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"Oh, dear me, no Then I should be known as that vampire with all the cats"

"I hardly think that ever likely to beco characteristic, arb--black tails and silver trousers, coupled with a corseted black and silver paisley waistcoat and silver cravat The neckas pinned with aidly froloved hand was silver and diaolden hair was brushed to shiny butter yellow glory, fastened back in such a way that one long lock was allowed to artfully escape

"Oh, cle to say!"

Lady Maccon took a sip of tea and firmed up her resolve "My lord, I do hate to ask this of you especially, but will you be completely serious withand his pleasant expression tightened "My darling girl, we have known each other many years now, but such a request breaches even the bonds of our friendship"

"I meant no offense, I assure you But you re? How the current threat on the queen’s life has led e up a certain uncomfortable assassination attempt of the past?"

"Of course As a matter of interest, I have some rather noteworthy information to relay to you on the subject But, please, ladies first"

Alexia was intrigued but spoke on as etiquette demanded "I have heard froent here in London who apparently concocted the whole dis of this, would you by any chance?"

"My dearest girl, you cannot possibly think that I--"

"No, actually, I don’t You enjoy gathering information, Lord Akeldama, but very rarely see your own curiosity I fail to see how a botched assassination atte inquisitiveness"

"Quite logical of you, buttercup" Lord Akeldalistened silver in the bright gas lighting,his cravat

"And, of course, you would never have botched it"

The vaht "So kind, my little crumpet, so kind"

"So, what do you o, so to kill the queen?"

"My husband thinks it host, which would leave the trail cold, of course"

Lord Akeldae of his monocle "I dare say your last option is best"

"Werewolves?" Alexia looked into her teacup

"A olf, yes, herkin"

Alexia put down her cup and then flicked the two sounding rods on the harreater auditory disruption "A loner I suppose, which leaves host Most of the local loners were elial experiments last year" She poured herself a second cup of tea, added a small dollop of milk, and lifted it to her lips

Lord Akelda unusually pensive The ame, I think, butterball My instincts are inclined to say pack, not loner You don’t knohat the local pack was like at that time But I re proven, of course The last Alpha wasn’t right in the head A fact kept well away fros for thatto earn that reputation, well?????"

"But even twenty years ago, the local pack was???" Alexia sat back, sentence unfinished, hand instinctively and protectively pressed upon her belly

"Woolsey"

Alexia ued the Woolsey Pack members Aside from her husband and Biffy, all of the," she said finally "I’ll wager it was Channing He certainly didn’t like the idea ofthe past Interrupted me in the library just the other day I’ll need to check the land at the tiirl," approved the va more for you That cook orked for the OBO who you were investigating? The little poisoner?"

"Oh, yes How did you know about her?"

"Please, darling" He gestured with the er

"Oh, of course I apologize Do go on"

"She preferred a tannin-activated dosing mechanism Very hard to detect, you understand Her preferred brand of poison at the time was stimulated by the application of hot water and a chemical component most commonly found in tea"

Alexia put down her teacup with a clatter

Lord Akelda "It requires a specialized automechanical nickel-lined teapot The teapot was to arrive as a gift for Queen Victoria, and the first tiesture with two sli doard his own neck, like fangs "Your little ghost may have supplied the poison, but teapots of that type were made by only one specialty manufacturer"

Lady Maccon narrowed her eyes Coincidence was a fateful thing "Let uess, Beatrice Lefoux?"

"Indeed"

Alexia stood, slowly and cautiously by degrees but with evident fir upon her parasol "Well, this has beenThank you I ht at that moment, there was a scuffle in the hallway and the door to the drawing roo of such a summons as I just received?" He barreled into the rooht air and raw meat