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Sebastian had spent a wasted afternoon watching one of Mrs Slater’s other houses After another conversation with Dipper, he’d made his way to Hackney Dipper believed Mrs Slater lived here, in a sober-looking house with curtained s, although she was rarely seen Her neighbors knew her as Mrs Brown

If she was here, Sebastian didn’t see her Sheher By the spy who had given him away in the first place He had yet to discover the identity of that person, but he had his suspicions That was the reason he’d set Pretty Polly on the trail

Dipper was as proud as punch “Yer’ll see, guv’ner, she’ll find yer snitch for yer”

Sebastian was just preparing to go out again, to see how Pretty Polly was , and then to hunt up another acquaintance ed him a favor, when there was a knock on the door

Sebastian frowned

Martin, his nment, and Sebastian kept only one servant He rented these rooe and comfortable, but ave out his address because he didn’t like visitors He didn’t trust h to tell them where he lived

The knock caorously, as if whoever was out there was determined to be let in He put his eye to the hole he’d had drilled through the wood for the purpose of inspecting his callers It gave him a clear view of his visitor

Sebastian’s mouth twitched upward

Miss Francesca Greentree, looking extremely attractive in a dress the color of a tropical sea, with her dark hair swept up under a fetching straw bonnet If he wasn’t very greatly mistaken, she had been touched by the hand of a London modiste Had she come to dazzle him with her new finery?

Well, he was dazzled

He opened the door

Her bright eyes widened Those beautiful lips parted in a half s him, or herself, or both of them “Mr Thorne,” she said in her melodious voice “I find I need your help after all”

He bowed and stepped back to allowed her entry Lil, hera chaperone After the kiss in the hackney cab, Sebastian didn’t trust hie

“Co you”

She was exa room was furnished with some of his favorite pieces, and she paused a randmother