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Floote did not look reassured He snorted in a e door firuards needed no cab of their own Of course, they probably would have preferred one It was not quite apropos to the supernaturalafter a public transport But they experienced no physical taxation of any kind from the exertion So that is precisely what Miss Tarabotti forced the her driver to walk on, before they had a chance to find a conveyance of their own

Miss Tarabotti’s little cab wended its way slowly through the throngs ofup in front of one of theabodes in London, the town residence of Lord Akelda for her at the door when she alighted froar plumiest of the plums, what a lovely way to spend the full moon, in your a else in life?"

Miss Tarabotti s full well Lord Akeldama would far rather be at the opera, or the theater, or the duchess’s rout, or even down the West End in the blood-whores’ den gorging hiht Vampires liked to misbehave on full moon

She paid the cab and made her way up the front steps "Lord Akeldahted you could accommodate my visit at such short notice I have much to talk with you about"

Lord Akelda that could keep him home at full e his plans at Miss Tarabotti’s request in light of the fact that she would only contact hi And if she needed to know sonificant already The vaht Infor Well, that and fashion

Lord Akelda His coat was of exquisite plureen and mauve plaid His britches were of a perfectly coordinated lavender, and his formal cravat a treble bohite lawn secured with a old pin His Hessian boots were polished to a mirror shine, and his top hat was plum velvet to match the coat Miss Tarabotti was not certain if this elaborate outfit was because he intended to go out after the assignation, if he actually considered her that important, or if he just always dressed like a sideshow perforardless, she felt shabby and severe by colad they were not going out on the town together How the ton would laugh at such a uided her solicitously up the last few steps He paused on the stoop and looked back over his plum-colored shoulder at the spot where her cab had been and noas not anymore "Your shadoill have to stay outside my domain, little creampuff You know vampire territory laws, don’t you, my dove? Not even your safety, or their jobs at BUR, can counterulations They are more than law; they are instinct"

Miss Tarabotti looked at him, wide-eyed "If you deem it necessary, my lord, of course theyone, even if you do not co, they certainly do" His eyes slitted as he glared out into the street

Miss Tarabotti could not see what drew his attention, but she knew that did notsupernaturally still in the night, watching them She looked closely at her friend’s face

For a ht Lord Akelda, a spark of possession She wondered if that look was the va to mark his territory Stay out, said Lord Akeldama’s expression Mine What, then, did olves do? Lord Maccon had implied they were not as territorial as varaphic regions; there was no doubt of that Miss Tarabotti ed They actually olves, at least part of the time, and scent did seem to be particularly iht of Lord Maccon cocking a leg to mark Woolsey Castle parklands was so absurd that Miss Tarabotti actually had to stop herself froe away as an excellent and insulting question to ask the earl at an utterly inappropriate future mo the light cast by flickering gas, ure of two men They doffed their hats at Lord Akeldama, who merely sniffed Then they faded out of view once rabbed Miss Tarabotti’s hand, affectionately tucking it over his ar, irl" The sheen in his eyes vanished, as if it had never been, and he was back to his usual debonair self

He shook his head as his butler closed the front door behind thesters of the hive They cannot even be bothered to think for the their strongest years si from one set of orders to the next like trumped-up soldiers Still, it is an uncomplicated life for the primitive of intellect" His tone was rancorous, but Miss Tarabotti thought she could detect an undercurrent of regret He had a faraway look in his eyes, as if he were visiting sootten and far simpler time

"Is that why you became a rove--too many orders?" Miss Tarabotti asked

"What was that, herkin?" Lord Akelda sleep "Orders? No, the split was due to circumstances far old buckles cahts of bitterness over spats versus gaiters, and wended down a slippery slope fro moment hen certain persons, who shall remain nameless, objected to my fuchsia silk striped waistcoat I loved that waistcoat I putyou!" To punctuate his deeply offended feelings, he stah heel firmly "No one tells me what I can and cannot wear!" He snapped up a lace fan froorously with it for e the conversation off track, but Miss Tarabotti did not mind She responded to his distress with a noncommittal murmur of sy to rein in an excessively es as those of a madman It is just so uncomfortable to have two not of m/bloodline in proxi those disagreeable shivers constantly running up and down one’s spine Soht with the universe when one’s territory is invaded I can bear it, but I do not like it It y and off kilter"

Lord Akeldacloth draped artistically on a silver tray Lord Akeldama dabbed at his brow delicately "Oh, thank you, Biffy So thoughtful" Biffy winked and skipped off again He displayed irace Acrobat? wondered Alexia Lord Akelda man walk away appreciatively "I should not have favorites, of course" He sighed and turned to Miss Tarabotti "But, now, on to more important topics! Such as your scruular pleasure of your co?"

Miss Tarabotti refrained from any direct answer Instead, she looked about the interior of his house She had never been inside before, and she was overwhelht of style, if one were thinking in tero Lord Akeldama possessed real, substantial wealth and was not afraid to display it openly Nothing in his home was substandard, or faux, or imitation, and all of it ell beyond the pale The carpets were not Persian but were instead vibrant flower-ridden i shepherdesses under intense blue skies Were those puffy white clouds? Yes, they were The arched ceiling of the entrance hall was actually frescoed like the Sistine Chapel, only Lord Akelda cherubs up to nefarious activities Alexia blushed All kinds of nefarious activities She turned her eyes hurriedly back down S ods that Miss Tarabotti had no doubt were authentically ancient Greek in origin