“So which o’ us does this Miss French o’ yours most resemble?” Sweet Pea called from the middle of the line.
Ambrose lifted a brow at Sinjin. His tone cool, he said, “Well, my lord?”
Sinjin’s cheekbones were stained a dull red. He slid a glance at Polly, who gave him an encouraging nod. He’d never hidden who he was before they met, and she wasn’t about to hold his past against him now. With marriage as a possibility between them, she wanted them to be honest with one another—as honest as they could be anyway.
When still he hesitated, she took the bull by the horns. Gesturing toward two curvy brunettes, she said, “From my recollection, I’d say Miss French fits between those two ladies.”
“But not as buxom as you, luvie, eh?” Sweet Pea said with a friendly wink. “Got a fortune ’iding ’neath that nun’s ’abit, I’d wager.”
Blood rushed into Polly’s cheeks. Although the woman’s compliment appeared genuine, its frankness took her aback.
“Kindly refrain from addressing Miss Kent in that manner,” Sinjin said coldly.
“Oo, protective, ain’t you, guv?” the woman cooed. “Not to worry, just making a comparison to get a clearer picture o’ the dove you’re looking for.”
“I’d concur with Miss Kent’s assessment, shifting one position closer to the end,” Sinjin muttered after an instant.
Sweet Pea and Dunn looked at each other.
“Nymphea,” they said.
“Pardon?” Polly said.
“This Nicoletta French o’ yours—could be our Nymphea Flott,” Sweet Pea explained. “Now ’er ’air weren’t dark like you said. It were a sandy brown, but changin’ the color o’ one’s coif, well, that’s as easy as switchin’ out a frock for us trained professionals.” She preened, flipping a lock over her shoulder. “But ’er shape, no changin’ that, and ’er place in the buffet queue was right where the toff says, ’twixt Hyacinth and Orchid.”
“Miss Flott no longer works here, I presume?” Ambrose said.
“Worked ’ere for l’il o’er a year, then moved on ’bout two months ago,” the actress replied. To her colleagues, she said, “Back to work, doves,” and the other players scattered like bright marbles.
Ambrose whipped out his trusty notebook. “What else can you tell us about her?”
“Nymphea wasn’t a friendly sort. Always ’ad airs an’ thought she was better than she ought to be.” Sweet Pea sniffed. “But she ’ad ’er share o’ nightly patrons.”
Polly noticed a flicker in the woman’s aura. A spark of ambivalence, doubt… as if she recalled something but didn’t think it important enough to share?
“Whatever you remember, Miss Sweet Pea, no matter how minor, could prove useful,” Polly coaxed. “Please tell us anything that comes to mind.”
“Now that you mention it, I did see ’er wif a fellow once. A follower, I mean—not a customer.”
“Tell us more about him,” Sinjin said intently.
Twirling a curl around her finger, Sweet Pea said, “Don’t know ’is name or much else. Only saw ’im that once, mind, and I weren’t paying much attention. First rule o’ The Cytherea: don’t poach on another’s territory,” she said virtuously. “But wot wif ’im being as big as a ’ouse, ’e was a ’ard one to miss. Black ’air, night beard afore noon, eyes mean as a snake. And ’is voice was so deep it was more o’ a rumble.”
Polly saw the excitement radiating from Sinjin. Sweet Pea’s description was a spot-on match for the male voice he’d heard that night. This had to be Nicoletta’s accomplice.
“The cove came ’round right afore Nymphea left. ’Eard the pair o’ ’em kicking up a dust in the alley. Dunno wot it was about.” Sweet Pea shrugged. “And that’s all I know ’bout im.”
“You mentioned Nymphea’s patrons earlier,” Ambrose said, his pencil poised. “Could you name them?”
“Ain’t enough pages in your book, luv,” Sweet Pea drawled.
“Could you provide us with a list?” Sinjin said to the playwright.
Dunn nodded. “Would take a bit of time to question the girls and go through the ledgers, but I reckon I could come up with something.”
After further questioning, it became apparent that Sweet Pea and Dunn had disclosed all they knew. Thanking the pair, Polly and the others returned outside where their carriages stood waiting.
“That was productive,” Polly said brightly.
