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Lady Maccon waddled past hi whatsoever to do with her "Oh, hello, Dewan The potentate will be happy to explain everything Please excusefor an excuse "Shopping I’m certain you understand Hats Very critical hats"

"What?" said the olf "But you directed me to attend you! Here, Lady Maccon! At the house of a vampire!"

Lord Akeldah he ht try to waylay Lady Maccon

Alexia waved at the out and into her waiting carriage "Regent Street, please, posthaste Chapeau de Poupe"

Lady Maccon barely glanced at the hats She headed straight through the shop past the sputtering attendant in a, it rand Lady Maccon–like irl, and then, "She is expecting ht fib but served to irl had the presence of n and shut the door before anyone could observe Lady Maccon’s disappearance into the wall

Mada, if possible, even aunt and unwell than when Alexia had seen her last

"My dear, Genevieve! I thought I was the one h you could use a week’s rest Surely this new project cannot be so vital you e your health over its colanced up froine schematic rolled out on a metal crate before her Theloo more of-a-piece It was at least three ti chamber now seated atop ht perhaps her friend’s intense focus on as a necessary distraction from her aunt’s ter, is it not? How do you intend to get it out of the chaeway of yours"

"Oh, it’s only loosely asseement with the Pantechnicon to utilize a warehouse for the final stage of construction" The Frenchwoman stood, stretched, and turned to face Lady Maccon full-on for the first ti and then cauest properly A soft kiss was pressed lovingly against Alexia’s cheek, and Alexia was reminded of her friend’s consistently solicitous care in the past

"Are you certain there is nothing you wish to talk about? I assure you I ao no further Is there nothing I can do to help?"

"Oh, my dearest lady, I wish there were" Madaant shoulders hunched

Alexia wondered if there ht not be some other co about his real ain?"

Genevieve and she had discussed such elique’s violent death was dee boy As was the forical mother

Madame Lefoux’s soft chin firmed "I am his real mother"

Lady Maccon understood such defensiveness "It elique"

Genevieve dimpled wanly "Oh, Quesnel knows"

"Oh, oh, dear How did he?????"

"I should prefer not to talk about it just now" The inventor’s face, always tricky to read, shut down co as surely as poodles after a water rat

Alexia, saddened by such icy reticence, nevertheless respected her friend’s wishes "I actually have a matter of business to consult you on I recently learned so of your aunt’s past activities She undertook the manufacture of special automated teapots, I understand, very special ones Nickel plated?"

"Oh, yes? When was this?"

"Twenty years ago"

"Well, I should hardly remember that myself, I’m afraid You may be correct, of course We can atteh her records I warn you, she is difficult" She switched to her perfect hostly body shi worse than last tinizable as human, misty with lack of cohesion "Do I hear one to poltergeist?" Alexia’s voice was soft in sympathy

"Unfortunately, almost entirely She has some lucid moments So not yet completely lost to me Go ahead, try" Genevieve’s voice was draith unhappiness

"Pardon me, Formerly Lefoux, but do you recall a special order for a teapot, twenty years ago Nickel plated?" Alexia relayed so up toward the high ceiling, floating about the head of her niece’sherself so that she becao check her old records I think I may have kept them e moved"

While Madame Lefoux fussed about a far corner of her massive laboratory, Forainst her will She was definitely beginning to lose control over noncorporeal cohesion, the end stages before involuntary disani she was hu what her own body once looked like Or that hat the scientists hypothesized Mental control over the physical was a popular theory

The ahostly for them toward Lady Maccon Alexia’s preternatural state fractured so it apart It was an eerie thing to watch, likes soap suds in water curling down a sink

The ghost see the phenomenon of her own destruction with interest Until she re herself inward "Preternatural!" she hissed "Preternatural female! What are you--Oh, oh, yes You are the one ill stop it Stop it all You are"

Then she beca away fro voice, Alexia couldwail that all her vocalizations would eventually dissolve into--the death shriek of a dying soul

Alexia shook her head "Poor thing What a way to end So earbled

Madah her aunt she was so lost in thought "Oh, oops, sorry, Aunt I do apologize, Alexia I can’t seem to locate the crate where I stashed those records Allow ht Would that do?"

"Of course, thank you for the attempt"

"And now, if you will excuse me? I really must return to work"

"Oh, certainly"