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Lord Maccon inhaled a few last bites and then took off after his wife, catching up to her in the hallway
"That was not a cockroach, was it?" she asked
"Aye It wasna"
"Well?"
He shrugged, his big hands spread wide in confusion "Strangely colored, all shiny"
"Oh, thank you for that"
"Why bother? ’Tis dead now"
"Point taken, husband So, what are we planning for today?"
He nibbled a fingertip thoughtfully "You know, I thought weproperly here"
"Oh, darling, what a unique and original idea"
He paused The subject of Kingair’s little affliction of humanity seemed not to actually be foremost in his mind "Red jacket and shiny boots, you say?"
Lady Maccon looked at her husband, confused for a ? "Boots are causing the illness?"
"No," he gruely "I believe Ielse?"
The grin widened "Actually, I was envisioning boots, jacket, and nothing else at all Mmm, perhaps just boots"
He sed, nervous
She turned to hi the odds "If you were to ht be open to a little negotiating about which of us will be doing the riding"
Lord Maccon, olf of some two hundred years, blushed beet red at that "I a, my dear"
She wormed herself into his arms and raised her lips to be kissed "Give me time"
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Chief Sundowner
That afternoon, Lord and Lady Maccon decided to take a walk The rain had let up slightly, and it looked to be turning into a passable day, if not precisely pleasant Lady Maccon decided she was in the country and could relax her standards slightly, so did not change into a walking dress, instead si on practical shoes
Unfortunately for Lord and Lady Maccon, Miss Loontwill and Miss Hisselpenny decided to join theed, but since Tunstell had ht otherwise have been in this endeavor Alexia was beginning to think they wouldn’t get out of the house before teati parasols and bonnets This re yet another delay Really, reat naval battle would probably have been easier
Finally they set forth, but no sooner had they attained the srounds than they ca sory voices
"Destroy it all," the Ga "We canna continue ta live like this"
"Not until we ken to which and why"
The twoparty and fell silent
Politeness dictated they join the larger group, and, with Felicity and Ivy’s assistance, Alexia actuallyBoth men were reluctant to say much at the best of ti order However, such orders did not take into account the success hich sharp deterue
"I know you gentlemen were on the front lines in India How brave you ht primitives like that" Miss Hisselpenny widened her eyes and looked at the twoleft to do out there anymore Simply some minor pacification of the locals," objected Lord Maccon
Dubh gave him a dirty look "And hoould you know?"
"Oh, but what’s it really like?" asked Ivy "We get the stories in the papers now and again, but no real feel for the place"
"Hotter than hell’s--"
Miss Hisselpenny gasped in anticipation of lewd talk
Dubh civilized hiood," added Lachlan
"Really?" That interested Alexia Food always interested Alexia "How perfectly ghastly"
"Even Egypt was better"
"Oh" Miss Hisselpenny’s eyes ide "You were in Egypt too?"
"Of course they were in Egypt," Felicity said snidely "Everyone knows it is one of the main ports for the empire these days I have a passionate interest in the iments have to stop over there"
"Oh, do they?" Ivy blinked, trying to coraphic reason behind this
"And how did you find Egypt?" asked Alexia politely
"Also hot," snapped Dubh
"Seems to me most places would be, compared to Scotland," Lady Maccon snapped back
"You chose to visit us," he reypt" Alexia was not one to back down from a verbal battle
"Not entirely Pack service to Queen Victoria istense
"But it does not have to take the form of military service"
"We are not loners to slink about the hos" Dubh actually looked to Lord Maccon for assistance in dealing with his irascible wife The earl merely winked at hiypt has so to keep matters civil--"stuff"