A Beggar’s Kingdom. Paullina Simons

Chapter 11. Objects of Outrage

       Chapter 12. A Subject of Choice

       Part Two: In the Fields of St. Giles

       Chapter 13. Rappel

       Chapter 14. Gin Lane

       Chapter 15. Cleon the Sewer Hunter

       Chapter 16. Agatha

       Chapter 17. Midsummer Night’s Dream

       Chapter 18. The Ride of Paul Revere

       Chapter 19. Bucket of Blood

       Chapter 20. The Advocate

       Chapter 21. Troilus and Cressida

       Chapter 22. Grosvenor Park

       Chapter 23. Bowl of St. Giles

       Chapter 24. Quatrang

       Chapter 25. Karmadon

       Chapter 26. Best Shakes in London

       Chapter 27. Refugees

       Part Three: Lady of the Camellias

       Chapter 28. Airy’s Transit Circle

       Chapter 29. The Prince of Preachers

       Chapter 30. Sovereign Election

       Chapter 31. The Love Story of George and Ricky

       Chapter 32. Pathétique

       Chapter 33. Five Minutes in China, in Three Volumes

       Chapter 34. The Sublime and Beautiful

       Chapter 35. My Love and I—a Mystery

       Chapter 36. Foolish Mervyn and Crazy-eyed Sly

       Chapter 37. The Valley of Dry Bones

       Chapter 38. Ghost Rider

       Chapter 39. A Mother

       Chapter 40. Two Weddings

       Part Four: Tragame Tierra

       Chapter 41. The Plains of Lethe

       Chapter 42. Masha at the Cherry Lane

       Chapter 43. What Will They Care

       Chapter 44. Termagant

       Chapter 45. Hinewai

       Chapter 46. Hula-Hoop

       Chapter 47. The Igloo

       Chapter 48. Door Number Two

       Chapter 49. Heart of Darkness

       Keep Reading …

       About the Author

       By the Same Author

       About the Publisher

       PROLOGUE

       Real Artifacts from Imaginary Places

      ASHTON STOOD, HIS BLOND HAIR SPIKING OUT OF HIS baseball cap, his arms crossed, his crystal eyes incredulous, listening to Josephine trying to sweet-talk Zakiyyah into going on Peter Pan’s Flight. Julian, Josephine, Ashton, and Z were in Disneyland, the last two under protest.

      “Z, what’s not to love?” Josephine was saying. “You fly over London with Peter Pan aboard a magical pirate ship to Neverland. Come on, let’s go—look, the line’s getting longer.”

      “Is it pretend fly?” asked Zakiyyah.

      “No,” replied Ashton. “It’s real fly. And real London. And a real pirate ship. And definitely real Neverland.”

      Zakiyyah rolled her eyes. She almost gave him the finger. “Is it fast? Is it spinny? Is it dark? I don’t want to be dizzy. I don’t want to be scared is what I’m saying, and I don’t want to be jostled.”

      “Would you like to be someplace else?” Ashton said.

      “No, I just want to have fun.”

      “And Peter Pan’s magical flight over London doesn’t qualify?” Ashton said, and sideways to Julian added, “What kind of fun are we supposed to have with someone like that? I can’t believe Riley agreed to let me come with you three. I’m going to have to take her to Jamaica to make it up to her.”

      “You have a lot of making up to do all around, especially after the crap you pulled at lunch the other week,” Julian said. “So shut up and take it.”

      “Story of my life,” Ashton said.

      “What kind of fun are we supposed to have with someone like that?” Zakiyyah said to Josephine. “His idea of fun is making fun of me.”

      “He’s not making fun of you, Z. He’s teasing you.”

      “That’s not teasing!”

      “Shh, yes, it is. You’re driving everybody nuts,” Josephine said, and then louder to the men, “You’ll have to excuse her, Z is new to this. She’s never been to Disneyland.”

      “What kind of a human being has never been to Disneyland?” Ashton whispered to Julian.

      “That’s not true!” Zakiyyah said. “I went once with my cousins.”

      “Sitting on a bench while the kids go on rides is not going to Disneyland, Z.”

      Zakiyyah tutted. “Is there maybe a slow train ride?”

      “How about It’s a Small World?” Ashton said, addressing Zakiyyah but facing Julian and widening his eyes into saucers. “It’s a slow boat ride.”

      “That might be okay. As long as the boat is not in real water. Is it in real water?”

      “No,” Ashton said. “The boat is in fake water.”

      “Is that what you mean when you say he’s teasing me?” Zakiyyah said to Josephine. “You sure it’s not mocking me?”

      “Positive, Z. It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears. Let’s go on It’s a Small World.”

      After it got dark and the toddlers had left and the crowds died down a bit, the three of them convinced Zakiyyah to go on Space Mountain. She half-agreed but balked when she saw the four-man luge they were supposed to board. Josephine would sit in front of Julian, between his legs, and that meant that Zakiyyah would have to sit in front of Ashton, between his. “Can we try a different seating arrangement?” Z said.

      “Like what?” Ashton kept his voice even.

      “Like maybe the girls together and the boys together.”

      “Jules, honey, what do you think?” Ashton asked, pitching his voice two octaves higher. “Would you like to sit between my legs, pumpkin, or do you want me between yours?”

      “Z, come on,” Josephine said. “Don’t make that face. Ashton’s right. Get in. It’s one ride. You’ll love it. Just …”

      “Instead of you sitting in front of me,” Ashton said to Zakiyyah, as cordial as could be, “would you prefer I sit in front of you?”

      “You want to sit between my open legs?” Zakiyyah’s disbelieving tone was not even close to cordial.

      “Just making suggestions,