Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(23)

A knock sounded on the door and Lincoln asked the visitor to enter. It was Alice, biting her lip and looking drawn. She seemed out of sorts since returning from Freak House. She was often distracted by her own thoughts and frequently took out her frustration on the piano keys. When I asked her what the matter was, she simply shook her head and refused to answer.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have visitors," she announced. "The Cornells wish to speak to you."

"Just Lincoln?" Seth asked.

"All of you. Leisl particularly asked for you, Seth."

He tugged on his cuffs. "She finds me charming."

Gus thumped his arm but had no cutting remark to offer. Perhaps because Seth was right and it was his presence that Leisl liked. Older women in particular found him charming.

I hung back with Alice, allowing the men to go on ahead. "Is everything all right?" I asked her.

"My nerves are frayed. The lack of progress regarding my situation is torture. I thought going to Frakingham would bring answers, and a plan to help me, but it hasn't. In fact, the investigation into my condition has stalled altogether."

"We're busy with solving the murders. That must take priority."

She sighed again. "I know. But that doesn't mean I can't feel irritable. You cannot understand how important this is to me. I must find a way to stop these dreams coming to life. I must find answers."

"What if the answer is that they cannot be stopped? What if this is how you'll be forever?" I felt awful for pointing it out but she ought to prepare herself for the worst. "Just as I have to live with the fact I'm a necromancer."

"At least you can control when you raise the dead. I can't control my affliction."

"Perhaps you'll learn to."

She threw her hands in the air. "When? I need to learn now, before something awful happens or that horrid little rodent returns."

"Rabbits aren't rodents." I didn't tell her that I found the creature rather adorable with his floppy ears and waistcoat. He'd not tried to harm anyone, he’d merely urged her to go with him. "You must relax, Alice. You know what happens when you're frustrated."

"I'll try."

"As soon as we discover who has killed those people, we'll investigate portals and realms. I promise."

She hugged my arm and we headed down the stairs, catching up to Seth who'd paused on the step. I followed his gaze to see his mother emerging from the hidden door that led to the service stairs. The stairs ran through the house between the walls with a door to each level for the servants to easily come and go. We used them, from time to time, if we didn't want to be seen by other members of the household, although those times were rare now Lichfield housed more staff. I'd never seen Lady Vickers venture through any of the doors before.

She headed in the other direction, not having seen us. Her light hum drifted along the corridor. It was a pretty, happy tune.

"Your mother seems content lately," I said to Seth.

He grunted. "That's what worries me."

I exchanged a glance with Alice. "Why?" I asked him.

"Because I've noticed her talking to Cook a lot."

I pressed my lips together to suppress my smile.

"You're worried they're developing a tendre for one another?" Alice asked.

"She has a history of it."

"And what is wrong with Cook courting her? He's a fine man."

Seth turned a sharp glare onto her. "You wouldn't understand."

"I understand that you don't like people from different stations courting each other."

"That's not why," Seth said and walked off.

"I think my charm is wearing off," Alice said, sounding pleased. "Thank goodness for that."

"Don't goad him," I said as we followed Seth at a distance. "He's sensitive about his mother's second marriage, and it seems she may be heading down the same path again. Her choices affect him."

"He's old enough not to let it matter. He should be pleased that she seems to have found happiness again."

It was impossible to argue with that.

All three members of the Cornell family waited for us in the drawing room. Lincoln greeted them stiffly while I gave them each a kiss on the cheek. We'd seen them twice in the last two months, including at a dinner held here. While it had been a pleasant evening, on the whole, David was still rather frosty toward Lincoln, his half-brother. Their mother had told me to give them time. I wondered how long it would take before he accepted Lincoln into his family.

I wondered how long it would take for Lincoln to want to be a part of it.

"What can we do for you?" Lincoln asked, getting straight to the point.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw David's lips flatten in irritation at Lincoln's curtness. His sister, however, kept her face averted. Eva studied her lap, her hands clasped tightly. I got the distinct impression she was avoiding meeting anyone's gaze but couldn't fathom why. She'd been amiable and kind to us since discovering she had a half-brother, with a wicked sense of humor. I liked her.

"I had a vision about you, Lincoln," Leisl said. "I come to warn you."

Heavy dread settled in my heart. "Warn him?"