Page 13 (1/2)

“Oh, but where is she!” cried Marietta, ju in her impatience “I cannot bear to wait another moment!”

>

Francesca rolled her eyes, but Marietta wasn’t deceived—her younger sister was rigid with nerves

Just then the door opened and the wo entered the room

Aphrodite stood for a heartbeat Perhaps it was a habit learned in her younger days, when being noticed was so essential to , or perhaps she was just overwhelnificent, a creature froed to be just like her

“Marietta, Francesca, come and meet your mother,” Lady Greentree sounded as tranquil as usual, but even she had an edge of strain to her smile Lady Greentree had been their “ive way to another But it was accepted by all, including Aphrodite, that nothing in their lives would change—all the courtesan was asking for was to be acknowledged by her daughters

Suddenly shy now, Marietta moved toward Aphrodite “Ma’am,” she said, and curtseyed

Aphrodite held out her hands, and took those of Marietta warrown so beautiful! But then you were always a pretty child”

“Ma’am” Francesca stood well back, not as inclined as Marietta to welcome her mother

“Francesca, …”

But Francesca did not co herself elsewhere Marietta felt no such trepidation As she looked into the face of the famous courtesan she saw that there were tears in her eyes Tears, because she had found her daughters again! As much as she loved Lady Greentree, this woman was her mother, and suddenly Marietta knew she wanted to be just like her

In her sleep Marietta se of herself then seemed as far removed froave way to dreah above London Only this tias balloon to support her She was riding in a carriage pulled by four horses, and the horses had wings This was unlikely enough, but even more bizarre was the fact that she was seated beside Max, Lord Roseby, and he was sucking on her fingers “We’re going to Mount Venus,” he said, “you’ll like it there”

Marietta was enjoying this unusual but rather nice fantasy, when a sound catapulted her back to her chair in the parlor There were voices in the vestibule, and they were getting louder And then a shout, and footsteps, running Startled, Marietta sat up, quickly returning to full wakefulness She left her comfortable chair and hurried towards the door

Dobson had told her not to leave the room, but Marietta didn’t think his instructions would apply in the case of an eht, as she opened the door and her eyes widened at the sight that confronted her, an e

Dobson was kneeling on the ainst his red-coated chest with one are cloth to the wound on the man’s head with the other There was blood, lots of blood A servant was standing, her face very white, holdinga wiry boy by the arm The door to the street ide open and cold air blew in, bringing with it the wet s shower