Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(88)

Buchanan's spirit shimmered again. "If you disliked him enough to implicate him, why did you want to marry him?"

"Don't pretend stupidity, Andrew. You know why. I needed the security marriage to him would bring me. He would have released me before we walked down the aisle, you know. I admit to being a fool there. I gave him everything I knew about Lincoln and the ministry. I should have kept some in reserve." Her voice drifted away and her spirit thinned. She was about to cross.

"We could have been happy together," Buchanan whined.

She looked at him and her ghostly form strengthened.

"We could have run away together, gone where no one knew us," he said. "We could have made a fresh start." He swooped and circled her before settling once again. "But you wanted to stay so you could be near him."

She looked down at the scene below again. "It made me happy knowing his plan to marry Charlotte was thwarted. So very happy. He broke my heart so it was only fair that I played a hand in breaking his."

"Except you didn't." I flashed my ring at her and stood. "Now, if you don't mind, our guests are waiting."

Her spirit rushed forward and stopped in front of me. She bared her teeth. It was rather a frightful sight, considering those on her left side were smashed or missing altogether. "I will haunt you, Charlotte! I will make your life miserable!"

"No, you won't. You can only haunt the place where you died." I indicated the sitting room. "I can't imagine Lincoln or I will ever have the need to come back here."

The spirit suddenly dispersed, emitting a chilling scream that rang in my ears and hung in the air long after she was gone. I looked out the window but couldn't see her there, either. I allowed myself a deep, slow breath of relief.

Buchanan swirled around, looking for her. He tried to leave the room but found he could only go out the window, down to his death, and back up again. Everything else was off limits. When he realized she was gone, he pleaded with me not to leave yet.

"What happens now?" He looked frightened and confused, almost childlike.

"You either cross over to your afterlife or stay and haunt here," I said. "It's your choice."

"There's no point staying here without her."

"Goodbye, Mr. Buchanan."

"Call me Andrew. We were friends, after all, weren't we, Charlie?"

I said nothing, just watched as his spirit dissolved. Then I went downstairs and joined Lincoln.



* * *



We found our guests in a genial mood sitting in the shade of an oak tree on the lawn. Leisl, Lady Vickers and the Marchbanks sat on dining chairs while the rest lounged on rugs. Even David smiled. Cook commanded the picnic basket while Seth topped up Eva's glass. She watched him through lowered lashes, a secret smile on her lips. Alice watched them both with a small frown. It would seem my friend was jealous of the attention Seth paid Eva. Good. Jealousy meant she cared about him. He would be pleased, and I half suspected he was flirting with Eva for that exact reason. I only hoped she didn't get the wrong end of the stick.

Our arrival was met with warm embraces and congratulatory cheers. Seth placed a glass in my hand and Cook produced dish after dish from the basket. Somehow he'd managed to cook pies, tarts and scones, roast beef and duck, and prepare the most mouth-watering desserts with no staff to help him.

"This is excellent," I told him. "You're a marvel."

He beamed and his entire head flushed red. "Best thing is, there be plenty more to take round to Mrs. Sullivan and her orphans later."

"You do think of everyone." I kissed his cheek and received another blush for my efforts. "Is the dining room damaged?" I asked, looking at the house.

"It wasn't hit but most of the glasses and crystal broke," Seth said as he eyed off a plate of scones. "It's a bit of a mess. We salvaged some chairs and other bits and pieces." He indicated the vases of roses and silver cutlery.

"Poor Lichfield," I said on a sigh. "We only just finished fixing the kitchen after General Eastbrooke's explosion, and now this."

Lincoln laid a hand on mine. "We'll set it to rights quickly. The damage doesn't look too extensive."

"At least the tower is intact," Gus said.

"Now," Lord Marchbank said, "I have to know what you two have been up to."

"Ewan, this is a celebration," his wife scolded.

"It's all right," I said. "I'd rather get it over with now so we can move on to happier things." I looked to Lincoln and he urged me to go on with a nod. "Lady Harcourt and Andrew Buchanan are dead. He pushed her out a window then he followed her."

I expected a barrage of questions, but not the stunned silence. I gave a brief account of what happened and my conversation with the ghosts afterward.

"I know I ought to feel sympathy for them," Lady Marchbank said, "but I find I don't."

I suspected she was not alone in her feelings.

"I am glad they crossed over," Lady Vickers said. "Imagine how the new tenant would feel having the spirits of Lady Harcourt and Andrew Buchanan haunting the house."

"So that is the end of that," Seth said, leaning back on his hands. He looked to Alice but she didn't notice. Her tired gaze darted around the garden. The army's presence, only a few hours earlier, was evident in the divots made in the lawn from the boots and horses' hooves. She needed a distraction from that nightmare.