Timeless by Gail Carriger Page B

any way to address your betters?” Countess Nadasdy didn’t move from her stiff pose.
    Alexia privately suspected, due to the tightness of the dress, that she couldn’t.
    “You have taken me away from an evening with my family, Countess.”
    “Yes, on the subject of which, we understood Lord Akeldama would have primary care for the abomination and yet…” The vampire let her words trail off.
    Alexia understood perfectly. “Yes, and he does. Prudence lives with him. And please refer to my daughter by her name.”
    “But you live next door and visit quite frequently, I understand.”
    “It is necessary.”
    “A mother’s love or a child’s affliction?” The countess widened her cornflower-blue eyes significantly.
    “Someone has to cancel her out.”
    The countess grinned suddenly. “Difficult is she, the soul-stealer?”
    “Only when she isn’t herself.”
    “Fascinating way of putting it.”
    “You simply must learn to relax your standards, Countess, or Prudence could run ragged all over London, even getting so far as Barking.” Alexia, nettled that she had been offered neither seat nor tea, allowed some of her annoyance to creep into her voice. “Is this the nature of your summons or did you have something particular you wished to discuss with me?”
    The vampire queen reached out to a small side table. Alexia was certain she heard the dress creak. The queengestured Alexia to come closer, using a small scroll of parchment she had resting there.
    “Someone wishes to meet the abomination.”
    “What was that? I’m afraid I didn’t quite catch it. Wishes to meet
who
, did you say?” Alexia looked pointedly out a nearby window.
    Countess Nadasdy showed fang. “Matakara wishes to meet your child.”
    “Mata-who? Well, many people wish to meet
Prudence
. Why should this particular person signify to any—”
    The countess interrupted her with a sharp gesture. “No. You misunderstand. Matakara, queen of the Alexandria Hive.”
    “Who?”
    “Oh, how can you be intimate with so many immortals, yet be so ignorant of our world?” The countess’s beautiful round face became pinched in annoyance. “Queen Matakara is the oldest living vampire, possibly the oldest living creature. Some claim over three thousand years. Of course, no one knows the actual number with any certainty.”
    Alexia tried to fathom such a vast age. “Oh.”
    “She has shown a particular interest in your progeny. Generally speaking, Queen Matakara hasn’t shown an interest in anything
at all
for five hundred years. It is a great honor. When one is summoned to visit her, one does not delay.”
    “Let me get this perfectly clear. She requires
me
to travel, to
Egypt
, with
my
daughter, on
her
whim?” Lady Maccon was, perhaps, less impressed than she ought to be by the interest of such an august body.
    “Yes, but she would prefer if the reason for your journey were not publicly known.”
    “She wants me to travel to Egypt with my daughter under subterfuge? You have heard of my daughter’s antics, have you not?”
    “Yes.”
    Alexia huffed out a breath in exasperation. “Not asking very much, is she?”
    “Here.” The countess passed her the missive.
    The sum of the request, or more properly the order, written in a slightly stilted manner that suggested the writer’s first language was not English, was indeed as had been discussed.
    Alexia looked up from it, annoyed. “Why?”
    “Because she desires it, of course.” Clearly Queen Matakara had the same kind of superior social power over the countess as the Queen of England did the Duchess of Devonshire.
    “No, I mean to ask, why should I inconvenience myself with a trip?”
    “Ah, yes, preternaturals, so very practical. I understand Egypt is lovely this time of year, and I believe there is something more that you have overlooked.”
    Alexia read the letter again and then flipped it over. There was a postscript on the reverse side. “I believe your husband is missing a