Page 32 (2/2)

The dirigible gondola bumped softly down, and she toddled over to it

Boots and the second young dandy, who proved to be Viscount Trizdale, hopped niht, effete young blond with an aristocratic nose and a partiality for the color yellow Boots had a bit more substance in physicality and taste, but not entleondola that sheshe had no other choice, she put herself into their well-ain so long as any of theet a very pregnant Lady Maccon into that passenger basket There was so (both froht have had to be placed upon portions of the anato to neither Alexia nor her rescuers Suffice it to say that Lady Maccon had cause to be grateful Lord Akelda activity, for all their fashionable proclivities

Alexia landed upon her bustle, legs slightly in the air Gravity being even ht than Lady Maccon, she flailed about beforeto roll to one side and climb laboriously to her feet She had a rather severe stitch in her side, a few bruises on her nether regions, and she was flushed with heat and exertion, but everything else, including the child, seehere?" Lady Maccon denal for help had actually worked "Did my husband put a tail on me? What is it olves and tails?"

Tizzy and Boots looked at each other

Finally Boots said, "It wasn’t entirely the earl, Lady Maccon Our lord asked us to keep an eye on you this evening as well He indicated things nizance in this part of London, if you takelike that? Oh, forget I asked How does Lord Akeldanity, and Alexia took stock of her change in circus always co to be directed, the pilot was already taking the small craft back up, away from fire and smoke He was a diminutive man, clean-shaven, with a snubbed nose and a mercurial expression His cravat was very well tied and it coordinated perfectly with his waistcoat

"Don’t tell ible happens to be owned by Lord Akeldama?"

"If that’s what you desire, h he were so her in this request

Lady Maccon twisted her lips together in thought The infant-inconvenience kicked at her htily, and she clutched reflexively at her stoentlemen, but I find myself in desperate need to call upon Westminster Hive, as quickly as possible How fast does this contraption go?"

The pilot gave her a cheeky grin "Oh, you’d be surprised, my lady Very surprised Lord Akeldama had this little beauty retrofitted by Madame Lefoux That he did"

"I didn’t know they had professional dealings with each other" Lady Maccon arched an eyebrow

"I understand this was a first cohted with her work Quite delighted As, indeed, a hienuinely sorry for the vah her paces around the green, and I assure you, that Frenchwos she can do with aeronautics"

"She did comment once that it was her specialty at university And, of course, there’s always Monsieur Trouvé and the ornithopter"

The pilot looked up froleam of interest "Ornithopter you say? I’d heard the French were branching out My goodness, what a sight that must be"

"Yes" Lady Maccon’s voice was low "Better to see in action than to use oneself, if you askfaster? It’s very important that I put in an appearance within the next few minutes Why don’t you show rin met that request "Just point esturing north They were already above the rooftops, the fire well behind thee and looked down: Hyde Park was to their left and a little ahead, while Green Park and the Palace Garden lay spread behind the of Queen Victoria’s personal olf guard, the Growlers, locked away in one special wing of Buckinghaht, between the two parks--the center of Mayfair The pilot pulled down hard on a doorknob-ended lever, and the craft lurched in that direction, faster than Alexia had thought dirigibles could go Madame Lefoux’s touch, indeed

"Does she have a na air

Both the interest and the title earned Lady Maccon a great deal of loyalty fro pilot "?’Course she does,istry as Dandelion Fluff Upon a Spoon Don’t know as I can rightly explain that one"

Tizzy tittered knowingly Lady Maccon and the pilot looked at hi seeed "I suppose Lord Akeldama names in mysterious ways"

Boots, his eyes on Alexia’s other hand, which was still wrapped protectively about her swollen belly, inquired solicitously, "Is it the child, Lady Maccon?"

"The reason for our urgency? Oh, no I have an invitation to attend Countess Nadasdy’s full-moon party, and I am late"