Vow of Deception: Ministry of Curiosities, Book #9

by C. J. Archer

  "Alice, are you all right?" I said, sidling closer to the bed. "Has he harmed you?"

  "Of course I haven't." The rabbit looked horrified. It was not an expression I'd ever seen on an animal before. "What kind of brute do you take me for?"

  "The large talking rabbit kind," I told him. "Forgive us, but we're not used to…this."

  "I know. Your creatures run around naked. It's obscene. They should be ashamed of themselves."

  The conversation had just taken a turn to the absurd. "Alice?" I prompted.

  "I'm all right," she said. "We were just talking."

  "About?" Lincoln asked.

  The rabbit twitched his nose in Lincoln's direction. "Don't tell him, miss. It's between us. No one else need—"

  "I beg to differ. Alice lives in my house and I am responsible for her wellbeing. What were you talking about?"

  "He told me this is my last chance," Alice said.

  "Miss!" The rabbit shook his head in warning.

  I sat on the bed alongside Alice. "Last chance for what?"

  "To go with him to Wonderland," she said.

  "She's not going anywhere," I told the rabbit. "Not to another realm and not with you."

  "And if you don't?" Lincoln asked. He had not looked at her but kept his gaze on the rabbit. The rabbit seemed unnerved by the attention, his nose in a constant twitch.

  "The queen's army will come for me and take me by force." She clutched my hand in both of hers. Her brow creased into a deep frown. "The last time they came for me they almost destroyed the school."

  They'd only stopped because they vanished from this realm when Alice awoke. Since then, the rabbit had learned to remain here after she woke up using a spell. If the army used the same spell…it didn't bear thinking about.

  "The queen is desperate," the rabbit told Alice. "Every day you remain here, you anger her more. You must return and answer the charges laid against you."

  "She's not going anywhere," Lincoln growled.

  The rabbit jumped and swallowed heavily. "Please, Miss Alice. For the sake of your friends here, come with me."

  "Perhaps I ought to go," Alice said in a small voice.

  I clutched her shoulders and locked my gaze with hers. "No! You can't go to another realm, for God's sake! I won't let you."

  "I said, she's not going anywhere." Lincoln's dark snarl had the rabbit backing up against the wall.

  He clutched the watch to his chest. "Please, Miss Alice. If you don't come with me, I, as the queen's emissary, will be blamed and punished."

  "That's not Alice's problem," I said.

  The rabbit ignored me. "Take my hand and we'll return together. If you don't, your aunt will be furious and when she's mad, she—"

  "My aunt?" Alice echoed.

  The rabbit's nose stopped twitching. "Ah…"

  "Is the queen my aunt?"

  "Alice has no relatives in your realm," I said.

  "Does she?" Lincoln demanded, taking a step toward the bed.

  "Stay back!" the rabbit snapped. "Miss Alice, you have to come with me now!" He reached toward her, his hind feet planted on the floor as far away from Lincoln as possible.

  My fingers tightened on Alice's shoulders. "You cannot seriously be considering going with him."

  She bit her lip and blinked watery eyes at me. "But the army…"

  "We'll find a way to defeat them. At least we know what we're up against. If you go with him to another realm, you'll be alone in a strange land, facing charges of treason laid against you by a mad queen."

  It was rather telling that the rabbit did not refute any of my claims. So the queen really was mad, and the charges were real. But the news that she was Alice's aunt… That had to be false.

  Alice gave a small nod then addressed the rabbit. "I can't go. Tell the queen I'm sorry."

  "Sorry!" the rabbit spat. "You think that will suffice? You think she'll care for your apology? She'll make me pay for my failure."

  "And I'll boil you and serve you to my dinner guests if you try to take her," Lincoln said.

  The rabbit gulped.

  "Go away and don't come back. Tell your queen that if she sends an army, this realm will retaliate and send one to Wonderland."

  "You would start a war between realms?"

  Lincoln lunged across the bed. The rabbit squealed, clicked the watch's button, and quickly spoke some foreign sounding words. He disappeared before Lincoln could reach him. Although I suspected Lincoln delayed on purpose to give him time to speak the spell.

  Alice drew her knees up and hugged them.

  "Thank God he's gone," I said, scooting closer to sit alongside her.

  "But when will the army arrive?" Alice wailed. "Tonight? Tomorrow night? Oh, Charlie, I think sending him away may have been the wrong thing to do. I should have gone—"

  "No," Lincoln said. "You're not going to another realm on your own. You're my responsibility, and I won't allow you to put yourself in danger."

  She nodded but didn't look convinced.

  I hugged her and rested my chin on her shoulder. "Were you asleep when he arrived?"

  "Yes. I don't want to go back to sleep now. What if he returns, or the army comes? I don't think it matters anymore if I am awake, but I still don't want to risk it."

  "How about I sleep in here with you tonight?" I said.

  "That'll help my nerves settle. Thank you, Charlie." She hugged me.

  Lincoln left us and I headed to my room to change into my nightdress. I returned to Alice's room and slipped into bed alongside her. I yawned but predicted I would not get much sleep.

  "Charlie," she whispered.

  "Hmmm?"

  "Do you think Lincoln would really have boiled the rabbit and served him for dinner?"

  I laughed softly. "No, but don't tell the rabbit that if he returns. A little fear will keep him from attacking us."

  "I don't think he's the attacking sort. He could have done so many times by now. In fact, I quite like him. He's very polite and even a little charming, in his own way."

  I yawned again and pondered the absurdity of Alice finding a rabbit charming yet Seth false. And then I pondered how Alice could possibly be the niece of a queen from another realm when she'd been born and raised in England.

  * * *

  Lincoln asked me to join him in his study after breakfast. Since he asked no one else, I thought perhaps a liaison of a personal nature was on the cards, but he did not so much as offer me a kiss. Indeed, I'd say kisses were not on his mind at all. He looked worried.

  "Did you get any sleep?" he asked as he sat at his desk.

  "A little," I said, taking the seat opposite. "But I doubt Alice did. I don't think she'll sleep tonight either. Poor thing. She's anxious. She feels responsible for bringing danger here."

  "We'll worry about it when the army arrives," he said.

  "But we must prepare for its arrival."

  "I'll dismiss the servants today and ask Lady Vickers to find other accommodation. Then we'll reinforce doors and windows on the ground and first floors, and make sure we have a lot of ammunition. Gus and Seth will take turns watching for the army and must alert the household as soon as they appear. I'll also send word to Lord Marchbank of what may eventuate and try to get word to him if the army arrives. He'll notify the authorities and send reinforcements when the time comes."

  I rubbed my forehead. At least he'd made plans, but with the murder investigation still underway, we were severely understaffed. It might be necessary to send Lords Marchbank and Gillingham to question our suspects while we prepared for the army's arrival. Even Andrew Buchanan could be put to use if we were desperate. Very desperate.

  Lincoln picked up a notepad and studied what he'd written. Then he spoke some foreign words—the same words the rabbit had spoken to disappear.

  "You memorized the spell?" I asked.

  "I wrote it down immediately when I returned here." He handed it to me. "It's phonetic since the actual words are unknown to me. Unf
ortunately it's useless to us without the rabbit's watch. It seems to act as his portal."

  "Do you think these are the same words that open the portal at Frakingham?"

  "I don't know, but that portal exists only at the abbey so perhaps the spell that opens and closes it is also unique. It's not portable as with the rabbit's watch or a person, like Alice."

  I handed back the notebook and he tore off the page. He moved the painting aside and opened the wall safe then placed the paper in it.

  "What do we do?" I asked as he returned to the desk.

  "You speak to the servants and Lady Vickers. Tell them they must leave but only temporarily. Give them funds for accommodation. Seth and Gus are already seeing to our defenses. I have to go out. I'll probably be gone all day." He cupped my cheek. "Don't worry, Charlie."

  "I'm not," I said.

  I suspected he saw right through my lie because his lips flattened into a grim line. Then he strode out of his office.

  * * *

  I expected Cook to refuse to leave but I was not expecting Lady Vickers to put up a fight.

  "You're dismissing the servants now?" She threw her hands in the air then let them fall on her skirts. "The wedding is in four days!"

  "Forget the wedding." I picked up my skirts and headed for the kitchen where I doubted she would follow.

  I was wrong. She marched into the kitchen right behind me. Cook looked up from the array of vegetables laid out on the table.

  "Cook, talk some sense into Charlie," Lady Vickers snipped off. "She's refusing to be reasonable."

  "I am being reasonable," I shot back. "I don't want to postpone the wedding, but it's looking like it will be necessary. Cook cannot possibly work in here alone and the servants cannot possibly stay. It's far too dangerous."

  "Don't be worrying about the wedding feast," he said. "Gus and Seth will help me. We'll get it done. We ain't postponing the wedding."

  "No, we are not," Lady Vickers agreed. "It's too late to change the date now."

  "It's far too much work," I protested.

  "There ain't many guests," Cook said. He picked up a large knife and began chopping a parsnip.

  "But the queen's army—"

  "As long as they don't arrive on the day, you will be wed, Charlie." Lady Vickers had a way of making it sound as if she had the final word on matters, and this was no exception. "Nor am I leaving with the servants. If Seth stays, so do I."

  Cook studied me then set down the knife. He took my hands in his and leveled his gaze with mine. "You'll be wed on Saturday if I have to chop off every soldier's head myself. Now, go get some rest. You be tired."

  I was tired but I wouldn't sleep. There was far too much to do. Gus and Seth needed help with the barricades, Alice needed reassuring before she wore out the piano, and then there was the housework that would not get done now without servants. Yet I could not settle. My mind would not stop whirling. I flitted from one room to the next, checking windows and doors, helping Seth for five minutes then moving on to Gus before seeking out Alice.

  Thankfully Lincoln returned after a few hours’ absence with news that he imparted to us over luncheon at the kitchen table. Since the servants had all left, we decided not to use the dining room. Even Lady Vickers joined us, much to Seth's surprise and consternation. The more amenable she was to sitting in the kitchen, the more likely she was to be forming a relationship with Cook. It would be easier for them to have a liaison now with the rest of the servants gone. If I weren't so tense, I'd be amused.

  "Yallop is an acquaintance of Swinburn's," Lincoln told us.

  "I knew it!" Gus declared. "Swinburn's using all the friends he's got in high places. Scum. Begging my pardon, Lady V."

  She merely narrowed her eyes at him.

  "They are not friends," Lincoln said. "Yallop owes Swinburn money. A lot of money, according to Marchbank's friends."

  Seth stabbed his slice of beef and studied it with a scowl. "So Swinburn will absolve the debt if Yallop succeeds in shutting us down."

  "Scum," Gus said again before shoving half a boiled potato into his mouth.

  "That explains why he wants to close the ministry," Lady Vickers said, "but does not explain how he knows about the records et cetera."

  "Swinburn must have told him," I said. "And Lady Harcourt told Swinburn."

  "There ain't no reason for her not to, now that she no longer be on the committee," Cook said.

  "She told Swinburn our secrets before we ousted her," Seth said with a shake of his head. "She'll do anything if it'll save her own skin."

  "Quite," his mother bit off.

  We formed some more plans for the afternoon, and even Lady Vickers joined in. She volunteered to help Cook in the kitchen and see if any housework needed to be done. Alice remained quiet the entire time. I tried to catch her attention but she simply toyed with her food before giving up without eating anything.

  She retreated to the piano room and played very loudly.

  We finished our meal and Lady Vickers collected the plates. I patted her arm in thanks as she passed me then hurried after Lincoln. "Everyone has something to do this afternoon," I said. "Except me."

  "You can stay here and speak with Alice."

  "I've tried that. She hardly even hears me. She's lost in her own thoughts. I think I'll come with you to visit Gawler." He picked up speed so I lifted my skirts and raced after him. "Don't protest, Lincoln. I'm coming with you and that's final."

  "I didn't say anything," he said.

  "No, but you would have if I didn't get in first."

  He smirked. "You think you know me so well."

  "Do you deny it?"

  "Yes." He stopped suddenly at the base of the staircase and rounded on me. "I leave in fifteen minutes. If you're not here, I'll go without you."

  "I'll get my shawl."

  * * *

  The plan was to convince Gawler to have a frank discussion with Swinburn about risking the lives of members of both packs, something that might happen if the ministry was forced underground. It wasn't a great plan, but we could see no other way. Swinburn wouldn't let us get close enough to spy on him. Sooner or later, he would catch us. His sense of smell was just too strong.

  We didn't have to leave Lichfield, however, as Gawler came to us just as we headed across the courtyard to the coach house. Gus called out to us from the back door and we returned. We met Gawler in the drawing room, but he was not alone.

  Lord and Lady Gillingham sat with him. Or, rather, Gawler and Harriet sat. Lord Gillingham paced the floor. His walking stick was nowhere to be seen. The last time I'd seen him, I'd slapped him and thrown him out. I doubted he would make trouble today with Lincoln present.

  "Where's Doyle?" Harriet asked.

  "The servants are having some time off," Lincoln said.

  She gasped. "So close to the wedding?"

  "That's why they needed time off," I told her. "They were overworked. Don't worry, everything is in hand for Saturday."

  "I am pleased to hear it, but you are generous employers indeed to give your household the day off at such a busy time." She sat awkwardly on the sofa and rubbed her protruding belly. If I wasn't mistaken, she'd grown even more since I last saw her.

  "Do you think your time is close?" I asked.

  She nodded and smiled wistfully. "Mr. Gawler thinks so, don't you?"

  "Aye, ma'am." The big, bushy-haired man clutched his scruffy hat in his hand and perched on the edge of the chair, as if he worried his clothing would soil the upholstery. If Lady Vickers saw him, she'd make him stand and order him to leave his boots at the front door.

  "Other shape-shifting women have had short pregnancies, as Lincoln guessed," Harriet went on. "I am glad I found out or I wouldn't have had the nursery prepared. We wallpapered it in a soothing yellow with white rabbits bounding across the border."

  White rabbits. Ugh.

  "Stop it," Lord Gillingham snapped, striding back to us. "Stop discussing this topic. We haven't come to
talk about babies."

  "Do hush, Gilly," his wife chided. "Stop pacing and sit down. You're making my head spin. It's not good for the baby."

  He sat and picked up the small slender vase holding a single pink rose. He merely clutched it for a few moments then put it down again and closed his fist on his knee. It would seem he missed his walking stick.

  Gawler also fidgeted where he sat. He peered out from under the mop of greasy black hair, his gaze flicking between the Gillinghams and Lincoln. He seemed to be waiting for an opportunity to speak, but even during a pause in the conversation, he didn't seize it. He simply waited.

  "You must be wondering why we're here," Harriet finally said. "It's the police, you see."

  "You've heard we had a visit from them," I said. "Don't worry, we told them nothing about you or your pack. They didn't take our records and any details we did pass on were limited. We gave them no names."

  "Good. I am relieved." She smiled prettily. "See, Gilly?"

  Gillingham grunted and didn't meet anyone's gaze. His fist rubbed his thigh slowly, up and down, up and down.

  "My husband was worried," Harriet told us. "Of course, I knew you wouldn't tell them anything, but he wanted to come here and find out for himself."

  "They questioned me, too," Gawler said.

  "A politician named Yallop and a detective called Fullbright interrogated poor Mr. Gawler," Harriet said. "They accused him of those murders. It was awful, wasn't it?"

  He nodded. "They said I was a dog, that I should swing for what I done. I told 'em I done nothing and that I don't know nothing about changing into a wolf."

  "A necessary lie in this instance," Harriet said with a nod.

  "What I want to know is, how'd they know to speak to me if you didn't tell them no names, Mr. Fitzroy?"

  "Swinburn," Lincoln said. "I suspect he told them."

  "God damn it." Gillingham thumped his fist onto his knee. "Do you think he gave them Harriet's name?"

  "No, since the police haven't called on her."

  Harriet shook her head. "They have not. But poor Mr. Gawler. What an ordeal!"

  "Forget him!" Gillingham shouted. "It's you I'm worried about, not your so-called friends."