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“No, youfirst You ain”

“That is an easy promise”

“Good You mustn’t wander the streets There is sickness, did you not knohen Francesca appeared surprised “It’s the cholera No one kno it comes and where it comes from, but it does not discriminate between the wealthy and the poor It has no pity At the moment it is very bad”

“I didn’t realize” Cholera She knew of it, and the swift death it brought Unlike some of the other sicknesses to be found in London, it was not so confined to the slums Cholera, as Aphrodite said, was no respecter of class or station in life

Aphrodite sipped her coffee “You entleman who helped you?”

“Yes, Mr Thorne”

“Mr Thorne?” Her dark brows lifted “Mr Sebastian Thorne?”

“Do you know hi jealousy wrapped around Francesca as an ie of Sebastian in the arms of one of Aphrodite’s beautiful courtesans filled her mind

“He is an investigator, no? I have heard that he is good at his work And dangerous to those he pursues”

“Oh”

Aphrodite’s s “You like him, oui? He is very handsome”

Francesca turned her face away, pretending indifference “I hadn’t noticed,” she announced aardly

Aphrodite considered her a ust “Psht! You can lie to yourself, but do not lie to er—“no hter, however you would wish it otherwise Drink your coffee”

Francesca did consider arguing, but Aphrodite had become so formidable that she didn’t quite dare She drank her coffee

The conversation turned to Yorkshire, and the weather Banal subjects to be discussing with a courtesan It was only as Francesca was leaving that Aphrodite clasped her hand and said, “You must come back to visit your Rosie I will expect it”