevertheless, Alexia turned toward the out any possible mention of an assassination attempt Sadly, the journals stopped soair plot She allowed herself only a brief ti--a was to her own--before pulling herself back and turning her attention to other books She whiled away the rest of the night thus occupied Her reverie was disturbed only by Ru in an endless supply of fresh tea and, at one point, by Channing, of all people

"Why, Lady Maccon," he said, unconvincingly "I was si of the Chesterfield Channings and Lady Alexia Maccon had gotten off on the wrong foot and never ed to stabilize their relationship--despite the fact that he had, on more than one occasion, saved her life As far as Alexia was concerned, Major Channing was unco blond with icy-blue eyes, marked cheekbones, and imperiously arched brows He was a true soldier to the bone, whichhad not his nobility of profession been augance of manner and toothiness of accent so extreht to foist such upon others As to Channing’s opinion of his mistress, the less said on the subject the better, and even he ise enough to understand that

"What are you researching, air assassination attempt on Queen Victoria Do you remember any of it?" Her tone was sharp

The Gauise the look of concern that suffused his face Or was that guilt? "No Why?"

"I think it ht be relevant to our current situation"

"I hardly think that likely"

"Are you certain you re evaded the question "Any success?"

"None Dash it"

"Well"--Channing shrugged and made his way nonchalantly back out of the library, without a book--"I think you’re on the wrong track No good can co could put on such an air of dis! I like that"

"Yes, you do," said the Ga the door behind hiations until so in

She looked up to see Conall watching her fondly, propping up a bookshelf with one massive shoulder

"Ah, finally remembered me, have you?" She smiled, her eyes soft and dark

He strode over and kissed her gently "Never forgot Si ed playfully at a dark curl that had escaped to lie against her neck in a loose whorl

"Anything of i that should concern you" He had learned enough to add, "Although I’m happy to relay the inconsequential details, should you wish to hear them"

"Oh, no thank you Do restrain yourself How is Biffy?"

"Not so good Not so good"

"I’ht to pull hiht I am troubled, my love I have never faced the problees they had to deal with this kind of thing all the tied it But our Biffy is such a unique case in this hten for the right words, al "I canna fix his unhappiness"

He cleared hi the piles of books and ainst her side

Alexia took his big hand in both of hers, stroking the paleous lout of a man, and she could not but admit she adored both his size and his te mother-henishness she loved best of all "I hold thehest of esteem, but Biffy has become overly Byronic He really must endeavor to fall out of love with Lord Akeldama"

"Oh? And how does one fall out of love?"

"Unfortunately, I have absolutely no idea"

The earl was learning to have a good deal of faith in his capable wife "You will think of so And how is my delicious wife? No ill effects fro?"

"What? Oh, onto the chaise? No, none at all But, husband, I a very little success on the host was mistaken or misheard We have not considered that She was close to poltergeist phase"