Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(55)

"It's a thoroughly modern style that suits you superbly," the dressmaker said. "You have an excellent eye for fashion, Miss Holloway."

"Miss Everheart has an excellent eye," I said. "I simply agreed with her ideas."

Alice smiled and blushed.

"I'll be sure to provide a detailed description to the newspapers," Lady Vickers said.

I twirled to get the full effect in the mirror. "The newspapers won't be interested in me."

"Nonsense! I've already scripted a headline for them—homeless waif marries one of London's richest men and second most eligible bachelor."

Alice laughed. "It's a little long."

"There's no point in such a beautiful gown if no one gets to see it or read about it."

"My close friends and Lincoln's family will see it," I told her as I did another twirl. I liked the way the white silk flared at the hem. "Admit it, Lady V, you just want to make your enemies jealous."

Her eyes shone, but not with tears anymore. "I have put it about that you are like a daughter to me for that very reason. Now it's time to show you off."

"I'm not sure I want to be shown off."

"Indulge me, Charlie. Seth is not likely to be wed soon if he maintains his stubborn attitude. You are my only hope to rub my good fortune in my enemies' faces."

The dressmaker and her assistant helped me out of the gown then buttoned me into my day clothes again. We finalized a delivery time and stepped out of the shop into an oppressive summer's day.

The syrupy air clung to my skin and weighed me down. We waded through it to our carriage, parked several feet away. Gus lounged on the driver's seat, flapping his hat near his face, his eyes half closed.

"This heat!" Lady Vickers wailed. "I can't stand it."

"There's an ice man over there," Alice said, pointing toward a cart on the opposite side of the street. "Shall we get one?"

"Good idea," Gus called down. "I'll have lemon."

We left Lady Vickers behind and darted through the traffic to the cart. We paid for four lemon ices in penny licks and were about to head back when I looked up, straight into the wintry gaze of Lady Harcourt.

"Working hard on the ministry's behalf, I see," she said in a tone as chilly as the ices I held in each hand.

"A bride is allowed time off for a wedding gown fitting," Alice said, matching the tone.

Lady Harcourt angled her face to peer up at Alice. "Did I address you? No, I did not. Why would I? You're nothing to me. As are you, Charlotte. Nothing."

I huffed out a laugh. The hint of madness in her response was hardly surprising, and I no longer felt the sting of her barbed words. Whether I was indeed nothing to her didn't matter—she was of no consequence to me anymore.

"It's far too hot to stand here talking to you. My ices are melting. Good day, Julia," I said, not using her title.

Her spine stiffened at the slight. "You little sewer rat," she hissed. "You always hated me, even when I tried to help you."

Now that I could not let pass. "Help me? You tricked me, betrayed me, belittled me, and more besides. But it seems that is not enough for you. You've betrayed us all by giving away ministry secrets to a man who would see us destroyed."

"Ignatius?" She scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous."

I stepped up to her so that we were mere inches apart. I could smell her perfume, as cloying as the heat swamping me. "Make no mistake, Swinburn wants the ministry closed. He's using you to find out everything he can to cause us problems with the authorities."

She stretched out her lovely, slender neck. She resembled an elegant swan…and then she spoiled the effect by opening her mouth. "You have no proof. Ignatius is merely protecting himself and his pack."

"If you believe that, you're more of a fool than I thought. He's using you, Julia. He's using you and will discard you the moment he succeeds in getting what he wants."

"And what does he want, Charlotte? Your head on a spike?"

"Not mine. Lincoln's."

The color leached from her face but she remained as stiff as a statue. "You do have a flair for the dramatic. Ignatius and Lincoln are not friends, but Ignatius wishes no harm to befall him. I wouldn't have helped him if he did. He simply likes to know things, but he rarely acts on that knowledge."

"Ask him how the authorities and The Star came to know about the ministry. Ask him how they know about our archives. Ask him why an MP by the name of Yallop wants Lincoln arrested for conspiracy to murder simply because he is protecting the names in those files. Then take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself if you're happy to have played a role in Swinburn's war against Lincoln and the ministry."

She drew in short, sharp breaths, as if she couldn't fill her lungs. Then her features sharpened and her eyes narrowed to slits. "How dare you accuse me? Me! I love Lincoln! I would never—"

"My ices are melting." I strode off, my blood at boiling point, my face hot. "Is she really so stupid?" I asked Alice as we strode back to the carriage. "Does she truly believe Swinburn wishes us no ill will? That he simply wanted to acquire knowledge but not use it?"

"It's hard to imagine she could be that naive, but she did look shocked. Perhaps she simply thought Swinburn would use the information she gave him to blackmail Lincoln, not see him arrested. I don't think she wants Lincoln harmed."