Changeless: The Parasol Protectorate: Book the Second Read Online Free PDF

the house after Major Channing.
    Ivy curtsied to the departing werewolf, a strawberry on a long silk stem wiggling about in front of her left ear. She didn’t
     take offense at Lyall leaving so precipitously. Instead, she trotted up to the stoop, blithely ignoring Alexia’s dispatch
     case and waiting carriage, certain in the knowledge that her news was far more important than whatever affair was causing
     her friend to depart forthwith.
    “Alexia, did you know there is an entire regiment decamping on your front lawn?”
    Lady Maccon sighed. “Really, Ivy, I would never have noticed.”
    Miss Hisselpenny ignored the sarcasm. “I have the most splendid
news.
Should we go in for tea?”
    “Ivy, I have business in town, and I am already late.” Lady Maccon refrained from mentioning that business was with Queen
     Victoria. Ivy knew nothing of her preternatural state, nor her political position, and Alexia thought it best to keep her
     friend ignorant. Ivy was particularly adept at being ignorant but could cause extensive havoc with the smallest scrap of information.
    “But,
Alexia
, this is very important gossip!” The grapes vibrated in agitation.
    “Oh, have the winter shawls from Paris come into the shops?”
    Ivy tossed her head in frustration. “Alexia, must you be so tiresome?”
    Lady Maccon could barely tear her eyes off of the hat. “Then, please, do not keep it to yourself one moment longer. Pray tell
     me at once.” Anything to get her dearest friend gone posthaste. Really, Ivy could be too inconvenient.
    “Why is there a regiment on your lawn?” Miss Hisselpenny persisted.
    “Werewolf business.” Lady Maccon dismissed it in the manner calculated to most efficiently throw Ivy off the scent. Miss Hisselpenny
     had never quite accustomed herself to werewolves, even after her best friend had the temerity to marry one. They were not
     exactly commonplace, and she had never had to cope with their brand of gruffness and sudden nudity. She simply couldn’t seem
     to acclimatize to it the way Alexia had. So she preferred, in typical Ivy fashion, to forget they existed.
    “Ivy,” said Lady Maccon, “what exactly
are
you doing here?”
    “Oh, Alexia, I am terribly sorry for descending upon you so unexpectedly! I hadn’t the time to send round a card, but I simply
     had to come and tell you as soon as it was decided.” She opened her eyes wide and flipped both hands toward her head. “
I
am engaged.”

CHAPTER TWO

A Plague of Humanization
    L ord Conall Maccon was a very large man who made for an exceedingly large wolf. He was bigger than any natural wolf could ever
     hope to be and less rangy, with too much muscle and not enough lank. No passerby would be in any doubt, had they seen him,
     that he was a supernatural creature. That said, those few people traveling the cold winter road on this particular early evening
     could not see him. Lord Maccon was moving fast, and he boasted a dark brindled pelt so that, but for his yellow eyes, he faded
     almost completely into the shadows. On more than one occasion, his wife had called him handsome in his wolf form, yet she
     had never called him so as a human. He would have to ask her about that. Conall ruminated a moment; then again, perhaps he
     would not.
    Such were the mundane thoughts that passed through a werewolf’s head as he ran the country lanes toward London. Woolsey Castle
     was some distance away from the metropolis, just north of Barking, a good two hours by carriage or dirigible and a little
     less on four legs. Time passed and eventually wet grass, neat hedgerows, and startled bunnies gave way to muddy streets, stone
     walls, and disinterested alley cats.
    The earl found himself enjoying the run a good deal less when, just after entering the city proper, right around Fairfoot
     Road, he abruptly and completely lost his wolf form. It was the most astonishing thing—one moment he was dashing along on
     four paws, and the next his bones were