Page 42 (1/2)

"Sorinned, both at Madaht confuse the two of the out her chest slightly, "and a hair fal "

The inventor gave her a dour look "I am aware of our differences of appearance, I assure you"

Alexia hid a grin and turned back to her husband "You’l send them over land?"

Lord Maccon nodded Then he looked to the clockmaker "Monsieur?"

"Trouvé," interjected his wife helpful y

The clockmaker twinkled at them both "I shal head home, I think Perhaps the others would care to acco and Madame Lefoux nodded Floote, as ever, had very little reaction to this turn of events But Alexia thought she detected a gleam of pleasure in his eyes

Monsieur Trouvé turned back to Alexia, took her hand, and kissed the back of it gal antly His whiskers tickled "It has been a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Maccon Most enjoyable, indeed"

Lord Maccon looked on in shock "You are referring to nored him, which only endeared him further to Alexia

"And you as well , Monsieur Trouvé We must continue our acquaintance soree"

Alexia turned back to her faintly sputtering husband "And we shal go by sea?"

He nodded again

"Good" His wife grinned "I wil have you al to myself I stil have a lot to yel at you about"

"And here I thought ere due for a honey to olves?"

"Very drol , wife"

It wasn’t until much later that Lord and Lady Maccon returned to the topic of a certain infant-inconvenience They had had to ood-byes and escape out of Florence first Morning found thee and drafty variety, at which point things had settled enough for them to undertake what passed, for Lord and Lady Maccon, as serious conversation