Timeless by Gail Carriger Page A

The vampire was holding court in his drawing room with a small collection of drones arrayed around him, a bottle of champagne on the end table, and the fat calico cat on his lap. Truth be told, Lord Akeldama had transformed into rather a homebody since becoming a father, much to London’s surprise. This was because home had become, under Prudence’s influence, even more exciting than the social whirl of the ton. Besides, Lord Akeldama had nothing but time; he could afford a few decades to play at parenting. He had, after all, never indulged in such an experience before. When one was a vampire as long-lived as he, new experiences were hard-won, difficult to find, and treasured—like good-quality face powder.
    “Alexia, my
dearest
custard cup, how
are
you? Was it a perfectly
horrid
night?”
    “Pretty much horrid, yes. And how was your stroll in the park?”
    “We were the statement of the hour!”
    “Of course you were.”
    The drones amicably made room for Alexia to sit, standing prettily while she did so. They then returned to their own chattering, leaving their master and his visitor to carry on together. However, Alexia was very well aware that ears were perked. Lord Akeldama’s drones were trained in such a way as to suit their own intrinsic natures, and in the end, one could never take the love of gossip out of a soul once embedded there. They were as much interested in Lord Akeldama’s secrets as they were in everyone else’s.
    “Lord Akeldama, do you think we might have a little word, in confidence? I have had a rather interesting summons and I could use the benefit of your advice.”
    “Of course, my
dearest girl
! Clear the room, please,
my darlings
. You may take the champagne.”
    The drones rose and trooped obligingly out, closing the door behind them.
    “Ah, the dears, they are probably all pressed in a huddle with their collective ear to the jamb.”
    “Prudence and I have been summoned to visit Queen Matakara, in Egypt. What do you make of
that
?”
    Lord Akeldama was not as awed as Lady Maccon might have hoped. “Ah, my dearest
sugar drop
, I am only surprised it has taken her so long. You aren’t
actually
considering going, are you?”
    “Not to put too fine a point on it, but yes. I’ve always wanted to see Egypt. There is also a pack matter Conall wishes to investigate there. I have even devised a cover story.”
    “Oh, Alexia, my rose hip, I
really
wish you wouldn’t. Not Egypt. It’s not a nice place, so hot and smelly. Full of tourists in muted colors. The puggle might be endangered. And I, of course, could not accompany you.”
    “Endangered by bad smells and muted colors?”
    “Not to mention local dress. Have you seen what they wear in that country? All loose and flowy,
abominable
concessions to comfort and practicality.” Lord Akeldama’s hand floated up and out in the air in a simulation of the flutter of robes worn by exotic tribesmen. He lowered his voice. “There are too many secrets and too few immortals to keep them.”
    Alexia pressed further. “And Queen Matakara, have you ever met her?”
    “In a manner of speaking.”
    Lady Maccon looked at her friend sharply. “What manner?”
    “A very long time ago, my dearest pudding drop, you might say she was
responsible for everything
.”
    Alexia gasped. “Oh my giddy aunt! She
made
you!”
    “Well, darling, there is no need to put it so crassly as all that!”
    So many questions cluttered Alexia’s mind at this revelation that her head very nearly did take to spinning. “But how did you get
here
?”
    “Oh, silly child. We can move long distances, for a short period of time, right after metamorphosis. How else do you think vampires managed to migrate all over the world?”
    Alexia shrugged. “I suppose I thought you simply expanded outward in ever-increasing circles.”
    Lord Akeldama laughed. “There would have to be considerably more of us for that, my darling sugar lump.”
    Lady Maccon sighed, then asked the