Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(33)

She pushed her chair back and got to her feet. "I don't have to answer that."

Seth spread out his hands. "Then you're guilty."

"Of what?"

"Of…of… You know what!" He screwed up his napkin and tossed it on the table then stalked out of the dining room.

Lady Vickers sat again and lifted her teacup. "I need to find him a wife quickly. If only he wasn't so particular." She sipped calmly, putting on a good show of being unruffled. But I wasn't fooled.

I went in search of Seth after breakfast and found him in the attic. "You should apologize to your mother," I said. "You upset her."

"I know." He sat by the window, staring out at the overcast sky. Some of the ministry's records were spread on the desk near him but he wasn't making any attempts to copy them. "But she upset me too. She and Cook are…" He shook his head. "I can't believe it's happening again, right under my very nose again."

I clasped his shoulder. "Let it run its course. Their affections will wane soon enough. They're quite unsuited."

"That's what I thought about the footman, and look what happened—she ran off to America and married him."

He turned back to the window so didn't see my smile. I couldn't help it. The story was rather a romantic one.

"Besides," he added quietly, "Cook is my friend. I don't want her to ruin that friendship."

"It won't be ruined. Your friendship is strong." I took a seat at the desk and pulled a stack of ministry records toward me. "You know what will irk her?"

He eyed me sideways. "What?"

"You and Alice."

He sighed. "Charlie—"

"You've hardly paid Alice any attention of late. How do you expect to grow in her affections if you ignore her?"

"Paying her attention didn't advance my cause. Perhaps absence will make the heart grow fonder." He joined me at the desk. "Or something."

Gus arrived but not to help copy the records. "Gillingham's here," he announced.

"What does he want now?" Seth muttered.

Gus's finger twirled small circles at his temple. "He's do-lally. He's going on about the newspapers exposing him and his family, putting his wife and unborn child in danger."

"And Lincoln's just listening to him?" I asked.

"He ain't home. Gillingham's in Lady V's ear."

"I'd better rescue her," I said, rising. "Seth?"

He shook his head. "I'm staying here. I don't want anything to do with either at the moment."

I headed downstairs on my own and found Lord Gillingham pacing the parlor, his walking stick stabbing at the floor with each stride. Lady Vickers sat on a chair by the window but stood upon my entrance.

"I must leave you," she announced and swanned past me. I tried to appeal to her but she didn't meet my gaze.

I was alone with Gillingham, a position I'd not found myself in for some time. Lincoln saw to that. My history with the earl was turbulent, and even violent when I'd first come to Lichfield. A lot had changed since then. The balance of power had shifted and I even counted his wife among my friends. Despite all that, my nerves still jangled and my stomach tied itself in knots.

"Where's Fitzroy?" he demanded before I could speak.

"I don't know," I said. "Nor do I know when he'll return. Is something the matter?"

"Of course something's the matter!" he roared. "My wife's life and that of my unborn child have been put in danger!"

I drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "She has not been named in any articles."

"It's only a matter of time now that the ministry has been exposed." He thrust his walking stick under his arm and stood stiffly by the mantel. "What if I am connected? Someone wants to harm my family. It's not on. Not on, I tell you."

"I don't think it's personal," I said. "If it is, then Lincoln is the target, not you."

"Does it matter who is the target? We'll all get injured in the crossfire. Can't you see that? No, of course you can't. You can't think beyond the scope of your own limited experience and education. If you were brought up properly, with a view to understanding how the world works, you'd be aware of the dangers." He sniffed. "Ignorance is bliss, as they say."

"Kindly refrain from insulting me in my home," I bit back.

"Your home. Ha! Just because you managed to twist Fitzroy around your little finger and trap him into marriage doesn't mean you'll ever own this place. It will always be his, never yours. He can throw you out like that." He clicked his fingers. "You won't keep his interest forever, Charlotte. Just wait until you've born him a couple of brats, he'll grow tired and look elsewhere. And Julia will be waiting for him."

I stepped forward and slapped him across the cheek. "You never learn, do you?"

He rubbed his cheek and shot me a vicious glare. "You little whore."

I rolled my eyes and strode out of the parlor. "Whistler!" I called.

The footman emerged from the back of the entrance hall. "Yes, miss?"

"See that Lord Gillingham finds his way out immediately."