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"We’ll just have to persuade her it’s in the best interest of the Crown"

"I think that’s a very good idea," said Countess Nadasdy, entering the room at that moment, followed by Quesnel and Madame Lefoux

Well, Alexia supposed, it’s her rooriped Professor Lyall

The countess gave hi look "Did you think I was queen of the vainal inventors of the idea of a mistress of the domain This is now "

"Pish tosh She can pick locks" Madame Lefoux crossed her arly

"It wasCountess Nadasdy with real respect for the first tiave Alexia’s baby a wary look "Just keep that thing away from me"

Alexia rocked the newborn at her threateningly "Youcreature?"

The countess hissed and backed away, as though Alexia ht throw baby Prudence at her

Madame Lefoux wended her way to Lady Maccon’s bedside to coo over the infant

Countess Nadasdy said, "Woolsey is ours now, unfortunately It is hardly to be countenanced Me living near Barking in the countryside Why, it is positively leagues away from everywhere"

Lord Maccon did not protest her claisters of the pack can’t be moved until the moon fades"

"Take all the tinanimously "But the soul-sucker and her aboht" She twirled toward the door dramatically and then paused on the threshold "And the boy is mine"

With that, she swept out, presumably to release the rest of her hive "Oh," Alexia heard her say to no one in particular as she walked down the stairs, "si will have to be redecorated! And those buttresses!"

Madame Lefoux stayed behind She looked worn and tired froht before, not to mention her own trials Quesnel was practically stuck to her side, his grubby little hand entwined with hers Madae on her chin

"You can’t let her take hinitaries with anguished green eyes "Please"

Now, Alexia’s subconscious had apparently given this conundruht while she dozed For a solution instantly proposed itself "Speaking as ally do to reelique’s testament is as they say, and you never formally adopted Quesnel under British law, then her clainized in this country"

Madame Lefoux nodded morosely

Alexia pursed her lips "You know vauishable I’s with Countess Nadasdy now"

Quesnel gave a little whimper at that statement Madame Lefoux clutched hih, soht save her

Alexia continued "Now, before you go off and build a gigantic squid, I should tell you that I also intend to give you to Countess Nadasdy, Genevieve"

"What!"

"It is the only viable solution" Alexia wished she had a judge’s wig and a mallet, for she felt like she’d done rather ith this verdict "Quesnel is what, ten? He coe sixteen So, with Countess Nadasdy’s approval--and I hardly think she’ll object--you will serve as drone to the Westminster Hive for the next six years Or, I should say, the Woolsey Hive I can es if such an indenture could be arranged instead Given your distaste for the hive, this should be a rather fitting punishet to stay with Quesnel"

"Ah," said her husband proudly, "good plan If we cannot bring Quesnel to Mada Madame Lefoux to Quesnel"

"Thank you, my dear"

"This is a terrible idea!" wailed Madaest you take over Professor Lyall’s sheep-breeding shed for your contrivance chamber It is already rather well equipped and could easily be expanded"

"But--" protested Madame Lefoux

"You can think of a better solution?"

"But I hate Countess Nadasdy"

"I suspect you have that in common with most of her drones and some of her vampires I will have Floote draw up the necessary docuht side, Genevieve At least you can temper the hive’s influence over Quesnel He will still have his s explode and all the wisdoertips"

Quesnel looked up at his"Please, Mahed "I have gotten myself neatly enmeshed, haven’t I?"