Such a deal sounded too good to be true. Would it be Buquet all over again? Yet what other choice did she have? She did not know yet that Joseph was no longer a threat to her or anyone else.

Securing that she would never be on the streets again....that offer was too important to refuse, even if she wanted to. "...I swear," she says softly, holding the cool damp gauze to her bruised cheek. How it burned and stung where she had been slapped. A wince that she couldn't quite hide.

But how would he keep her from such a fate? It was possible she had already lost her position after tonight if it was discovered what had happened.