“Well, in that case, I’ll leave you to it.” She stood. “Unless you need me to help?”
Verity smiled and hugged her. “No, no. You need to go home, my dear. Relax, enjoy your evening with the family. And don’t worry too much about this. I’m sure it’ll work out very shortly.”
Half an hour later, alone now, with Sprocket busy elsewhere, Verity sat at her desk in her office, a concerned expression on her face. Tabby’s deposits were correct and in the right accounts.
But why were they ‘pending’?
Of course systems act strangely at times. But this was a PBIC system. Lucas’s system. It had never done this before, and Verity wasn’t comfortable with that thought.
Knowing it was too late to do anything about it at that moment, she gathered her papers together and put them all in one large envelope. Tomorrow she’d seek some expert advice.
From Alastair Pembroke.
Chapter Nine
By the time Silas had shepherded his companions away from the open floor and into his house, Lucas realised the noise and smell of the Forge had faded to a faint and distant roar.
Impressed by the size, the unique design, and the luxurious facilities, he took a few moments to poke his nose in a couple of rooms.
“What do you think?” Hiram came up behind him. “Not bad for a Forge Master, eh?”
“I think it’s amazing,” replied Lucas. “Honestly. If you showed me pictures of this, I would never imagine it could be built underground.” He glanced at Hiram. “Do you have one like it?”
“Well now, I wouldn’t say like this one, but yes, I do have one not far from here. When I got married, I realised I didn’t have enough room for a wife and daughter. So...” He shrugged. “Now we do.”
“So many unexpected surprises,” said Lucas quietly. Then he turned to the other man. “Is he agoodForge Master, Hiram?”
The answer came without hesitation. “The best, sir. The best the Forge has seen in decades. He’s smart, he’s hard working, he’s always got time for anyone with questions and offers help when its needed without being asked.”
“That’s a wonderful recommendation.” He held out his hand. “Call me Lucas?”
The big man looked at him, and Lucas knew he was being measured. Then, as if concluding his assessment, Hiram nodded. “I’d be honoured to do so. Lucas.”
Suddenly there was an increase in the noise level that brought them hastily back out into the hall to see what was happening.
Standing in front of Silas was a woman, tall, slender, with a head full of blonde curls, and her hands firmly on her hips. “And you didn’t think to let me know yourbrotherwashere?” She glared at her husband. “What were youthinking, Silas?”
To Lucas’s amusement, Silas gulped and hung his head. “There really hasn’t been time, Thea. We would have sent you a message, but apparently word travels faster than feet in this place.” He shrugged, then caught sight of Lucas and Hiram lingering in the passageway. “Lucas, get over here. If I don’t introduce you to my wife, she’ll have my head for dinner.”
He was aware of very blue eyes widening a little and staring at him as he walked into the hall towards his brother. “Hello. You must be Thea.” He smiled. “I was told you were a beauty, but I think that was an understatement...”
He walked toward her, stopping in front of her and taking her hand. “How my brother could manage to talk someone as beautiful as you into marriage? Well, it confounds me.” He raised her hand and kissed it, all suave elegance.
Thea’s eyebrow rose as her lips quivered into a smile. “Well, coggleblast it. You’re a cool one, aren’t you?”
“I try,” he quipped. “One hothead in the family is quite enough.”
“You look alike,” she said, glancing from one to the other. “Not so much in colouring, but in demeanour. No mistaking an Ashcombe, is there...”
“They breed true,” said Silas quietly.
Thea smiled up at him, a look that made Lucas silently gasp. This was no ordinary woman, and he’d not have expected one. But Thea was more than lovely to look at. There was a worldof knowledge in those blue eyes, and he’d bet his last coin that there was a brain there to match.
“I hope you’re right.”
Her expression...well it just glowed.
And a thought crossed Lucas’s mind as the couple exchanged a look. He watched his brother, as Silas’s gaze roamed over his wife’s face.Hmmm.
