From The Ashes (The Ministry of Curiosities #6)(31)

"We need to draw the killer out," I said.

Lincoln looked up sharply. "No."

"How?" Seth asked.

"No," Lincoln said again, louder.

"I agree with him," Cook said. "It ain't a good idea."

"How?" Seth repeated. "Will someone answer me?"

"We'll announce my return to Lichfield and draw the killer to me," I said.

"NO!" the three of them shouted.

"I agree." Doyle surprised me by voicing his opinion too. He seemed a little embarrassed to have contributed to the conversation, and quickly sipped his tea, his gaze averted once again.

"It's too dangerous," Seth added.

Cook crossed his arms and glared at me. "It be a foolish idea, Charlie."

I crossed my arms too and matched his glare. "But—"

"No," Lincoln cut in with cold, calm finality. "And that's final."

I blew out a breath. "Overbearing men," I muttered. "Very well. We'll keep my return to ourselves for now, but I refuse to cower in here for more than a week. If the murderer hasn't been exposed in that time, I'll make my return known. Surely that will draw him out."

"We'll renegotiate in a week," Lincoln said. It wasn't an agreement, but I doubted I'd ever get one from him, or the others. I hoped a week would be long enough, if only to avoid a confrontation between us. I was still exhausted from the last one.

"One more thing," I said when he got up to leave. "You should know that Lady Harcourt's past has been exposed in the newspapers. We read the article just now. She'll be upset."

"Bloody hell." Seth dragged a hand over his face and down his chin. "How did they find out?"

"Through an anonymous source."

"She's going to be more than upset. She'll be on a rampage to find out who did it. Let's hope she has no reason to come here in the next little while. I, for one, don't wish to face her."

Lincoln simply nodded and went to leave, but Lady Vickers blocked his exit.

"It seems I have to come to the kitchen every time I wish to speak to one of the men in this household, including my own son," she said with a pointed glare at Seth.

He lowered his head and sipped his tea with great concentration.

"I've asked you both, time and again, to review the invitations received in your absences, but neither of you told me which events you will be attending."

"I won't attend any," Lincoln said. "Excuse me, madam, I have work to do."

Lady Vickers did not move. I held my breath. If I had blocked his exit, he would have simply picked me up and moved me out of the way. I couldn't imagine him doing that to her, but it would have been amusing to watch. My lips curved into a small smile as I waited to see what he'd do.

"You ought to attend something," she said. "Dinner at the Mosely's will be a lively affair. It's tomorrow night so I must reply today."

"Send my apologies."

"And mine," Seth said cheerfully.

His mother entered the kitchen, allowing Lincoln to slip past. She marched over to stand by her son, drawing herself up to her full height and peering at him down her nose. "Mr. Fitzroy is making a mistake. I won't allow you to make it too, Seth. I'll accept the invitation on your behalf."

He stood. He was taller than his mother, but she somehow seemed the more formidable of the two. "If Fitzroy's not going, then neither am I." He walked out.

She picked up her skirts and stormed after him. "You will go! Do you wish to make your mother a laughing stock?"

"You're quite capable of doing that without my help," he shot back.

Her shocked gasp echoed along the corridor. Cook chuckled. "I'll wager a shilling she'll win."



I spent the afternoon in the attic, adding new files for each of the supernatural girls from the school. From the attic window I could see the drive and the three callers Lady Vickers received. None stayed long and I suspected they'd come to see either Seth or Lincoln, perhaps both, rather than the baroness herself. Considering she did not leave the house all day to make her own calls, I'd wager she was still somewhat excluded from society. Going by her cheerful mood when I rejoined her in the drawing room after the third visitor left, I suspected she was telling the truth when she said she didn't care for the society set. She was going through the motions of receiving them entirely for Seth's benefit.

Not that he cared. He hardly spoke to his mother upon his return with Gus and Lincoln. They reported that Lord Harcourt had indeed been in London recently but had since returned to his country estate.

"He was here about the time Rampling was contacted by the mysterious man," Lincoln said, "as well as when Rampling was killed."

We four sat in his study as dusk darkened the room. I'd spotted the bloodstained rug as I entered and tended to agree with Doyle. The stains were a stride's length apart.

"But if it were Harcourt," I said, "why would he want to kill supernaturals who may or may not be used to reanimate the dead?"

"Why would anyone?" Gus muttered.

No one had an answer to that.

"So what now?" I asked with a shrug. "What will you do tomorrow?"