Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(6)
I said nothing, however, as I listened to the men approaching along the corridor.
"As the role of father-of-the-bride has fallen to me," Seth declared, "I must insist that we have a discussion before the wedding, Fitzroy."
Lincoln did not respond, perhaps because he knew they were nearing the door to our compartment. He could sense my presence when I was near.
"I'd shut up if I were you," Gus hissed.
"Charlie's like a little sister to me," Seth barreled on. "I'm warning you, Fitzroy. If you ever—" He stopped outside the door when he spotted us. "Ah. Charlie, Alice, I didn't know you were in here."
Gus shoved Seth inside and filled the doorway with his big, grinning face. "That'll teach you to flap your jaw."
"I doubt it," Lincoln said, coming in behind them. "He's a slow learner."
Seth hoisted his small bag onto the luggage rack above us. "If I weren't so affable, I'd take offence at that. Besides, I know you love me like a brother, Fitzroy."
"More like a cousin."
"A distant second cousin," Gus said, adding two more bags to Seth's. "On the side of the family no one mentions in polite conversation."
Alice giggled behind her hand.
Seth dug his elbow into Gus's ribs. "My apologies," he said through a strained smile. "It's crowded in here and you're the size of an elephant. Please sit down before you fall on the ladies and squash them."
Seth and Gus sat opposite us while Lincoln squeezed next to me. His thigh touched mine as the carriage jerked forward and remained there as he removed the newspaper tucked under his arm. He spent the next several minutes reading the front page while the rest of us conversed above the rhythmic click-clack of the train. The intimate connection between Lincoln and I was oddly distracting in a pleasant way, and I wanted to make eye contact to see if it affected him too. But he kept his gaze strictly averted from mine. He seemed quite disinterested, damn him.
Because we were touching, I was able to feel when he suddenly tensed after turning the page. "Lincoln? Is something the matter?"
He lowered the newspaper and pointed at an article near the top. MAN MAULED TO DEATH the headline screamed. A body had been found in the Old Nichol area of London with deep gashes to his throat and chest that resembled claw marks. The article suspected a wild dog attack, but made no connection to the death of Protheroe two months ago. There was nothing to suspect the mauling had been done by a shape shifting wolf.
Yet I knew it to my bones. I felt sick. "He broke the truce," I said heavily. "Swinburn and his pack are killing again."
Chapter 2
Lincoln informed us that he would not remain long at Lichfield but leave to speak with Swinburn immediately after arriving home. He wanted Seth and Gus to accompany him.
They didn't need to go anywhere, however. Swinburn was waiting for us, along with Lady Harcourt. Lady Vickers looked relieved to relinquish the role of hostess to me when we entered the drawing room.
"Excuse me," she said, rising to her full, commanding height. "I must go. There's so much to do this close to the wedding."
Lady Harcourt picked at the copper colored thread embroidered into her skirt. "Speaking of the wedding, I assume I am not invited."
"You assume correctly," Lincoln said.
"I didn't think I would be, but I wanted to be certain. I may have plans for then." Lady Harcourt's tone was equal parts sweet and sour. "Now that I know I'll be free, I can go ahead with them." She wrapped her fingers around Swinburn's arm and bestowed him with a pretty smile.
He smiled back, his gaze dipping momentarily to her lush bosom before rising again to her face. She looked as beautiful as ever, but not as youthful. Small lines fanned from the corners of her eyes and the bones in her face were sharper. Worry and turmoil was wearing her down. Not that I felt sorry for her. She'd brought misery on her own head by alternately flirting with her stepson, Andrew Buchanan, and casting him aside. Their vindictive natures meant they could not leave one another in peace and so they both got hurt. She'd thrown him out of her house, even though he had a right to live there according to his late father's will. As far as I knew, he was living with his brother on the family's Oxfordshire estate. It may not be the best place for him, considering he and his brother did not get along, but it must be infinitely better than living with his stepmother. Their destructive relationship did neither of them any good.
I expected her to have shed the unhappiness Buchanan's presence inflicted on her, but looking at her now, it was clear she wasn't content. There was a certain air of victory in the way she held herself but there was no true contentment. I couldn't quite fathom it.
Lady Vickers exited the drawing room, taking Alice with her. Gus closed the door behind them and stood with his hands at his back. Lady Harcourt perched on the sofa's edge, Swinburn at her side. He was twenty years her senior with a stocky build. None would call him handsome, but that wouldn't matter to her. His wealth and connections were more important. She'd set her hooks into him two months ago, and it seemed she'd finally reeled him in after his initial resistance. I wondered what had changed his mind.
She clung to him in a way that Lady Vickers would describe as vulgar. It would seem Lady Harcourt had won her prize and planned on keeping him. That must be why she seemed victorious. He was wealthy and, although not titled, he was knighted. It was perhaps the best she could hope for, given that her background as a dancer had been made public. Her friends had dwindled in number and her prospects for another advantageous marriage dried up after the revelation. If she wanted to maintain the life she'd become accustomed to, she needed to marry a man like Swinburn. It would seem marriage might be on the cards if they were this close. Clearly it didn't concern her that he was a shape-shifting demon.