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women who painted their faces in these days prostitutes? |
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"Good morning," she said cheerfully to René as she raced into the kitchen. |
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"Ah, so you did rise." A broad smile lit his toad face. "Then I have won the bet with Thorn." |
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Mariah scowled. So Thorn didn't think she would get up, did he? Well, she'd show him how wonderful a servant she could be. |
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It was simply acting a role. She'd watched actors get into character. She could do that, too. |
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René had already gotten the fire roaring. "I have served the porridge already," he said. "Thorn, he is with our guest, who wishes to leave early, once breakfast is over. This was another visitor who has much to saythe easiest kind for me to convince Thorn to keep company." He sighed, then looked embarrassed, as though he had said too much. |
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"I'm sure Thorn can be quite hospitable." Mariah hoped she did not sound sarcastic, but Thorn hadn't struck her as particularly friendly to anyone. |
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Although those kisses of his hadn't exactly been antagonistic, they'd lacked follow-through. |
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René seemed not to consider her comment offensive. "Both of us, we wish to learn what others know about the settlers, the Indians, the traders, the political situationwhatever each visitor can impart." He leaned toward her conspiratorially as she stood beside the hearth. "Do you know, there arehow you call minors that some people in this land wish to gain independence from England?" He looked delighted. |
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"Really? So soon? I assumed this was around 1765." Mariah cringed at René's puzzled frown. |
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"It is 1768, Mariah." He hesitated. "Were you perhaps ill before you came here?" |
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"No . . . just taught the wrong things." Careful, she admonished herself. The last thing she wanted was for anyone here to think her crazy. |
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Nothe last thing might be for them to think of her as a future-predicting witch. Though this was long after the Salem |
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