Belle [antikvár]

Chapter One London 1910 Tou must be a whore. You live in a brothel!' Fifteen-year-old Belle took a step back from the red-haired, freckled-faced boy and looked at him in consternation. He'd run after her down the street to return her hair ribbon which had fallen off. That in itself was unusual enough around the teeming streets of Seven Dials, where practically everyone would pocket anything not nailed down. But then he'd introduced himself as Jimmy Reilly, the recently arrived nephew of Garth Franklin who owned the Ram's Head. They chatted for a while and Jimmy asked if he could be her friend. Belle was thrilled; she Uked the look of him and she guessed he was close in age to her. But then he had to spoil it by asking if she minded being a whore. 'If I lived in a palace I wouldn't necessarily be a queen,' she retorted angrily. 'It's true enough that I live in Annie's Place, but I'm not a whore. Annie's my mother!' Jimmy looked hard at Belle, his tawny eyes repentant. 'I'm sorry if I got it wrong. My uncle told me Annie's was a brothel, so when I saw you come out of there . . .' He broke off in embarrassment. 'I reaUy didn't mean to hurt your feelings.' BeUe was even more confused then. She didn't think she'd ever met anyone before who cared whether they hurt her feelings. Her mother certainly didn't, or any of the girls in the house. 'It's all right,' she replied somewhat uncertainly. 'You weren't to know, you haven't lived around here long enough. Is your uncle treating you well?' Jimmy shrugged. 'He's a bully,' BeUe stated, guessing that Jimmy had already