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Professor Lyal final y realized what it was about the contrivance chamber that was so different from his last visit: it was quiet Usual y the laboratory was do out of various orifices in little gasps and whistles, gears clanking,was silent Also, for al itsput away
"Are you planning a trip, Madame Lefoux?"
The Frenchwoman looked at the Woolsey Beta "That rather depends on what Alexia has suether to discuss"
"But it is a possibility?"
She nodded "A probability at this juncture, if I know anything about Alexia"
"Another reason to send Quesnel away to boarding school"
"Just so"
"You understand much of Lady Maccon’s character, for such a comparatively short acquaintance"
"You were not with us in Scotland, Professor; it encouraged intimacy In addition, I have made her a bit of a pet research venture"
"Oh, have you, indeed?"
"Before Alexia arrives, I take it you al read thepapers?" Madaht fros spread, like a boxer at White’s awaiting the first blow
The men around her al nodded their affirmation
"I an of increasing, and we nosis Otherwise, Alexia would likely be back at Woolsey Castle, chewing Lord Maccon’s head off"
"I never noticed any of the aforens," protested Tunstel , who had also traveled to the north with Madaeneral y so you’re likely to observe?"
Tunstel blushed red at that "No You are perfectly correct, of course; reed that the child is Lord Maccon’s?" Madame Lefoux clearly wanted to find out where everyone stood on theThe inventor looked from one man to the next First Floote, then Tunstel , and then Lyal nodded their assent
"I assumed as much, or none of you would have acquiesced to her request for this clandestine , however desperate her circues Alexia’s veracity" The Frenchwoave Professor Lyal a sharp look "I am aware of my own reasons, but you, Professor Lyal , are Lord Maccon’s Beta
Yet you believe it is possible for a olf to father a child?"
Professor Lyal had known this moment would come "It is not that I know the answer as to how It is simply that I know someone else who believes that this is possible
Several someones, in fact And they are usual y correct in these matters"
"They? They who?"
"The va the center of attention, he nevertheless attempted to explain himself further as al eyes turned to him "Before she left for Scotland, two vampires tried to kidnap Lady Maccon While she was on board the dirigible, her journal was stolen and someone tried to poison her Most of the other incidents up north after that can be placed in Angelique’s hands" Professor Lyal nodded to Madame Lefoux "But those three episodes could not have been the maid I believe the West and the theft of the journal, probably under Lord Ambrose’s orders It seee The kidnappers, whom I intercepted, said they were under orders not to harm Lady Maccon, but sinancy I believe they stole the journal for the sa about her condition Of course, she herself had not yet realized, so they wouldn’t have learned anything The poisoning, on the other hand…"
Lyal looked at Tunstel , who’d been the inadvertent victiled attempt at murder Then he continued "West any action so final, especial y against the wife of an Alpha olf But those who are outside hive bonds are not so reticent"
"There are very few rove vampires with the kind of social irreverence and political clout needed to risk kil ing an Alpha olf’s wife" Mada worriedly
"One of them is Lord Akeldama," said Lyal
"He wouldn’t! Would he?" Tunstel was looking less like an actor and er he’d once been
Professor Lyal tipped his head noncommittal y "Do you remember? Formal complaints were filed with the Crohen Miss Alexia Tarabotti’s engagement to Lord Maccon was first printed in the papers We brushed them off at the ti to think soht occur"
"And with thewhat they did…" Tunstel looked even more worried
"Precisely," said Professor Lyal"The vampires have had al their worst fears confirnant And while the rest of the world sees this as proof of an infidelity, the bloodsuckers would appear to believe her"
Madainal y inclined toward nonviolence, have had their fears confirmed, and Alexia has lost the protection of the Woolsey Pack"
Floote’s normal y dispassionate face showed concern
Professor Lyal nodded "Al the vampires noant her dead"
CHAPTER FOUR
Tea and Insults