The Parasol Protectorate Boxed Set by Gail Carriger Read Free Book Online Page B

Tarabotti had clearly felt a strong inclination
toward literature concerning the supernatural, so Alexia had a tolerably clear concept of what occurred in a vampire hive.
Miss Dair certainly must be something more than blond curls, dimples, and a perfectly-turned-out rose dress.
    Miss Dair bobbed her ringlets at them. “Whatever the gossip columns may say, Countess Nadasdy is a good mistress.” Her smile
was slightly quirky. “If you like that sort of thing. It has been delightful to meet you ladies.” She tightened the reins
to her blacks and snapped them smartly. The phaeton jerked forward sharply on the uneven grass, but Miss Dair maintained a
perfect seat. In mere moments, the high flyer was gone, rattling down the footpath and disappearing behind the small coppice
of birch trees.
    The two girls followed, the airship in all its technological glory having suddenly lost its appeal. Other more exciting events
were afoot. They walked a little more slowly, conversing in a subdued manner. Alexia turned the small envelope around in her
hands.
    The jaunt through Hyde Park appeared to be doing the trick as far as Alexia’s prickly feelings were concerned. All of her
anger at Lord Maccon had dissipated to be replaced by apprehension.
    Ivy looked pale. Well, paler than usual. Finally she pointed to the sealed envelope Alexia was fiddling with nervously. “You
know what that is?”
    Miss Tarabotti swallowed. “Of course I know.” But she said it so quietly Ivy did not really hear her.
    â€œYou have been given the actual address of a hive, Alexia. They are either going to recruit you or drain you dry. No daylight
humans but drones are allowed to have that kind of information.”
    Alexia looked uncomfortable. “I know!” She was wondering how a hive might react to a preternatural in their midst. Not very
kindly, she suspected. She worried her lower lip. “I simply must speak with Lord Akeldama.”
    Miss Hisselpenny looked, if possible, even more worried. “Oh really, must you? He is so very outrageous.”
Outrageous
was a very good way of describing Lord Akeldama. Alexia was not afraid of outrageousness any more than she was afraid of
vampires, which was good because Lord Akeldama was both.
    He minced into the room, teetering about on three-inch heels with ruby and gold buckles. “My darling,
darling
Alexia.” Lord Akeldama had adopted use of her given name within minutes of their first meeting. He had said that he just
knew they would be friends, and there was no point in prevaricating. “
Darling
!” He also seemed to speak predominantly in italics. “How perfectly, deliciously,
delightful
of you to invite
me
to dinner.
Darling.
”
    Miss Tarabotti smiled at him. It was impossible not to grin at Lord Akeldama; his attire was so consistently absurd. In addition
to the heels, he wore yellow checked gaiters, gold satin breeches, an orange and lemon striped waistcoat, and an evening jacket
of sunny pink brocade. His cravat was a frothy flowing waterfall of orange, yellow, and pink Chinese silk, barely contained
by a magnificently huge ruby pin. His ethereal face was powdered quite unnecessarily, for he was already completely pale,
a predilection of his kind. He sported round spots of pink blush on each cheek like a Punch and Judy puppet. He also affected
a gold monocle, although, like all vampires, he had perfect vision.
    With fluid poise, he settled himself on the settee opposite Alexia, a small neatly laid supper table between them.
    Miss Tarabotti had decided to host him, much to her mother’s chagrin, alone in her private drawing room. Alexia tried to explain
that the vampire’s supposed inability to enter private residences uninvited was a myth based upon their collective obsession
with proper social etiquette, but her mother refused to believe her. After some minor hysterics, Mrs. Loontwill thought better
of her objections to the