"I think you would look smashing in this white and blue taffeta gown, dear." Veronica pointed to the gown on the sewing manakin.
"Oh, Mother, it's beautiful!" Amanda fell in love with it the moment she laid eyes on it. "But what will I go as?" Amanda asked as she absent mindedly ran the taffeta through her fingers.
"Well, costume balls give you the chance to be something you normally wouldn't be. So, choose something that you would like to be, but never have a chance to be."
"I know-a angel." Connie stepped out of the dressing room. Her comment received a glare from Amanda, but it was kind hearted with the smile in her eyes, and a laugh from Veronica. The laughing and glaring only lasted for a moment because both were taken by the beauty of the gown and how it looked with Connie's red hair and deep green eyes that were almost too deep to be called emerald. The gown was an emerald green that almost matched her eyes. The neckline was low cut, which was still the fashion, but it was modest compared to the last formal gown Connie had worn at her coming out ball. The neckline, scooped back, long sleeves and bottom of the gown were trimmed in pearls, faux, but still elegant.
"Oh, Aunt Connie, the dress is beautiful," Amanda exclaimed as she watched the silk dress shimmer with an almost iridescent blue hue to it. "In something that beautiful, I have to know what you're going to the ball as."
Connie got a wicked grin on her face. One that showed irony. "Something that no one would ever guess-a queen." Connie said this as she picked up a tiara and placed it on her head. Veronica nodded her approval. "All I need is a mask and I'm set."
Amanda turned back to the gown, but jokingly stated, "You would be better off going as an angel." The look Connie shot her dear niece playfully said 'watch it, Puss'. Amanda laughed as she stared at the gown she had been discussing earlier with Veronica.
Jack poured over the paperwork left from the day before. Crutchy had been busy. He was really beginning to feel bad for abandoning him to spend the day with Amanda. Amanda. The thought of her sent Jack's mind into a whirlwind of thoughts. The same whirl wind it had been in for the past day. The mere thought of her made him feel all the bit of confusion and heartache he had been hoping to forget with working really hard. He was obviously having no luck. He felt as if he was caught in the middle of a civil war with himself. Half of him was telling him to forget her and move on. He could always find someone else, or if worse came to worse, he could always take Mandy back. He knew he wouldn't hear any objections from her about that. Then the other half-the stronger half-was saying marry her. He could love that baby like it was his own. He would be able to take care of Amanda and the baby. And he loved Amanda enough to do that, right? Of course he did, or he wouldn't be agonizing over it so much. Plus, if he married her, that baby would have everything he never did, and if he didn't marry her, the baby might end up just like him. Not that he had a bad life now, but up until then had been hard. He didn't think any child deserved to go through that, not even a Delancy.
Jack ran his fingers through his hair and laid his head in his hands. What was he going to do? It had taken Sarah to convince him to say something to Amanda about how he felt. He wasn't going to take another trip upstate to ask his ex-girlfriend what he should do in his love life. He was a grown man. He could make his own decisions. Jack began listening to his dueling voices again when the bell over the door rang. A customer. Great! Now he would be able to do something that would force him to concentrate on something other than Amanda St. James.
Jack walked out of the back room and suddenly wished he had been left to his own private civil war. 'Great, ya think about someone an' dey show up,' he thought to himself as he watched Mandy sashay through the door. 'If dat were true, den why hadn't Amanda walked t'rough dat door? Huh?' his other voice questioned. He almost felt like yelling for them to both shut up. "What can I help ya wit, Mandy?" Jack was really trying for his tone to not sound cold, but he couldn't help it.
"I have something to ask you and I hope the answer is what I want to hear."
Jack crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. "Dat all depends on the question."
Mandy cleared her throat. She almost acted as if she was nervous. Was she? "Jack, I was wondering if you. . .I mean. . .my father and I are hosting a costume ball, and I was wondering if you would come. Will you?"
Jack's expression never changed. He kept the same indifferent look on his face, but his eyes were cold. "Why should I, Mandy? Huh? We ain't tagether anymore, so why?"
"Um. . .because you mean a lot to me, and I'm the hostess, so I would like you there. Please say you'll come. You mean a lot to me Jack. You always have." Mandy walked closer to Jack. By the end of the statement she was running a finger down Jack's chest.
Jack didn't say anything to her for several moments. He was trying to find a way to word what he was thinking without it sounding like what he was really thinking. He opened his mouth three times, but each time he closed it because he still couldn't find a way to reword it. He finally decided to say exactly what he was thinking because there was no way to reword it. "I've always meant a lot to you, huh? Is dat because seein' me pissed off you pop? Or because I was da on'y thing dis side of the Hamptons dat hadn't had a taste of you?"
Mandy backed off slowly, hurt filling her eyes. Sure Jack had said terrible things before when they had fought, but that was the first time it had actually stung. She was wondering if it was because every word of it had been true, but that had been in the beginning. Now she truly loved him. Didn't she? For a brief moment she was actually doubting her feelings for Jack. "That hurt, Jacky."
Jack actually cringed. Her calling him Jacky really rubbed him the wrong way. Nothing like when Amanda called him that. Oh God, his mind was swimming again. Jack jumped back to Mandy when she said something else. "I really wanted you to come, but since I know how you really feel. . . ." She broke off as her voice became strained.
Jack never could stay mad a woman when she began to cry. He was quickly swimming in guilt. He took a step closer to Mandy. "God, Mandy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say dat. I've had a rough night."
Mandy looked up at him. Jack had just noticed that she was close to the same height as Amanda. Same eyes. Same height. Why hadn't he noticed it before? Maybe he's just making connections because of the last twenty-four hours. That was it. His mind began swimming even more. What was he going to do? He was torn from his thoughts again when Mandy spoke. "Then what you need to relieve that stress is a good party. Be at my house by seven tomorrow night."
Jack nodded. "I'll be dere."
Mandy smiled and turned to leave. She stopped at the door to the store. "Oh, and Jack, Amanda's mother, Veronica St. James the Duchess of Wentwroth, is on the guest list. She informed me this morning that she would be bringing two guests. One in her husband's place and the other is a family friend. Maybe that friend is your beloved Amanda. Keep an eye out for her. I hear she'll be wearing an angel costume." Jack didn't know how to respond. Mandy could tell she had shocked him and she smiled even broader. "I'll see you tomorrow night, Jack." All Jack could do was watch her leave.
Connie stepped out of her room and slowly walked down the hallway. She was beginning to doubt if she really wanted to go to the costume ball. She felt so confined in the corset-that wasn't different for her-and the dress with the tight bodice. She really preferred her lose skirts and blouses. She entered the main room to the apartment and held out her arms as if her wearing something that formal and elegant was a miracle, and in actuality it was. The dresses were one thing she hated about being nobility, but it wasn't the only thing. She had a feeling that even though the ball may be fun, she was about to remember why she had left in the first place, both times.
Skittery's jaw dropped when he saw Connie standing in front of him. "Wow! Ya look beautiful." He walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.
Devon tugged at his aunt's skirt, who was dressed as a peacock. Her gown was a beautiful royal blue with green slips of cloth between the fold of the skirt. "Aunt Ronica, mama looks like a queen."
Veronica scooped her adorable nephew up. "That's because she is."
"Mama's a queen." Devon said again.
"Only for tonight, honey. Tomorrow I'll just be plain, boring mama." Connie said as she kissed her son on the forehead.
"So, why didn't ya stay a duchess so ya could look like dat always?" Skittery playfully asked. He knew the question would get him a smart alec response, but that was what he was aiming for.
"I left to marry you, but now I'm beginning wonder if that's was the capitol idea I thought it was at the time." She turned to Veronica. "If I divorce him, can I get my title back?"
"Of course, but then you'd have to pay to support him."
Connie smiled. "I love him, but not that much." For that remark she received a playful jab as Skittery wrapped his arms around her waist. She turned and looked at him. "So, I guess I'll keep him." She smiled as he kissed her forehead. "Besides, without me, he'd me lost." She got another playful jab just before Amanda joined them.
All joking stopped as she walked up behind Connie and Skittery. They all turned to look at her. She was absolutely stunning in her angel costume. The gown was a white satin with a pale blue taffeta that covered the entire dress. It wasn't fancy, but it was elegant and fit the costume perfectly. She had half of her hair down and the other half was braided and wrapped around her head to form a fiery red halo. Her wings were extra taffeta that Veronica had bought when they purchased the dress. They laid flat on her back, but extended a good six inches past her arms. She looked every bit the angel.
"How does it look?"
"You look absolutely smashing, Puss." Connie said with a broad grin. "I found a pale blue mask for you to wear." Connie handed her the mask and the costume was complete.
"Well, we better get going if we're to be on time," Veronica said as she put Devon down.
Connie gave both Devon and Skittery a good night kiss. She knew they wouldn't be in till late that night. Skittery caught Amanda as she went to leave. He kissed her forehead. "Go an' have a good time. Try not ta worry about Jack. He ain't worth it if he let ya go."
Amanda smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Skitts." She laughed as he winked at her. She quickly followed her aunt and mother out the door.
Jack looked at his hands and sighed. Why was he so nervous? It was just a party. Yeah, but this time the person he loved was there and he had to find her and make everything right. Plus he looked stupid in his knight in shining armor costume. Why had he let Spot's wife talk him into wearing this? He was none to pleased with her at that moment. He would feel much more comfortable in a cowboy costume. Why didn't he go as that? He took a deep breath and joined a group of guests as they walked into the house.
The house was huge. The foyer was almost the size of his entire apartment, not quite, but it was very close. He followed the others into the ball room. It was on the back of the house, and large enough to house the two hundred some odd guests. The size of the party didn't bother him. All he was there to do was find an angel-his angel. Jack looked up and noticed that a good portion of the women in attendance were wearing angel costumes. He sighed, defeated, till he noticed that only a few of them had red hair. This was going to be easy. Two of the girls were too tall to be Amanda. One was too plump to be her. That only left five for him to talk to. He would weed them out quickly. He approached the first one slowly. He took a deep breath. Here goes nothing or everything, he thought.
"Hi. How are ya dis evenin'?" The girl looked at him with disgust in her eyes. Was it because it was Amanda and she was rightfully angry? Or because it wasn't and his lower society accent disgusted her.
"I'm fine." The girl looked around the room. "If you would excuse me?" She left without another word. It hadn't been Amanda. Jack moved on to the next girl.
Mandy stood by the french doors that led out to the small garden. She was watching Jack as he questioned girl after girl to see if any of them was Amanda. She knew it was only time before he got to her. She was not far from being questioned. Her eyes sparked as she darted them to Amanda all the way across the ballroom. Jack wouldn't get to her till it was too late. An evil grin crossed her face. Everything was coming together nicely. She just hoped those idots, Oscar and Morris, didn't screw things up.
Amanda took a sip of her champaign. The party was in full swing and she was having a great time. This was her first ball, and she was enjoying herself immensely. She had danced three dances, but decided to sit out for a while. Her last partner had danced more on her feet than he had on the floor. Her toes throbbed at the memory. She began to scan the ballroom. She didn't know who she was looking for. Everyone she knew was in the circle of people she was talking to, her mother and Connie. She caught herself looking at every man with dark brown hair that was tall. She realized she was looking for Jack. She shook her head. She was only hoping. There would be no way Jack Kelly would be caught dead at a ball. A party at Irving Hall is one thing, but a ball was something completely different. She forced herself to focus on the extremely dull conversation the girls that had joined them a few minutes ago were having. She now knew why Connie hated these things so much. The conversation was mind numbingly shallow and boring. She sneaks a peak at Connie, and she barely holds in the laugh as it is obvious that Connie is ready to gouge her eyes out from boredom.
"Did you see what Mandy is wearing?" One of the girls points across the ballroom to a young woman wearing an angel costume.
"That's a stretch by a long shot. She's no where near being an angel. Besides, did you hear she was being courted by a store owner from the Lower East Side?"
The first girl that spoke snorted. "She was only doing it to make her father mad. I heard he was once one of those dreaded newsboys that always bother us to buy a paper from them."
That last comment had gotten both Connie and Amanda's full attention. "Dreaded newsboy?" Connie asked with a cool tone, but her eyes were on fire.
"Yes. They are so filthy and disgusting. Haven't you noticed them?"
"Yes I have, and I will bloody well let you know that I was one of those dreaded newsies, and I happened to have married one as well, so. . . ." Connie didn't get to finish her tirade because one of the girls who had remained quiet now suddenly became very articulate.
"Sorry to interrupt, but look at the guy talking to Mandy, the knight. He's positively handsome." Connie didn't turn around. She started back on her tirade.
"Those dreaded newsboys, as you put it, are some of the best people I've ever met. You have no right to judge them when you don't know them. They work harder than anyone in your family ever did. They barely make a dollar a day. They know the value of money."
Amanda had blocked everything out. She was focusing on the knight. He seemed so familiar. It was almost as if she knew him from the way his name felt when she said it to the gentle sent of his cologne and the way she can smell it for several moments after he walks away. Amanda tapped her aunt on the arm.
"What, Puss?"
"Is that-Jack?" Connie looked where Amanda pointed.
"It sure is. What is he doing here? And what is he talking to. . . ." Connie once again didn't get to finish her statement because Amanda was half way across the floor.
Jack walked away from the third angel. He noticed one standing by the french doors. He walked over and smiled at her. "Havin' a good time?"
"I am. And you, Jack?" Her soft English accent came across his ears like music. He smiled even broader.
"Manda, I jus' wanna say dat I'm sorry for everythin' I said. I was shocked and hurt an' confused. I didn't mean it. I wanna be 'ere for ya. No mattah what." As soon as he finished spilling his feelings, yet again, his angel lifted his mask and stood on her tip toes to kiss him. Jack wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close as he kissed her back. He was so glad that she had forgiven him, but something didn't feel right. He had expected more of a fight. He didn't question it any longer than that because he was just happy he had some how made everything right again.
Amanda stopped five feet from the couple. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Jack was kissing that other woman. Why was he doing that? She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She tried to blink them back, but couldn't. One fell. She watched as they broke the kiss. Still in shock. She slowly recovered and quickly became angry. To think she had let herself fall for him and fast. She started to walk over to him, but stopped when he took off the mask. Shock quickly rushed over her. It had hurt to see him kiss someone else, but as soon as she knew it was her, the pain was worse.
"Mandy?" Jack was confused and furious that she had tricked him. "What are. . .I mean. . .how dare ya. . . ." He was so livid that he couldn't finish a single thought that was popping into his mind. He stood there for a long second before he could complete a thought. "Ya said that Amanda was goin' ta be 'ere. She was nevah gonna be here was she?"
"Yes I was." Jack turned to see Amanda standing behind him. At any other moment he would have been taken by her beauty in the gown, but at that moment he found that he was actually afraid of what she might do or say. "I was so happy to see you, but now. . . ." She was so hurt and close to losing her control on her tears that she couldn't finish that thought. "To think that I actually. . .and then you kiss. . .UGH!" Jack didn't know what hit him till he realized that it was Amanda's hand connecting soundly with his cheek. "I hope you enjoy your choice, Jacky. Goodbye." She stormed out of the french doors.
Jack looked from Mandy to Amanda's retreating figure. How had he been so stupid to believe that Mandy was Amanda? He was quickly realizing that Mandy looked a lot like Amanda. They almost looked like they could be family. They were the same height, had the same eyes, same hair color. The face was even shaped the same. And with them both being dressed in angel costumes it could have happened to anybody, but Mandy had spoken with an English accent. She meant for everything that had just happened to happen. Jack started to take off after Amanda when he felt a hand stop him.
"I'd say you've done enough damage, Romeo." Jack looked into the fuming eyes of Connie. She still hadn't calmed down from the girls talking about her husband, well not Skittery in particular, but newsies, and that was too personal of a barb for her to ignore. Now she had to deal with her niece's broken heart too. After she knew Amanda was okay, she was going to take care of Jack, and she gave him a look that told him that too.
Connie took off after Amanda. She found her leaning against the back fence of the garden. She was sobbing and didn't show signs of stopping anytime soon. Connie gently touched Amanda's shoulder and was shocked when Amanda didn't turn around, but punched the gate to the fence. She winced in pain, but spoke anyway. "Why'd he kiss her, Aunt Connie? Why? I thought he loved me. I guess I was wrong."
Connie smoothed back the hair that had fallen out of Amanda's halo. "I don't know, Puss. He may have thought that was you. You and Mandy do look a like in certain ways."
"I doubt that was the case. He said he hoped I got a long all right when it came time. I'm sure he went straight back to her." Amanda stifled a scream. "How could I be so naive?"
"I don't know. Let's go for a walk, all right?" Amanda nodded and slipped her arm inside her aunt's. Connie opened the gate and they walked into the dark, but surprisingly clean alley behind the gardens.
"Is dat 'er, Morris?" Oscar whispered from behind a crate in the alley.
"I think so. But I ain't able ta tell which one's da goyl. Da boss said she'd be wearin' a blue dress."
"Yeah, but dey both look black in dis light." Oscar pointed at the air. They were silent for a long beat. "I say dat we take 'em both. Den we can ask for twice da ransom." Morris nodded and they left their hiding spot.
"All I'm saying is that maybe Jack had his reasons. Don't jump to conclusions, Puss."
"But, Aunt Connie, you saw him kiss her just like the rest of the guests did." Amanda had now stopped crying, but she was still choked and was having problems talking at times.
"You're right, but I know Jack and. . . ." Connie stopped when she heard a noise. "I think I heard something." They both turned around in time to see two assailants knock them out. Connie looked up at one that looked vaguely familiar before all went black.
"Ow." Amanda grabbed her head as she slowly came to. Her head was pounding. She slowly looked around, but even the simplest movement of her eyes made her head pound even worse. She noticed in the dim light of the room, since the only light was coming from a window just above her head, that the room was a shabby one at best. The paint was peeling. She could hear, but couldn't see, something crawling on the floor or the wall near her. She felt like screaming, but held it in since she didn't know where she was or who had taken her there. The last thing she remembered was that she was walking down the alley behind the Rutledge's brown stone. Everything leading up to that came flooding back and she was ready to severely hurt Jack, but in the same instance she wanted to cry. Just as fast as seeing Jack kissing Mandy popped into her mind, so did Connie. Aunt Connie? Where was she? Was she okay? Despite the pain Amanda started looking frantically around the small room. She finally saw her aunt sitting up on the bed across from hers.
"Aunt Connie?"
"Glad to see you're up, Puss. You had me worried for a minute. You've been out for a real long time now. They must have hit you harder than they hit me." Amanda nodded, but stopped after the first head bob. Her head started pounding even worse. The pounding actually made her feel sick to her stomach. Sure she had had headache's before and bad one's at that, most due to Andrew's constant nagging, but never one that nearly made her physically sick.
"Are you all right, Aunt Connie?"
"Yeah. I've just got a killer headache. What about you?"
Amanda started to shake her head, but the wave of nausea that hit her stopped her dead in her tracks. "Actually, I'm not feeling so well." Just as Amanda finished the sentence she leaned over the side of the small twin bed and vomited. She laid her head against the rough wood of the bed frame. It didn't help her head any, but she was afraid to move. The moment Amanda had gotten sick, Connie was off of her bed and kneeling beside Amanda.
"I think you've got a concussion. We need to get the blackguards that have decided to kidnap us in here. You need medical attention," Connie said the last part more to herself than she did to Amanda. She needed to keep calm. If not for herself, but at least for Amanda's sake. The poor girl had been through so much the last few days the last thing she needed to do was panic. Connie slowly helped Amanda lay back on the bed. The mattress was thin and very lumpy. Amanda laid flat on her back and groaned as her head throbbed even more.
She had been quiet for several minutes, but finally she spoke. "You know, this is all Jack's bloody fault. If he hadn't kissed that trollop Mandy, then I wouldn't have left and we wouldn't be here." She suddenly fell silent again. Connie tried to read Amanda's face, but she couldn't in the dark room.
"Are you all right?"
"No. I was just thinking. This is all my fault. Bugger me!" She then looked at the shocked expression on Connie's face. "Sorry." Amanda blushed, but Connie didn't see. "We wouldn't be here if I hadn't fallen for Jack the moment he kissed me that night. AUGHHH!" She groaned in frustration. "I thought life would be easier if I came here. I should have stayed in England and married one of the boring gentlemen Father deemed good enough." Before Connie could reassure her that none of this was her fault, Amanda grabbed her head and rolled toward the wall. "Hell's bells this hurts!"
Connie slowly stood. She walked over to the door and began pounding. "Hello? Hello? Whoever you are, are you out there? We need help in here. My niece is sick. She needs help."
Connie waited a few minutes before she heard anything from the other side of the door. "Be quiet. She'll get help soon as our boss lady comes. Got it?" the voice from the other side barked. Connie leaned closer to the door. Why did that voice sound familiar? She knew it from somewhere. She didn't have to wait long for her answer.
"Oscar? Are ya talkin' ta da broads?" The new voice sounded even more familiar. Oscar? Where did she know that name? Blast this infernal headache. She couldn't think clearly. She needed to know where she knew these voices and that name.
"One of 'em said da odda was sick, Morris. I told 'er dat she'd get what she needed when da boss lady got 'ere ta look in on 'em." Morris. Oscar. God, Connie wished she could think clearly. Oscar? Morris? Come on Connie. Put a last name with that. She scolded herself. Almost as if the answer had been staring her in face, realization hit her. Delancy! They had been kidnaped by the Delancy bothers! This was just famous. They hadn't been out of prison for two months and they were already causing trouble, but what did they want with her and Amanda? Connie's mind was reeling as she tried to put a hold on the situation and thinking wasn't helping her headache much. Lord, was Skittery and Jack going to be fit to be tied when they found out. Connie turned her attention from the door when she heard Amanda groan and get sick again. She needed to find out how to get out of there and fast. The last thing she needed was Amanda falling asleep again. If she didn't wake up. . . . That was the last thing she needed to think about at the moment. Connie moved from the door to sit by her niece.
"How are you feeling, Puss?" Amanda looked up at Connie and groaned. "I know. We have to keep you talking. You can't fall asleep."
"But I want to, Aunt Connie. Sleep would help my head so much." Amanda said as she laid back against the lumpy mattress. She was already closing her eyes.
Connie gently slapped her face. "Don't fall asleep. If you fall asleep, you might not wake up. You have to stay awake, Amanda. Talk to me. Tell me about what your coming out gown was going to look like." Amanda sighed as she started to tell Connie about her ball gown, albeit sleepily. Connie had to keep her talking. If that meant staying up the rest of the night till this boss lady got there. She had no choice.
Veronica stood near the french doors that lead to the small garden and waited for Connie and Amanda to return. After waiting for an hour and no sign of them returning, she went to find them. She stepped outside of the brownstone mansion and flagged down a carriage. Hopefully they went back to the apartment, but that wasn't like either not to come back and get her if they were ready to leave. Veronica began to get a worried, sick feeling in her stomach. It felt as if someone had planted a rock of fear in her stomach. God, don't have let anything have happened to them. Her mother's intuition began to kick in. She automatically started praying that her instincts weren't right this time.
She knocked on the door to the apartment. It was late and she was sure she was waking Skittery up, but she couldn't help it. She didn't have a key. She only waited a few moments before Skittery opened the door. He was wearing a pair of paints that he had hastily threw on, they weren't even buttoned, and his long johns top. He looked at Veronica through a mass of dark curls. It took him a moment to recognize her, seeing as how he had been awakened from a very deep sleep. He moved aside and let her in.
She was barely inside before she started asking questions, or more accurately, demanding answers. "Tell me that Connie and Amanda have already come back and that they are sound asleep." Skittery looked at her as if she had gone completely mad. Why would they be in bed asleep when they were at the party with her? The entire time Veronica was rambling Skittery was paying her little attention as he tried to figure out what she was babbling about. "Was Amanda real upset when she got back here?" Finally he had had enough of her babbling and just had to ask what she was talking about.
"Veronica, what on earth are ya babblin' 'bout? Connie and Amanda are still with you at the party. No one's come home." Veronica turned deathly white.
"What do you mean that they haven't come home?" Veronica was pacing the floor trying to think.
"I mean dat they ain't come home yet." Skittery was beginning to get grouchy. It was well after midnight and he really wanted to make since out of what was going on, so he could get back to sleep.
Veronica stopped pacing when a realization struck her. "Maybe they came back and you were so asleep that you didn't hear them and. . . ."
"I would know if my wife was in me bed." Skittery nearly snapped.
Veronica didn't even stop for his grouchy interruption. ". . . .and because of what happened Amanda was too upset to stay in New York, so Connie helped her get her things together, and she's now waiting for me at the hotel." Veronica looked up at Skittery and smiled, but the smile was none too reassuring. "Oh, God, please let that be it," she said more to herself than to him.
Skittery was getting more and more lost by the second. What was she babbling about? This was the first time he had ever seen Veronica like this. Usually she was the prim and proper Duchess of Wentwroth and even her husband's silly bouts of madness never made her act like this. She had said that Amanda would be too upset to stay in New York after what happened. What had happened? God help him if Jack did anything. Skittery put his hands on Veronica's shoulders to calm her down. He looked into her eyes which were the exact mirror of Amanda's eyes. She looked like a wild animal trapped by a hunter. Her eyes sparked with fear and worry.
"Veronica, ya hafta calm down. Now what 'appened ta cause Amanda ta want ta go back to England?"
"Jack was at the costume ball and he kissed someone else. Amanda saw the whole thing and she stormed off. Connie followed her, and they took a walk to talk about it, I guess. That was almost two hours ago, and they didn't come back. I'm worried about them." Her voice was calm, but her worries were evident on her face.
Skittery nodded. "I'm sure they're fine. Connie knows how to take care of herself and Amanda. Go check at the hotel and I'll check around the neighborhood." Veronica nodded, but he could tell that she wasn't too sure about his plan. "Everything's gonna be jus' fine. I promise. We'll find 'em. Now go." Veronica nodded and quickly left the apartment. Skittery set about putting on his boots as soon as the door locked. He wouldn't show it, but he was really worried something was wrong. It wasn't like Connie to leave someone and not let them know she was leaving. Something must have happened, but he wasn't going to let Veronica know his fears. He had to keep her calm, so she would have her wits about her when she needed them. Plus, right now he was so angry with Jack that he wasn't sure he could even talk without losing it. He had barely given Veronica instructions without his temper flaring. He closed his eyes and did something he hadn't done in years. He said a quick prayer that everything was going to be all right. He tied his last boot and left the apartment.