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

"I wonder if Buchanan will be invited to their wedding," Gus said.

Seth crossed his legs at the ankles. "It could prove to be quite the spectacle if he is. Makes me wish I was getting an invite after all."

Gus snorted. "You're the last person she'd want there, along with Buchanan. Past lovers don't make good wedding guests."

"Then half of the nobility will be missing."

"You're both wrong," I said. "I'm the last person she'd want attending her wedding, just as she's the last person I'd want at mine. Anyway, I can't think of a single reason why she'd invite Andrew Buchanan."

"I can." Seth looked at me as if it were obvious. When I shrugged, he went on, "Her new husband won't allow her to have lovers. Swinburn's not the sort who likes to be cuckolded. Buchanan has lost, and what better way to rub his nose in it than have him at the wedding so he can see what a big fish she caught. How she would love to twist that vindictive knife of hers further into his heart."

That I could believe. "You sound as if you feel sorry for him."

"Part of me does. He wasn't always such a turd." Seth huffed out a humorless laugh. "And there but for the grace of God go I."

"You were never like him," I said. "Perhaps your circumstances were, but you, as a person, are not."

"Charlie's right," Lincoln said. "If you were like Buchanan, I wouldn't have employed you. You are his opposite in almost every way."

Seth straightened and his cheeks pinked a little. "Almost every way?"

"You're a peacock. You have that in common."

Seth's face fell. Gus roared with laughter.

I made my excuses. It had been a long journey from Hertfordshire and I still wore my traveling outfit. I didn't get far up the staircase when a strong arm circled my waist. I hadn't heard Lincoln's footsteps.

"Can you spare me a moment?" His voice rumbled through his chest to my body, and his breath warmed my ear.

I turned and looped my arms around his neck. I teased the hair tied back with a black ribbon at the nape of his neck. "I can spare several for you." I kissed him lightly on the lips but found it wasn't enough and deepened the kiss.

His hands splayed across my back, holding me firmly in place, and he kissed me, thoroughly and completely. We were in danger of being seen, but I didn't care. Nothing mattered except Lincoln and his mouth, his body, and my visceral reaction to him. I ached for him, for more than mere kisses. Our wedding night couldn't come soon enough.

He pulled away and filled his lungs with a deep breath. He touched my cheek with the back of his hand. "I've missed you, Charlie."

"I was with you the entire time," I said, laughing.

"Not the entire time. I never did find a secret passage to your room."

"You wouldn't have entered even if you had. You're far too much of a gentleman, despite what you want people to think."

"Don't let Seth and Gus know." He took my hand and led me upstairs, out of view of the drawing room. "I'm enjoying their attempts to both lecture and threaten me. Gus said he'd castrate me if I ever upset you."

"That's positively medieval. Good for him. And good for you for taking it in your stride. Once upon a time you would have growled and snapped at them."

"And they would have feared me. Unfortunately, my reputation is ruined and I'm left with finding amusement instead."

"That's the spirit."

"Until they bore me. Then I'll send them on futile errands into dangerous slums."

We reached my bedroom and he kissed me again before disappearing along the corridor to his own rooms. It wasn't until I closed my door that I realized I hadn't asked him the plan of action. We needed to find out more about the victim, and the attack, and perhaps question Gawler. Lincoln found him easy to read, with his seer's senses, and would know if he was guilty or not. I'd speak with Lincoln after dinner.

I changed and went in search of Lady Vickers. I found her in the parlor, enjoying the last of the afternoon sunshine before dusk settled in. She opened her eyes and patted her hair. Finding several strands loose, she clicked her tongue.

"That Briggs," she muttered. "She's quite hopeless. I don't know what to do with her." Bella Briggs was Lady Vickers' maid, and a previous mistress of Seth's. I was surprised she was still in her employ, since Lady Vickers complained incessantly about her ineptitude. "You ought to get rid of her, Charlie."

"Me? But she's your maid."

"You are the mistress of the house."

"Seth employs and pays her. Ask him to dismiss her." We both knew he would not. He may no longer have dalliances with Bella, but he was much too good-hearted to dismiss someone he'd known intimately.

"It's not his place," Lady Vickers said. "You should speak to Mrs. Cotchin. While Bella isn't under her jurisdiction, it's acceptable for the housekeeper to dismiss the ladies’ maid if the mistress permits it. Ask her to place an ad on your behalf for a new maid. It's time you got one. We'll keep her busy between us, and there's Alice too, for now."

It would seem she was economizing on her son's behalf. Although Lincoln had increased Seth's wages to cover the expense, I doubted he would decrease it accordingly after Bella Briggs left.