Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(27)

"You would say that," the duke grumbled.

The prince gave his head a slight shake then his gaze flicked to the queen. So she still didn't know that he'd fathered Lincoln. If he hadn't informed her by now, he probably never would.

"If you attempt to abolish the ministry," Lincoln said, "then it will simply go underground. It has existed for centuries and will continue to exist, long after we're all gone."

"You think you're above authority?" the duke demanded. "Above the monarch, parliament, the will of the people? God, man, that is arrogant."

Lincoln didn't bother to answer him, which only made the duke's nostrils flare more. He looked as if he would storm off again and this time not heed his mother's summons to return.

"You mentioned that you were going to request an audience with us," the prince said quickly. "Why?"

"Have you spoken to my husband's spirit again, Miss Holloway?" The queen's voice sounded young, hopeful, and not at all like it belonged to the dour woman planted on the sofa.

"No, ma'am," I said.

"Oh." Her shoulders slumped and she fell into silence.

I appealed to Lincoln to get to the point before she requested I summon the prince consort's ghost now.

"Have you met with Sir Ignatius Swinburn since we foiled his plot to marry Lord Ballantine's daughter to His Royal Highness Prince Albert Victor?" Lincoln asked.

"That is none of your affair," the duke said.

"We have," the prince said, ignoring his brother's glare. "He is our friend and confidant. We trust him. He was not involved in Ballantine's plot."

"He was," Lincoln pressed.

"Look here," the duke said, sitting up straighter. "How dare you suggest our friends are conspiring against us!"

"He denied involvement," the queen said. "My sons chose to believe him and therefore so do I. They are very good judges of character."

"He's a shape shifting wolf."

"So you've already told us," the prince said. "That changes nothing. Even if he is, he's not involved in these latest deaths."

"He has far too much sense to wander into the Old Nichol, for goodness’ sake," the duke scoffed.

I sighed and didn't bother to correct him. Neither did Lincoln. We had no evidence of Swinburn's wrongdoing, and until we did, there was no point accusing him in the presence of people who defended him. Swinburn was a trusted adviser to the royal family and until that trust was broken, they would choose his side.

The clock on the mantel chimed and the queen put out her hand. "Help me up, Affie."

The duke assisted his mother. Lincoln and I both rose and bowed as she exited the room. The duke followed her. I let out a breath once they'd gone, glad that the queen had not asked me to speak to her dead husband again.

"Forgive my brother," the prince said, walking with us out of the room. "He's a loyal friend to Sir Ignatius."

"Too loyal?" I suggested.

"Sir Ignatius isn't the sort of person you think he is. He may enjoy the odd party or two, but he's not a murderer, swindler or liar. He gives generously to a number of charities and is fiercely loyal. He has defended us in private and in public when others we called friends did not. He wouldn't harm a soul, nor condone anyone who does. I believe he has shed Ballantine as a friend and distances himself from the other members of his pack who were involved in the Hyde Park death."

"He may have distanced himself socially," I said, "but he still runs with them when in wolf form."

"How do you know? Has he told you that?"

I bit the inside of my lip. I didn't have an answer and I suspected any further attempt to tell him the truth about Swinburn would only raise his ire.

"We have a different experience of Swinburn," Lincoln said. At the prince's protest, Lincoln raised a hand for silence. To my utter shock, the prince closed his mouth. "But I see you'll need proof, sir. Hopefully I can give you that proof soon."

"Part of me hopes you do, if only so that I will have the pleasure of your company again. Yours too, Miss Holloway. Perhaps you'll be Mrs. Fitzroy the next time we meet." He smiled, and I forgave him his defense of Swinburn. There was no fault in being loyal to a friend, and it was only fair that he required proof before casting him out. I would agree to nothing less if I were in his position.

"His Royal Highness the duke seems intent on closing the ministry," Lincoln hedged.

The prince waved off the suggestion. "It was just a passing comment, said in the heat of the moment. My brother wouldn't do it."

"He can't anyway," I said. "He has no authority. Has he?"

"We may not sit in parliament, Miss Holloway, but we have influence with the nation's decision makers. If we wanted to shut down the ministry it would be within our power to do so."

I swallowed heavily and took Lincoln's offered arm. I suddenly needed something solid to hold on to.



* * *



"I expected better from two princes," Lincoln said as we drove home from the palace. I wouldn't quite say he seethed, but he certainly wasn't in a good mood. "I expected them to be more particular in their choice of friends. They ought to be, in their position."