Page 3 (1/2)

"I was si the sandwich aside, having lost her appetite "He launched his were out I aht woman, he would have bled me dry I simply had to defend myself"

Professor Lyall nodded A vaer had two socially acceptable options: to take sips fro to hie from blood-whores down dockside This was the nineteenth century, after all, and one simply did not attack unannounced and uninvited! Even olves, who could not control theers around to lock them away He himself had three, and it took five to keep Lord Maccon under control

"Do you think maybe he was forced into this state?" the professor wondered

"You er in possession of his faculties?" Lord Maccon considered the idea

Professor Lyall flipped his glassicals back down off his hat and exans of confinement or torture, but hard to tell with a vampire Even in a low blood state, he would heal rabbed Lord Maccon’sliquid, and did some quick calculations--"a little over one hour" The calculations remained etched into the metal

"And then what? Did he escape or was he intentionally let go?"

Alexia interjected, "He see part, of course He was able to carry on a decent conversation He even tried to char vampire And"--she paused dramatically, lowered her voice, and said in sepulchral tones--"he had a fang-lisp"

Professor Lyall looked shocked and blinked largely at her through the asyht of vulgarity

Miss Tarabotti continued "It was as though he had never been trained in hive etiquette, no social class at all He was alht to apply to a valassicals off and put them away in their little case with an air of finality He looked gravely at his Alpha "You knohat thisanyri hishis tawny eyes with a deterlint She wondered idly what he would look like if he smiled a real honest smile Then she told herself quite firmly that it was probably best not to find out

The object of her speculations said, "Itto ulations"

"Could it be just the once, do you think?" Professor Lyall removed a folded piece of white cloth fro it to be a large sheet of fine silk Alexia was beginning to find the nus he could stash in his waistcoat quite impressive

Lord Maccon continued "Or this could be the start of soet back to BUR The local hives will have to be interviewed The queens are not going to be happy Apart fro for thereed "Especially if they find out about the substandard shirt selection"

The two gentlemen wrapped the vampire’s body in the silk sheet Professor Lyall hoisted it easily over one shoulder Even in their huht folk

Lord Maccon rested his tawny gaze on Alexia She was sitting priloved hand rested on the ebony handle of a ridiculous-looking parasol Her brown eyes were narrowed in consideration He would give a hundred pounds to knohat she was thinking just then He was also certain she would tell hiive her the satisfaction Instead he issued a statement "We’ll try to keep your name out of it, Miss Tarabotti My report will say it was sied to escape an unwarranted attack No need for anyone to know a preternatural was involved"

Noas Alexia’s turn to glare "Why do you BUR types always do that?"

Both men paused to look at her in confusion "Do what, Miss Tarabotti?" asked the professor

"Dish I were a child Do you realize I could be useful to you?"

Lord Maccon grunted "Youinto trouble instead of just bothering us all the ti hurt "BUR employs women, and I hear you even have a preternatural on the payroll up north, for ghost control and exorcism purposes"

Lord Maccon’s caramel-colored eyes instantly narrowed "From whom, exactly, did you hear that?"

Miss Tarabotti raised her eyebrows As if she would ever betray the source of information told to her in confidence!

The earl understood her look perfectly "Very well, never you mind that question"

"I shall not," replied Alexia pri over one shoulder, took pity on her "We do have both at BUR," he admitted

Lord Maccon elbowed hirace that bespoke much practice "But e do not have is any feentlewo-class stock"

"You are sis," muttered Miss Tarabotti, but she also bowed her head in acknowledgment She’d had this conversation before, with Lord Maccon’s superior at BUR, to be precise A man her brain still referred to as that Nice Silver-Haired Gentleht want to as siirl," he had said, "what if your mother found out?"