"I am sorry Mrs Vanderbilt, Tommy is my late sister's youngest. I am his guardian, and unfortunately, the girl who was to watch him tonight, has taken ill. With such short notice, I couldn't find anyone else, so I had no choice but to bring him with me." He looked over at the Kid frowning. "He has promised to behave..."

Their hostess turned to the Kid, who shuffled, more than a little embarrassed at having to wear short pants, and act five years younger than his age. Luckily though she took his discomfort, as a sign of a youngster uncomfortable in an adult situation. and said conspiratorially. "These things are an awful bore aren't they? But I'm sure we can find something to entertain you." She then turned to Heyes and asked. "Now, who is this young man?"

Silky smiled. "Young Joseph here, he is my eldest brother's child He is very keen to learn the business, so I thought a party as fine as this, would be a good place to start. If he finds it all too tedious, I am sure he can entertain his cousin. Tommy is not the best at keeping himself busy at times, but then he is young, and prone to showing his youth at times."

Silky favoured the Kid with a benevolent smile, who looked down to hide a scowl, knowing he hadn't quite been forgiven for fleeing from the lady in the carriage, and costing them some money.

Heyes sensing the rise in tension, offered his hand to the lady, his face wreathed in an interested but modest smile."I have so much to learn Ma'am. But Uncle Jonathan is a fine teacher."

Mrs Vanderbilt's face broke into a warm smile as Heyes gallantly kissed her hand, and glanced over at his 'uncle' as if seeking approval, though of course it had all been prearranged. As her face relaxed, it became clear she was younger than she appeared, and the Kid thought she was an incredibly appealing woman, especially so with the obvious kindness in her expression.

She laughed delighted by Heyes' gesture and said. "Honoured to meet you young man."

Before she could say anything else, a man a good few years older than her, came up to them, a glass of champagne in his hand. It was obviously not his first, judging by how much he was swaying and his slight squint as he peered at them. As his eyes rested on the Kid he blew out a breath, before grabbing Mrs Vanderbilt's shoulder and squeezing it tightly enough that she winced a little. "Now, Deidre, you're meant to be the hostess, stop lingering with the children, and circulate properly. He then turned to the three men and added with a conspiratorial wink. "She's not very bright, but then I didn't marry her for her brains. She has other...skills." His gaze lingered briefly on the Kid. "Now boy, in a few years you'll understand."

The man's voice and face showed his amusement, and he slapped the woman's ass quite hard, and she flinched but said nothing. Her face however was flushed with embarrassment, and her eyes began to sparkle with tears.

Heyes sensing trouble, moved quickly forwards, to stand close to the Kid, using his arm to stop his cousin from reacting and hissed quietly. "Ten, remember!"

The Kid scowled, his body tensed at the blatant disrespect the man had showed his wife in front of strangers. But then he reluctantly subsided, not wanting to risk further disapproval from Silky, and only muttered, just loud enough for Heyes to hear. "I don't like him."

Heyes leant into him, a small smile gracing his lips "Then just enjoy what we've got planned for him."

Kid wondered how conning the man out of a fortune would impact his wife, and his discomfort grew, but as the man had turned his attention to him, he swallowed hard against the rising anger, keeping his head down to hide what he was sure was a look that would be entirely inappropriate for a ten year old to be sporting.

He counted under his breath, and managed to settle himself down, but he was still very relieved when Vanderbilt turned to Silky, and said with some interest in his tone. "So, Dr Marsden, you were telling my accountant, that you have a scheme that will make me money good and quick, with minimum risk? He was interested enough to proffer you an invite to this party. With his endorsement, I will of course listen, but I will want more proof then your words, before I sign on the dotted line as it were."

Silky gave him a broad smile. "Mr Vanderbilt, you are a good businessman, and your caution is understandable. Of course I have people who can verify the veracity of my claims, and I'm sure once the whole scheme is laid out for you, your involvement will be guaranteed."

Vanderbilt waved Silky and Heyes to follow him, but held up his hand to stop Kid from joining them. "Not a conversation for children! He then waved his hand dismissively. "Go find a corner boy, until we have completed our business."

Though this was all part of the plan, Kid felt his hackles go up, his mood wasn't helped when Heyes threw him a smug smile, and mouthed. "Ten."

But now he had been dismissed, he was free to sneak round the house, and get an idea of where a safe might be hidden. The plan for Mr Vanderbilt was twofold. Get him to hand over an amount of money for the investment, and just in case he realised he was being conned, find something that would hopefully keep him from reporting the con to the police.

ASJ

He had found Vanderbilt's office complete with safe, and was heading back to the party, when he heard quiet sobbing from the corridor he was walking towards. He stopped and started to retrace his steps, intending to find another way. When he heard the soft voice of Mrs Vanderbilt. "Thomas isn't it? Are you lost, dear?"

The Kid smiled, nodded, and said quickly. "I was bored Ma'am...My uncle and cousin are still talking to your husband." She wiped her eyes, and gave him a small smile that lit her face, and the Kid's heart sped faster again, as she was really beautiful, and seeing her like this, it was clear that she was probably less than a handful of years older than him. He looked down quickly, fiercely reminding himself that, a, she was married and b, he was supposed to be ten. Obviously taking his silence as embarrassment of not knowing what to say to a crying woman, she walked over to him and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze, and said softly. " Don't worry young man." She wiped her eyes and added. We'll just keep this between us, and before I go back to the party, I'll take you down to the kitchen. Mrs Lowry our cook will surely be able to scour you up some milk and cookies."

As he was never one to turn down food, it was very easy for the Kid to nod with genuine enthusiasm. He followed her to the kitchen, worrying as they walked, whether she would get into trouble from her husband, because she had walked away from the party, but she seemed unconcerned, and in no rush, so he wasn't quite sure how to raise the issue with her, especially that with his supposed age, she would likely feel it inappropriate. So he just found refuge in silence, which seemed to be what she expected from him.

On arriving in the kitchen, they were greeted by a middle aged lady, with greying hair, and warm blue eyes. She looked up with a smile, which quickly dropped down into a frown of worry. "Deidre! Its always good to see you, but you really shouldn't be down here during a party. Mr Vanderbilt will not be happy, and I hate how he speaks to you when he is displeased, It is quite unforgivable!"

Mrs Vanderbilt laughed a little bitterly."You know that Charles won't even have noticed I've gone... he has no real use for me, other than..." She glanced down at the Kid, and flushed before adding. "Besides, I'm just here to drop off this young man. He's in need of entertaining, while his Uncle and cousin are discussing some business with Charles. I know most boys find food entertaining." She turned to him with a small smile, and said wistfully. "My brother was much the same age as you, when I married Charles..."

She trailed off, and Mrs Lowry hushed her gently as she said kindly."I know you miss them, sweetheart."

Kid clenched his fists, hiding them behind his back, he was glad that Vanderbilt likely would lose some considerable money in the con that was being set up. But he worried some over what position it would leave his wife in. He was beginning to realise that perhaps, the con game was not for him, and he was thinking maybe he was due a talk with his cousin. But that would have to wait until this was over he supposed, as there had been no talking to Heyes lately. He was too caught up in the excitement of the game.

Mrs Vanderbilt straightened her shoulders and with a small sad smile, said firmly. "I made my bed Caroline." With that she sighed and headed reluctantly to the stairs, obviously to head back to the party.

The Kid watched her go, as did Mrs Lowry, and as Mrs Vanderbilt disappeared his sharp ears picked up the housekeeper's angry mutter. "That man, he doesn't know what a special woman he married. He does not deserve her!"

Then she shook off her anger and turned a warm smile onto the Kid. "Now, I have milk and cookies with your name on them..."

The Kid spent an enjoyable hour in the kitchen, drinking milk and eating delicious gingerbread cookies, playing a snap. He was glad Heyes wasn't around to see him, as he could imagine his amusement at his enjoyment of such a simple game, they'd not played since their families were alive. But gently fussed over by a good natured woman, with the smell of baking tickling his nose, it was easy to pretend he was the ten year old he was supposed to be.

But as the clock on the wall chimed eleven, he realised he had to leave, he needed to find Heyes and Silky. He reluctantly stood, and the woman gave him a small smile, nodding as she said. "Guess your Uncle and cousin will be wondering where you are...Main house is just up the stairs here, and to the right. Been a pleasure Tommy."

Kid reluctantly left the comfort of the kitchen, and headed back towards the party. He passed a partly open door, and heard raised voices, the first of which he was sure belonged to Vanderbilt.

"William, you'll get your money, I promise! I just need a few days."

"I'd better, as the way you left me high and dry, I want more than the share I was promised. So you get it sorted or you'll be sorry."

He lingered for a moment, but then the door slammed shut, and he hurried on his way. He was sure Vanderbilt's name was Charles, not Max.

ASJ

"Did ya actually do anything useful before you stuffed your face, Kid?" As they stood outside on the street, waiting for their carriage to arrive, Heyes eyed him in disgust as he brushed the cookie crumbs off the Kid's shirt.

Kid gave him an icy look, then turned to Silky saying in a slightly saddened tone. "His wife is real nice, shame she's gonna get affected by all this...don't seem fair."

Heyes rolled his eyes and muttered. "Just 'cos she's pretty..."

Kid swung to glare at him, the anger in his expression so fierce that Heyes was actually a bit taken aback, but he refused to show he was affected, and merely met the glare with one of his own.

Silky looked between them scowling said. "I do hope you getting distracted by every pretty girl, is is not going to become a problem, Kid. You should be more like your cousin here, keep a clear head, and never lose sight of your endgame..."

Kid threw a look at his cousin, who gave him a smug smile, that made him clench his fists, then with a heavy sigh, scowled back at Silky as he said firmly. "I wasn't that distracted. I did what I was supposed to. I was just..." Glancing between his companions, noting their expressions, he attempted to control his temper, because he had agreed to this, and after a steadying couple of breaths, managed to say calmly "It's in his office, on the second floor, at the gable end of the house. Right at the end of the corridor, where the carpet is real expensive looking. Office has got a fancy big window, and some thick drapes Safe is right by the window. The room has a real heavy door, all dark wood panels, but it ain't got no lock. You can get to it by the back stairs too, just gotta turn left instead of right."

Silky nodded as he said. " I told Vanderbilt that I was busy tomorrow, but that my nephew

Joseph, would be back in the afternoon, with some of my satisfied customers, and a few documents that need signing..."

Heyes interrupted eagerly. "And while Diamond Jim and Soapy are bigging up the scheme we sold Vanderbilt tonight, I'm going to crack that safe, and see what if he's got anything hidden." Heyes rubbed his hands together with a grin as he mimed opening a safe.

Silky gave him a broad smile, just as the carriage they were waiting for pulled up in front of them. They quietened not wanting to be overheard, but once they were settled, Silky turned to Heyes with some approval in face, and said. "You got it, Heyes. You really are a natural...unlike some."

Kid muttered something, then humphed to himself, as Heyes threw him an amused look, but wisely said nothing. Irritated at both his companions, on their short journey home, Kid ignored them, feeling uncomfortable and a little trapped by the plan he was involved in. He wasn't just that she was pretty, whatever the others believed, it was as much that a woman who seemed good and kind, could lose so much through something he did. He had known what he was signing up for of course. He sighed quietly, maybe Heyes was right, it was just because she was pretty. But whatever it was, he was finding it difficult to stay unaffected, unlike Heyes, who just seemed to be enjoying the ride.