Page 90 of Of Fate and Phantoms
"To help," Seth said with a nod of approval.
"As bait."
Gus spat out his chocolate, spraying it over the table.
Lincoln crossed his arms. "That was a joke. Yes, I want you there to help."
Cook handed Gus a cloth. "Warn me, next time," Gus said, wiping the table. "I ain't used to your jokes."
I bit back my smile. Gus didn't look at all amused, and Seth looked surprised that Lincoln had attempted a joke at all. Sometimes I forgot that they didn't know him like I did.
"How did you find out he's the man we need without speaking to him?" I asked. "Did you see him change into the form of the late prince consort?"
"Nothing as definitive as that, but I'm sure he's the one. I watched him from the street. He left at twenty minutes to one, so I entered the building and looked through his things."
Alice gasped. "You robbed him?"
"I merely broke in. A robbery is when you take something."
"What did you see?" I asked before they got into an argument about the ethics of his actions.
"The photograph of the queen and prince consort recently stolen from the palace."
Seth nodded in approval, then caught Alice's stunned stare and added, "It's quite all right to break into someone's house if they're a thief."
"Particularly someone who stole from the queen," Gus added, winking at Seth.
"Coupled with the way Gawler reacted when I asked about King's shifting abilities, I'd say you have the right man," I said. "Will you confront him in the morning?"
"Yes. Get some sleep," he said to Gus and Seth. "I want to catch him before he goes out."
We finished our chocolates but I insisted on remaining behind to help Cook wash the dishes in the scullery. Lincoln, however, ordered Cook to leave and he helped me instead. Once Cook's footsteps faded, and aside from the occasional creak of a floorboard, the house fell silent.
Lincoln tipped a pail of water into the basin. "You've recovered from your shock?" he asked.
"I have. The rabbit really was harmless." I smiled. "It was dressed in a blue waistcoat and buff trousers and it carried a watch that was as big as my hand. He was very worried about being late. You ought to have seen it, Lincoln. It was quite funny, really."
He handed me a cup but didn't let it go. "I am not laughing."
"So I see."
He released the cup.
"I do see your point," I said.
"I didn't make one."
"No, but you're thinking it."
He huffed out a laugh. "Are you sure you're not part seer?"
I angled a glare at him. "You're worried about Alice living here."
"I have a lot of people under my care now," he said. "A rabbit is one thing, but an army is another."
"I know." I handed him back the cup to dry and he passed me another. "But we can't let her live anywhere else. Who would know what to do? Certainly not Mrs. Denk, and her parents sound like awful people. I can't imagine they know how to handle a normal girl with a mind of her own, let alone one like Alice."
"Agreed."
