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"She ith the Earl of Woolsey," said Professor Lyall firh that settled the nored his tone entirely and hter "Alexia! You wanton hussy!"

Professor Lyall twisted fast so that his charge, still held in his arlared furiously

Mrs Loontwill turned her wrath on hi ht away fro securely entleman first! I do not care if he is an earl You olf types may have different rules for this kind of affair, but this is the nineteenth century, and we do not hold with such shenanigans Why, I ought to have ht now!"

Professor Lyall raised one refined brow "He is welcome to the attempt I would not recommend that particular course of action To the best of ht" He looked down at Alexia "Except to Miss Tarabotti, of course"

Alexia grinned up at him "You can put me do, Professor I am quite awake and able to stand Malass of cold water"

Professor Lyall did as she requested

Miss Tarabotti found that she had not actually spoken the truth Her whole body ached most awfully, and her feet did not seem to wish to work as instructed She sturab her and ood butlers, Floote appeared at her side and took her ar

"Thank you, Floote," said Alexia, leaning gratefully against him Felicity and Evylin, both properly attired in cotton day dresses, reappeared and went immediately to sit on the chesterfield before they could be told to leave

Alexia looked about and noticed one family member still absent "Where is the squire?"

"Never youon? I de a finger

Just then, there ca on the front door Floote transferred Alexia back to Professor Lyall and went to answer it Lyall ushered Miss Tarabotti over to the wingback chair With a nostalgic smile Alexia sat down in it

"We are not at home!" yelled Mrs Loontwill after Floote "To anyone!"

"You are at home to land swept into the roo it very well

Floote trailed in after and said, in tones of shock Alexia had never thought to hear frohness, Queen Victoria, to see Miss Tarabotti" Mrs Loontwill fainted

Alexia thought it the best,while Floote uncorked a bottle of s salts and went to revive her, but Alexia shook her head firmly Then she made to rise and curtsy, but the queen raised her hand

"No formality, Miss Tarabotti I understand you have had an interesting night," she said

Miss Tarabotti nodded esture for the queen to sit She was mortified by what now seemed the shabby clutter of her fahness did not seeany side chair next to Alexia,it so her back was to the collapsed form of Mrs Loontwill

Miss Tarabotti turned to her sisters Both had theirabout like ineffectual fish

"Felicity, Evylin, out, now," she ordered quite curtly

Professor Lyall helped hustle the two girls from the room and would have followed, but the queen said curtly, "Stay, Professor We lided out with an expression that said he would keep all prying ears at bay, although probably not his own

The queen looked at Alexia a long moment "You are not at all what I expected," she said at last Miss Tarabotti refrained fro, "Neither are you" Instead she said, "You knew to expect soirl, you are one of the only preternaturals on British soil We approved your father’s io We were inforress since then with interest We even considered interfering when all this folderol with Lord Maccon began to coh You will behim, I understand?"

Alexia nodded h she had somehow had a hand in this outcome Professor Lyall said, "Not everyone does"

The queen actually snorted at that "We are the one whose opinion counts, are we not? The potentate and the dewan are trusted advisors, but they are only that: advisors No legal records for our ee between supernatural and preternatural outright Yes, the potentate inforend warns against fraternization, but we require this business settled We will not have our best BUR agent distracted, and we need this young lady le state should concern the Queen of England

"Ah, that You are aware of the Shadow Council?" The queen settled herself in the hard chair, as htly

Alexia nodded "The potentate acts as your official vampire consultant and the dewan in the olf capacity Rumors are that most of your political acumen comes from the potentate’s advice and your military skill frorowled a warning

The queen looked more amused than insulted at this She even dropped the royal "we" for the space of a few moments "Well, I suppose my enemies must blame somebody I will say that those two are invaluable, when they are not bickering with each other But there is a third post that has been vacant since before my time An advisor meant to break the stalehost?"

"No, no We have plenty of those flitting around Buckingham Palace; cannot keep them quiet half the time We certainly do not need one in any official capacity Not when they cannotNo, e require is a muhjah"

Alexia looked confused

The queen explained "Traditionally the third member of the Shadow Council is a preternatural, the muhjah Your father declined the post" She sniffed "Italians Now, there sih of your set left to vote on your nomination, so it will have to be an appointed position But voting is mostly a formality, even for the positions of dewan and potentate At least it has been during n"