At last he announced judgment. Her property was forfeit to the state. Her businesses in Arelate, her house, her villas, the funds on deposit with her ...ankers. It was when he detailed those accounts that Livia Cuxena realised she was lost. Somehow he knew of the deposits in Syria, Attica and Spain. With those she could have lived well in exile, rebuilt her fortune, but if they were taken she would have nothing in the world. ?I have admitted my crimes,? she said with surprising, arrogant calm.. " That's what Mum said. Don't let things fester." Well then." Thanks, Serena darling." He hugged her which caused a wolf whistle from Frances. They smiled at her. Frances laughed, as did Victoria who moved to Mark's side."So now you're in the picture as well as Rupert," she said smiling up at Serena.Serena nodded and squeezed her hand. Victoria returned the squeeze."With you and Rupert, not to mention my darling man, nothing can go wrong, can it?" No, my love," said Serena solemnly.. “Same old, same old, Babs. That guy sure loves his pastrami, doesn’t he?”Babs winked at me. “Old Harold’s gonna have a big surprise tonight, honey, after he’s finished his double-decker!”“Whatever are you two ladies planning?” the food despatcher asked.Looking as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, Barbara replied: “I’d rather not say over the phone, Hank. But they certainly don’t feature it in any of the floor shows in Vegas, I can tell you!”Harold was half-way through his bottle of wine. “I know you and Nigel never fancied me,” she began abruptly as I sat beside her. I sensed that she had just passed the critical point between sober and slightly drunk. She was still well in control, but her parameters had changed. “I was never in the league of Barbara and Sandie and all the others,” she continued, as years of frustration and perhaps envy trickled out. “But I was all right. Des and I had a good marriage and I had plenty of sex.” At that point she gave a self-conscious laugh at.