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Bradah ‘I aht also consider leaving,’ Vale suggested ‘Unless you want to discuss matters further with Lord Silver, Miss Winters?’

Irene thought about having to explain things to Silver Having to explain anything to Silver ‘What an excellent idea,’ she agreed enthusiastically ‘Kai, unless you can think of anything that we’ve left undone, this ood moment to leave’

Kai wiped his sith an unstained bit of tablecloth, and put it down on the table ‘I a?’

Then Irene remembered that they didn’t have hotel roo to sort out

Her dismay must have shown on her face, and Vale stepped in, al ‘Allow ht, Miss Winters I have a couple of spare bedrooms – and what’s h to find you in the h nodded, and Irene revised her opinion of his relationship with Vale by a few notches Clearly the two ether She’d have to bear that in mind

She tried to remember exactly where India stood in the history of this alternate It had become an independent trade partner of Great Britain rather than a colony (not due to any particular lack of imperialism on Britain’s part, sadly) and the two Eh’s accent

Kai stepped forward and offered Irene his arm She took it, suddenly conscious of her weariness, and of the confusion around her The air was heavy with the sether with alligator corpses –faces So in corners Others were filing out of the roo Only a few of the tables were still upright; others had been battered down or had collapsed under the weight of people crowding onto theunshots, and soaked with blood

There was so ht?’ Kai said softly

There ht have been a time when Irene would have said, No, I’m not, and shut her eyes for just a few minutes But it was not now, and definitely not in front of Bradamant She sed, and tried not to breathe the air e,’ she said curtly ‘Thank you’

‘Your cloak, Miss Winters,’ Vale said, draping it over her shoulders She erously distracted, as he’d retrieved it without her noticing Shewith all the other notes to be more precise, more attentive, less squeamish, and less inclined to curl up and cry on soether, half-bowed, and turned aith Brada a very precise half-foot away from her Bradamant didn’t look back as she followed him

Outside, on the steps of the Liechtenstein Eraphers, reporters and interested parties Street vendors were even selling roasted chestnuts, doughnuts and candied peanuts Their fragrance blended with the taint of Irene’s bloodstained dress, and she had to struggle not to be sick

‘Did you see the elder Miss Retrograde leave?’ Kai asked