“Well then. So is mine.”
She shook her head. “That’s nonsense. It’s a PBIC system.Yoursystem, Sir Lucas. How the devil can you have a problem with your own damn creation?”
“I don’t know, but I do.” He snapped back. “I’ve not touched a single thing, I’ve not been alerted to anything out of the ordinary...” He held up his hand, forestalling her question, “and yes, I would have been. There are alarms built in all over the place.”
Verity blinked. “Oh.”
Alastair observed the two of them curiously as they glared at each other, Lucas’s gaze revealing a quick glimpse of temper, and Verity shooting him fierce looks from unusually stormy grey eyes. He watched with quiet fascination.
Ah. This is interesting...
“Did you check...”
And they were off again, shooting questions at each other like bullets instead of words, neither hesitating, neither backing down. After about ten quite entertaining minutes, Alastair straightened in his chair.
“Enough.” He slammed a large tome down on the table, making a nearby vase of flowers tremble.
The two faces staring at him showed no signs of similar distress, but they had shut up. Which was his goal.
“Arguing like two wild gryphons solves nothing.” He sighed. “I believe we should take a look at each of your problems, see if they are indeed connected, and then follow that connection if we can, and locate the point where these issues began”
Lucas sighed. “An excellent suggestion,” he glanced challengingly at Verity.
“I agree,” she answered.
“Well, that was easy,” Lucas grinned.
Oh lad, wrong thing to say.Verity took a breath and Alastair waited for the explosion.
He was, for once, proved wrong.
“If we could have approached these issues in a civilised manner...” She shot a coldly furious look at Lucas, “we might even now be halfway to solving them. Unfortunately, given the company, we have thus far been unable to do even that. So anything, any idea or suggestionanyof us has, I welcome wholeheartedly.”
“I apologise, Lady Verity,” Lucas said quietly. “You’re right. I don’t like the look of what’s happening here, so yes, I too welcome any suggestions, and will be very grateful for whatever suggestions you might have.”
“Right then.” She pushed back the lace of her cuffs. “Let’s dig into this and see if we can find what the hell’s going on in the innards of the Arcvale Bank.”
The two of them bent over the paperwork once again, sorting, pulling some out, putting others aside, their actions growing increasing similar.
Alastair managed to suppress a grin. They were working in tandem like a team of magnificent thoroughbreds, and he doubted that either of them realised it.
They think alike. Almost exactly alike. I wonder if that’s a good thing, or a danger?
*~~*~~*
Shadows lengthened in the Pembroke study, half-empty teacups littered a side table, and there were crumbs on several plates, indicating that food had been there once, but had been consumed sometime during the day.
When Henry quietly rolled into the room, carrying with him a small flint box with which to light the lamps, Alastair sighed. “Children,” he said quietly. “I am seeing double and triple when I look at these figures. Some of which, I swear, I could recite in my sleep.”
Lucas turned swiftly, frowning, and silently castigating himself for not watching the time. “Damn,” he muttered.
“Oh, Alastair. God, I’m so sorry,” Verity reached out and touched his arm. “I think we all got a bit lost in this troubling tangle of information.” She pushed her chair back. “And look at the hour...”
“It’s not a problem...” began the older man.
“You hush now.” Verity stood and rounded the table to his side. “You’ve been so patient with us, so brilliantly helpful. The least we can do is leave you to get a good night’s rest.”
“Indeed.” Lucas had already slipped into his jacket and held Verity’s at the ready. “There’s more to this, we know that now. And we will work it all out.” He smiled as she slid her arms into her coat. “But not tonight.”
