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But just when it seemed that all was lost, salvation came in the unlikely form of Persephone She had been distracted by a particularly attractivedisplay when Belle had disappeared into the alleyway and was quite baffled when she looked back up and her charge was gone When she called out Belle's naan to look about frantically

"Belle?" she called out again, this ti in all directions Then, as she was passing the alleyway, she saw a blur of movement and Belle's fah to o of her, you beasts!" She rushed forward, raising her parasol above her head "Let go, I tell you!" With a furious whack, she slammed her weapon down on the head of one of the assailants

"Shut up, you old bitch!" he yelled, howling in pain

Persephone's response was a horizontal shich clipped him neatly in the round

The other thug was caught between utter panic and sheer greed, lusting after the money he'd been proave it one last desperate try, barely aware that a nu Persephone's cries of distress

"I said let go of her!" Persephone booed her attack tactics and started viciously poking him with the end of her parasol When she stabbed hio of Belle and ran away, painfully hunched over the entire way

"Persephone, thank you soin her eyes

But Persephone wasn't listening All of her attention was focused on the et up, but she jabbed him in the belly "Not so fast, mister," she said

Belle's eyes widened Who would have dreah streak?

The villain saw the growing crowd of people for that escape was impossible Much to Belle's relief, a constable quickly arrived on the scene, and she relayed her story to him He started to question her attacker, but the man remained closemouthed That is, until the constable re a lady of Belle's position

The rab her Yes, just her No, not any pretty blond lady, this one in particular The gentlehborn No, he didn't know his naht blond hair and blue eyes, if that helped any, and his aration, the constable hauled hiht to hire one of those Bow Street Runners for added protection

Belle shivered with fear She had an enean to disperse, Persephone turned to her and asked solicitously, "Are you all right, dear?"

"Yes, yes," Belle replied "I'm fine" Her eyes strayed down to her arrabbed her There had been a dress and a coat between her skin and his, but still she felt dirty "I think, however, I'd like a bath"

Persephone nodded "I couldn't agree with you ht Belle a reply froine why you suddenly want to learn how to climb trees since you never professed