Page 23 (2/2)

"How thoughtful of you, to bringnuisance"

Miss Hisselpenny gasped

Lord Maccon shrugged "He usually is There is an art to irritation that only few of us can achieve"

Lady Maccon said, "That must be hoolves select personalities for ardless, Tunstell was required Professor Lyall insisted upon a ible, we could not bring aas this is so of the throat occurred at that juncture, and the Maccons turned about to find Mada nearby

"Ah, yes," said Lady Maccon "Madaible with us Quite unexpectedly" She emphasized the last word for her husband’s benefit so that he ht understand her concern over the inventor’s presence "I believe you and my husband are already acquainted, Madame Lefoux?"

Madame Lefoux nodded "How do you do, Lord Maccon?"

The earl bowed slightly and then shook Madame Lefoux’s hand, as he would a man Lord Maccon’s opinion appeared to be that if Madame Lefoux dressed as aapproach Or perhaps he knew so Alexia did not

Lady Maccon said to her husband, "Thank you for the lovely parasol, by the way I shall put it to good use"

"I never doubted that I am a little surprised you have not already"

"Who says I have not?"

"That’s my sweet, biddable little wife"

Ivy said, surprised, "Oh, but Alexia is not sweet"

Lady Maccon only grinned

The earl seehted, Madaow?"

The inventor inclined her head

"I don’t suppose I could persuade you to visit Kingair? I just heard in town that the pack is experiencing soraphic transmitter, newly purchased, secondhand"

"Good Lord, husband Does everyone have one but us?" his anted to know

The earl turned sharp eyes on her "Why? Who else acquired one recently?"

"Lord Akeldama, of all people, and he has the latest model Would you be very cross if I said I rather covet one myself?"

Lord Maccon reflected upon the state of his life wherein he had so’s foot for the latest dresses out of Paris but hined about not owning an aethographic transmitter Well, at least the tere comparable obsessions so far as expense was concerned

"Well,up"

Alexia’s eyes shone "Oh, splendid!"

Lord Maccon kissed her softly on the forehead and then turned back to Madaair for a few days and ascertain if there is anything you can do to help?"

Alexia pinched her husband in annoyance When would he learn to ask her about these things first?

Lord Maccon captured his wife’s hand in one big paw and shook his head ever so slightly at her

The inventor frowned, a little crease in her creah the crease had never been, the dimples appeared, and she accepted the invitation

Alexia ed only a brief, private ith her husband as they piled their luggage into two hired carriages

"Channing says the olves couldn’t change all the boat ride over"

Her husband blinked at her, startled "Really?"

"Oh, and Lyall says the plague isnorthward He thinks it beat us to Scotland"

Lord Maccon frowned "He thinks it’s soair Pack, doesn’t he?"

Alexia nodded

Strangely, her husband grinned "Good, that givesup on their doorstep; they’d never let me in otherwise"

"What?" Alexia hissed at him "Why?" But they were interrupted by Tunstell’s return and unparalleled excitees rattled down the track to Kingair in ever-growing darkness Alexia was bound to either silence or inanities by the presence of Ivy and Madae It was too dark and rainy to see much outside the , a fact that upset Ivy

"I did so want to see the Highlands," said Miss Hisselpenny As though there would be soround, that indicated transition from one part of Scotland to the next Miss Hisselpenny had already coland, in a tone of voice that suggested this a grave error on the landscape’s part

Inexplicably tired, Alexia dozed, her cheek resting on her husband’s large shoulder

Felicity, Tunstell, and Angelique rode in the other carriage, eaiety that confused Alexia and tor sha to dissuade her But the sight of Castle Kingair dampened everyone’s spirits As if to cohted and the carriages trundled off, the rain began to descend in earnest

Castle Kingair was like soe rock that jutted out over a dark lake It put Woolsey Castle to shae about the place, and Alexia would bet good money that it was a drafty, miserably old-fashioned creature on the inside