A burst of applause distracted both of them, and Lucas ushered Verity toward the noise, just in time to see de Montclair, who had moved from his behind-the-scenes nook to centre stage in the gallery, bending over and dashing off his signature on the piece he’d been working on that afternoon.
“Oh look. He’s finished.” Verity tilted her head to one side.
“How can you tell?”
“Hush,” she stifled a laugh. “He probably ran out of yellow paint.”
Strolling amongst the crowd, Verity and Lucas nodded, smiled, and behaved exactly as one would expect. Polite, pleasantly spoken, and with a compliment at the ready.
“You’re not bad at this at all,” said Verity, somewhat surprised.
“I’m a curiosity and an unknown quantity to most of these people. And, if it hasn’t occurred to you already, somebody who was here today may be our culprit.”
She slowed her pace and glanced up at him. “You think so?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” he answered. “Your charity is about to get a large deposit. What better time to activate that tiny glitch and reap the rewards?”
Unsettled, she gazed over the crowd. “It’s a horrible thought, Lucas.”
“I agree. But what he’s doing is horrible, as well.”
Verity nodded in agreement. “I’m sorry Alastair didn’t come to this. It would have been nice to see him.”
“We will talk to him soon. Maybe tomorrow. Remember we both have something to tell him, and that might fill in some of the gaps...”
They’d been strolling for quite some time, she realised, her heart leaping when she looked at the handsome man by her side. Aethercoaches were starting to rattle around outside, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before the room emptied and the art would be left in the darkness.
A shiver ran down her spine. “Lucas...”
She never got to finish her sentence, because just at that moment a man ran in through the door. “There’s been an attack, a dreadful attack...a young woman...down by the river, at the bank deposit building...”
Within seconds, the gallery was filled with people trying to leave, a mass of jostling and shouting guests, all clogging up the doorways.
“This way.” Lucas grabbed Verity’s hand. “The back door.”
She followed him without question, her heart in her throat.
“Lucas..” She tumbled into an aethercoach behind him, scarcely even wondering how he had procured it. “Lucas,” she said again.
“I know,” he shot her a worried frown. “Tabby.”
*~~*~~*
They moved swiftly through the streets of Arcvale, the aethercoach whisking them over the smooth streets to the bank deposit building, where a small crowd had already gathered.
Lucas pushed away his emotions and focussed on what lay ahead.
“Great coggles,” hissed Verity. “If she’s injured because of me, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“I can understand that feeling. But you’re wrong. She’s injured because some villain hit her. We don’t know yet if it hadanything to do with your charities, so hold the hysterics until we find out.”
“I don’t have hysterics,” she replied coldly.
“Good.”
Slowing, the vehicle slid quietly to a halt at the back of the crowd, and both passengers leapt from the cab and rushed through, Lucas managing to keep hold of Verity’s hand while urging people out of the way. “I see her,” he called over his shoulder. “She’s sitting up.”
“Oh thank God,” gasped Verity, still clinging firmly to Lucas.
