Changeless: The Parasol Protectorate: Book the Second (42 page)

“It seems clear to me,” interjected Felicity with an air of finality, “that your presence here, Alexia, has somehow overset
Evy’s engagement. Even you cannot argue your way out of that, sister dear.”

Felicity and Evylin were Alexia’s younger half sisters by birth and were entirely unrelated to her if one took into account
any other factors. They were short, blond, and slender, while Alexia was tall, dark, and, quite frankly, not so very slender.
They were inclined to giggle, waste hours over the fashion papers, and don the color pink. Alexia was not. Lady Maccon was
known throughout London for her intellectual prowess, patronage of the scientific community, and biting wit. Felicity and
Evylin were known for their puffed sleeves. The world, as a result, was generally a better place when the three were not living
together under the same roof.

“And we all know how considered and unbiased your opinion is on the matter, Felicity.” Alexia’s tone was unruffled.

Felicity picked up the scandal section of the
Ladies Daily Chirrup
, clearly indicating she wanted nothing more to do with the conversation.

Mrs. Loontwill drove courageously on. “Surely, Alexia, darling, it is high time you returned home to Woolsey? I mean to say,
you’ve been with us nearly a week, and, of course, we do love having you, but
he
is rumored to be back from Scotland now.”

“Who is?”

“Well, uh, Lord Maccon.”

“Bully for him.”

“Alexia! What a shocking thing to say!”

Evylin interjected, “No one has seen him in town, of course, but they say he returned to Woolsey yesterday.”

“Who says?”

Felicity rattled the gossip section of the paper explanatorily.

“Oh,
they
.”

“He must be pining for you, my dear.” Mrs. Loontwill resumed the attack. “Pining away, miserable for want of your…” She flailed.

“For want of my
what
, Mama?”

“Uh, scintillating companionship.”

Alexia snorted, actually snorted, at the dining table. Conall may enjoy her bluntness, but if he missed anything, she doubted
her wit was at the top of the lot. Lord Maccon was a werewolf of hearty appetites, to say the least. What he would miss most
about his wife was located substantially lower down than her tongue. An image of her husband’s face momentarily broke her
resolve. That look in his eyes the last time they saw each other—so betrayed. But what he believed of her, the fact that he
doubted her in such a way, was inexcusable. How dare he leave her remembering some lost-puppy look simply to toy with her
sympathies! Alexia Maccon made herself relive the things he had said to her, right then and there. She was
never
going to go back to that—her mind grappled for a description—that
antitruster
! Apparently her mind had rejected all options and come up with a new word as recompense.

Lady Alexia Maccon was the type of woman who, if thrown into a briar patch, would start to tidy it up by stripping off all
the thorns. She had, in fact, over the past three days and throughout the course of an inexcusably foul train journey back
from Scotland, come to terms with her husband’s rejection of both her and their child. This had involved exactly twelve tears,
about twelve hundred unpleasant words—said at high volume to anyone who would listen—concerning Lord Maccon’s ancestry back
several generations, and finally had ended in icy outrage. Alexia was used to defending herself for having done something
wrong, but defending herself when completely innocent made for an entirely different, and far more frustrating, experience.
Not even Bogglington’s Best Darjeeling succeeded in soothing her temper. And if tea wasn’t good enough, well, what
was
a lady to do? Simmering softly in the deepest of angers had been her only solution. After days of such simmering, Lady Maccon
was quite tender about the edges. Her family ought to have recognized the signs.

Felicity snapped the paper closed suddenly, her face an uncharacteristic red color.

“Oh dear.” Mrs. Loontwill fanned herself with a place setting. “What
now
?”

Squire Loontwill looked resignedly up and then back down at his egg.

“Nothing.” Felicity hastily tried to shove the paper under her plate.

Evylin was having none of it. She reached over, snatched it away, and began scanning through it, looking for whatever juicy
tittle-tattle had so disturbed her sister.

Felicity nibbled on a scone and looked guiltily at Alexia.

Alexia had a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. It did not mix well with her already-unsettled interior. She
finished the barley water with some difficulty and sat back in her chair, waiting for the next round of recriminations.

“Oh gosh!” Evylin seemed to have found the troublesome passage. She read it out for all to hear. “ ‘London was flabbergasted
earlier this week when news reached this reporter’s ears that Lady Maccon, previously Alexia Tarabotti, daughter of Mrs. Loontwill,
sister to Felicity and Evylin, and stepdaughter to the Honorable Squire Loontwill, had quit her husband’s house after returning
from Scotland without said husband. Speculation as to the reason has been ample, ranging from suspicions as to Lady Maccon’s
intimate relationship with the rove vampire Lord Akeldama to suspected family differences hinted at by the Misses Loontwills’—oh,
look, Felicity, they mentioned us twice!—‘and certain lower-class social acquaintances. Lady Maccon cut quite a fashionable
swath through London society after her marriage’—la, la, la, ah, here it picks up again—‘but it has been revealed by sources
intimately connected to the noble couple that Lady Maccon is, in fact, in a most delicate condition. Given Lord Maccon’s age,
supernatural inclination, and legally recognized postnecrosis status, it must be assumed that Lady Maccon has been
indiscreet
. While we await physical confirmation, all signs point to the Scandal of the Century.’”

Everyone looked at Alexia and began talking at once.