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"How do you do, Tunstel ? Good day, Genevieve Floote Professor LyalThank you al for cos, you see, and then I simply had to take tea"

"Alexia" Madame Lefoux was al concern Lady Maccon’s hair was ht be a rip or two at the hem of her dress The inventor took one of Alexia’s hands in both of hers "Are you quite al right?"

At the sas? What do you rinned and bowed "Do you real y intend to leave? How unfortunate My il be

Professor Lyal looked at the Frenchwoman’s intimate clasp on Lady Maccon’s hand "You intend to volunteer yourself as co about the fact that al the machines in the contrivance chamber had been shut down and tidied away

Lady Maccon approved "Excel ent I was hoping you would agree to accompany me, Genevieve You have the necessary contacts in Europe, do you not?"

The inventor nodded "I have already put soht into possible escape routes"

She shifted her attention back to Lyal"Did you think you could leave the Woolsey Pack for that long?"

"Woolsey is used to being split We are one of the few packs that do it regularly, in order to satisfy both ht I cannot leave at this juncture The situation is ht a hand to her face hurriedly and pretended to cough but could not quite hide the snicker "Obviously, you cannot abandon Lord Maccon in his current… state"

"State? My repulsive husband is in a ‘state’? Good! He jol y well should be"

Professor Lyal felt like hehis Alpha so, "He is practical y inhaling formaldehyde in an effort to stay inebriated"

Lady Maccon’s s expression became suddenly alarmed

"Don’t concern yourself," Lyal hastened to reassure her "It cannot har-up job of keeping him utterly incapacitated in the meantime"

"Concerned" Lady Maccon turned away to fiddle with the hatbox, which had been working its way toward the edge of the table "Who’s concerned?"

Professor Lyalthe Alpha Woolsey is a tough pack to hold steady at the best of times, restlessprospect for opportunistic loners I shal need to stay here and safeguard the earl’s interests"

Lady Maccon nodded "Of course you e"

The inventor looked hopeful y at Professor Lyal"I’d be obliged if you could find the time to look after my lab while I am away"

The Beta was pleased to be asked "I would be honored"

"If you could stop by of an evening to check for intruders and ensure a couple of the more delicate machines remain oiled and maintained? I’l provide you with a list"

Tunstel perked up at this point in the conversation "I’m convinced my ould be thril ed to oversee the day-to-day operations of your hat shop, if you would like, Madame Lefoux"

The Frenchwoman looked utterly horrified at the very idea

Professor Lyal could just ie of a whole roo about disaster and eons--a turquoise brocade cat with very unusual ideas about the coloration and arrangeether "That was one of the reasons I invited you here, Tunstel "

Mada look "I suppose it would be better if some semblance of normal business operations continued while I ay It would be best if the vampires did not know exactly who your friends are" She turned to Tunstel

"Do you think your wife equal to the task?"

"She’d be unconditional y thril ed" The redhead’s broad grin was back in place

"I was half afraid you would say that" Madaave a rueful little sht Professor LyalThere was a distinct possibility she would end up with no hat shop to return to

"Vampires? Did you say vaht up with the second part of the conversation

Lyal nodded "We believe that, now that your delicate condition is public infor to try and--not to put too fine a point on it--kil you"

Lady Maccon arched her eyebrows "Through the judicious application of s?" Tunstel perked up "I ahtful y hemispherical"

"Not of these you wouldn’t be" Lady Maccon detailed her recent ladybug encounter and the fact that she had only just narrowly escaped being pronged with an antennae

"This has not been a very pleasant day so far," she concluded, "al things considered"

"Did you e to capture one for closer examination?" asked Madame Lefoux

"What do you think is in the hatbox?"

Madaan to sparkle "Fantastique!" She dashed off and fussed about her contrivance chalassicals and loves seith chainthe only immortal present, took it upon himself to actual y open the hatbox

The Frenchwo, its little legs wiggling in protest She exanification lens "Very fine craftsmanship! Very fine, indeed I wonder if there is a maker’s mark" She flipped the h-pitched whirring noise

"Merde!" said Mada hard up into the air

It exploded with a loud bang, showering them with bits of red lacquer and clockwork parts