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The Maccons and the Nadasdys always invited each other to their respective festivities The Westminster vampires, out of tether and hive bounds, had never been able to visit Woolsey Castle, and the countess herself, of course, could not leave her house But Lord and Lady Maccon had visited her on several occasions, always staying exactly as long as was polite and no longer Vampire hives were not comfortable places for olves to be, particularly Alpha olves, but the social niceties must be observed

Alexia took the invitation reluctantly "Well, thank you, but I have a busy schedule, and at such late notice, please understand I will try to put in an appearance but--"

Miss Dair continuedthe excuses for her "In your current condition, that would be difficult I understand perfectly and the countess will as well But I didn’t want you to think ere slighting you in any way Case in point, I have been instructed by my mistress to inform you, should we encounter each other, that we are officially delighted with your new living arrangeht that there are no hard feelings Or"--she paused delicately, her actress training beco apparent--"consequences"

As if they were not the ones who had been actively trying to kill me! Lady Maccon, in a huff, said pointedly, "Likewise Perhaps next ti to exterminate me from the start, much unnecessary chaos could be avoided Not to mention loss of porcupine life"

"Yes, indeed What did happen to theood, Lady Maccon I should never have thought of that"

"Is this little creature still arent, I assume"

"Yes, but not to worry--he’s quite tame And it is for lad to hear it Well, Miss Dair, can I take you to your destination, or would you prefer to walk? I can see you e Your y, isn’t she?"

"You know vampires"

Normally polite company wouldn’t mention pecuniary matters, but Miss Dair was only an actress, so Alexia said, "You’d think owning half the knoorld would be enough for them"

Mabel Dair smiled "Control, Muhjah, comes in many different forms"

"Indeed it does, indeed it does Well????," Lady Maccon picked up the speaking tube and addressed her coachht"

"Very good, e pulled to the side, allowing Miss Dair and her porcupine to disgorge themselves and continue their promenade

"Perhaps ill enjoy the pleasure of your coht, Lady Maccon"

"Perhaps Thank you for your scintillating conversation, Miss Dair Good night"

"Good night"

They parted, many a reveler now curious as to the relationship between a olf’s wife and a va Biffy Was Lady Maccon trying to poach yet another key player froossip was set in ht have been all part of Miss Dair’s sche with her

She spoke once more into the tube "Chapeau de Poupe, if you please"

It was early still, so far as the night’s festivities were concerned No establishment of worth in all of London would dare be closed on such an evening Thus Lady Maccon was unsurprised to find Madame Lefoux’s hat shop not only open but also occupied by multiple ladies of worth and their respective escorts The hats, suspended on their long cords fro their usual aura of undersea calm There was too much clatter and bustle (in both senses of the word) for that Alexia was surprised to find that Madame Lefoux herself was not in residence For all her more atypical pursuits, the inventor nor in an appearance in her shop on busy nights Half the reason the ladies chose to frequent Chapeau de Poupe was on the off chance they ht encounter the scandalous proprietress in all her top-hatted glory

In her absence, Lady Maccon trundled in and stood, confused Hoas she toher? She respected Madame Lefoux’s wish to keep the chaeneral public But hat see about in the shop, hoas Alexia to return the papers and consult the inventor on the nature of the porcupines without being observed? Alexia Maccon was s, but stealthy was not one of theh table painted white to add to the modern atmosphere that was a hallmark of Madame Lefoux’s refined taste

"Pardon me?" Lady Maccon used her best, ht with you, ht chatter and false friendliness, but her back reh stacks of hatboxes

"I don’t ent ize for the delay, but as you can see, we are a little understaffed this evening If you wouldn’tjust one more moment"

"I must see Madame Lefoux"

"Yes, yes, madam, I know Everyone wishes the personal attention of thePerhaps one of the other ladies ht be of assistance?"

"No, really, it must be Madame Lefoux I have some important paperwork to return to her"