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It sent tingling shocks through Alexia’s entire body--a htful sensation, better than hot tea on a cold ainst hiainst his mouth

Someone cleared his throat delicately

Lord Maccon bit down harder

Miss Tarabotti lost corateful for the wide hand firions

"Pardon me,Miss Tarabotti He pulled away, putting about a finger’s width of space between thelanced at Alexia in shock, let go of her botto it of independent action, and then looked thoroughly ashamed of himself

Unfortunately, Miss Tarabotti was too befuddled to truly appreciate the earl’s uncharacteristic expression of chagrin

He recovered hi of unsavory words Miss Tarabotti was certain no gentleht ever use around a lady, no matter how provoked Then Lord Maccon turned to stand before her, shielding her decidedly mussed appearance from view

Miss Tarabotti, knowing she should straighten her hat and probably the bodice of her dress and the fall of her bustle as well, could do nothing ainst Lord Maccon’s back

"Randolph, you could have chosen a better time," said the earl in exasperation

Professor Lyall stood diffidently in front of his Alpha "Possibly But this is pack business, and it is important"

Alexia blinked stupidly at the Beta fro crazy things, and she still could not locate her kneecaps She took a deep breath and put so theed Professor Lyall, apparently unsurprised to find her the object of his lordship’s amorous attentions

"Didn’t I recently send you on circuit?" Lord Maccon, back to his customary annoyed state, seeravation on to his Beta instead of Miss Tarabotti for once

Alexia decided, then and there, that Lord Conall Maccon clearly had only two modes of operation: annoyed and aroused She wondered which one she would prefer to deal with on a regular basis Her body joined in that discussion without shaed to shock herself into continued silence

Professor Lyall did not seem to require a response to his salutation from Miss Tarabotti He answered Lord Maccon’s question instead "I uncovered a situation in Canterbury It was unusual enough to drivefurther on circuit"

"Well?" said Lord Maccon impatiently

Alexia cahtened her hat She pulled up on the neckline of her dress at the shoulder and fluffed out the fall of her bustle Then she realized she had just engaged in a protracted act of lewdness, bordering on marital relations, in a public street, with Lord Maccon! She fervently hoped that very street would open up and s her whole She became even hotter than she had been moments before, this time with abject humiliation This was, it must be admitted, a far less pleasant sensation

While Miss Tarabotti conteht be due to acute embarrassment, Professor Lyall continued "You had all the loners stationed along the coast ’round Canterbury, re Plus a number of rove vampires have also vanished"

Lord Maccon jerked in surprise

Alexia realized that she was still plastered against his back She stepped away and to one side quickly Her knees were back in working order

With a growl of possession, Lord Maccon snaked out one long arainst his side

"Funny," said Miss Tarabotti, trying to ignore the growl and the ar stern Despite his gruff tone, he used his free hand to adjust his coat more securely over her shoulders and neck

Miss Tarabotti swatted at him and his solicitousness

"Stop that," she hissed

Professor Lyall’s bright eyes followed the interaction His expression did not change, but Alexia had an inkling he was secretly laughing at them both

She said, "The drone ood nu for several weeks, apparently" She paused "What about London lone olves? Are they still all accounted for?"

"There are none, aside froh he is sort of above the packs, rather than outside of theulations, and we enforce them to the letter," Professor Lyall said proudly

"The dewan has even stronger feelings on the matter than I," added Lord Maccon "Well, you kno conservative the Shadow Council tends to be" Miss Tarabotti, who did not, as she had very little to do with Queen Victoria’s govern about "So we have got olves and va" Sheto make you disappear as well," added Lord Maccon

Professor Lyall looked upset to hear that "What?"

Alexia was touched by his concern