She had slept through the ride back to the Pony, and had slept for a long time after she had gotten home. Money had been given to the Madame and questions asked, "Well, he was our best customer but I cant have him drugging my girls. I need to find out if this is an isolated incident or not. If not, I have no choice but to get the authorities involved." And then several days went by while she dealt with a horrible headache from the opium. After that, the day had come for her rescuer, Darius, who she actually remembered despite her poor memory, was to come paint a picture of her. In fact, if the madame happened to like the portrait, she was going to buy it.

Sonia waited in her room wearing a silk wrapper about her, her thick hair piled onto her head with damp little curls at her neck. She didn't bother to dress because Darius was to paint her nude...

When he arrived, he would be guided up to her suite and inside and be greeted by velvet covered settees and such, which ought to please him, along with tea and cakes if he wanted. She had the best room of the courtesans since she was the darling for the moment, and lots of light spilled in through diamond panes, casting her in golden light.