Page 38 of Of Fate and Phantoms
"What wrongs?" Seth asked.
"It's not relevant to this investigation," I said quickly.
"Charlie's right," Lincoln said. "It's not relevant. But Gillingham wants to remind everyone that Leisl and the prince had a liaison some thirty years ago. It resulted in me."
Seth and Gus stared at him, utterly speechless. Then Seth burst out laughing. "Is that a joke?"
"I don't joke."
Seth's laughter died. "Right. Er, Charlie, did you know about this?"
I nodded.
"Blimey," Gus muttered. "Does that make you a prince? Do you outrank everyone here?"
Gillingham snorted. "Simpleton. Illegitimacy has no rank. He would have to be publicly acknowledged and a title bestowed upon him. That sort of thing doesn't happen, nowadays."
"Ain't no one here who can say their pa is a prince."
Gillingham had no response to that and Gus sat back with a smug look on his face.
"Are you quite sure we can rule out revenge?" Marchbank asked. "It's a simple yet effective tactic—scare him with a strange vision about his dead father, and embarrass him in a public place."
When Lincoln didn't answer, I said, "I may have only just met her, but she seemed sensible and not at all inclined for revenge. Besides, why now after thirty years?"
"Ask her. We expect you to, Fitzroy, regardless of your personal feelings on the matter."
"I have no personal feelings on the matter," Lincoln said. "If I decide to question her, it will be because I think it's relevant, not because you or anyone else does. Is that clear?"
Marchbank held up his hands in surrender. "If you say so."
"We should vote," Gillingham said.
"No." Lincoln pulled the bell pull to summon Doyle and opened the door. "Doyle will see you out."
They filed out and headed down the stairs. Lincoln remained by the door, not following. I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm.
"Lady Harcourt seemed glum today," I whispered.
He bent his head to mine and smirked. "You're building up to something. What is it?"
"Am I that easy to read? Never mind answering that. Yes, you're right, I am building up to something. I want you to ask her what the matter is."
"Why?"
"Because she looks sad, and she'll speak to you and not to me."
"That doesn't answer my question."
I gave him an arched look. "Because I'm curious. There. Does that satisfy?"
His smile was positively sly. "Seth would be a better choice than me."
"No, he would not." Because she loved Lincoln, not Seth. She respected Lincoln more, too, and had relied on him in the past for help. I suspected she'd open up to him. "Go on, ask her."
"You won't get jealous if she flirts with me?"
"Of course not. I'm not the jealous type."
