"I never wore a skirt like this," Mary said. "I'm liable to fall-"

"You won't fall," Amanda assured her, slipping a folded paper into the reticule the girl carried. Rose stood just behind Amanda, wearing an embroidered robe several sizes too small.

The gas in the front hall had been turned down so the interior would be dim when the door was opened. The yellow velvet dress with its immense hoops fitted Mary poorly. But with the shawl drawn around Mary's head, gloves on her hands, and the umbrella for additional concealment, Amanda thought the ruse could work.

"Just watch your step going out to the carriage," she said. "And give that paper to Mrs. Ludwig's butler. He'll see you're driven to the White Star pier tomorrow night."

Mary's eyes misted with tears. "Oh, Miz de la Gura, you been so good-"

She patted the girl's arm. "I want you to be safe in Canada, Mary. Safe and free-"

Peering through one of the narrow panes beside the door, Michael pointed. "That chap in the park's paying close attention. He hasn't moved since the carriage pulled up." To Rose: "I'm worried about your driver. He's sure to notice the difference, and react-"

Rose moved up beside him. "Let me handle Carney."

Amanda knew the next few seconds would be critical. She tried not to show her anxiety as she opened the door wide. After embracing Mary briefly, she took the girl's elbow and guided her outside.

The carriage driver gaped. "What the hell's going on? Who is-?"

"Carney, don't say a goddamned word!" Rose hissed from the shadows just inside the door. "I'm staying here. The girl's going to my house-in my place. Help her into, the carriage! Look at her, not me!"

The dumbfounded driver climbed down. Mary's hoop skirt swayed in a gust of rain that swept under the portico. Biting her lip, she put her foot on the first step below the top one.

Amanda watched the man in the park. He had come to the near side of the kiosk so he could observe the activity at the front of the house. There was no doubt he had a clear view of the yellow-clad figure moving unsteadily down the steps- Mary had one hand clutched to her bosom, holding the ends of the shawl covering her head. But her other hand was rising too high, unconsciously lifting the umbrella so that it didn't conceal her face- "The umbrella!" Amanda whispered from the doorway. "Lower it!"

She did. Just as Amanda let out a relieved breath, Mary's foot slipped on one of the steps. She uttered a low cry, staggering- "Oh, Christ, that's the game," Michael groaned. Amanda gripped the edge of the door, her hand white. The watcher in the park ran out of the kiosk- "Help her, Carney!" Rose Ludwig whispered.

The driver darted up three steps and caught Mary's forearm just as she started to fall.

He steadied her, his eyes wide with astonishment as he got a close look at the black face beneath the umbrella.

But he held on to Mary's arm, assisted her down the final steps and into the carriage. When the door slammed, Amanda gulped and closed her eyes a moment.

She waved and called goodbye. The driver clambered up the wheel, still mightily confused. He popped his whip and guided the team out from under the portico- Chilled by the wind-driven rain, Amanda turned her back on the square, walked inside, shut the door and leaned against it. The faces of the watching servants were white blurs in the gloom.

Rose retied the sash of the robe Amanda had loaned her, then clucked her tongue. "I imagine that added a few years to my face. I thought for certain she'd fall-"

"Do you feel like a whiskey, Rose?"

"I may drink a quart."

"I don't want that much-but I'll join you."

Michael swung from the window, grinning. "I think we pulled it off. At least the lad across the way hasn't moved since the carriage turned the corner."

He followed the two women back to the library. Rose immediately noticed the old Colt revolver resting on the mantel. She pointed to it: "Is that for moral encouragement-or is it loaded?"

"Look in the cylinder," Amanda said.

Rose squinted. "My God! Ready to fire."

"So long as it's handy, I suppose there's no need to keep it on display." Amanda took the revolver down and carried it to the desk, shutting it away in a drawer.

Rose shook her head. "It's unbelievable, the things I permit myself to get into for the sake of friendship-"

"And I can't possibly repay you for what you've done," Amanda said.

The stout woman accepted the brimming whiskey glass Michael handed her. "I'll think of a way, my dear. For instance-when you finally get hold of Kent's, you can increase my royalty rate-"

Amanda smiled, but without feeling.

"Better still, I'll settle for peace and quiet until tomorrow night." She toasted the thought with an upraised glass, then consumed the liquor in several rapid gulps.

Looping his scarf around his coat collar, Michael said to Rose, "Peace and quiet are now in the hands of a certain Miss Kathleen McCreery. I'll be back in a couple of hours, Mrs. A-I'm going to make a second trip to see whether all's calm in the Five Points."

The white cat padded after him out the door.

v

The afternoon dragged on. The February sky darkened. By three o'clock, every gas jet downstairs was turned up full.

Repeatedly, Hampton answered knocks at the front door. He turned away reporters from other papers who had seen the story in the Journal. Twice he got into a shouting match before he managed to slam the door in a newsman's face.

Despite the inclement weather, occasional curiosity-seekers came by, on foot or in closed carriages. One group of small boys flung stones at the house before Hampton shouted at them and chased them away. Sequestered in the library with her friend, Amanda was still aware of the attention the house was receiving; it made her nervous; it seemed a harbinger of worse to come- Rose had pressed for some of the details of what Amanda had referred to as the incident with the maid. Amanda finally obliged, though she concealed the fact that Louis had actually taken the girl sexually, hinting instead that it had been an attempted seduction.

"But I've permitted him to be far too headstrong. In fact I think I've encouraged him without realizing it. That will change."

Rose nodded, then yawned loudly. "Excuse me-it's that damned business of being hauled awake before noon-"

"Why don't you go upstairs and nap for a while?"

"Excellent idea. I'll be down for dinner-unless a riot wakes me sooner."

In the silence of the library, Amanda found herself again unable to concentrate on any of the business details to which she should be attending. She kept staring at the portrait of her grandfather, wondering whether he'd have approved of her aiding Tunworth's runaway. She hoped he would have- Even now, she didn't know precisely why she'd done it; she wasn't sure whether she'd acted out of a sense of moral conviction, or from a guilty conscience-belatedly trying to live up to the Latin inscription on Jared's medallion in the display case.

A little of both motivations had played a part, she suspected.

She began to focus on other concerns. On Jephtha, for one. She knew there was little she could do to help him until he got in touch with her-if he ever did. She prayed he was safe.

She was bound to have another encounter with Captain Tunworth. She looked forward to it. When the clock showed four-thirty, she was actually a little disappointed the Virginian hadn't returned with his warrants.

Well, he'd surely arrive tomorrow. And she'd have the satisfaction of telling him that- The telegraph gong shattered her reverie. She jumped up and hurried to the table. She tapped out an acknowledgment of the query signal, then readied her pen to copy the message: CONFIDENTIAL WALL STREET SOURCE ADVISED FOUR P M TODAY STOVALL WORKS BOARD HAS AUTHORIZED NEW STOCK ISSUE. WILL DOUBLE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING. ISSUE ENTIRELY REPEAT ENTIRELY SUBSCRIBED PRIOR TO ANNOUNCEMENT.

A knot formed in the pit of her stomach.

SUSPECT SINGLE BUYER OR CONSORTIUM BUT HAVE NO INFORMATION. WILL ADVISE IF SITUATION CLARIFIES. AWAIT YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. ROTHMAN'S BANK Amanda flung down the pen, pressed her palms against her eyes. The sounder began to click again: AWAIT YOUR INSTRUCTIONS.

Wearily, Amanda clicked out NO INSTRUCTIONS, then added her initials. In a moment, the sounder replied.

ACKNOWLEDGED. END.

The stillness of the library was broken only by the steady beat of the rain on the windows and the sound of Mr. Mayor scampering through the main hall in pursuit of some phantom adversary. Amanda stared at the message the bank had transmitted.

"Goddamn it!" she cried, slamming her fist down on the pad while tears welled in her eyes. The last few words smeared from the impact of her hand- She knew who had moved so swiftly to convene the Stovall board and make it impossible for her to acquire the needed fifty-one percent. It was no consolation that she'd increased the risk of discovery by her decision about Mary-and that she'd made the decision of her own free will.

When Michael returned at ten past five, looking dour, she showed him the information from the Boston bank.

"Stovall doubled the number of shares-and then bought them. He or someone acting on his behalf."

"I expect so, Mrs. A."

"Because of the Journal story."

"Yes," Michael said. "We've always suspected he'd be aware of steady movement in the shares over the past year or so. The story undoubtedly prompted him to look into it-very closely."

She covered her eyes again. "Then I've thrown away my last chance to own Kent's-"

Michael strode to the hearth, knelt and began laying logs on top of kindling. "I'm afraid we have more immediate concerns than that."

She wiped her eyes and looked at him. He said, "Something's brewing in the Five Points."

"What?"

"I saw copies of the Journal being passed around in three saloons. Heard your name mentioned"-he applied a locofoco to the kindling; as it began to snap and blaze, he stood up-"plus a lot of nasty talk about a runaway nigger. I managed to draw one of the lads into conversation. Ever since the paper came out, Mr. Rynders has been buying a powerful number of whiskeys for certain selected acquaintances-"

"You think the money I paid Kathleen-and the extra you promised-wasn't enough to pacify her?"

"That's exactly what I think. Also, Mr. Isaiah Rynders has made no secret of the fact that before the day's out, he's going to look up someone at the Astor House."

"The Astor! That's where Tunworth's staying-"

"I'm sure Mr. Rynders read it in the paper. He's a clever bastard-Tunworth will fit into his plans beautifully. Here's how it works. Kathleen appeals to Rynders for succor. He spots the Journal piece. It's a fine pretext for his friends to do devilment on Kathleen's behalf. They can screen their real motive behind false moral outrage-you've concealed a fugitive slave! You've broken the law! Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if some of those gang boys showed up as part of Tunworth's search party-"

"?n other words," Amanda said quietly, "you definitely believe we'll be visited."

"Tonight." Michael nodded. "Or tomorrow."

"But there's nothing they can do! The girl's gone!"

"Why, that gives Rynders' chums an excuse to act even angrier. I suggest we follow a sensible course of action. Leave. Now."

"Be frightened out of my own house? I'll be damned if I will!"

"You're also involving other people, Mrs. A. It's not fair to the servants-"

"Can't we contact the police?"

"Not until something happens-unless you're willing to admit the entire story-Mary included. That might lend credence to-"

"No! Mary won't be out of New York until tomorrow evening."

"Well, the police won't act on suspicion alone. Especially not when Mr. Rynders is a pal of quite a few of them-"

Amanda drew a long breath.

"All right. Gather the servants in the kitchen. Wake Rose. And bring Louis downstairs."

vi

What Amanda had to discuss with the assembled group seemed incongruous in the cheery atmosphere of the large kitchen. Smells of baking bread drifted from the huge iron stove. Three capons browned on the hearth spit, giving off a savory aroma.

Rose puffed one of her vile-smelling cigars-causing Hampton to cough in an exaggerated way-as Amanda spoke.

"I've asked you here because I'm afraid the dismissal of Kathleen McCreery may have put this household in a dangerous position. Michael went to the Five Points twice today. It seems clear Kathleen won't be satisfied until she takes revenge for the injustice she feels was done to her-"

Louis stared at his feet, scarlet.

"You're aware we've been under observation by men hired by Captain Tunworth. The girl's gone. But you can be sure the captain will be back. Further, Michael said Isaiah Rynders was going to the Astor House late today. It's possible he went to see Tunworth-to offer the help of some of his thugs. Hunting for a fugitive slave would be a perfect pretext for an invasion of this house-and perhaps worse-"

She left the thought there. But she saw from the faces of the servants that their own imaginations were painting vivid pictures.

"It's my responsibility to defend my own property. But it's not yours. You normally leave late in the evening to go to your homes. I'd suggest you start leaving now, one by one. Go through the alley. I don't think you'll be stopped by the man on watch-especially when he sees you're white," she added with a touch of cynicism. "We might have trouble tonight, it might come tomorrow-or it might not come at all." She tried not to let them know she didn't believe that last.

"I don't want any of you endangered," she said. "So decide who's to go first, and leave. Rose, that includes you."

"Hell"-the heavy woman shrugged behind a cloud of smoke-"I don't have any clothes to wear."

"I'll loan you something."

"Won't fit. I'm staying."

"I'll stay too, madam," Brigid said. "My old man once got his head broken by some of Rynders' bullies, 'cus he wouldn't vote the way Rynders ordered."