“At the theater?” Rose’s eyes widened with astonishment. Right bit of work? Sylvie wondered what on earth the dances entailed.

It’s a right bit o’ work, but it’s good pay, and Mr. We’ve rehearsal every day for as long as The General says. Shaughnessy likes to jumble it up a bit, an ’e seems t’ave a new idea every week. One show a night, every night save Sunday, three acts at least, six or eight songs, usually. “ ’E is, an ’e invents the shows, like, but even ’e answers to Mr. “And The General-he is.” Sylvie paused to think of the word. Tom Shaughnessy routinely shot and allowed other people to shoot at him? Over other men’s wives? They shoot at each other, but everyone seems to miss.” Sylvie wondered whether Rose experienced any emotion rather strongly, and given the tempests of her own various passions, felt a slight twinge of envy, wondering what it might be like to drift comfortably through life’s dramas. She remembered the glint of the pistol in Tom Shaughnessy’s sleeve as they stood in the clearing among those highwaymen. She wondered if duels were any more legal in London than they were in Paris, and doubted it. Shoots the ’eart right out o’ the target each time.” It’s because ’es such a verra good shot.” An’ ’us-bands are forever callin’ ’im out, our Mr. Shaughnessy,” Rose hurried to assure Sylvie, as if the fact that he didn’t touch his dancers would call his manhood into question. “But ladies, they do come to look for Mr. As she was something of the sort herself. But she willna speak to the likes of ye.”Īh, a diva. “She’s ’er own room to dress in and entertain guests and the like. “Daisy,” Rose said laconically, as if this clarified anything. Perhaps this was another honorary title, like The General. “‘Her Majesty?’ ” She had been under the impression that the English were ruled by a king. once a week or so he goes to Kent, I ’eard ’im say t’The General once.

Shaughnessy.ever since Kitty left, ye see. Shaughnessy’s appeal was universal and could be understood and appreciated by any female. And so cheerfully and matter-of-factly said, as if Mr. Sylvie tactfully ignored the question, which seemed to be rhetorical anyway.

Ways to Be Wicked by Julie Anne Long