Tabby shook her head. “I’ll be fine, and Lady Beatrice is just a worrier. It will be just another deposit as far as anyone is concerned. I expect there’ll be a few other people there as well. I have the paperwork, and it’s just like any other routine procedure. The quieter and more normal we keep it the better. I know all the numbers and deposit fields by heart.” She grinned. “I probably recite them in my sleep now and again.”
“Be careful then...”
“I will. We’ll talk perhaps tomorrow or the next day about assigning amounts into the different funds.”
“That would be ideal.” Verity smiled and gave Tabby a nod as she quietly left the gallery. Nobody even noticed her leaving.
“Verity.” Lucas leaned down and whispered in her ear.
Smiling, she turned her head slightly, enjoying the warmth of his breath on her skin. “Yes?”
“Did she say she knew the deposit fields by heart?”
Verity froze. “Yes.” She turned fully and stared at him. “You can’t be thinking...”
“I’m not. I trust you and your intuition. But...”
“It bears looking into, doesn’t it.” She thought for a moment. “Lucas, I have receipts from all the deposits she’s made. Could we match times, dates, and so on? I do not, not forone minute, believe Tabby plays any role in this, but if we can exonerate her from your concerns...”
“It will settle my mind considerably,” he admitted. “I don’t think it’s her either, for what it’s worth. But with something like this, we have to pursue every single angle, no matter how unlikely.”
Troubled, Verity sighed. “You’re right. And now I’m going to worry.”
He leaned closer and nipped her ear. “I can distract you.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know.”
“Darlings!” The exclamation rang across the distance between them and Lady Beatrice, who was ploughing through the guests like a galleon under sail. “Do say you’ll share some champagne. You must...” She drew nearer. “The buyers will want a few words, Verity. Thanksandego stroking. You do it so well.” She glanced at Lucas. “They even believe she means it. She’s that good.”
“Perhaps she does, my Lady. Maybe that’s her secret?”
“An interesting thought. Have we met?”
“I beg your pardon, Beatrice. This is Sir Lucas Ashcombe. If the name is familiar, that’s because his brother Silas is the Forge Master.”
“Oh yes, of course,” she clapped her hands delightedly. “All that drama at Christmas. I remember. Hecompletelyupended the Warden applecart, didn’t he? Not many effect such enormous changes in Arcvale, I’m sure.” She studied Lucas. “And, if I’m not mistaken, you have something to do with banking, don’t you?”
“I did at one time, my Lady.” He dipped his head politely. “It’s kind of you to recall.”
“Not at all. Remembering interesting people is a good habit, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Indeed, yes.”
“Tabby has just left with the proceeds, Beatrice. If all goes well, we can meet soon and allocate some to our more urgent projects?”
“That sweet girl. Did you know her children are every bit as delightful? One shouldn’t be surprised, I suppose.” She sighed. “She will be able to manage the deposits? One does worry you know.”
“Of course. She’s an old hand at it. Knows all the right numbers too. Far better than I do.”
“What a godsend,” nodded Beatrice. “You’re so lucky to have her. And yes, we’ll meet soon. In the next week, perhaps? Tomorrow and the day after, I’m attending some lectures at the Arcvale Historical Society. Ancient ruins, you know. So romantic and fascinating. I will be out of town for a few days after that. But...I see I’m being summoned.” She shrugged. “I’ll look forward to our next meeting, Verity. And thank you for your presence this evening.” Glancing at Lucas, she smiled. “And to you as well, Sir Lucas. Make sure Verity gets home safely. She’s a very important person to all of us.”
“I promise, my Lady.” He bowed politely.
“Hmm...” Beatrice eyed him for a moment, then grinned and left in with a swish of satin skirts.
“She seemed particularly interested in Tabby,” Lucas observed.
“That’s just her way. Underneath all the public society bluster, she’s a woman with a good heart.”
