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"These days, even the tiniest of cuts take forever to heal And one is so verra ithout that supernatural strength I used to be able to lift the back end of a carriage; now, carrying in Miss Hisselpenny’s hatboxes gave me heart palpitations"

Alexia snorted "You should see the hats inside"

"I’d forgotten how to shave," continued the first with a little laugh

Felicity gasped and Ivy blushed Bringing up a gentle so indiscreet!

"Cubs," barked Lady Kingair, "that is by far enough of that"

"Aye, entlee They had probably seen her grow up

The table fell silent

"So, are you all aging?" Lady Maccon wanted to know She was blunt, but then, that was part of her charhter It uest, to be silent

No one answered Lady Maccon But the pack’s collective worried expression spoke volu entirely human, or as huet Mortal was perhaps a better word for it It ht mundane Of course, Lord Maccon was in the same situation

Lady Maccon chewed a s But I am curious--why not ask for medical assistance while in London? Or perhaps seek out BUR to h London with the rest of the regiments"

The pack looked to Lord Maccon to rescue them from his wife Lord Maccon’s expression said it all: they were at her e Still, she needn’t have asked She was perfectly well aware of the fact that most supernatural creatures mistrusted modern doctors, and this pack would hardly seek out the London BUR offices with Lord Maccon in charge Of course, they would want to get out of London as quickly as possible, retreat to the safety of their hos--proverbially, of course, as this was no longer literally possible No tails to be seen

Much to the pack’s relief, the next course arrived, veal and ham pie with a side of beet and cauliflower mash Lady Maccon waved her fork about expressively and asked, "So, how did it happen? Did you eat so while you were over in India?"

"You rin "She is a bit of a gesticulator, all that Italian blood"

Aard silence persisted

"Are you all ill? My husband thinks you have a plague Will you be infecting him in addition to yourselves?" Lady Maccon turned to look pointedly at the earl sitting next to her "I am not entirely sure hoould feel about that"

"Thank you for your concern, wife"

The Gamma (what had her husband called hily, "Come off it, Conall You canna expect sympathy from a curse-breaker, even if you did wed her"

"I heard of this pheno her attention to their conversation "It did not extend to hborhood, so I did not experience it firsthand; nevertheless, I aical scientific explanation"

"Scientists!" ree Alexia a curse-breaker?" wondered Ivy

"Precisely Isn’t she simply a curse?" said Felicity unhelpfully

"Sister, you say the sweetest things," replied Lady Maccon

Felicity gave her a dour look

The pack Gae the subject "Speaking of which, I was under the impression that Lady Maccon’s former name was Tarabotti But you are a Miss Loontwill"

"Oh"--Felicity sly--"we have different fathers"

"Ah, I see" The Gamma frowned "Oh, I see That Tarabotti"

He looked at Alexia with newfound interest "I should never have thought he would marry"

The Beta also looked at Lady Maccon curiously "Indeed, and to produce offspring Civic duty, I suppose"

"You knew ued, and, it must be admitted, distracted froed a look "Not personally We knew of him, of course Quite the traveler"

Felicity said with a sniff, "Ma-shackled herself to an Italian She claih I understand he was very good-looking It did not last, of course He died, just after Alexia was born Such a terribly e to do, simply to up and die like that Goes to show, Italians cannot be trusted Mama ell rid of him She married Papa shortly thereafter"

Lady Maccon turned to look hard at her husband "Did you know s private

"Not as such"

"At some point, husband of mine, we must have a discussion, you and I, about the properinfor consistently behind the times"

"Except that, wife, I have two centuries on you I can hardly tell you everything I have learned and about everyone I haveall those years"