Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(41)

I suspected he saw right through my lie because his lips flattened into a grim line. Then he strode out of his office.



* * *



I expected Cook to refuse to leave but I was not expecting Lady Vickers to put up a fight.

"You're dismissing the servants now?" She threw her hands in the air then let them fall on her skirts. "The wedding is in four days!"

"Forget the wedding." I picked up my skirts and headed for the kitchen where I doubted she would follow.

I was wrong. She marched into the kitchen right behind me. Cook looked up from the array of vegetables laid out on the table.

"Cook, talk some sense into Charlie," Lady Vickers snipped off. "She's refusing to be reasonable."

"I am being reasonable," I shot back. "I don't want to postpone the wedding, but it's looking like it will be necessary. Cook cannot possibly work in here alone and the servants cannot possibly stay. It's far too dangerous."

"Don't be worrying about the wedding feast," he said. "Gus and Seth will help me. We'll get it done. We ain't postponing the wedding."

"No, we are not," Lady Vickers agreed. "It's too late to change the date now."

"It's far too much work," I protested.

"There ain't many guests," Cook said. He picked up a large knife and began chopping a parsnip.

"But the queen's army—"

"As long as they don't arrive on the day, you will be wed, Charlie." Lady Vickers had a way of making it sound as if she had the final word on matters, and this was no exception. "Nor am I leaving with the servants. If Seth stays, so do I."

Cook studied me then set down the knife. He took my hands in his and leveled his gaze with mine. "You'll be wed on Saturday if I have to chop off every soldier's head myself. Now, go get some rest. You be tired."

I was tired but I wouldn't sleep. There was far too much to do. Gus and Seth needed help with the barricades, Alice needed reassuring before she wore out the piano, and then there was the housework that would not get done now without servants. Yet I could not settle. My mind would not stop whirling. I flitted from one room to the next, checking windows and doors, helping Seth for five minutes then moving on to Gus before seeking out Alice.

Thankfully Lincoln returned after a few hours’ absence with news that he imparted to us over luncheon at the kitchen table. Since the servants had all left, we decided not to use the dining room. Even Lady Vickers joined us, much to Seth's surprise and consternation. The more amenable she was to sitting in the kitchen, the more likely she was to be forming a relationship with Cook. It would be easier for them to have a liaison now with the rest of the servants gone. If I weren't so tense, I'd be amused.

"Yallop is an acquaintance of Swinburn's," Lincoln told us.

"I knew it!" Gus declared. "Swinburn's using all the friends he's got in high places. Scum. Begging my pardon, Lady V."

She merely narrowed her eyes at him.

"They are not friends," Lincoln said. "Yallop owes Swinburn money. A lot of money, according to Marchbank's friends."

Seth stabbed his slice of beef and studied it with a scowl. "So Swinburn will absolve the debt if Yallop succeeds in shutting us down."

"Scum," Gus said again before shoving half a boiled potato into his mouth.

"That explains why he wants to close the ministry," Lady Vickers said, "but does not explain how he knows about the records et cetera."

"Swinburn must have told him," I said. "And Lady Harcourt told Swinburn."

"There ain't no reason for her not to, now that she no longer be on the committee," Cook said.

"She told Swinburn our secrets before we ousted her," Seth said with a shake of his head. "She'll do anything if it'll save her own skin."

"Quite," his mother bit off.

We formed some more plans for the afternoon, and even Lady Vickers joined in. She volunteered to help Cook in the kitchen and see if any housework needed to be done. Alice remained quiet the entire time. I tried to catch her attention but she simply toyed with her food before giving up without eating anything.

She retreated to the piano room and played very loudly.

We finished our meal and Lady Vickers collected the plates. I patted her arm in thanks as she passed me then hurried after Lincoln. "Everyone has something to do this afternoon," I said. "Except me."

"You can stay here and speak with Alice."

"I've tried that. She hardly even hears me. She's lost in her own thoughts. I think I'll come with you to visit Gawler." He picked up speed so I lifted my skirts and raced after him. "Don't protest, Lincoln. I'm coming with you and that's final."

"I didn't say anything," he said.

"No, but you would have if I didn't get in first."

He smirked. "You think you know me so well."

"Do you deny it?"

"Yes." He stopped suddenly at the base of the staircase and rounded on me. "I leave in fifteen minutes. If you're not here, I'll go without you."

"I'll get my shawl."



* * *