Like a pair of nervous newlyweds, they separately prepared for the evening, or at least, the hour of bliss.

Eden Folwell Like a pair of nervous newlyweds, they separately prepared for the evening, or at least, the hour of bliss. The Princess sent The Ape out for things to burn: oils, candles, anything to mask the stench. She used most of a bottle of perfume, liberally dousing her sheets. She dumped the remainder on a posy which was readied at the head of the bed. She considered stuffing cotton up her nose then thought better of it. A good dose of laudanum at the appointed hour would, hopefully, do the trick; dull her senses so that she might very well remember little of the encounter. She could only hope. The best part of it was that she’d only have one customer this night. She’d treat herself to the rest of the evening off. She’d bathe as soon as the prospector was gone. ALLINGHAM