Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(32)

It wasn't until he returned the following morning, and I questioned him, that he told me about breaking into Salter's lodgings again. This time he'd found the notebook—and brought it home with him.

"Let me know if you find anything in here," he said, handing it to me. We stood in my bedroom, although he remained near the door. I'd got up to answer it upon his soft knock before dawn. I'd known it would be him so hadn't bothered with a wrap.

He studiously kept his gaze on my face.

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

"Sleep." He turned the chair at my dressing table around, put his booted feet on the trunk at the end of my bed, crossed his ankles and arms, and closed his eyes.

I kissed him lightly on the lips then returned to bed. He slept soundlessly for two hours while I scoured the pages of the notebook.

"Anything?" he asked, startling me.

I yawned and shook my head. "Nothing. No mention of Swinburn or any other names I recognize. He merely labels all of his informants as "Source" then assigns them a letter of the alphabet. Source K is ours."

He settled on the bed beside me but did not slip under the covers. I was acutely aware of his presence and the warmth his body exuded. I sidled closer, not that it was cold in the room but simply because I wanted to. To my surprise, he did not move away. In fact, he put his arm around me and nestled me into his side. This was my opportunity to take our relationship beyond kissing. Finally we were alone, in a bed, and it was early enough that only the servants were awake. Lincoln could sneak out afterward and not be seen. Perfect!

"Do you think the K refers to an initial?" he asked.

I blinked rather stupidly at him. "Huh?"

"The notebook." He took it off me and flipped through the pages. "Do you think Source K's name begins with a K?"

"Oh. Right. I was thinking of…" I bit the inside of my cheek and looked away.

"I know what you were thinking," he said with a smile in his voice.

"It's unfair that you can read my mind."

"Not always. But this time your thoughts are clearer than the words on these pages. So back to my question, do you think Source K's name begins with a K?"

"No. It's just the next letter of the alphabet. If you look through the book at the previous sources, they're lettered A to J." I slumped back into the pillows. "There is nothing of an identifying nature in there. Salter has been very careful."

He kissed my temple then scooted off the bed. "Try and get more sleep. I suspect it'll be a long day ahead."

"Why?"

" I hear other newspapers are picking up the story. That means more public interest in it, and more public interest means the authorities will need to act."

"Against us?"

"I don't yet know but I want to be prepared."

With that news ringing in my ears, sleep was impossible.



* * *



A letter from the Prince of Wales arrived over breakfast, warning Lincoln to be careful. He'd heard that certain members of parliament were looking into the reports of werewolves and the existence of the ministry. He suspected they'd demand to know more about it and we must be prepared to be questioned.

"And what is he going to do about it?" I said irritably.

"He says he'll use his influence to diffuse their interest." Lincoln passed the letter on to me then buttered his toast. "He can buy us time."

"To do what?" Lady Vickers asked.

"To get our stories straight," Seth told her. He and Gus had only slept for a few hours, like Lincoln. They were too on edge to rest. "And to hide the evidence."

"What would you like us to say if we're questioned?" Alice asked, peering at Lincoln over her teacup.

"Don't deny our existence, but play down our influence and knowledge," he said. "Don't tell anyone about the records, don't mention our recent spying jaunts, or any of our previous investigations." He lowered his knife and fork and fixed a glare onto each of us in turn. "Do not mention Charlie's necromancy or I will—"

"Lincoln," I said sweetly, "pass the butter."

His lips flattened but he took my interruption well.

"And for God's sake, don't mention your dreams, Alice," I added. "If the authorities know an army came here through you, they'll lock you up."

"It wouldn't do any good," Gus said, knocking the top off his boiled egg. "They'd still come."

"Gus!" Seth scolded.

"Well they would."

"Who will question us anyway?" Lady Vickers asked Lincoln. "Who are these so-called authorities and what authority do they have over me?"

"The police will be sent," Lincoln said. "I suspect the members of parliament will request that Scotland Yard question us."

"I want nothing to do with the police," Lady Vickers snipped. "I'm not a common thief. I'll refuse to talk to them."

"Then you'll look guilty," Seth said. "It's better to just lie."

"I do not just lie, Seth. I'm a Christian woman. I tell the truth in all things."

"Is that so?" He set down his knife and fork then leaned forward. "Tell me, Mother, when did you last see Cook?"