Lockwood

The Meeting

The snow started to fall only after Valiance and Victorious decided to leave the house, adding onto the already large piles that lined every street. Valiance, not wanting to leave her warm and comfortable home, insisted that the chill in the air could only mean a storm was coming and going out would only lead to them both catching ill. Valiance pulled her furs tighter around her shoulders, "Victor," she whined. 

"Val?" Her brother sighed. 

She pulled him closer to her with the arm she had threaded through his, "It's too cold."

"You haven't left the house in a week. I'm tired of you staying inside all day. If you never get out more, how am I supposed to get you married off?"

"Victor!" She bumped him causing him to almost fall in front of a carriage. A few judging glances were cast towards them, but both Lockwood children shot back challenging looks. 

He smiled down at her. The crows feet at the corners of his eyes scrunched up, "We're close. Try not to kill me before we get there." 

"Only if you promise you don't try to get me married off to the first man we run into," She replied in a hushed tone. Valiance knew Victor was only joking when it came to her marrying. Both lived freely in the Lockwood Estate with their father being, well, where ever their father was. Amos Lockwood left four years ago to travel. 

They turned a corner and came to a small tea shop. A bell rang over head as they entered. Heads of curious town persons turned to stare. The Lockwoods were as rich as they were good looking and Valiance was rarely seen out in the ton. She disliked the waste filled streets and petty women. She found most ladies wished to befriend her for the sake of meeting Victorious. Her brother was rich and handsome. He had a sharp jaw line, dark brown hair, and gold eyes. Valiance and Victorious similar traits go only as far as their hair and eye color. Victorious was well built with sharp, angular features. Valiance was shapely with a round face and a crook in her nose, but she was very beautiful. The two siblings were rarely seen together, much because Val tried her best to never face the outside world. On the occasions that they were together, the Lockwood siblings could hold an audience. With their unique eyes and stunning looks the two always had many people vying for their attention. 

Victor and Val were seated at a quaint table near the front window of the shop. Their tea was set before them in hand painted cups. "Did you hear about the Barnett's daughter?" Valiance asked in a hushed tone. 

Victorious shot her a questioning look, "Have you stayed cooped up in the house so long you've forgotten how to hold polite conversation?"

"Of course I haven't forgotten! I just- I am curious if you've heard anything more. Besides, I can trust my own brother not to ruin my reputation with my questionable conversation."

"I know, dear sister, that you wouldn't have this conversation with another-" She raised a brow at him. "I haven't heard anything new about the Barnett's daughter."

"But what all have you heard?"

Victor pulled his chair closer to the table, keeping their conversation quiet from prying ears, "Exactly what everyone else has. That she went missing a fortnight ago and was found dead four days later. I swear Val, your curiosity about this case is going to be my demise."

"Hush now Victor, you know perfectly well you're just as interested in this case as I am. For instance," She took a long drink of tea then tilted her head in towards her brother, "that she had her hair brushed out. That her throat was slit in a perfect line. That her hands here laid over her chest. You know all that too. Don't try to hide it."

A smile pulled at the corners of Victor's lips, "I'm not hiding anything. The whole case is very interesting. How intricate the whole thing was. A beautiful murder if I dare say."