Page 11 of Of Fate and Phantoms
"Then why accept the invitation at all? Indeed, why go to so much trouble to secure an invitation in the first place?"
"To force them to smile politely at me when I greet them. I want them to know that their malice did not bury me." She patted his cheek. "And to insure you will be accepted into society once again."
"Why do you care so much about that? I don't want it."
"You may not want it, but you need it. You don't want to get to my age and regret that you made a poor match because you didn't have access to the best ladies in your youth."
He stared at her. "I am lost for words."
"That's quite all right, dearest. You may thank me when your wits return, but please do so before I die. Or Charlie can summon me and you can tell me then."
Seth shook his head. "This conversation is one of the strangest I've ever had."
"Speaking of strange, thank goodness that gypsy woman arrived when she did," Lady Vickers said. "She certainly livened up a rather dull event. Not to mention the gossips have someone else to whisper about now."
"She was quite a crackpot," Seth agreed.
"Don't call her that in front of Lincoln," I warned them.
"Why not?"
I didn't want to tell them that Leisl was his mother, but I needed to explain why they must temper their comments in his presence. "She's a seer and so is he."
"He is?" both Lady Vickers and Alice said.
I saw no reason not to tell them. They were both aware of the supernatural and had kept the household secrets to themselves so far. Neither would want to jeopardize their situation at Lichfield by gossiping about us. "He is," I said. "His skill is minimal, however. He doesn't so much as have visions, as feelings about certain things, and an awareness about, well, about me, mostly." I didn't mention the vision he had that day we kissed. It was a private matter, a vision of both of us, together and happy.
I told them about Leisl's vision regarding the prince, and how he'd scoffed at her pronouncement.
"I wonder how his life will be in danger from a ghost," Seth said. "I can understand his reticence to believe her, particularly if he doesn't believe in the occult."
"He believes," I said. "The look on his face when she told him suggests he does."
"I wonder if that's how they met," Alice said. "She seemed to know him, although he denied it. Perhaps she told him his fortune at the fair once."
"He wouldn't attend the fair." Lady Vickers held up the statue's loin cloth and studied it back and front. "It's more likely she's one of his conquests."
"Mother," Seth growled. "Not in front of the young ladies."
"Tosh. They're not silly girls, and I'm not imparting anything they haven't already heard." She tucked the loincloth into her bodice. "This will make a lovely handkerchief. I'll take it with me to all the dinner parties and luncheons this week. I think it will be quite the sensation."
Seth groaned. "I blame America."
"For what?"
"For turning you into this shameless hoyden."
She laughed. "America is not to blame for that. It was my darling George's influence." She winked at Alice and me. She spoke often of George, the man who'd risen from footman to be her second husband. He'd been the love of her life. Alice and I enjoyed hearing stories about their time in America, and how wonderful George had been to her before his sudden death. Seth, however, usually walked out of the room.
He sighed and squeezed the bridge of his nose. "Are we nearly home?"
* * *
"Igot leftover plum tarts," Cook said from the depths of the pantry. "Butter biscuits and two slices of orange cake."
"No bacon or eggs?" Gus asked, taking a seat at the kitchen table. He and Doyle had seen to the horses and coach upon our return, while Lady Vickers had retired immediately, with the assistance of her maid, Bella. The rest of us gathered in the kitchen where the range was still warm.
"It ain't breakfast," Cook said, setting a tray laden with food on the table.
