"Oh, a mutual parting?" I sigh and sip my tea. "Not very dramatic. Tell everyone you left and broke their heart. Femme fatales seem to do well here." I chuckle, enjoying this conversation immensely.

Her response to the problems is as dry as a good wine, and I smirk. "I mean, brawls and rowdiness is one thing, cannibals and riots quite another... but it does makes for the most interesting conversations." I add in a conspiratorial tone.

Parras pauses for a moment when I ask where she lives, then admits to living where she works. Well, she didn't strike me as a working woman. Not a farm, no. Nor nothing too labourous... not a maid at the Whitechapel, or a waitress at the cafe or...

"Oh my heavens!" I exclaim, thinking I just have figured it out. "No wonder I haven't see you about. You... ah... work for Madame Lei, yes?" I ask quietly, but grinning. Fancy that. Nellie never would converse with the prostitute, but she always seemed happy and polite enough. "Miss Lei used to come here quite a bit before... say!" I exclaim, wondering if she knows. "Miss Lei and the lady who runs this place apparently were the best of friends, but had a huge falling out. Do you know if it was over the doctor leaving Miss Wanda for Miss Lei?"

Nellie will just die if I get to find out before her!