Page 2 of A Whisper and a Curse

His mother nodded at Tilda. “Yes. And my friend says they are happy and safe—and eager to speak with those here on earth.”

Tilda glanced at Hadrian, but he couldn’t at all tell what she was thinking. “I confess I am most curious,” she said to his mother.

“I’m glad to hear it because the medium is conducting a séance tomorrow night, and I am to be the prime subject. I want you to come with me.” She looked at Hadrian. “You don’t need to accompany us.”

Before Hadrian could respond, his mother cocked her head with a slight frown. “Actually, youdoneed to accompany us. The medium is very particular about the circle, and she’s made it possible for me to bring precisely one male and one female.”

Hadrian held up a hand. “One moment. How much are you paying this medium?”

“Nothing,” his mother responded briskly. “They do not charge a fee for the initial séance.” She turned her attention to Tilda. “Which is why I agreed before I asked you to investigate. I hoped you would be able to come and provide an assessment.”

“What if we are not able to attend?” Hadrian asked.

His mother’s expression was skeptical. “Is that true?”

Tilda picked up her teacup. “I am available.”

Hadrian realized there was no avoiding it, nor should he try. If someone was going to attempt to fleece his mother in some way, he ought to do his utmost to protect her. He exhaled, releasing most of his annoyance. They would attend this séance, prove the medium was fake, and that would be the end of it. “What time are we expected, and where are we going?”

“We are going to a house in Rathbone Place,” his mother replied. “The séance begins promptly at eight. Dinner is served after.”

There was a dinner? “We don’t need to stay for dinner, do we?” Hadrian noted the lines around his mother’s mouth. He was irritating her. He did not mean to. This was just highly unusual. And aggravating. “I don’t mean to be lacking in enthusiasm, but your involvement with a medium is most surprising. You say Mrs. Langdon introduced you to this person?”

“Yes. Mrs. Frost is one of the mediums with the London Spiritualism Society. She is very sensitive and kind. You will like her immediately, as I did. You will also see that she possesses a marvelous temperament for communicating with the spirit world.”

Hadrian could only imagine what that could mean. Fortunately, he did not have to ask.

Tilda returned her cup to the table as she regarded his mother. “What sort of temperament is that?”

“She’s calm and approachable, very mild in her manner. Apparently, she puts the spirits at ease, and they are comfortable communicating with her.”

“How pleasant,” Tilda replied, as if conversing about spirits was completely normal. “You mentioned that you are allowed to bring precisely one male and one female. Why is that?”

Hadrian’s mother grew animated. “Mrs. Frost explained that circles are assembled with an equal number of men and women due to the energy brought by the different sexes. When I said I wanted to bring my son, she said she would also need to add a female, which is when I thought to include you, Miss Wren. Mrs. Frost also explained that it sometimes takes a séance or two to achieve the correct mixture of people. She said that Hadrian’s presence and that of a family friend would be most helpful for contacting Gabriel.”

“Tilda is a ‘family friend’?” Hadrian asked.

His mother looked at him as if he were daft. As ifhewere the one who wanted to speak with his dead brother. “What else was I to tell them?”

Certainly not that she was bringing an investigator to prove whether or not the medium was authentic.

“I am happy to be your family friend,” Tilda said warmly. “I will do my best to ascertain if Mrs. Frost can truly speak to the dead, though it will be difficult to tell in just one meeting. I willneed to do additional investigation. Can you tell me what she helped Mrs. Langdon with?”

“Evelyn—Mrs. Langdon—wanted to speak with her father. Her mother is ill and confused much of the time. Evelyn wanted to find something her mother has lost and hoped her father could help find it.”

“And was she able to?” Tilda asked. “Find it, that is.”

“Unfortunately, no, but her father was adamant that he was right about where it was located, and Evelyn determined that her mother had moved the item and didn’t remember where she put it.” Hadrian’s mother shook her head gently, then fixed her gaze on Tilda. “Evelyn didn’t doubt that her father was communicating with Mrs. Frost. She said there were too many things Mrs. Frost knew that she could not have without speaking with Evelyn’s father.”

“Do you know what sorts of things those were? It will help me to make my assessment,” Tilda added with a smile.

Hadrian could see that Tilda was doing her best to both put his mother at ease and conduct her investigation.

“I’m not sure.” The dowager countess’s expression brightened. “Would you like to speak with Evelyn? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. She enthusiastically encouraged me to see Mrs. Frost.”

Tilda inclined her head. “That may be helpful, thank you. Let us attend the séance tomorrow first. Do you know Mrs. Frost’s first name?”

“Deborah. I am so grateful you are eager to help.” Hadrian’s mother smiled broadly. “Now, I will finish my tea whilst you tell me about your father the police sergeant.” She looked expectantly at Tilda.