The doors of Arcvale University swung open, and a crowd of people flowed out from the darkness within. Not students, these were elegantly dressed guests, chattering now, the ladies securing their hats in the gentle breeze as they made their careful way down the many impressive steps.
Lucas, Alastair and Verity stood, focussing on the crowd.
“There,” pointed Verity. “In the green outfit. Large hat, white plumes.”
“Got her.” Alastair left them and casually moved to the young man in the shade, who folded his book and stood.
Lucas and Verity walked hand-in-hand toward the crowd.
“My palm’s sweating,” she said beneath her breath.
“Mine too,” he squeezed her hand. “Relax.”
She blew out a lungful of air. “Here we go.”
The two of them strolled in front of the steps, stopping halfway across.
“Verity? Darling girl. What on earth are you doing here?” The woman turned to her husband. “Look who’s enjoying this lovely day. Verity and Sir Lucas.” She grinned coyly. “And togetheragain, it seems. Goodness, dearest, people will be talking soon...”
“I agree, Beatrice. People will indeed be talking. But not about us. Aboutyou.”
“What on earth do you mean?” Beatrice’s voice cooled. “Henry, what is she talking about?”
“I am talking about the enormous sums of money you and your husband have been siphoning from the Arcvale PBIC and the many accounts within.”
“What?”
The shriek attracted attention, as Verity had predicted.
“We have it all, Beatrice. All your little tricks and schemes. All the dates, all the targets...”
“It was brilliant in its way,” Lucas took over. “And we had quite a time for ourselves working it all out.”
“What? Us? Nonsense. Utter nonsense...”
Beatrice was red in the face, furious—and trembling.
Verity saw it. “You’re caught, Beatrice. Your days of basking in sunlight, revelling in the opulence of a lifestyle paid for by others? It’s over.” She leaned in. “Your biggest mistake? Attacking Tabby. I might, just might, have felt a twinge of pity for you and Henry. But after what you did to that wonderful young woman?” She huffed and shook her head. “I will personally see to it that you are finished. Completely. You will never go to another ball, lecture, opera...or bank. I’ll let the law worry about the many charges you’re going to face, but there will be no chance of leniency, Beatrice. Not for the scale of the fraud you and Henry engineered. I’ll be disappointed if you’re out in less than twenty years.”
“She means it, too.” Lucas added his mite.
“This is...this is...nonsense.” Beatrice’s voice rose to a screech. “All lies, all utter stupidity. You’re jealous. That’s what it is. You’re jealous because I raised more money for your stupid charities than you did. They didn’t mean a fig to me...” She snapped her fingers dismissively in the air.
Which made it very easy for the young man standing behind her to snap a manacle on her wrist.
“Lady Beatrice Lockwood, you are now detained by the Arcvale Wardens’ Ledger Office, of which I am a duly appointed officer.”
He proudly tapped the insignia on his lapel, ignoring the look of utter shock on her face. “You and your husband will be taken to a holding area, where you will be questioned by another Ledger Officer, who will explain all the charges to you. You will,of course, be permitted to seek legal assistance, but I should also caution you that all funds, monies, and accounts held by you and one Henry Lockwood, are currently instasispending the results of the investigation.” He exhaled.
Lucas led the scatter of applause that followed the caution speech, which made the lad blush.
“It’s his first day on the job,” said Verity to the little crowd. “I think he has a great future ahead of him, don’t you?”
Alastair walked up, grinning from ear to ear. “Well done, you two. Well done indeed. A formidable partnership, I would say. And I have good news for you, Verity. The money they stole—and there’s no other way to describe it—those funds will be earmarked for a special charity, to be chaired by one Lady Verity Yardley-Turner. It’ll be a big one, I’m guessing, so you might want to start making plans.” He hugged her. “You and Lucas make an impressive team”
“I rather think so myself.” Lucas chuckled. “In fact, I’m so impressed with her, I’m going to marry her. Just to keep her around, you know.”
“What? That’s wonderful...” Alastair laughed aloud.
