Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me

Chapter 8

Ned tells the group the news about Gladys. Veronica runs into an old acquaintance.

Marguerite awoke, feeling as if she were going to suffocate. Once she removed Roxton's arm from around the back of her head, and pushed him gently away, only then was she able to breath properly.

She smiled down at him, thinking about his previous night's 'marriage proposal' of sorts. Lord John Roxton would be just John Roxton...and her husband. Greta's father.

The night was not what Marguerite had hoped for. She suspected Roxton felt the same way. But there would be no 'hanky-panky' with a baby a few feet away. For a moment though, she wondered if Greta would've even noticed. Probably not. Still, it would've been in poor taste. There would be time for romance later.

A noise from the hallway interrupted her thoughts. She stood up and put on a white, silk robe. She peeked into Greta's crib and saw she was asleep. The noise probably came from one of the servants, which caused her thoughts to stray to the trouble they were in. Once the police scared someone who worked here, good and proper, they would all either have to run, or accept defeat. Marguerite, for one, had never liked the accommodations in jail.

She left Greta and walked over to the door, opening it slowly and peering out. Jessi Challenger was now at the staircase. Marguerite stepped out of the room quickly and shouted to her in a loud whisper.

'Jessi?'

Jessi turned and waited, her hands folded. Marguerite walked quickly over to her.

'How are you this morning?' Marguerite asked, deliberately keeping her tone cheery.

Jessi's was not. 'The same as I was yesterday.'

Marguerite sighed, then rubbed her hands together.

'Let's go downstairs and talk.'

Jessi folded her arms. 'Why? I've made my decision. The only person that can change anything is George.'

Jessi then turned and walked down the stairs. Marguerite hurried after her. Jessi walked into the drawing room.

'And how can he change things? By giving up?' Marguerite asked.

Jessi turned to face her. 'I was not raised to believe that the authorities were the bad guys in this world. Sure, they don't seem to have a lot of common sense over at Scotland Yard at this moment, but the more I think about this whole thing, I feel I was wrong to go to John for help. I should've made George work things out.'

Marguerite's mouth dropped open! 'Excuse me for saying this, Jessi, but I think you're opinion is very naive! My God! If anything, this whole experience has just served as a reminder as to how ignorant society can be! You don't think I know of the stories that say that my little girl is some sort of ape creature?!'

Jessi's eyes softened. She looked away.

'And how on God's green earth, was Challenger going to bring back some sort of ape creature, without one of us, or some of those other men he brought along, seeing him do so? And, if Challenger or Roxton were this animal, why wait this long to transform into it? Why associate any of this bad bit of business with us?'

Jessi still didn't answer. Marguerite walked over to her.

'That kind of ignorance is why Challenger and Roxton had to run. You were right to go with them. The men know what they're doing, Jessi, just let them handle this. You are safe here.'

'What about that Inspector? How can you be so cavalier about him?'

Marguerite's eyes hardened. 'Because I know the laws of almost every city, state, village and or crevice of this world. The Inspector doesn't have anything, but thinks that we are too ignorant to figure that out.'

'But that could change, couldn't it?'

Now, Marguerite's eyes softened. 'Yes. That's why we have to clear all of our names soon.'

The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs caused both women to turn. Veronica walked in to the room.

'Why Veronica, I don't believe I've ever seen you up this early?' Marguerite commented.

Veronica raised a brow. 'That's because you've never been up this early, yourself. I couldn't sleep.'

Marguerite moved away from Jessi. 'Ned?'

Veronica shook her head. 'No, surprisingly, it's Finn I can't get out of my mind.'

Jessi turned away abruptly. Veronica noticed this.

'Jessi?' she asked. She looked at Marguerite, who hadn't noticed Jessi's gesture.

Jessi turned back around. 'Finn just needs to find someone of her own.'

Marguerite looked at Veronica, then at Jessi. Finn's words from the other day ran through her mind. About how Finn had wanted Malone from the moment she saw him back on the plateau.

But, if she was seeing Jack Farrell all of this time, then why the sudden confession?

Marguerite spoke. 'Let's just say that I plan to make that a big priority, once the dust settles.'

'Well, do you think she'll be interested in finding someone so soon after Jack?' Veronica asked.

'I don't think there was anything really serious going on between the two of them. You know, I only gave the servants the night off, not the rest of their lives! I wonder where they are?'

Veronica smiled. 'There is an ape creature running loose, and someone died here. I doubt anyone will be back.'

'Damn! I don't suppose you want to fix breakfast?'

Jessi stepped forward. 'I'll do it.'

Veronica and Marguerite looked at one another.

'I'll help you.' Veronica volunteered. Marguerite kept silent.

'No, no, dear. I'll be fine. Besides, I could use the time to myself.'

She had looked pointedly at Marguerite when she said that. Marguerite returned her stare and pointed.

'Kitchen is that way.' she said.

Jessi smiled weakly and walked off towards the kitchen. Veronica looked at Marguerite.

'Wow! Someone woke up this shy of witchy this morning! I take it that means things are going well with Roxton?'

Marguerite grinned at her. 'Yes, for now. We're moving in a forward direction, so to speak. And I'm sorry if I seemed mean to Jessi just now. But her behavior towards Challenger has been nothing short of appalling!'

Veronica glanced around. 'You were looking at me when this happened, but Jessi had the oddest look on her face when I mentioned Finn. I think she knows something.'

Marguerite moved away from her and looked out of the window. Veronica suddenly gave her a dirty look from behind.

'You know something too, don't you Marguerite?'

Marguerite turned back towards her.

'Alright, yes!'

'Well?' Veronica asked.

'Veronica, really, it's nothing you need to concern yourself with...'

Veronica walked up to her. 'How can you say that? None of us even knew Finn was seeing Jack, if she was at all! That's how closed out of her life we have all become. Finn is one of us. If she is hurting or needs help in anyway, we should know that. Now, what do you know about this?'

Marguerite was deliberately vague. 'Alright, alright. Finn did confide something in me.'

'Okay, what?'

Marguerite chose her next words carefully. 'Finn had become infatuated with another man, someone that was not Jack. And for whatever reason, this man was unavailable to her. I think she may have been seeing Jack to get over the heartbreak.'

Veronica was silent for a moment.

'You said this man was 'unavailable to her'? Meaning he was already married or engaged?'

'She really didn't say, Veronica.'

'Well what did she say, Marguerite?!'

A sudden, sharp knock on the door interrupted them. Marguerite was quite grateful. Veronica went over, peeked out of a side window, then opened the door and smiled. She threw her arms around Ned. He hugged her back, but Marguerite could tell by his expression, that something was horribly wrong.

'What is it?' Marguerite asked. Veronica let go of him and looked at Marguerite, then looked at Ned.

Ned cleared his throat, then set Veronica away from him.

'I found out that one of the victims of the Hyde Park murder, was Gladys.'

Veronica's eyes widened. Marguerite peered at him.

'Your Gladys? The one you were engaged to before we left on the expedition?' Marguerite asked, not knowing what to make of this.

Malone nodded, then pulled Veronica into his arms again. Her arms went around Ned to comfort him.

****

Roxton awoke in much the same manner Marguerite had, stiff and sore from sharing a small bed with another person. He was a little disappointed that his reunion with Marguerite was not the passionate one had had dreamed of. But, he was still happy, nonetheless.

He stood up and stretched. He then walked over to the crib. Greta was awake. She stared up at him. Roxton wondered what his daughter was thinking.

The door to the room was open. Challenger wandered in, already dressed. Roxton was shirtless. He looked up and smiled.

'Good morning, George? How did you sleep?'

'About as well as can be expected, I guess. And you?'

Roxton nodded towards the little bed.

'Quite badly actually. But it was worth it.'

Challenger gave him a tiny smile, then moved closer to the crib. Greta was now smiling at both of them.

'She is a rather smiley baby, isn't she?' Challenger noted to Roxton. He thought the child looked more like Roxton than Marguerite.

Roxton was smiling at Greta when he answered.

'Yes, she is.'

He then turned back to Challenger. 'Marguerite told me Jessi and you had words. I don't mean to pry, George, but...'

Challenger put a hand up. 'No. It's fine. This whole thing is getting to her, I'm afraid. She wants to go back home.'

Roxton shook his head slowly. 'Why don't you let me speak to her?'

'I don't know how that would help, John.'

'George, I got a chance to know Jessi, I think relatively well, during the time you were gone on the return expedition. She's just a bit unnerved, that's all. I'll give her a pep talk, so to speak. She'll be fine.'

Challenger said nothing at first, then nodded. They both turned when Marguerite entered the room, carrying to cups of coffee on saucers. She handed one to each man.

'Courtesy of one Jessi Challenger.'

Roxton lifted a brow before he took a sip. 'No servants today?'

Marguerite looked at Challenger. 'No, I'm afraid. Just like the old days in the treehouse. I guess I could cook up something.'

Challenger coughed suddenly. Marguerite looked concerned and patted his back. Roxton grinned.

'Are you alright, George?'

'Oh, yes, you know I think I'm going to go find my wife. Maybe have a little talk.'

Marguerite nodded. Challenger smiled at them both before turning and leaving the room. Marguerite watched him leave, then turned and reached down into the crib. She picked up Greta.

'The baby needs a change, another thing that I will have to do myself.'

'It'll bring the two of you closer together if you do it, Marguerite.' Roxton said slyly, before taking another sip of coffee.

Marguerite gave him a knowing look. 'Yes, of course. Listen, you might want to go downstairs as well. Malone is here and he has interesting news.'

Roxton set down the coffee cup. Marguerite and Greta were staring at him expectantly.

'What is it? Did the ape attack again?'

Marguerite rubbed Greta's back.

'No, but Malone does know the identity of the woman that was killed in Hyde Park.'

There was a silence. Roxton raised a brow again.

'Well? Marguerite don't keep me in suspense! Who was it?'

There was a sudden cough heard. Marguerite and Roxton turned to see a servant walk in.

'Grace?' Marguerite asked, looking from Roxton to the servant.

Grace, the nursemaid, walked in. She was embarrassed at Roxton's near state of undress. The mistress was improperly clothed as well.

'I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm here to see to Ms. Greta.'

Marguerite shook off her surprise.

'Yes, of course.' Marguerite handed her the baby. Grace smiled at Greta and took her from the room.

'Did you see how red her face looked just now?' Roxton asked.

Marguerite smiled wanly. Her expression then turned grave.

'Malone said that the woman that was killed was Gladys.'

Roxton's eyes went wide. 'The woman he was engaged to before we left on the expedition?'

Marguerite nodded. 'Now he thinks that the ape is really here for him! I don't know what to think and he's very distraught. Veronica is with him.'

Roxton mulled over what he had just discovered. Had it been an eerie coincidence that the monster had killed Gladys? Gladys, the unknown man she was with, and now Jack Farrell?

'What are you thinking?' Marguerite asked.

'I don't know what to make of this. It was the last direction I thought this thing would go in.'

Marguerite nodded. 'Well, Veronica is trying to comfort Malone, but he's blaming himself. His mother, of all people, gave him the bad news.'

'His mother?'

Marguerite shook her head. 'She really is a piece of work. Veronica is in for a life of misery for every holiday, birthday and or special occasion she has to spend with that woman.'

'That bad, hey?'

'Oh yes.' Marguerite answered, watching him, as he picked up his coffee again. He noticed her watching him and set the cup down again.

'Something else on your mind, Mrs. Roxton to be?'

Marguerite smiled at that. 'Yes...Jessi Challenger.'

Roxton set the coffee cup down again.

'George and Jessi will get through this.'

Marguerite said nothing. She looked away. Roxton moved closer to her.

'What? What's troubling you?'

Marguerite looked at him again.

'When I woke up this morning, I felt happy. Happier than I had been in a long time. Before the Countess showed up on the plateau.'

Roxton reached out and rubbed her upper arms lightly.

'Same here.'

'And I had already decided to return to London with you. No more running, no more changing my past. You would keep your title. We would just deal with what we had to deal with, and live our lives.'

Roxton stopped rubbing her arms. His hands rested on her shoulders.

'You're sure? Because we could live here....'

Marguerite shook her head. 'No. Somehow this whole thing has given me a surge of strength. I'm not hiding from anything or anyone anymore.'

Roxton smiled gently down at her.

'You never lost your strength, Marguerite. To come here and go through the rest of your pregnancy alone...that took strength.'

Marguerite smiled wanly. 'John, after we are married, and we settle into some semblance of a normal life, will you still be going off on hunting expeditions and such?'

Roxton slowly removed his hands from her shoulders. Marguerite watched his hands as they slid off of her.

'What do you mean?' he asked.

Marguerite gave him a knowing smile.

'I mean will you go running off for months on end, like Challenger does to Jessi. Will Greta only see her father once a year?'

Roxton took a step back.

'Marguerite, hunting, the adventure and excitement of it, it is almost what I live for....with the exception of yourself and Greta.'

'So, you will be gone a lot?'

'Marguerite, what is this all about? Surely you can't compare what we have, to anything that is going on with Challenger and Jessi?'

'John, when you look at Jessi, you see a woman that needs to be cheered up or something! I see a very unhappy woman, who just wants to live a normal life with her husband. Remember, the Countess hated Challenger because she felt he was never there for her sister! And I don't know what I would do if you disappeared for years on end!'

Roxton's mouth dropped open! 'When did you get to be such a mousy sounding woman?! Marguerite Von Bubrik, formerly Krux, formerly Ms. Smith and God knows how many other names! You live for adventure as well!'

Marguerite didn't answer. Roxton reached out and pulled her to him.

'Let's not look for trouble, alright? Let's just take this one day at a time, okay?'

Marguerite just nodded. He kissed her forehead.

'And don't worry about Challenger. He'll work things out with his wife. Now, I'm going to get dressed, then go down and give Malone my condolences. Alright?'

Marguerite didn't answer, but nodded again. He reached out to touch her hair, before leaving the nursery. Marguerite sighed and sat down on the little bed they had slept on the previous night. Roxton was right, as usual. Why look for trouble? Her thoughts then jumped to Grace, the nursemaid. It was nice of her to come back to work.

****

Finn was walking down the stairs, when she heard Veronica's voice.

'You found a check?'

'Yes,' Malone answered, 'made out to Jack from my mother. She claimed it was for finding out that Gladys died in Hyde Park, but I thought about it all night. Whatever Jack's faults were, he was very much the newsman. My mother wouldn't have had to pay him to look into who the couple was that was killed! Jack was 'naturally nosy' anyway!'

'So, what do you think the check was for?' Veronica asked.

Ned was silent. He didn't want to say, because he knew nothing for sure. He glanced away and saw Finn standing on the steps. Ned was glad to see her. Finn was his way out of telling Veronica of his suspicions. Those being that his mother might have paid Jack to look into Veronica's past.

Ned stood up. 'Finn? Come down and join us.'

Finn walked down the rest of the stairs and walked into the room. What was this business about Ned's mother giving Jack a check?

Veronica smiled at her. 'How did you sleep?'

Finn put on a bright front. 'Better than I expected to. What's going on?'

Veronica spoke up. 'There's been a new development.'

Finn said nothing. Why would Malone's mother give Jack money? It sounded as if Malone was pretty suspicious about his mother's motives. Finn hoped like hell it had nothing to do with what she and Jack were up to! But there was a feeling in the pit of her stomach that told her otherwise.

Before anything more could be said, Roxton hurried down the stairs. He walked over to Ned. He rested a hand on is shoulder.

'I heard about Gladys. I'm sorry.'

Ned nodded. 'It's me this thing is after, Roxton. Not Challenger and you. Maybe we can go to the police and tell them what's happened...'

Roxton shook his head quickly. 'Last night, when Challenger and I were in the secret room, he came up with a theory. It's an odd one, so bear with me.'

Finn sat down. Veronica glanced at Ned, before returning her gaze to Roxton.

'Okay, what is it?'

'Challenger thinks that the apeman might be a woman.'

Finn burst out laughing! Veronica smiled, while Ned looked Roxton up and down.

'How much wine were you all drinking in there?' Ned asked

Roxton rolled his eyes. 'I know it sounds a bit unlikely...'

'More than a bit, Roxton.' Veronica said.

'Hear me out now. I reacted the same way at first. But, Challenger found something near Farrell's body last night. It was a piece of women's clothing.'

The room was silent. Finn stood up and spoke.

'That thing never touched me. So, I didn't lose any clothing. Jack wasn't wearing anything remotely resembling something a woman would wear...you think it came from the ape?'

'Challenger does. He also thinks that this is some woman from the plateau who may have held a grudge.'

Malone sat down. 'I can't think of too many women I might have made mad.'

Roxton rubbed his hands together.

'Challenger thinks it might be Caroline Hyland.'

Now Veronica laughed! 'Oh come on, Roxton! Prissy miss?! Turning in to an ape?'

Finn smiled. 'I have to agree with Vee on this one, Roxton.'

'Besides,' Ned countered, 'we were with her all of that time Challenger and yourself were gone. She never turned into an ape back on the plateau. I think Challenger is off on this one.'

'But you're forgetting the Nigel factor.' Roxton said. 'It was Emma's knowledge of his experiments that cost her her life. Challenger thinks that Caroline might have been so in love with Nigel, that she agreed to become a guinea pig of sorts for him.'

The room was quiet again, as everyone mulled over what Roxton had told them.

Ned stood up again. 'But why Gladys?'

Roxton looked at him sympathetically. 'That I don't know. But with any luck, we'll be close to ending this thing soon. If Challenger is right and it is Caroline, maybe we can find out where she is.'

'But if she's not even in this country then we're back to square one.' Veronica noted.

'Not necessarily. Just because this creature isn't Caroline, doesn't necessarily keep it from being a woman.'

Marguerite came down the stairs just then. Roxton and Ned turned to look at her. Finn looked at Veronica.

'Who is Gladys?' she asked her.

'Ned's fiancee before he left on the expedition.'

'The ape thing killed her?'

Veronica nodded. 'Ned found out last night.'

'Oh. He looks really broken up. It must be hard for you.'

Veronica tilted her head. 'What do you mean?'

'I mean, his crying over someone he was once going to marry. It must be hard on you.'

Veronica eyed Finn. 'What's hard is watching him tear himself apart over something he had no control over. It's not like he's crying over a lost love. He's just sorry that someone he once loved died so horribly.'

Veronica then walked over to Ned and put an arm around him. Finn turned away. Marguerite watched them.

'You know ladies, we need to go into the city to see to some of the bridal arrangements. So if you both want to get ready....'

Veronica shook her head, looking at Ned. 'I don't think I could possibly...'

Ned smiled and kissed her hand. 'I'm going back to the paper. Go. It will do Finn and you a world of good to get out of here.'

'That's right,' Marguerite continued, 'besides, I want us all to appear as if we haven't got a thing to hide. Which means we go about life as normal. So, come on!'

'Marguerite...' Finn began to protest.

Marguerite gave her a stern look.

'You all saw how hard that Inspector grilled us last night.'

'More like you.' Finn replied.

'Nonetheless, if he's watching me, he's watching you too. We're innocent and that's how we're going to act.'

Roxton walked over to Marguerite and put an arm around her. He looked at the others.

'Marguerite's right. And hopefully when you return, Challenger and I will have come up with some sort of plan to draw the creature out in to the open.'

Finn nodded slowly and walked out of the room. She hurried upstairs. Veronica kissed Ned, looked at Roxton and Marguerite, then left the room as well. Marguerite looked at Roxton and Malone.

'Where's Challenger?' she asked.

'Probably wherever Jessi is.' Roxton answered.

****

Jessi hadn't gotten far in her breakfast preparations. She was busy stirring batter, her mind off elsewhere, when Challenger entered the kitchen, a bit timidly. She gave him a sidewise glance, before attending to the batter again.

'Good morning, dear.'

Jessi gave him a tiny smile. She continued to stir.

There was a silence. Challenger picked up a kitchen utensil nearby and feigned interest in it. Finally, Jessi stopped stirring and set the bowl down. She faced her husband.

'I feel silly.' she began.

Challenger dropped the utensil. 'I can assure you, there is nothing 'silly' about you. Why would you be feeling this way?'

Jessi took a deep breath. 'Would you believe because of Marguerite...and Veronica and Finn and Ned and...'

Challenger closed the distance between them. He rested his hands on her shoulders.

'What is this all about, Jessi? This is more than just nerves.'

Jessi looked away briefly before speaking her mind. 'Do you know how ashamed I feel for being scared?'

'It's only natural...'

'Not to Marguerite! Not to Veronica! Not to Ned! Not to John Roxton! And definitely not to you! My God! You've delved into places I couldn't even begin to imagine. You're the bravest man I know.'

Challenger smiled. It was nice to hear that his wife thought of him in this manner.

'Jessi, Marguerite, Veronica and Finn have had hard lives. Ones in which they had no one to depend on but themselves. A little police interrogation, is not on high on their lists as to things that would cause them to quake with fear. Roxton is a world renowned hunter. His courage knows no bounds. And Malone...his courage stems from all that we went through on the plateau.'

'That's just it, George! There is an unspoken understanding between all of you! It's like a secret club or something! Whatever horrors you went through on that plateau, keep you from feeling the fears that stem from the real world here.'

Challenger let go of her gently. 'Dearest, that plateau was our 'real world' for the longest time. Maybe we're just immune to the dangers in a civilized society, because the perils we faced in that uncivilized world, were far greater than anything you could think of in your wildest dreams.'

Jessi stared at him sadly.

'I want to understand, George, I really do.'

'Then give us another day or two. And, if we're no closer to ending this mess than we were before, I will accompany you back to London and turn myself in.'

Jessi said nothing, but nodded. Challenger put his arms around her again and pulled her into an embrace.

****

One hour later, Veronica sat in a chair in front of a window of a fancy boutique. Marguerite, a saleswoman and Finn were across the room. Marguerite was forcing Finn to try on ball gowns.

There had been some conversation in the automobile about getting Finn into society, and buying her the proper attire. Finn hadn't looked that enthused. Veronica had only noted her lack of enthusiasm, before her thoughts returned back to Ned.

Ned hadn't believed his mother's explanation about the check. Veronica could see that finding out that Glady's had been murdered and the mysterious payment made to Jack, were heavily weighing on Ned's mind.

Veronica stood up. Marguerite would want her to come over there and join them. She was sure her friend had plenty of ideas as to how she should be dressed when she became Mrs. Ned Malone.

Veronica turned to stare out of the window. She could see the top of the Boston Journal in the distance. She wondered how Ned was holding up? If he was forced to fend off a lot of nosy questions from other reporters, about Jack Farrell's presence on Marguerite's estate? She loved Ned, but he was a rung about Jessi Challenger in the lying department. He was just no damned good at it!

She was still staring at the building, when someone looking in the window at a display, blocked her view. Veronica's eyes widened, and she looked back at Marguerite and Finn, who were immersed in clothes. Marguerite sent the saleslady away for more gowns to look at.

Veronica looked at the person, a young woman, who was staring at a gown on a mannequin. The woman's eyes then left the gown and met hers. The woman then gave a small wave. Veronica looked back at Marguerite and Finn again. They wouldn't know this woman anyway.

She slipped out of the door and met the woman on the street. Renata Hargrove was dressed stylishly and looked quite sophisticated. A far cry from the young, timid girl that Veronica had met on the plateau.

Renata had been the 'daughter' of Dr. William Hargrove, a contemporary of Challenger's and former friend. Hargrove, in many ways, was an older Nigel Summerlee. Both men conducted dangerous scientific experiments. Neither had cared who they had to hurt if it advanced their 'scientific causes'. No thanks to Hargrove, Veronica almost had to sleep with an ape!

Ape! Ape? Veronica thought, remembering Roxton's words from this morning. Challenger's belief that the ape creature could be a woman. Her mind then went back to that awful moment in time, when poor Renata discovered that her mother, her real mother, had been an ape.

'Renata?' she asked carefully.

Renata smiled and reached out to hug Veronica. Veronica forced herself not to cringe. Was this the woman that had ripped Gladys and Jack apart? No. Renata was human. Neither Challenger, Roxton or herself had ever seen any evidence of Renata turning in to any kind of beast. But yet...

'Veronica!' Renata cried. She set Veronica away.

Veronica pasted on a small smile.

'What are you doing here? I mean, the last time we saw you, you had decided to live on your own...on the plateau.'

Renata smiled demurely. 'Well there is no 'by yourself' there anymore. I guess you wouldn't keep up with what's going on there, but ever since Uncle George's expedition became public, the plateau is crawling with tourists and scientists. Raptors, apemen, you name it, are being killed for sport!'

'No!' Veronica cried, unable to imagine it. It hurt her heart to hear this news, especially since she felt, deep down in her heart, that her mother was still living there.

'So, you left?' Veronica asked, mentally shaking off images of her former home.

'Yes, because there are so many people there now, there are all sorts of ways off the plateau now. I needed to know the kind of life that my father 'claimed' we used to have.'

Veronica eyed her. 'You still sound so bitter.'

Renata smiled brilliantly. 'Do I? Well I don't feel that way. My father's death was the best thing that could've ever happened to me. I became my own person.'

Veronica did not believe for one minute, that the fact that Renata was in Boston, was an accident! She needed to see Ned! He could probably find out if Renata had been living in London recently!

Veronica found herself staring at the top of the Boston Journal again. It was as she was doing this, that she heard words that clearly meant trouble.

'I heard about the trouble poor Lord Roxton is in...and Uncle George. That and those obscene stories about John's having an illegitimate child with the Von Bubrik heir! What rubbish! All of those papers should be burned!'

Veronica slowly turned her glance from the building to Renata.

'I always fancied Lord Roxton. He taught me how to dance. Have you seen him recently? I would love to give him my condolences on the death of his wife. Do you know where he is, Veronica?'

Veronica swallowed. 'No. I wish I did. I'm very worried about him and Challenger. You'll have to excuse me, Renata, I'm getting married in a few months and I've been looking at gowns and such.'

Renata's mouth dropped open and she impulsively hugged Veronica again.

'Congratulations! You will invite me to your wedding, won't you? Maybe John will escort me!'

Veronica gave her a fake smile. 'Yes, that would be something, wouldn't it? Tell you what? Why don't you come to dinner tonight? You never know, John may show up...you know, in need of help or something.'

Renata's eyes almost sparkled, or at least, they appeared to to Veronica.

'I would love to! Do you think he or Uncle George might show? I mean, they would be taking a real risk.'

'You never know. Look, I'm going to go inside and get a piece of paper to write my address on. Dinner is at seven. Come early for cocktails.'

Renata nodded, still smiling. Veronica turned and walked back into the store. Finn was already staring at her when she walked in. Marguerite was looking at the material on a dress. The saleslady was no where in sight.

'Who was that you were talking to, Vee?' Finn asked. Marguerite looked up from the dress.

Veronica smiled. 'Ladies, I think I've found our ape creature...and I've invited her to dine with us tonight.'

Marguerite and Finn peered past her to stare at Renata out of the window. Veronica was careful not to look at Marguerite. She would not be happy to know that the young woman had designs on her future husband to be!