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"I have been sitting and talking hiht ht help as well So I have Burbleson--you reer we recruited lastpiece of European fluff Hard to tell if any of this is helping, butthe poor boy feel any worse"

Alexia was suspicious "Is young Catogan any good on the violin?"

"Rather"

"Well, perhaps he could come play a bit forbedridden"

Her husband grunted at that--his version of a sy Floote back from London in order to cater to Alexia’s whie Lady Maccon quite so well as Floote As a result, oodly number of newspapers and Royal Society pamphlets took up residence about Alexia’s bed, and her ihtly She began receiving hourly reassurances that Queen Victoria was under guard Her Majesty’s Growlers, special olf bodyguards, were on high alert, and in deference to the ht be a risk factor, there was also a rove vauards in attendance at all times

Lord Akeldama sent Boots around with not only inquiries as to Lady Maccon’s health, but also a shosts around London see and wafting here and there, whispering dire threats concerning ier If queried directly, none of thehostly co

Alexia went nearly spare at this information combined with the fact that she was unable to rush off to London at that very mo to positively imperious and h to be at Woolsey As full moon was just around the corner, olderin the sters were now locked in with Biffy This meant only the household staff really had to suffer the yoke of Lady Maccon’s impatience, and Floote, ever saintly, undertook the bulk of her amuse of the fifth day, even Floote’s powers failed and Lady Maccon threw off her covers, put weight upon her ankle, which seemed perfectly functional, if a tad achy, and pronounced herself fit enough for a carriage ride into London No, what surprised everyone was that she had lasted that long

She had just persuaded a blushing claviger to help her dress when Floote appeared in the doorway clutching several pieces of paper and looking thoughtful So thoughtful that he did not, initially, attempt to prevent her fro series of aetherograh the transmitter I believe they are intended for you"

Alexia looked up with interest "You believe?"

"They are directed to the Ruffled Parasol I doubt someone would actually attempt to communicate with an accessory"

"Indeed"

"Froo on"

"From Scotland"

"Yes, yes, Floote, what does she say?"

Floote cleared his throat and began to read " ‘To Ruffled Parasol Vital infor super-secret subject of confabulation’ " He moved on to the next bit of paper " ‘Past persons of Scottishness in contact with ent Doom’ " Floote ent Doom assisted depraved Plan of Action May have all been his idea’ " Moving on to the last one, he read out, " ‘Summer permits Scots to expose more knee than lady of refinement should have to withstand Hairmuffs much admired Yours etc, Puff Bonnet’ "

Lady Maccon put out her hand for Ivy’s correspondence "Fascinating Floote, send aher she can return to London Would you, please? And call up the carriage My husband is at BUR tonight? I must consult with hiood, Floote The fate of the nation may be at stake"

Floote, who knehen he had no chance of winning an argument, turned to do as ordered

CHAPTER EIGHT

Death by Teapot

Why, Lady Maccon, I understood you to be confined to the countryside for two more days at the very least" Professor Lyall was the first to notice Alexia as she let herself into BUR’s head office The building was situated just off of Fleet Street and was a rimy and bureaucratic for Alexia’s taste Lyall and her husband shared a large front office, cra closet, a settee, four chairs,for visiting olves Since the Bureau was always untangling sonificant supernatural crisis or another and didn’t see staff, it was also craraphic slates, dirty teacups, and, for soe number of stuffed ducks

Lord Maccon looked up from a pile of antiquated parchment rolls His tawny eyes were narrowed "She bloody as What are you doing here, wife?"

"I’ not to look as though she were leaning on her parasol for assistance in walking Although, truth be told, she was grateful for its support, as her waddle had evolved into a lurching hobble

Her husband, with a long-suffering sigh, came out from behind his desk and loomed over her Alexia expected recri man administered an enthusiastic eed to maneuver her backward and down onto a chair in one corner of the room

Bemused, Lady Maccon found herself firmly off her feet "Well," she sputtered, "I say"

The earl took that as an excuse to give her a blistering kiss Presu further

Professor Lyall chuckled at their antics and then returned to quietly going about official business, papers rustling softly as he calculated and correlated some complex mathematicalbit of inforambit

This statement effectively distracted her husband from any further admonishments "Well?"

"I sent Ivy to Scotland to find out froair what really happened with that previous assassination attempt"

"Ivy? As in Mrs Tunstell? What a very peculiar choice"