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The courtesan’s dark gaze slid over her, before returning to her face She was reading her, judging her sincerity, and suddenly it was extremely important that Aphrodite take her seriously

“Aphrodite, please,” she sounded as desperate as she felt “I don’t knohat else to do but ask you again to help me”

“Hush, child, listen to me for just oneofwell outside the boundaries of polite society You think you are beyond the a courtesan is to be a woman apart Is that what you want? Have you truly understood what this decision will mean in five, ten, twenty years time?”

The way Aphrodite put it did , but Marietta was not a coward She had chosen her direction and would not turn back so easily—besides ere her alternatives? Allow Oliver to find so victim to wed her despite her ruined reputation? Live at Berkley Square as a spinster aunt for the re and a little frightening in comparison because it was so unconventional, but it was one she was eager to embrace

Of course, there was her family to consider and the effect upon them Marietta are that people would call her selfish, and that there would be gossip, but she had thought long and hard on the matter and she did not see that the situation could be much worse than it already was—she was the ruined sister already Her faht suffer privately from her actions, yes, but that did not e her naht and Madame Coeur would be born—that was the name she had chosen for herself In time her faht for her—Marietta truly believed that

“There would be compensations, surely?” she said at last

“Oh yes, there are coer “May I suggest so to you, mon petit puce? Before you make up your mind irrevocably, I want you to have a…a, what do they call it, a trial! Not a trial in a court, I do not mean that I want you to try out the life of a courtesan, and see if it is what you really want”

“But I know I—” Marietta began impatiently

“Yes, yes, you think you know But the reality of living such a life is quite different to the i you should wander about Aphrodite’s Club peeping into doorways No, you should ith a flesh and blood ame, but who knows it is a tee your mind he has no power over you whatsoever”

Marietta tre inside her “I won’t change s”

“I almost believe you”

“Almost…” Marietta felt frustrated Why wouldn’t Aphrodite believe her? Why couldn’t she accept that Marietta was completely sincere in her desire?

“No, no, listen to me, ame is over, you still want to pursue the life of a courtesan, then I proive my time and experience to you, completely!”

“I don’t understand,” Marietta said carefully “You wanta courtesan but you also wantmy mind if I don’t like it? How can I do that? Once I have burntMiss Marietta Greentree?”

“No, you cannot But I have an idea You will choose one man upon who how to think and use your senses, and at the same time he will teach you what it is to feel desire and to ain soo away unhappy, whatever the final outcome”