Page 73 of From the Ashes
"You were outvoted, General." To Lincoln, Lord Marchbank said, "At our meeting today, we discussed the immediate future of the ministry, and in particular, your role in it, Fitzroy. We decided that you will be stood down as leader, effectively immediately."
"What?" I exploded. "You can't do that! The prophecy says he is the leader."
"For once, we're in agreement," the general said. "However, the other three voted for your dismissal, Lincoln."
"I can't believe you would do this! I respected you," I said to Marchbank. "But you're as foolish and arrogant as the others."
"The ministry has been exposed." Lord Marchbank sounded tired, older. "We no longer know where many supernaturals are, and Fitzroy refuses to keep us informed on important matters. He gave us no choice."
"There's no place for a rogue in the ministry," Gillingham said, refilling his glass from the decanter. "Particularly in the role of leader. He has to go."
"You can't do this!" How could I make them see? They couldn't do this to Lincoln. The ministry meant everything to him. Surely they hadn't thought it through. "You don't have the authority. No one does."
"Stop it," Lady Harcourt hissed. "Your puppy-like devotion is sickening. I'm surprised at you, Lincoln. You never did like overt displays of emotion, yet you stand there and listen toher."
"I listen to her because she has something to say that I want to hear. Or need to." He spoke with utter calmness, as if he hadn't just been dismissed from the job he was destined to do.
"You've become blind to reason, ever since she came here."
"Not blind," he said while I was still gasping at her audacity to speak to him like that. "Stupid on occasion, but not blind. I should never have sent Charlie away. She belongs here." To Marchbank, he said, "I will willingly resign if my two demands are met. Lichfield remains mine, and Charlie is left alone."
I gasped again. "Don't you wish to think about it first?"
"I have thought about it. That is my decision."
"The house is yours," Marchbank said with a dismissive wave. "It always has been."
"As to the girl, she'll be treated as every other supernatural will be treated." I heard the smirk in Gillingham's voice, but I was too busy staring at Lincoln to see his expression.
"Lincoln…what are you saying?" I whispered.
"I agree to step down from the ministry," he said.
Gillingham snorted. "As if you ever had a choice."
Chapter 15
Iblinkedat Lincoln and shook my head, but he wasn't looking at me. Indeed, he seemed to be staring hard into the distance, purposelynotlooking at anyone.
"It goes against the prophecy," Eastbrooke said with a shake of his head. "Who else is qualified? He was raised to do it. No one else could be as effective."
"I agree." I touched Lincoln's elbow. "You don't have to accept their decision."
He turned slowly to me. His face seemed different and it took me a moment to realize that it had softened. "Yes, I do."
He couldn't mean that. He couldn't simply step aside and let them take his life's purpose away from him. "Lincoln, you need time to consider what it means."
"I know what it means. It's what I want."
"But—"
"He's made his decision," Lady Harcourt bit off. "It's final." She put out her hand for one of the gentlemen to assist her to her feet. After a moment, Marchbank took it.
"I don't like it," Eastbrooke said with a shake of his head.
"Your opposition was noted earlier." Gillingham stamped his walking stick onto the floor. "As March stated, you were outvoted. It's time to consider the future."
"This is madness." I included Lincoln in that assessment and let him know it with a glare. "Who'll be leader now?"
