Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(19)

Buchanan smiled. "I've just come from Harcourt House. She informed me of your decision and then told me I was her replacement." He stretched his arms out wide. "So here I am. Shall we begin?"





Chapter 4





"You'd better explain yourself, Buchanan," Marchbank said. "Julia told us that Vickers is her heir."

"As Fitzroy seems to have guessed, there's been a change of plans," Andrew Buchanan said. "Julia never did get around to making Vickers her heir on the committee. Ask her, if you like. She'll even show you her last will and testament. Her unchanged will and testament." He threw himself into an armchair and snapped his fingers. "Make yourself useful, Vickers, and pour me a drink. It's all you seem to be good for, these days."

Gillingham snorted a laugh. Seth stepped up to Buchanan, but Lincoln caught his wrist. He shook his head in warning.

I poured a glass of brandy for Buchanan instead. Then I marched up to him and threw the contents in his face. "There's your drink."

Buchanan spluttered as brandy dripped off his chin and nose, soaking his clothes. His lips peeled back from his teeth in a grimace and he went to get up. Lincoln stepped in front of him and a glare was enough to force Buchanan to sit again.

He plucked at his damp clothes. "Waste of good stuff."

I took Seth's hand and hauled him out of the library. "There's no point listening to what he has to say," I said when we were out of earshot. "It won't be interesting." I shut the door and drew in a deep breath, gathering my wits.

Beside me, Seth shook with anger. Perhaps Lincoln should have let him strike Buchanan. It wasn't as if he didn't deserve it, and it would make Seth feel better.

"Miss Holloway," Doyle said, joining us. "I tried to stop Mr. Buchanan but he marched right past me."

"It's all right," I told the butler. "Come on, Seth. Let's find Alice."

I hoped being with Alice would calm his nerves a little, but it did not. For one thing, his mother was with her in the music room, and for another, he seemed to hardly notice Alice as she played the piano. His charm was nowhere in evidence as he brooded by the window.

A brooding Seth was not something I was used to, and I found I couldn't settle into the conversations that Lady Vickers and Alice attempted to draw me into.

"Charlie?" Alice prompted, her hands stilling on the keys. "Are you listening?"

"No. Sorry. I'm distracted." I regretted leaving the meeting now. I ought to be in there, contributing and supporting Lincoln. Not that he needed my support with the committee members, but surely it was the thought that counted.

"The mail is being delivered," Seth announced, pushing off from the window frame he'd been leaning against.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"To see if there are any letters for me. A newspaper was on the hall stand too. I need something to distract me."

"Are we not distraction enough?" Alice asked, her fingers racing along the keys.

"Not at the moment." He stormed out, leaving a deafening silence in his wake.

"He didn't mean it quite the way it sounds," I assured Alice.

"I think he did," she said.

"My son is a man of action," Lady Vickers said. "He doesn't like being cooped up in music rooms and libraries for long."

Except when there are pretty women in those music rooms and libraries, I could have said. But I bit my tongue and followed Seth out. The hall stand was very close to the library, and I didn't want him to succumb to the temptation to rejoin the committee meeting.

His longs legs and purposeful stride meant I didn't catch up to him until the entrance hall. He flicked through the mail, tossing each letter back into the salver after a cursory glance.

"Are you even reading the names?" I asked.

With a sigh, he dropped the rest of the letters into the salver. "I'm going back in."

"Very well."

He narrowed his gaze. "You won't try to stop me?"

"No. I'm going to join you."

The corner of his mouth lifted and he held out his hand toward the library door. "After you."

"Miss Holloway! Lord Vickers!" Doyle rushed up to us, out of breath, and held out a newspaper. "This just arrived. I think you'll want to read it."

"Oh no," I murmured as I read the front page headline.

"'Is the Ripper back?'" Seth read.

"There's been another mauling death in the East End. We have to tell Lincoln."

Seth grabbed the newspaper as I went to move off. "Wait." He pointed to a spot near the end of the article. "That's an interesting development."

"'Werewolf,'" I read, my stomach sinking. "The reporter has made the connection."

Seth and I exchanged glances then we both headed to the library and pushed open the door together. All heads swiveled to face us.

"Do I need to remind you again," Buchanan said with a smirk. "You're not part of these meetings, Vickers, unless you're serving or taking notes."

"Shut your mouth, Buchanan, or I'll shut it for you," I said sweetly. I handed the newspaper to Lincoln. "It happened again."