Page 42 of Beyond the Grave
I raced after Lincoln and caught up to him at the base of the main staircase.
"Yes?" He stopped on the lowest step. "Is there something you need to confess?"
"What makes you say that?"
"It seems to be the order of the day, lately."
I crossed my arms. "That's not true." I lowered my voice and stepped up next to him, then went a step higher again. I was still shorter. "Besides, why do I need to confess when you can predict what I'm about to say and do?"
"I can't. I have instincts only, and they're not that well-defined."
"I think your instincts are growing stronger. First, you know when I'm not in the house, and now you seem to know what we're planning as if you overheard every single word."
"I did overhear you. I decided to come back and suggest the same thing only to hear you already giving orders as if you were the ministry's leader."
I bit the inside of my cheek and tried on an innocent smile. His scowl deepened.
"I thought you might somehow try to find out the details of my conversation with the Harcourts," he went on. "Since that would mean getting one of the Harcourt House staff on your side, I thought it much easier to swim with your tide, Charlie, instead of against it, and question the Harcouts here."
"I…I'm not sure how to take that."
"You're a force of nature, and not one I can control."
"Oh. No mincing words, then."
"I never do." He sighed and looked to the ceiling. "I can't believe I am suggesting you eavesdrop on our dinner tonight. Just be sure not to get caught."
"Why are you involving me at all? Aside from the force of nature part, that is. You could banish me to my room and lock me in."
"There will be no more locking you in your room," he snapped. "I thought I'd made that clear."
"It was just a joke."
He turned and headed up the stairs. "I've decided. That's all you need to know. If you question me further then I might change my mind."
I pressed my lips together and managed not to say anything else. He'd given me permission to listen in, and that was all I needed to know. For now.
"Thank you," I called up.
He didn't respond.
I returned to the kitchen, beaming. "You look like the cat that got the cream," Cook said.
"I'm the girl who got what she wanted. Fitzroy is actively encouraging me to listen in to the dinner conversation tonight."
Seth clapped me on the back as if I were his little brother. "Good show. Now, there's a pile of dishes in the scullery that need cleaning. Your foot's better, so there'll be no getting out of it."
"I don't want to get out of it. However." I turned on the same sweet smile I'd used on Lincoln. "Would you mind helping me? There's something I want to ask you. In private," I added in a whisper.
His face brightened. "Intriguing. Come on, then. I've got a few minutes before Fitzroy will be ready with the invitation."
He helped me fill the tub with warm water then picked up the cloth to dry as I washed.
"In the hospital earlier, I introduced us as the Guilfords. You seemed not to like that. Did I do the wrong thing? Should I have used a false name?"
His hand slowed as it circled the base of the plate. "No. Theoretically, you should have used my title. You all call me Seth, but out in the big wide world, I'm Vickers. Guilford is my family name but I haven't gone by that since my father died. It sounded odd to my ear, that's all."
I dangled my hands in the water and gaped at him. "You have atitle."
