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Alexia shuddered at the idea of what such a study htful and then stood and pulled his coed in a whispered conversation During their brief absence, Miss Tarabotti tried frantically to slip free of her handcuffs She had a sinking suspicion that she would not like anything they wanted to do to her in this ghastly place But she could not even ht

She heard Mr Sieestion and could not hurt If she is as intelligent as you purport, she may yet perceive the e with a willing participant "

The e in Miss Tarabotti’s circuently lifted by a pair of subdued lackeys She was carried upstairs into the lavish precincts of the foyer, with its plush Oriental carpets and luxuriant furnishings Her restraints were unlocked and re room in which to wash and compose herself Her ivory taffeta dress was a little worse for the experience; one of the puffed sleeves and soold lace had ripped, and it was stained beyond redemption in several places Alexia was annoyed True, it was out of fashion, but she had liked the gown She sighed and did her best to s with interest around the dressing room

There was no means of escape, but there was a bit of ribbon for her to tie back her unruly hair and a looking glass in which she could check up on the generally disreputable state of her appearance The ilded wood,The fra chain of octopuses, ar to find the whole octopus prevalence slightly sinister

She broke the looking glass as quietly as possible, tapping with the back of the ivory hairbrush she had been given She wrapped a sharp shard of glass carefully in a handkerchief and tucked it down the front of her bodice, between dress and corset, for safekeeping

Feeling slightlyroo area, with its brown leather ar proposition awaiting her

Mr MacDougall made introductions

"Miss Tarabotti, this is Mr Siemons Mr Siemons, Miss Alexia Tarabotti"

"Enchanted," said the pipe-sh he had not just abducted her, imprisoned her for several hours, and probably done unspeakable things to one of her dearest friends

Miss Tarabotti decided to play whatever hand was dealt her, at least until she learned the rules of the game It was typical of her character that she siain control over the situation Only onevocal scuffle, and Lord Maccon used underhanded nonverbal tactics Thinking of Lord Macconif they had brought her parasol when they nabbed her

"Let ht to the point, Alexia," said her jailer Alexia had no doubt that, while her immediate bonds had been removed, she was still very far froestured for her to sit opposite hie

She did so "Please do, Mr Siemons Directness is a very adht--"and scientists" She was nothing if not fair, and she had read her share of scientific articles that prevaricated and waffledthesis was very important

Mr Siemons proceeded on

Miss Tarabotti sipped her tea and noted that the silver studs on the leather armchair were also very small octopuses Really, why the obsession with invertebrates?

Mr MacDougall hurried about worriedly while Mr Sie this and that to make Alexia ar? Another spot of tea? Was she warh? Had the restraints harmed her wrists in any way?

Finally Mr Sielared him into silent stillness

"We should like very much to study you," he explained to Alexia "And we should like to do so with your cooperation It would be much easier andparticipant in the proceedings" He sat back, a strange look of eagerness on his jowly face

Alexia was confused "You th, "that I have several questions Although, as you intendor not, you can naturally refrain frohed "I am a scientist Miss Tarabotti I appreciate a curious mind"

Miss Tarabotti raised her eyebrows "Why do you wish to study me? What information do you hope to acquire? And ould these studies entail, exactly?"

He shtened in essence Obviously, ish to study you because you are a preternatural And while both you and BUR ht know er to comprehend the whole We hope, most importantly, to understand the sum components of your ability to cancel out the supernatural To distill that ability and harness it, what a weapon you leefully "Also, it would be a true joy simply to watch you in action"

"And the studies the to feel h she prided herself on the fact that it was not visible in her general deall’s theories?"

Miss Tarabotti thought back to that o, to a different person, in a different time However, she did reme "I recall some," she replied cautiously, "to the best of my recollection and limited feminine capacities, of course" Alexia hated to do it, but it was always advantageous to underence

Mr MacDougall gave her a shocked glance

As subtly as possible, Alexia winked at hiht faint but sat back in his chair, clearly of a mind to let her deal with the situation in whatever way she saw fit