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“No, I understand that now”

“Trent?” The clopping sound drew closer

With no time to lose, Lawrence captured Miss Vale’s hand and drew her back into the yard Mere seconds later, they ca his toga

“Where the hell have you been?” Cavanagh eyed them with a mix of relief and suspicion “I ventured all the way to St Clement’s and back, and you’ve barely covered ten yards”

“We hid fro in Miss Vale’s voice

“Footpads who turned out to be one drunken devil who could barely stand” Lawrence decided to divert Cavanagh’s attention away from Miss Vale’s bruised lips and unkempt hair and concentrate on his friend’s reatcoat Would he not part with his boots?”

“Sleeth’s boots are too big The s for feet” A sh’s mouth when he noticed Miss Vale’s upturned he “I followed Layton to a house in Clement’s Lane Wincote appeared and entered a fewwatchman while I came in search of you”

“If they’re visiting the sa her skirts “Why did they not simply have the hackney drop them at the front door?”

“Perhaps they wanted to leave a false trail Perhaps they wished to be secretive about the address” A dreadful sense of foreboding rippled across Lawrence’s shoulders “Perhaps it’s a ploy, avictim”

Chapter Twelve

The walk to St Clehts of Mr Trent left Verity’s mind the usting scent of filth and rotten meat permeated the air, clawed at the back of her throat It was so foul she covered her nose and

Mr Trent cast her a sidelong glance when she gripped his arm more firhterhouses and burial grounds Here, the living reside a corpses Rats spread disease”

A sense of dread tightened her nerves

This area was so far rereen fields of Shepperton, froant townhouse in Mayfair The houses were packed as tightly as the poor souls buried in a pauper’s grave A sinister er The hour had long past roan of dissatisfaction echoed frorimy street corner

Verity lowered her hand “What business would ahave here?” Was it naive of her to think that the aristocracy kept to their own part of town?