Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(54)

"To blame him for the Old Nichol deaths," Lincoln said. "The police believe they have their murderer now. They won't look elsewhere."

"And Swinburn becomes the city's hero," Seth added with a twist of his lips. "All because he happened to have a gun on him."

Harriet grasped her throat above her lace collar. "What will they do with Gawler? Are they going to cut him open and fiddle around inside his body?"

"Yes," Seth said.

She covered her mouth. I tried to comfort her, but it felt awkward, stilted. I couldn't decide whether she was acting or if I believed her to be as innocent as she claimed. I decided not to tell her the other reason we thought Swinburn killed Gawler—to eliminate a rival pack's leader. Since she would now be leader, it would be an outright accusation directed at her. I couldn't do it without more evidence.

I hoped I would never find that evidence. I didn't want Harriet to be guilty of something so cruel.

"The police will investigate Gawler's associates," Lincoln said. "Expect a visit from a Detective Inspector Fullbright."

She whimpered. "Investigate me?"

Seth crouched before her and took her hands from me. He waited until she met his earnest gaze. "You're the wife of a peer and heavily pregnant. They won't accuse you of anything. But the rest of the pack may come under suspicion of being werewolves. If you're able to contact them, warn them to avoid going for a run until this blows over."

She nodded. "I will. Thank you, Seth. You're a dear man."

He was certainly better at comforting than me.

I asked Lincoln on the way home what he thought of Harriet's reaction to our questions. "Could you tell if she was lying when she said she didn't suspect Swinburn would kill Gawler?"

He shook his head. "My seer's instincts failed me. I had to use regular human intuition."

"Oh dear."

He laughed softly. "She did not seem too surprised or upset over Gawler's death, only that it was a shooting."

I slumped forward only to straighten again when my corset dug into uncomfortable places. I'd only just taken to wearing them on a regular basis because I grew tired of Lady Vickers tsk tsking every time I saw her of a morning. I was still getting used to the restriction of movement. "That was my thought too," I said. "Lincoln, I think she may have double-crossed us, and is not spying on Swinburn after all but has befriended him."

"Then we can no longer trust her."





Chapter 11





We got through the night without a visit from rabbits, armies or the authorities. Alice looked exhausted the following morning as she, Lady Vickers and I drove to the dressmaker's shop in Dover Street. I suspected her lack of sleep explained why we'd not had a visit from otherworldly beings.

Lady Vickers wrapped Alice's knee with her closed fan. "Alice! Wake up!"

Alice blinked furiously and straightened her spine. "I wasn't a sleep. The motion of the carriage is making me drowsy, that's all. I'll be fine once we start shopping."

"Did you sleep at all last night?" I asked her.

"A little."

"You're worried the army will use your dreams as their portal to come here, aren't you?"

She nodded.

"You mustn't fret," Lady Vickers said, spreading out her fan. "Lack of sleep will dull your wits, and you will need them all if we are to face an army."

"She's right," I said."

"Of course I am."

"I'll nap this afternoon while the rest of the household is awake," Alice assured us. "Speaking of which, where did Lincoln go last night?"

"Nowhere," I said as the carriage slowed.

"I saw him crossing the lawn toward the house at about three."

He hadn't mentioned going out when I saw him at breakfast. Usually he summarized his nocturnal activities for all of us, but this morning he'd said nothing.

And two days ago he'd come home smelling of lavender.

"He was probably conducting some sort of investigation," Lady Vickers said, watching me closely.

"That must be it," Alice chimed in.

I forced a smile for their sakes but I didn't like it when Lincoln kept secrets from me. It usually meant he was doing something dangerous.

I put Lincoln from my mind as I submitted to the dressmaker's ministrations that began with the tightening of my corset laces. Apparently my waist wasn't tiny enough, although I thought her somewhat rude for suggesting it, as well as wrong. While the comforts of Lichfield and Cook's cooking had seen me put on weight in the last year, I was still on the thin side. My breasts were a particular disappointment, although the detailed beading on the bodice provided a distraction for the eye.

"There," the dressmaker said, stepping back to admire it on me. "It suits you very well."

"Oh, Charlie," Alice said on a breath. "You look lovely."

Lady Vickers flapped her fan rapidly but it did not hide the tears shining in her eyes. She simply nodded in agreement.

"Do not cry, Lady V," I said, smiling. "This is a happy occasion."

She nodded again and dabbed the corner of her eye with her little finger. "That fitted shape shows off your narrow waist, and the simplicity of the skirt is as elegant as you said it would be. It falls beautifully to the floor."