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"Yes, isn’t it jolly?" crowed Tunstell

"But why?" Tap tap tap

"It is where we have always ca to so stealare at the entleh not quite to her husband’s scale Lord Maccon was Scottish-big; this gentle--there was a distinct difference Also, unlike the earl, who periodically buer than his perception of it, this man seemed entirely comfortable with his size He wore full officer forood in theh, and he boasted an accent that very carefully was no accent at all Alexia knew the type: education, ritted her teeth "Oh, it is, is it? Well, not any a dinner party the evening after next Have them ree blond gentleentleman, despite his accent and immaculate appearance She also noticed that he had theblue eyes, icy and intense

Tunstell, a look of worry behind his cheery grin, seenored the newcomer "If they must camp here, move the but was stopped by the stranger, who put a large white-gloved hand on his shoulder

"But this is preposterous" The iment has always taken up residence in the forecourt It is far rounds"

"Now," said Alexia to Tunstell, still ignoring the intruder I to her in such a tone of voice, and they hadn’t yet been introduced

Tunstell, less cheerful than she had ever seen hier Any ht place his hand upon his head and enact a swoon of confusion

"Stay precisely where you are, Tunstell," instructed the stranger

"Who the devil are you?" Alexia asked, theactual profanity

"Major Channing Channing of the Chesterfield Channings"

Alexia gawked No wonder he was so very full of hi all one’s life under a na, I shall ask you not to interfere with the running of the household It is my domain"

"Ah, you are the new housekeeper? I was not infores"

Alexia was not surprised by this assumption She was very well aware of the fact that she was not of the appearance others patently expected of a Lady Maccon, being too Italian, too old, and too, frankly, a to correct his error before further embarrassment ensued, but he did not provide her with the opportunity Clearly Channing Channing of the Chesterfield Channings enjoyed the cadence of his own voice

"Don’t you worry your pretty little head about our caements I assure you, neither his lordship nor her ladyship will take you to task" The ladyship in question flushed at his presuet on with our business and return to your duties"

"I can assure you," said Alexia, "everything that occurs in or around Woolsey Castle concerns s smiled his perfect smile and twinkled his blue eyes in a way Alexia was certain he believed to be alluring "Now, really, neither of us has tiet about your daily chores, and we shall see about a bit of a reward later for your obedience"

Was that a leer? Alexia actually thought itwith

"Would you like

Well, that certainly settled that This was no gentlehtly

"What a nauseating thought," said Lady Maccon

"Oh, I don’t know," said Major Channing,like you, with a nice figure and not too old, hts left I always did fancy a bit of the foreign"

Alexia, as only half Italian, and that only by birth, having been raised English to the bone, could not decide which part of that sentence offended herperson looked like he ht actually try to touch her

Alexia hauled off and hit hiht on the top of his head

Everyone in the courtyard stopped what they were about and turned to look at the statuesque lady currently engaged in whacking their third in command, Woolsey Pack Gamma, commander of the Coldsteam Guards abroad, with a parasol

The major’s eyes shifted to an even icier blue and black about the rim of each iris, and two of his perfect white teeth turned pointed

Werewolf, was he? Well, Alexia Maccon’s parasol was tipped with silver for a reason She walloped hi certain the tip touched his skin At the same time, she rediscovered her powers of speech