Of Fate and Phantoms (Ministry of Curiosities Book 7) Read online

  "You mentioned the boys?"

  "I did, and she has no qualms about taking care of them, too. I think she's looking forward to the challenge. I then went to my lawyer's office to make the arrangements. He wanted to discuss what to do about your cottage too, but I told him you needed to be there for that conversation."

  "Right. Thank you. Anything else?"

  "I went to the general's house and informed the staff."

  "What did they say?"

  "The housekeeper protested. She thinks children should be neither seen nor heard. I told her she could find employment elsewhere, and so could anyone else unhappy with the arrangement. I expect to lose a few, but not many. I'll let Mrs. Sullivan choose her own housekeeper when she's ready."

  "Finley and Mink were a little overwhelmed when we told them," I said. "I understand how they felt. They had nothing a mere twenty-four hours ago. They didn't even have hope. And now they have a future that can be anything they wish to make of it. Believe me, Lincoln, it takes some time for that to sink in."

  He regarded me gently, his eyes shining. "Has it sunk in yet?"

  I grinned. "Yes." I rested my hands on his knees. "Yes it has."

  He stared down at the ring for a long time. He'd gone very still, and hardly seemed to be breathing.

  "Lincoln." I sucked in a breath and plucked up the courage to say what I wanted to say. "Lincoln Fitzroy, will you marry me?"

  He looked up, laughing, and drew me to him. He made way for me to sit beside him in the chair and I was careful not to put too much weight on his injured thighs. I cupped his face and smiled.

  "Is that a yes?" I asked.

  "With all my heart, it's a yes. It belongs to you, Charlie. I belong to you, and I want the world to know it."

  My heart thudded in response, a signal that I'd made the right decision. Whatever storms lay ahead, we would weather them as a couple. Without each other, we were two separate halves, but together, we were a whole.

  I stroked the side of his face and tumbled into the pools of his eyes. "And I belong to you," I whispered.

  I kissed him and he kissed me back thoroughly, holding me against his chest. When he hissed, I drew back.

  "Sorry," I said. "Did I hurt you?"

  "It's not that. I had another vision."

  My gaze connected with his. "Good, I hope."

  "Very."

  "Tell me about it."

  He shook his head. "I don't want to make you blush. Not when we're about to have company."

  I opened my mouth to protest but the library door suddenly opened and Gus and Seth burst in.

  "There you are," Gus said, not even blinking an eye at me sitting so close to Lincoln. "Doyle said you were in here. Which one do you prefer?" He held out two pieces of paper with designs on them.

  "I tried telling him that the one with the dragon is better," Seth said.

  "We don't slay dragons," Gus shot back. "They ain't real."

  "We don't know that for certain. They might be real. If they are, and we do find ourselves fighting fire-breathing dragons one day, you're going to be terribly disappointed if you didn't choose this one." Seth tapped the piece of paper with the dragon on it, flames spewing from its mouth. "It's clearly the better of the two."

  "That's because Alice drew it under your guidance, and you're sweet on her. And you're a fool."

  I took the pieces of paper, making sure to pass my left hand in front of their faces. Gus gasped and caught it. Seth drew me into a hug.

  "About bloody time," he murmured in my ear.

  He let me go and I was enveloped by Gus. Seth shook Lincoln's hand, somewhat gingerly, considering their injuries. "Congratulations, Fitzroy."

  "Now, before we tell the others," Gus said, "you got to decide something."

  "What is it?" I asked, grinning.

  "Which one of us will walk you down the aisle?"

  Seth looked at him like he was thick-headed. "Me, of course. Who would a lady rather have at her side? Lord Vickers or Mr. Ugly?"

  "Lord Arse, more like."

  "It's going to be a tough decision," I said, regarding them both. "I'll need a way of choosing between you. Perhaps I could flip a coin."

  "This ain't a joke," Gus said. "Seth's a big fool, and his hair is ridiculous."

  "My hair is lovely!"

  "Or," I said, "I'll think of a number between one and a hundred and whoever gets the closest is the winner."

  They both scowled at me.

  "Trial by combat?" Lincoln suggested.

  "Excellent idea," I said, taking his hand. "We'll wait until you're both fully healed, of course." I led Lincoln out of the library to the parlor to inform the others.

  Behind us, Seth and Gus followed meekly.

  "You'll have them eating out of your hand until you make a decision," Lincoln said, a smile in his voice.

  "That's my plan."

  He put his arm around me and kissed my forehead. "You're a wicked woman. But you're my wicked woman."

  I tipped my head back to look at him. His warm gaze searched my face and his arm tightened. "Very much so," I said. "Very much so."

  THE END

  Coming Soon:

  VEILED IN MOONLIGHT

  The 8th Ministry of Curiosities Novel

  by C.J. Archer

  Charlie and Lincoln’s wedding preparations are interrupted when a young gentleman with links to the royal family is found dead, and the main suspect is a wolf.

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  A Message From The Author

  I hope you enjoyed reading OF FATE AND PHANTOMS as much as I enjoyed writing it. As an independent author, getting the word out about my book is vital to its success, so if you liked this book please consider telling your friends and writing a review at the store where you purchased it. If you would like to be contacted when I release a new book, subscribe to my newsletter at http://cjarcher.com/contact-cj/newsletter/. You will only be contacted when I have a new book out.

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  I wrote a short story featuring Lincoln Fitzroy that is set before THE LAST NECROMANCER. Titled STRANGE HORIZONS, it reveals how he learned where to look for Charlie during a visit to Paris. While the story can be read as a standalone, it contains spoilers from The 1st Freak House Trilogy, so I advise you to read that series first. The best part is, the short story is FREE, but only to my newsletter subscribers. So subscribe now via my website if you haven't already.

  Also by C.J. Archer

  SERIES WITH 2 OR MORE BOOKS

  Glass and Steele

  The Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy

  The 1st Freak House Trilogy

  The 2nd Freak House Trilogy

  The 3rd Freak House Trilogy

  The Ministry of Curiosities Series

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  Lord Hawkesbury's Players Series

  The Witchblade Chronicles

  SINGLE TITLES NOT IN A SERIES

  Courting His Countess

  Surrender

  Redemption

  The Mercenary's Price

  About the Author

  C.J. Archer has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She spent her early childhood in the dramatic beauty of outback Queensland, Australia, but now lives in suburban Melbourne with her husband, two children and a mischievous black & white cat named Coco.

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