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bright orange curls and a pert little nose. Her asides to the men were so saucy and amusing, they laughed rather than growled when she denied them.
    She paid special attention to Nick's wants, not only because she could see he was well-heeled and would give her a nice tip, but because he was the handsomest bloke she'd ever seen in these parts."Another pint, darlin'?" she asked with a wink.
    He smiled. "What's your name, sweetheart?"
    She cocked her head on one side and said prettily, "Nell, sir."
    "What time do you get off, Nell?"
    "Not until two o'clock in the morning, sir."
    He pushed a half-crown toward her across the wet tabletop. "I bet you're worth waiting for."
    "I'm not a whore, but if yer in need milord, the room's full of 'em."
    His eyes gave her an amused look that took in the round high breasts, very prominent and tempting. "If I wanted a whore, I'd buy one. I fancy you, Nell. Will you come? I'm in room number five."
    She dimpled and pocketed the half-crown. "I'll come, but not because I'm a whore, mind! Truth to tell, I fancy you too. It'll make a change to have a gent with a bit o' class."
     
    The candle's glow showed Nell's eyes to be round with wonder as she curled against the strong body in the bed beside her. She whispered, "I never experienced noffink like that in me' 'ole life."
    Nicholas lifted his arms behind his head and smiled into the wench's face as she gazed down at him. "Well, that's most flattering Nell, but aren't you overstating it just a little?"
    "Oh no, Nick. All men want the same thing from you, but you were different. It was like gettin' a present. A rare treat. Will you kiss me again?" she asked, almost shyly.
    He pulled her down and complied.
    She sighed. "Most men don't have time fer the preliminaries. It's on with the main event, then shovin' you out o' bed to sleep on the floor. I liked bein' talked to, as well. I didn't understand everything you said, but that didn't matter. You treated me like I was equal to you-- like another human bein'."
    He chuckled at her words. "All men and women are created equal, but somehow in this country some are more equal than others. I'm sailing to America in a couple of days."
    "Ooh, aren't you afeared of bein' drownded in the sea, or bein' kilt by savages?"
    Nicholas chuckled again. "Don't you think we have savages in England?"
    She considered this for a moment, then came against him wistfully. "Love me some more."
     
    The next day as he paid for his room for one more night, Nell spied him and was beside him in a trice. "You won't leave wivout sayin' goodbye, will you Nick?"
    "Of course not, sweetheart. I'm off to Tattersalls to sell my horse today."
    "Where's that at?"
    "It's in Knightsbridge, over Hyde Park way."
    "Oh Tatts! I know where you mean now. That's where all the toffs buy an' sell horses."
    "I should be back for supper and I'd like you for dessert," he whispered.
    She glowed with pleasure. He actually made her feel as pretty and special as a dessert.
     
    At Tattersalls, Nicholas told them his name and the particulars of the horse he wished to sell. A knowledgeable groom looked over the points of the horse and agreed that the animal was as sound as Nicholas claimed. Then the tattooed number in its ear was checked against Tattersall's registration and Neck was given a ticket and assured the horse would be put in the sale ring this very day.
    Tatts was a fascinating place where a man could never be bored if he had the smallest interest in horseflesh. The people alone who gathered here daily were a true representative cross-section of London Society from bookmakers to lords and dukes, who all considered themselves 'men of the turf'.Urchins dashed about taking orders for food, shouting their Cockney slang so rapidly, you had to have a quick ear and an agile brain to grasp their meaning. Nicholas stopped a boy and handed him a couple of shillings. "Get me a meat pie and a glass of beer."
    The boy touched his cap. "Right ye are Guv, a smack in