Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(28)

"Politics and diplomacy are messy affairs," I said. "I suppose it's not easy to find true friends, so when one displays loyalty, they like to keep him close."

"They're naive."

"They merely want proof before they condemn a friend. What really concerns me is the duke's suggestion that the ministry could be shut down. If Swinburn is in his ear, he might just do it."

"Swinburn is definitely in his ear. Make no mistake about that."

I nibbled my lower lip and studied Lincoln's severe brow and the hard planes of his jaw.

"You're angry with the duke," I said.

He considered this a moment then shook his head. "Getting angry with an ill-informed fool is pointless. He'll change his tune when he learns the truth."

Perhaps I ought to take a leaf out of Lincoln's book. The duke made my blood boil. I couldn't wait to see him eat his words. "You said we'd go into hiding if anyone tried to shut down the ministry. Will I need to pass myself off as a boy again?"

"This isn't a joke, Charlie."

"I'm not joking. Not really. What does it mean to go underground? Will we lose Lichfield Towers?" A lump formed in my throat and tears burned my eyes. The old fear of losing my home, my friends, came unbidden and unexpectedly.

Lincoln leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He took my hands in both of his and kissed my gloved fingers. "Lichfield belongs to me, not the ministry. If the authorities closed the ministry, we'll be forced to destroy our records and publicly state that we will no longer pursue paranormal matters. That's all. Nothing will happen to us or our home. This is the nineteenth century, not thirteenth."

I blinked back my tears and smiled to show him that I appreciated the reassurance. "But of course we won't actually destroy the files, will we?"

He merely smiled against my fingers.



* * *



Lincoln spent the rest of the day and into the night talking to his contacts in the Old Nichol. He had a strong spy network consisting of people from various walks of life who gathered information for him. He paid them handsomely and got good results. This time, however, he insisted on staying in the East End himself to keep watch on Gawler's pack's movements. He returned before breakfast with Seth and Gus.

I'd woken at dawn and waited up for them. At the sound of footsteps outside my door, I threw a wrap around my shoulders and joined them in the corridor.

"Well?" I prompted. "How did it go?"

Seth dragged his hand through his hair. He looked ragged and disheveled, partly to blend in with the other East Enders, and partly because he'd spent all night outdoors. Of course he still looked handsome, perhaps even more so. I ought to wake Alice…

"I'm getting too old for this," he said. "Staying out all night is for young men."

"Lincoln looks fine," I teased.

"And I stink." Seth sniffed his armpit and pulled a face. "I don't know how you can stand it, Gus."

"I'm used to you," Gus said around a yawn. "I'm going to get an hour or two sleep." He trudged up the corridor, Seth not far behind.

I appealed to Lincoln. "You didn't see any wolves, did you?"

He shook his head and his hair fell across his eyes making him look devilishly broody. "We did learn that Gawler's pack are doing some spying of their own. Gus followed one of the pack members to Swinburn's house. He did nothing, just watched for a few hours before being relieved by another."

"Why are they doing that?"

"Gawler is adamant that Swinburn is setting his pack up to take the blame for these murders."

"He may be right. Did Swinburn or his pack go for a run?"

Another shake of his head. "There were also extra constables on patrol and I saw some men with clubs roaming the streets."

"Vigilantes," I murmured. "So it has begun."

"It'll be hard for either pack to run now."

"Hard but not impossible."

He touched my chin and planted a light kiss on my lips. "Go back to bed, my love," he whispered.

I clasped my arms around his waist and held him to me. "Care to join me?"

"You are wicked. No wonder I adore you." He plucked my arms off and kissed my forehead. "Go back to bed alone and I'll see you for breakfast in two hours."

I pouted playfully. "You really are going to make me wait until our wedding night, aren't you?"

"I'm certainly going to try," he muttered as he walked off.



* * *



A message came for Lincoln over breakfast that made him groan. Considering he rarely showed emotion, I knew it must be particularly awful. I asked to see it as I returned to my chair with a plate of bacon, toast and a boiled egg.

"It's from Andrew Buchanan," I told Alice and Lady Vickers, who'd joined us in the dining room. Seth and Gus still slept. I read further and groaned too. "He has called a committee meeting here in an hour."

"So soon after the last one?" Alice asked. "Why?"

"He doesn't say."

"It had better be for a good reason," Lincoln growled. "Or I'll make his life miserable."