Page 22 of Of Fate and Phantoms
She pressed her fingers to her temple and closed her eyes. "I don't recall her name but she's married to the heir of the Preston viscountcy."
"I know the current viscount," the Prince of Wales said. "Beaufort is the family name."
"That's it! Mrs. Emily Beaufort."
"There was some scandal a few years back where the heir married a common girl whose coloring was, shall we say, not typically English."
"I found her to be quite charming," the queen said.
I knew her too. Or, at least, knewofher. She was listed in our archives. While I didn't have a memory as good as Lincoln's, her name had stuck with me because of her link to the Preston viscountcy. There were very few peers of the realm with supernatural abilities.
"Is there anything else we ought to know about the break-in?" Lincoln asked. "Or any other unusual events at the palace that may have a bearing on Leisl's vision?"
"Not that I can think of," the queen said. "Bertie?"
He shook his head, but did not meet her gaze.
"Miss Holloway and I will take our leave." Lincoln nodded at me. "Send His Highness's spirit back, Charlie."
"No!" the queen cried, attempting to push herself out of the sofa only to fail and give up. "No, you mustn't. I'm not ready. We have so much to discuss."
"He can't stay," the Prince of Wales said.
"Why not?"
"Tell her we will be together again one day," Prince Albert's ghost said to me. "Tell her I cannot stay but I'll hear her if she speaks to my spirit when she's alone. That ought to curb her grief somewhat."
I repeated his words then ordered him to return to his afterlife. His mist swirled once around the room then disappeared through the ceiling. The queen's eyes watered and her chin trembled. Her son made no move to comfort her.
"Allow me to escort you out," he said to us.
I bobbed a curtsy at the queen but she simply turned her shoulder to me and poured silent tears into her handkerchief. We left with the Prince of Wales.
A footman stood by the door, his face bland. The prince dismissed him and walked with us back through the palace.
"You held something back," Lincoln said. "What was it?"
The prince regarded him levelly. "You're used to making demands, aren't you? And having them carried out?"
Lincoln's steady gaze faltered. He hadn't expected the prince to get his measure so quickly. "My men prefer to remain in my good graces."
"And Miss Holloway? Does she do as you order?"
Lincoln's shoulders went rigid. "She has a mind that is not easily swayed when it's made up."
I huffed out a laugh then bit my tongue. I'd found myself in the middle of a battle of wills between father and son, and it might be best to be as insignificant as possible to allow them to get on with it.
"Good for you, Miss Holloway," the prince said. "A fellow should always have at least one person who can stand up to him, otherwise he becomes too arrogant."
"Yes, sir," I said, sounding utterly stupid.
"As to your question, Fitzroy." The prince lowered his voice. "You are correct. There is something else, and I didn't want to upset Her Majesty more. Only a few days ago, a man came here and demanded to see her. Her lady in waiting—can't recall which one now—thought it best that she not be troubled so summoned me in the queen's stead. It was obvious to the lady that Her Majesty would be disturbed by the visitor." The prince's pace slowed, and he once again checked behind us. He stopped altogether, and so did we. "You see," the prince said quietly, "the man claimed to be my father."
Chapter 4
"Good lord," I said. "Did you have him arrested?"
The prince shook his head. "I told him to go away and never return. I…I couldn't bring myself to summon the police."
