Page 117 of Of Fate and Phantoms
"Miss Holloway," the queen said. "I'm so pleased to see you again. Are you here to speak with my husband's spirit? Bertie wouldn't tell me."
I glanced at the prince. He looked a little sheepish but unrepentant. So he was leaving it up to us to tell her.
"No," I said. "We were summoned here to report on our investigation into the imposter."
She blinked and looked away "It's cold in here. My shawl, Bertie."
The prince plucked a black shawl off the back of a chair and draped it around her shoulders. "You remember the conversation we had about that man," he said, impatience tightening his voice. "Miss Holloway and Mr. Fitzroy have been investigating. It turns out that the man had an unusual quality. He was able to change his appearance to look like anyone."
Was? Had? How did he know King was dead?
The queen held the shawl's edges at her throat with white knuckled fingers. "Did he admit to impersonating my husband?" Her voice sounded frail, old. It was easy to forget that she ruled the most powerful country in the world.
"Yes," Lincoln said. "The man known as King admitted his trickery, although it's possible he was paid to do it, ma'am."
"Can't you ask him?"
"I did. He denied it. Now he's dead."
I watched the prince carefully. He gave no reaction, not even a flicker of his lashes. "I cannot even ask his spirit," I said. "If I don't see it rise at the time of death, I must know his full name to summon him back. Everyone knew him only as King."
"So he is gone," she said, her voice quavering. "And I am alone again."
"Not alone," the prince said. "You have your children and grandchildren, your ladies."
"It's not the same."
The prince sighed. "We wish to thank you," he said to us. "It cannot have been easy." He nodded at Lincoln's bandaged hand and the bruises on his face. "Were there any casualties?" He spoke as if it had been war. I suppose, in a way, it had been a battle.
"Two of my men suffered broken bones and bruising. They'll recover."
"Please pass on my thanks for their service to the crown. It's pleasing to know that we have such loyal and capable subjects protecting us against the supernatural."
"Not all supernatural people are dangerous," I said. "I, for one, am not."
"Of course. But we must be vigilant. Your ministry is all that stands between order and chaos."
I glanced at Lincoln, but he remained unmoved.
"Is there anything the ministry requires?" the prince asked. "Funds? Resources?"
"From what source?" Lincoln asked, rather boldly, I thought.
The prince, however, seemed unperturbed. Perhaps he liked directness. "The public purse."
"That would require an act of parliament to be passed, and the ministry would become public knowledge. Is that wise, your highness?"
"Why not legitimize what you do? Perhaps the public has a right to know about the supernatural. Perhaps theyshouldknow."
I held my breath, hardly daring to consider the implications of what he suggested. What would happen if the public knew? Panic, I suspected.
"I'm not sure it's wise," Lincoln said.
The prince nodded slowly. "You may be right. I'll think on it some more. In the meantime, there are ways of supplying funds that would keep the ministry's existence a secret. Money can be funneled through various channels."
"That's done already."
"It seems you have it under control. I am glad, however, that I am now aware of the ministry. My mind is eased knowing you are looking after the realm in matters supernatural. And it is even more at ease knowing someone of such competence, efficiency and loyalty is at the helm."
