From The Ashes (The Ministry of Curiosities #6)(84)

"Charlie!" She dropped her valise and caught me in a hug. "I was beginning to wonder if I had the right place. You spoke so lovingly about it, but it's not at all what I expected."

I took her hands and smiled. "It's so good to see you. You look as pretty as ever, despite the long journey."

"I left at dawn. I think Mrs. Denk was glad to be rid of me." Her smile faded and her eyes shadowed.

I squeezed her hands. "Oh, Alice. I'm so sorry for what your parents have done to you. But you have a home here. Lincoln was adamant that you should be welcomed."

"I want to meet this mysterious gentleman of yours. I admit that I don't know whether to hate him for hurting you or think him wonderful for inviting me to stay."

"Don't hate him." I picked up her valise and headed up the steps. "As to meeting him, it will have to wait. He's unwell."

"Nothing serious, I hope."

"No," I said, unconvincingly. "He received a bad bump on the head the other night when the kitchen caught alight."

She gasped. "Good lord. Is everyone else all right?"

"Gus is a little hurt. We're also short staffed at the moment. Seth and Doyle are taking turns to watch over Lincoln and keep up with chores. That's why I'm carrying this." I indicated her valise.

She went to take it off me, but I refused. I led her upstairs to one of the guest bedrooms and promised to introduce her to the others after she freshened up. "I'm afraid dinner won't be a grand affair without a kitchen to cook in."

"I'm sorry I've come at such a difficult time," she said with a pained wince. "I feel awful for adding an extra burden. I'll try to help where I can."

"You're not a burden. You're excellent company. And thank you for the offer. You may need to do your own mending, washing, and cleaning for the time being."

"So it'll be just like the school but without Mrs. Denk smacking me on the back with her stick, ordering me to stand straight."

I laughed. God, it felt good to laugh. "She never did that to you. She didn't have to. You have perfect posture." I kissed her cheek. "I am glad you're here."

I introduced her to Gus and Lady Vickers over a dinner of cold salads. I thought poor Lady Vickers was going to have an attack of the vapors, she was so upset that a guest had to dine on such meager offerings.

"At least the setting is elegant," I said, indicating the fine china plates, the same ones we'd used the night of the fire.

"That's because these are the only ones left," she said huffily. "They're fit for roasted meats and salads, and delicious jellies and confections, not salads and sandwiches. I'm heartily sick of this."

"It's hardly been two days," I said.

"If you're sick of it," Gus said, "I'll have yours."

She slapped his hand away. "It'll be a welcome relief when you can resume your duties again, Gus."

"Amen," he muttered.

"Eating without me?" Seth said, strolling in. He stopped short when he spotted Alice. "A guest! Charlie, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you've been in Lincoln's room and I'm banished from there. How is he?"

He waved a hand. "Forget him. We have a guest. Lord Vickers," he said, bowing over Alice's hand. "At your service."

"Alice Everheart. Pleased to me you, my lord."

"Bloody hell," Gus muttered with a shake of his head. "Call him Seth or he'll get too big for his boots."

Alice smiled. Seth beamed back and flicked his hair off his forehead with a jerk of his head.

Lady Vickers cleared her throat. "Come sit by me, Son," she said, patting the seat beside her.

"I'd rather sit near Miss Everheart," he said, not taking his gaze off Alice.

Lady Vickers looked as if she would order him, but must have thought better of it. She knew her son wouldn't obey, no matter how much of a scene she made. "We were just asking Miss Everheart about her family and connections."

No one countered her lie. Alice was an extremely unflappable girl and quite capable of navigating the treacherous waters of social politeness. She could cope with concerned mothers of bachelors better than me.

"I'm from Dorset," she said.

"Fascinating." Seth topped up her glass of wine from the carafe. "Go on."

"There's not much to tell. My father is a businessman. He's in cloth, mostly, but trades in other commodities from time to time." She picked up her glass and smiled over the top of it at a horrified Lady Vickers.

I smothered my own smile with my hand. Poor Lady Vickers. She loathed talk of trade and business, particularly at the dinner table. She probably hated even more that her son couldn't take his eyes off the daughter of a merchant.

"Fascinating," Seth said again. "Isn't it, Mother?" he added with a hard edge.

Lady Vickers set down her fork. "Your father sounds very astute, Miss Everheart. I imagine he's quite successful."

Gus and I exchanged glances. We both knew where this was heading. If Alice's father were rich, Lady Vickers would forgive him for being involved in something as 'vulgar' as trade.

"You would think so," Alice said. "But he's much too conservative to take risks and it's really only the risk takers who do well in business. And those who marry off their daughters to more successful men than themselves, of course," she said for what I suspected was my benefit. Her father had tried to do precisely that, until her supernatural affliction presented itself.