Vow of Deception: Ministry of Curiosities, Book #9

by C. J. Archer

  I eased into her hands, enjoying the sensation on my neck. I hadn't realized how stiff I was until now. The conversation with Lady Harcourt this morning had left me tense.

  I described my gown to Harriet as she continued to massage. She wanted all the details, down to every last bead, and then asked me to describe the table setting and menu. I didn't mind. It wasn't a secret and it did seem as though she might not make it to the wedding.

  She suddenly pulled her hands away and sucked in a breath. "Ooh, that was a big kick."

  "Are you all right?" I said, turning to her. "Come and sit down. I should be massaging your shoulders, not the other way around."

  "I think I should go home." She breathed deeply and blew it out slowly. "Will you help me back to my carriage?"

  I assisted her outside and the footman had to almost lift her into the cabin. She waved at me through the window and I waved back as the coach drove off. A figure further along the drive had to step aside to let it pass, then he continued toward the house. I knew before I saw his face that it was Seth.

  "Bloody hell, it's hot today," he said when he reached me. He removed his hat and jacket before he was even through the front door. He hung both up then proceeded to remove his waistcoat and tie too. "What was Harriet doing here?"

  "Looking for company." I frowned. "It was a little odd. She seemed uncomfortable, and even a little restless. She should have been at home, not out making calls. What was even odder was that she took a walk around the room when she clearly wanted to sit down."

  "That is odd." He undid the button at his collar.

  I stared at his nimble fingers. Something bothered me. Something about Harriet's visit and her behavior, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

  "Charlie? Does my masculinity distract you?"

  "Hmmm?"

  Seth opened his shirt wider. He'd undone the top three buttons. "My chest? Does it distract you?"

  I laughed. "Good lord, no."

  He rolled his eyes. "Thank you for bringing me back down to earth with a thud."

  "Sorry, Seth, but I didn't even notice your chest. Go and show it to someone who is not in love with her fiancé."

  He cast a longing gaze at the stairs.

  "I was actually distracted by Harriet," I said. "Or, rather, her actions."

  "Any action in particular?"

  "She massaged my shoulders."

  He frowned. "Why did she do that? Did you complain of soreness?"

  "No. She simply took it upon herself to massage me. Then we got talking about wedding plans, then after a few minutes she left in a hurry."

  "Perhaps she likes your neck." He pulled a face. "That even sounds ridiculous." He shrugged. "Pregnancy is turning her a little mad. Or perhaps Gillingham is. Now that I can believe."

  I stared at the triangle of bare skin at Seth's chest. He wore a silver chain around his neck with a small pendant. I gasped. My hands flew to my throat and the back of my neck. I thrust two fingers down my bodice as far as I could reach and patted my chest.

  "Charlie?" Seth hedged. "Are you all right?"

  "My orb necklace! It's gone. Harriet stole my imp!"

  Chapter 12

  "Are you sure you were wearing it?" Seth asked.

  "Yes!" I picked up my skirts and marched toward the service area at the back of the house. "Gus! Gus!"

  He appeared in the doorway, wringing his hands in his apron. "What's all this yelling then?"

  "I need a coachman. I'm paying Harriet a call."

  "I'll drive you," Seth said, buttoning up his shirt again.

  "Weren't she just here?" Gus asked.

  Cook appeared beside him, wielding a spatula. "Why you be undressed?" he asked, pointing the spatula at Seth.

  "It's bloody hot out there and I walked all the way from the west end of the heath," Seth said. "And to answer your question, Gus, we're going to visit Harriet because she stole Charlie's orb."

  Both Gus and Cook swore. Neither apologized for their language, and I was beyond caring. I was furious. Harriet was going to get a piece of my mind. I would tell her exactly what I thought of her betrayal, and then tell her not to show her face at our wedding. She had lost the right to be my friend when she chose to take Swinburn's side.

  * * *

  "She's not at home!" Lord Gillingham's bellow must have been heard three houses away because a neighbor's footman peeked out the front door. "How many times do I have to tell you?"

  "I don't believe you," I snapped. "She's in here. She was feeling poorly when she left Lichfield."

  "Poorly?" he murmured, all bluster gone. "And you just let her go?"

  "I didn't have a choice! She simply up and left. Are you sure she hasn't come home?"

  "Damned sure."

  "She stole my necklace."

  He snorted. "Why would she do that? She has a dozen necklaces. Diamonds, rubies—"

  "My imp necklace! She took it from me!"

  "Don't be absurd. Why would she steal it?"

  "To give it to Swinburn." I suddenly realized I'd come to the wrong house.

  I turned to go, but Gillingham caught my arm. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Seth stand up on the driver's perch.

  "Let me go," I growled.

  "You stupid brat," Gillingham sneered. "My wife wouldn't do such a thing. Retract your accusation."

  "Let me go or I'll strike you again."

  His fingers loosened enough for me to wrench free. I marched down the steps and didn't give him a second glance. "Seth, take me to Swinburn's house."

  "We should go home and tell Lincoln—"

  "Lincoln isn't at home. He's out paying calls on goodness knows who."

  Seth's lips clamped shut and he did not meet my gaze. I suspected he knew precisely who Lincoln was visiting. I wondered if he chose not to tell me or Lincoln ordered his silence.

  "Drive fast," I said. "Or I'll climb up there and take the reins myself."

  He drove as quickly as the traffic allowed. It wasn't quick enough for my temper, and by the time we reached Queen's Gate, I was fuming. I hammered Swinburn's door until the footman opened it. I pushed past him, catching him unawares.

  "Miss!" he cried.

  I rounded on him. "Do not try to tell me Sir Ignaitus is out. If he is not at home, then I will see Lady Gillingham alone. I know she's here."

  The butler emerged from an adjoining room and sent the footman upstairs. "Will you wait in the drawing room, miss?"

  I allowed him to lead me into the drawing room, but regretted it as I sat on a chair. There was only one exit and my street rat instincts recoiled. In a few moments, I'd be trapped in here with two inhuman creatures with uncommon strength. The old Charlie would not have made such a mistake. This Charlie had become too trusting and soft of late.

  "I'll return to the hall," I told the butler.

  He stepped aside for me but the exit became blocked anyway as Harriet entered ahead of Swinburn. She stretched both hands toward me and lifted her brows.

  "Charlie, what a surprise," she said. "What are you doing here?"

  "You know why I'm here. You stole my necklace!"

  "Whatever are you talking about?" She winked at me. With her back to Swinburn, he would not have seen.

  "What the devil are you accusing her of?" Swinburn demanded.

  "She knows," I said through clenched teeth. "Give me back my necklace, Harriet."

  "Don't be silly, Charlie. I haven't stolen anything from you. Why would I? Gilly gives me everything my heart desires. Particularly now." She rubbed her belly and smiled dreamily. "He's a very agreeable husband lately."

  "Stop it, Harriet! Stop playing the fool. I know you removed it from my neck when you massaged me." I stepped closer, crushing my skirt against her stiffer one. "Give. It. Back."

  Swinburn thrust his arm between us. "Calm down, Miss Holloway. This behavior is uncalled for."

  I poked my finger at him, just shy of stabbing him in the chest. "You know what my necklace does, what it contains. L
ady Ballantine informed you after seeing it on the Isle of Wight."

  Swinburn batted my finger away. "Don't point at me, young lady."

  Harriet touched my shoulder. "Why would I steal your necklace when we are friends?"

  "To ingratiate yourself here," I said. "Firstly you deliberately provoke Gawler into confronting Swinburn then you rush here ahead of him to warn Swinburn. You two struck an agreement that would see you take over the pack. That has been your aim all along, hasn't it? And now, to prove your loyalty, Harriet, you took my orb and gave it to him!"

  "Charlie, don't work yourself up like this. It's not good for you. It's not good for me either, or the baby."

  "Did you ask her to steal it for you?" I spat at Swinburn. "Or did she take it of her own volition?"

  "You're mad," he said.

  "Charlie, stop this." Harriet took my hand and tried to steer me away.

  I jerked free. "Give it back now or I'll call the constables."

  "Charlie!"

  "Enough!" Swinburn bellowed. "You've insulted my guest and therefore me."

  "I quite agree." Harriet stepped aside. "You should leave, Charlie."

  "No," Swinburn growled. "Not until she calms down. I won't risk her going to the police. I don't need that man Fullbright sniffing around here any more than he already is."

  "He's sniffing because you murdered Gawler!" I shouted.

  He put up a finger. "Quiet."

  I was getting nowhere. I would have to confront Harriet on her own. As to getting my orb back from Swinburn, I'd have to come up with another solution. He wouldn't simply hand it back.

  Until then, I needed to be careful. The imp inside the amber orb had saved me on more than one occasion. I felt vulnerable without it, particularly in Swinburn's house.

  I glanced toward the door and picked up my skirts. I pushed past Harriet, but Swinburn blocked my path. "I said," he growled, "you are not leaving until you've calmed down."

  I screwed my hands into my skirt, bunching the fabric. "You can't keep me here!"

  "Sir Ignatius has a point, Charlie. You are somewhat impulsive and we can't risk you going to the police. Why not stay and have some tea."

  "This is abduction!"

  "You came here of your own accord." Swinburn strode to the door. "Come, Harriet. We'll leave her to stew in her own filthy temper for a little while. Jenkin will watch her."

  "Jenkin is the footman," Harriet said stiffly. "And a shape changer. Don't try to get past him or he'll be forced to hurt you."

  "Harriet! You're really going to comply with this? Lincoln will be furious."

  "Do stop relying on him to rescue you, Charlie. You have the skills to rescue yourself."

  I bristled. I never relied on Lincoln to rescue me. Did I?

  "I have to return home now," she went on, "but Sir Ignatius will see that you're set free after you calm down so it's in your best interests to sit and have tea."

  Swinburn opened the door and slipped out with Harriet. The footman took their place, closed the door and guarded it. He stood straight, his hands by his sides, seemingly not looking at me. But his eyes followed me as I paced the floor.

  I could not believe it! Swinburn had a nerve keeping me here against my will. Seth would grow suspicious, for one thing, particularly after he saw Harriet leave. It was a deliberately provocative move, but I couldn't think why he'd do it. To show us he would not be manipulated? To prove that Harriet was loyal to him and not us?

  Or to keep me distracted from something he was about to do?

  I studied the footman, not caring that he noticed. He was young, tall and solid. He'd be difficult to beat in a fight. In his wolf form, he'd be impossible.

  "You belong to Swinburn's pack, do you not?" I asked.

  He nodded.

  "Then you will know that your fellow pack mate, Nigel Franklin, suffered terrible injuries two months ago. Injuries inflicted by his deceased victim whom I summoned from his grave."

  Jenkin's gaze met mine.

  "Yes, I am that necromancer," I went on.

  "Are you threatening me, miss?" he intoned. He was quite a pleasant looking fellow, and I regretted that he would bear the brunt of my anger and not Swinburn.

  "Yes."

  He swallowed but did not move.

  "I don't want to hurt you, Jenkin, but you will get hurt if you don't release me. You see, I can summon the dead from anywhere. I don't need to be in a cemetery or mortuary, I simply need to know their name. And I know a lot of names. So please, step aside."

  He shifted his stance, but remained by the door.

  "Come now, Jenkin. I don't wish to have an army of dead marching through the streets of London, but that's what will happen. They will come from the cemeteries and besiege this house. Not only will they frighten innocent people along the way, but they will bring attention to your master. I'm quite sure he won't want that."

  His gaze flickered. He licked his lips. "I'll check with Sir Ignatius."

  "No. You will step aside and let me walk out. You may tell him I had calmed down and promised not to tell the police. There, will that suffice?"

  "Will you tell the constables, miss?"

  I simply smiled, but it was hard and cold.

  He edged back to the door until his back was against it. "I don't know…" He licked his lips again. "My instructions are to keep you here."

  "Brompton is the closest cemetery. I know five deceased buried there. I also believe Mr. Gawler's body was taken to Bow Cemetery. It would take him only an hour to walk here."

  Jenkin suddenly looked quite hot.

  "His full name is Jonathon Michael Gawler, by the way," I said, plucking a middle name out of thin air. "Did you meet him when he came here? Did you see how angry he was? I'm sure he's even angrier now that he's dead. Murder victims usually are."

  He flinched at every word, as if each one pricked him. "I don't know… Let me just ask…"

  "Jonathon Michael Gawler," I intoned in my best eerie sounding voice.

  "Don't, miss!"

  "Jonathon Michael Gawler, I summon your spirit here to me."

  "Miss Holloway, please, stop at once!"

  "Come, Jonathon Michael Gawler. I have need of you." No spirit appeared, since I'd used an incorrect name, but Jenkin didn't know that.

  He fumbled with the handle and pushed open the door. "Go," he whispered, checking the vicinity. "I'll tell Sir Ignatius that you tricked me and slipped away. For God's sake, let Gawler rest in peace before he hurts someone!"

  I thanked him and hurried out, quietly shutting the front door behind me. I ran down the front steps and straight for the carriage. "Go, Seth!"

  "What the devil?" he said, sitting up. "Why are you running?"

  "Just go! Make haste!"

  I climbed into the carriage without lowering the step and was thrown onto the seat as we took off. Seth seemed to have taken my request for haste to heart. We sped all the way home, ducking in and out of traffic with such abandon that I slid from one end of the leather seat to the other before I could grasp the strap.

  Seth drove straight to the coach house behind Lichfield where Gus and Cook joined us. Between us, we quickly had the horses unharnessed and settled in the stables.

  "There be tea for you," Cook said as we crossed the courtyard cobbles to the house. "And almond cake."

  "Lovely," I said. "I need tea after that drive."

  "You asked me to go fast," Seth protested. "Why, may I ask? What happened in Swinburn's house?"

  "You visited Swinburn?" Gus demanded. "Without Fitzroy?"

  "I am capable of taking care of myself," I said hotly.

  No one commented.

  "Don't tell him," I added. "He'll only worry and there's nothing to worry about." It was probably best not to tell them that Swinburn had kept me prisoner. It had come to naught anyway, and they'd only get angry. Getting angry with Swinburn at the moment was proving to be a futile endeavor.

  "So why did we need to leave in a hurry?" Seth
asked.

  "I simply don't like that man and there was no reason to remain behind after Harriet left."

  He pushed open the service door and allowed me to enter ahead of him. "I spoke to her as she left. She told me not to worry and that you were having a civil conversation with Swinburn."

  "She smiled at you, didn't she?" Gus asked with a chuckle.

  "I don't fall for smiles," Seth shot back. "She seemed genuinely unconcerned for your safety, Charlie."

  "You shouldn't trust her," I said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. "She has double crossed us. I think."

  Cook poured the tea and sliced the cake. We sat at the large central table, surrounded by warmth and the delicious scents of the kitchen. It reminded me of my early days at Lichfield, when I'd taken over duties as a maid and before we got proper servants. We'd been a small, intimate family then. We still were, but it wasn't the same when the household was filled with servants. I must remember to give them all a day off once or twice a week so we could continue these cozy afternoons.

  "So you retrieved the imp?" Seth asked. "You stole it back, didn't you? Is that why we had to leave quickly?"

  "The imp is still lost."

  Seth lowered his cup. Gus swore under his breath.

  "It be your imp, Charlie," Cook said. "They can't use it against you. It be at your command."

  "True, but I can't use it unless I have it."

  "How will you get it back?" Gus asked.

  "I don't yet know. But I suspect Swinburn has it, not Harriet. She gave it to him to prove her loyalty."

  "She betrayed us," Seth grumbled, incredulous. "Sweet little Harriet."

  "She's not so sweet anymore," I said. "Ever since discovering she's a shape shifter she has taken control of her life. I applaud it in the situation with her husband, but this…this turn worries me."

  Seth rubbed his chin in thought. "We'll have to break into Swinburn's house to retrieve it."

  "No," Gus said. "Fitzroy won't like it."

  "Aye," Cook added. "He won't agree."

  Gus settled back in the chair. "If you didn't steal back the imp necklace, why'd you stay in Swinburn's house after Lady Gilly left?"