Grain...

The Black carriage stopped in front of the watch shop and the two horses on front of the cab nickered. Amaretto looked to her aunt. Katherine raised an eyebrow in return. The man driving the cabbie jumped down from the front seat and came around to open the door on the side. As he opened the door, he doffed his cap and then put his hand out.

From inside the cab stepped a woman in a bright red dress with a small bustle on the back. Her blond hair was wound tightly into curls which draped from under a rather large brim hat that was draped with a small veil. Her hands, covered with long gloves made of lace trimed with fur, gracefully accepted the cabby's hand and stepped down from the carriage.

As the woman moved to the side, the cabbie held out his hand an another woman took his hand. This woman had long delicate hands and long straight black hair that had been brushed to an almost impossible shine. It was held back by a simple band of blue ribbon. She was wearing a governess dress that was easier on the eyes than the other woman's red. The navy colored silk however clung scanalously to her frame. Large brown eyes stared back at Amaretto, seemingly lidded by tiredness.

The blond lifted her hands and carefully pulled back the veil. With curious eyes she looked first at Katherine and then at Amaretto.

"Are you both friends of the Watchmaker then?" The blond looked at them both earnestly and Amaretto looked at her aunt for guidance.

Katherine smoothly turned what appeared to be confusion into confidence and said, "Indeed; we are both aquainted with him."

At this the blond smiled and said, "Wondeful. I am glad to see we arrive on time then." The woman put her gloved hand out to Katherine, who in turn grasped it and shook. "My name is Alice Crowley, and this is my friend Johanna Dee."

Katherine smiled in turn. "My name is Katherine and this in my neice Amaretto. A pleasure to meet you."

Amaretto blinked at Alice's candor and put her hands on her hips as she frowned. "Aren't you forward with information? How are you sure we are the ones that you are looking for?"

Alice looked at Amaretto with a blank look on her face. She turned to look at Johanna who held a blank expression. Her face was a perfect mask of neutrality.

With a frank tone, Johana proclaimed, "No one can lie about the Watchmaker."

Amaretto frowned and looked at Katherine. She then said in a rather sarcastic voice, "Tempus is the nicest person I have ever met." she raised her eyebrows and then said, "This whole trip is not the most unfair thing to ever happen to me." She looked up at the not so dreary sky and then looked at Alice and Johanna. "Where's the lightning?"

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