Changeless: The Parasol Protectorate: Book the Second Read Free Page B

the fact that she was not of the appearance others
     patently expected of a Lady Maccon, being too Italian, too old, and too, frankly, ample. She was going to correct his error
     before further embarrassment ensued, but he did not provide her with the opportunity. Clearly Channing Channing of the Chesterfield
     Channings enjoyed the cadence of his own voice.
    “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about our camping arrangements. I assure you, neither his lordship nor her ladyship
     will take you to task.” The ladyship in question flushed at his presumption. “You simply let us get on with our business and
     return to your duties.”
    “I can assure you,” said Alexia, “everything that occurs in or around Woolsey Castle concerns me.”
    Channing Channing of the Chesterfield Channings smiled his perfect smile and twinkled his blue eyes in a way Alexia was certain
     he believed to be alluring. “Now, really, neither of us has time for this, do we? Just you scamper off and get about your
     daily chores, and we shall see about a bit of a reward later for your obedience.”
    Was that a leer? Alexia actually thought it might be. “Are you philandering with me, sir?” She was imprudently startled into
     asking.
    “Would you like me to be?” he replied, grin widening.
    Well, that certainly settled that.
This
was no gentleman.
    “Uh-oh,” said Tunstell very softly, backing away slightly.
    “What a nauseating thought,” said Lady Maccon.
    “Oh, I don’t know,” said Major Channing, moving in closer, “a fiery Italian thing like you, with a nice figure and not too
     old, might have a few lively nights left. I always did fancy a bit of the foreign.”
    Alexia, who was only half Italian, and that only by birth, having been raised English to the bone, could not decide which
     part of that sentence offended her most. She sputtered.
    The repulsive Channing person looked like he might actually try to touch her.
    Alexia hauled off and hit him, hard, with her parasol, right on the top of his head.
    Everyone in the courtyard stopped what they were about and turned to look at the statuesque lady currently engaged in whacking
     their third in command, Woolsey Pack Gamma, commander of the Coldsteam Guards abroad, with a parasol.
    The major’s eyes shifted to an even icier blue and black about the rim of each iris, and two of his perfect white teeth turned
     pointed.
    Werewolf, was he? Well, Alexia Maccon’s parasol was tipped with silver for a reason. She walloped him again, this time making
     certain the tip touched his skin. At the same time, she rediscovered her powers of speech.
    “How dare you! You impudent”—
whack
—“arrogant”—
whack
—“overbearing”—
whack
—“unobservant dog!”
Whack, whack.
Normally Alexia wasn’t given to such language or unadulterated violence, but circumstances seemed to warrant it. He was a
     werewolf and, without her touching him and canceling out his supernatural abilities, practically impossible to damage. Thus,
     she felt justified in clobbering him a couple of times for discipline’s sake.
    Major Channing, shocked by a physical attack from an apparently defenseless housekeeper, shielded his head and then grabbed
     the parasol, using it to yank her toward him. Alexia lost her grip, and Major Channing stumbled back in possession of the
     accessory. He looked like he wanted to hit her back with it, which could have done Alexia some real damage, as she had no
     supernatural healing abilities at all. But instead, he tossed the parasol aside and made as if to slap her.
    Which was when Tunstell leaped onto his back. The redhead wrapped long arms and legs about the major, trapping Channing’s
     limbs at his sides.
    The assembled newcomers gasped in horror. For a claviger to attack a member of the pack was unheard of and was grounds for
     instant expulsion. However, those of the pack and their companion clavigers who knew who Alexia was all dropped whatever they
     were