British synonym suggestion please.

[heliona]

I'm posting from work. It's been a quiet night, just routine stuff. It's beginning to get light now (not that it stays dark for very long at this time of the year this far north anyway), so I feel as though I'm reaching the end now! I'm now 2/3 of the way through my first night shift, and am now looking forward to my bed!

One of my fanfic betas has come up with Brit-picking question (she's American) that I'm stuck over. She wants a British alternative to the word 'busted' in the following context:

Ginny saw Madam Pomfrey coming towards them out of the corner of her eye, but ignored the warning signal in her head, and leant in to kiss Harry.

"Miss Weasley! Stop that at once, or else I'll have to ask you to leave!" the Healer barked at them.

Harry and Ginny grinned at each other and said in unison, "Busted!"

All I can come up with is 'nabbed' which doesn't really work in this instance. Any ideas?

That's all I have to say! Good morning!

Comments

[loriel-eris.livejournal.com]

Harry and Ginny grinned at each other and said in unison, "Busted!"

Is that a British reaction? I was never really in the position to have been 'caught', but even when 'found out' by mum, for whatever the crime of the moment was, the reaction was more and 'damn I was caught' (and internal!!), a vague feeling of guilt and a glare at Sheena (for it was always her fault...).

I just... I just can't picture that reaction and thus can't for the life of me think of a replacement word.

[heliona.livejournal.com]

I think that's the same problem I'm having. I just can't imagine anyone British really doing that. Hmm.

[loriel-eris.livejournal.com]

Yeah, in my mind, it's just not typically British. Would it work for them to glance guiltily at each other?

[heliona.livejournal.com]

That's essentially what I've suggested. I'll get back to her tomorrow (the start of my 4 days off, hurray!) and mention it.

[jenjemeer.livejournal.com]

i agree with loriel_eris, they are most likely to grin sheepishly at each other in the context and not say anything

[heliona.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was thinking along the same lines. Good to know my brain hadn't stopped working!