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Boots and Tizzy nodded their full understanding of this grave social necessity All speed was indeed called for

"We shall make haste, then, my lady We wouldn’t want you to arrive beyond the fashionable hour"

"Thank you for your understanding, Mr Bootbottle-Fipps"

"And the fire, my lady?" Boots’s muttonchops fluffed up in the breeze

Alexia batted her eyelashes "Fire? What fire?"

"Ah, is that how it is?"

Lady Maccon turned to look once ondola She could h the corner of Hyde Park behind Apsley House directly below them But with another pull on that lever, Dandelion Fluff Upon a Spoon surged ahead and on into Mayfair, leaving the rareat crashing beast,Alexia tell them all about it

The Westminster Hive house was one of many similar fashionable residences It stood at the end of the block and a little apart frouished it as special or supernaturally inclined Perhaps the grounds were a little too well tended and the exterior a little too clean and freshly painted, but no more or less than that custoh address, but not too good, and it was large enough to accommodate the countess, the prie

On this particular full es pulling in at the front and disgorging soressive politicians, aristocrats, and artists Alexia, as ht not) that the assembled were all in the vampire’s enclave, or employ, or service, or all three They were attired in their very best, collars starched high, dresses cut low, britches tight, and bustles shapely It was a parade of consequence--Countess Nadasdy would allow nothing less

High floating was assuredly a fashionable way to arrive at a party, the latest and greatest, soht say But it was not at all convenient for a street already clogged with private carriages and hired hansoible neared, a few of the horses spooked, rearing and neighing Ground conveyances crashed into one another in their efforts to clear space, which resulted in a good deal of yelling

"Who do they think they are, arriving like that?" wondered one elderly gentle in the latest inventions, and they did have trade concerns, most notably with the East India Company, but they were traditionalists at heart So, too, were their guests For no ht be in principle, no one approved of it disturbing their own dignified arrival with its puffed-up sense of novelty Dignity aside, the dirigible was going to land whether they liked it or not, and consequently, space was eventually ondola buht-iron fence

Lady Maccon was left in a quandary She now had to get out over the side of the passenger basket She could conceive of no possible way her exit would be any less huh such a process again, let alone in front of such august bodies as those now glaring at her But she could swear she heard the crashing sound of the octomaton, and she really had no time to spare for anyone’s decorum, even her own

"Mr Bootbottle-Fipps, Viscount, if you would be so kind?" She puffed out her cheeks and prepared herself for er Boots stepped over to assist her Tizzy, it must be admitted, moved with less alacrity As they prepared to boost her (there really was no other way of putting it) over the edge of the gondola (at which juncture she foresaw landing on her ain), a savior appeared

No doubt alerted by the disapproving cries and exacerbation of activity in the street, Miss Mabel Dair eainst the crowded, well-lit interior She paused, center stage, on the front stoop She wore an evening gown the color of old gold with a low square neckline, trimmed with loops of black lace and pink silk roses There were fresh roses in her hair and her bustle was full--the more risqué trends out of Paris with the s bodice were not for her No, here, under her uarded eye, even an actress like Miss Dair dressed deible passenger basket, looked as though she was in i by the rules

Miss Dair yelled froh the noise of the crowded street "Why, Lady Maccon, how delightful We did not expect you Especially not in so elaborate a transport"

"Good evening, Miss Dair It is rather s difficulty getting out"

Miss Dair bit her lower lip, hiding a smile "Let me fetch some help"

"Ah, yes, thank you, Miss Dair, but I am in a wee bit of a hurry"

"Of course you are, Lady Maccon" The actress turned back into the house, signaling with a sharp gesticulation of a satin-gloved hand Mere moments later, she turned and traipsed down the steps followed by a veritable herd of dignified-looking foot of Lady Maccon as they would any household task, with gravely serious faces and not one flicker of amusement

Once Alexia had attained her freedoloved hand "A very good evening to you, Lady Maccon"

"You won’t be joininglook with Mabel Dair "Not at this particular party, s"--he paused delicately--"prickly"

Lady Maccon nodded her understanding and gave the ht There are so ubiquitous, even Lord Akeldao

Mabel Dair offered Lady Maccon her arrip on her parasol with her free hand She was, after all, entering a hive house, and despite the strictures of polite society, vampires had never looked upon her, and her soullessness, with any degree of acceptance On every prior occasion but one, Lady Maccon had visited this hive with her husband Tonight she was going in alone Miss Mabel Dair may have her arm, but Alexia knew very well that the actress did not have her back

Together the toed from when Alexia visited it that first tiested, although all displays of prosperity were tasteful, without a hint of vulgarity Persian carpets still lay thick and soft, in coordinating shades of deep red, their patterns subtle, but they were difficult to see as sopaintings still hung on the walls,from contemporary abstract pieces to one relaxed, porcelain-skinned lady that could only be by Titian But Alexia only knew they were there because she had seen the, coiffured comb-outs and flowered headdresses obscured her view The lavishsat upon, and the ods had beco

"My goodness me," yelled Alexia at her escort over the loud chatter "This is quite the crush"