Page 20 of A Whisper and a Curse

“Mrs. Frost said I must return next week, that spirits don’t linger for long after they try to make contact. I fear if I don’t, I will lose the chance to speak with him.”

Hadrian met Tilda’s gaze across the coach. It suddenly seemed as though it didn’t matter whether the medium was authentic or not. He wasn’t sure his mother cared.

And yet, she’d hired Tilda and asked her to continue her investigation. They would forge onward. He inclined his head toward Tilda, more determined than ever to discover the truth behind the London Spiritualism Society.

CHAPTER 6

“Lord Ravenhurst’s coach just arrived,” Tilda’s grandmother said as she moved from the parlor into the entrance hall, where Tilda was drawing on her gloves. “Where is the inquest?”

“A tavern near Willow Street called the Boasting Goat,” Tilda replied.

Vaughn opened the door and welcomed Hadrian inside. “Always a pleasure to see you, my lord,” the butler said. “I understand today’s business is another inquest. That medium who was found hanging from his staircase?”

The news had spread quickly, first appearing in last night’s papers. Tilda’s grandmother had read about it and asked if it was at all connected to the séance she and Hadrian had attended.

Her grandmother pierced Hadrian with a frank stare. “My granddaughter assures me you are not investigating this medium’s death, but if that is true, why are the two of you attending the inquest?”

“We may learn information that pertains to the investigation Tilda is currently conducting,” Hadrian replied with an affable smile.

Tilda had already explained that, but apparently her grandmother wanted to hear it from Hadrian as well. “There is no reason to worry, Grandmama. We are not investigating another murder. It is just that the deceased medium is a member of the same spiritualism society as the medium I am investigating for Lady Ravenhurst.”

“I am not worried. Not when you are accompanied by his lordship,” Grandmama said, returning Hadrian’s smile. “Still, I am glad to see you investigate something other than death.”

Tilda wasn’t sure why it mattered, other than that her grandmother was always concerned about Tilda’s safety. Unless she was with Hadrian. “I have conducted several investigations for women seeking divorce. That is, in fact, how my last investigation began.”

Indeed, the investigation before that had also started with something other than a murder. Now that Tilda thought about it, perhaps murder investigations did have a way of finding her.

“What do you hope to learn today?” Grandmama asked.

Tilda exchanged a look with Hadrian. “We aren’t sure. The person we are investigating will be at the inquest.”

“I look forward to hearing about it,” Grandmama said. “Except for any grisly details.” She turned to Hadrian. “How did you find the séance last night? Tilda said it was somewhat anticlimactic.”

“It wasn’t much of an entertainment,” Hadrian replied. “There wasn’t any levitating to speak of.” He smiled, and Tilda’s grandmother laughed.

“Do they really levitate?” her grandmother asked.

“Anyone can,” Hadrian declared. “Observe.” He moved away from them, going to the farthest corner of the entrance hall. Putting his back to them, he angled his body so that his right side was more toward them. Very slowly, he seemed to rise from the floor and float a few inches above it.

Tilda’s grandmother gasped. “How are you doing that?”

“He’s only lifting his back foot,” Vaughn said, who was standing closer to the side of the hall where Hadrian was conducting his trick.

“Show us how it’s done.” Tilda was glad he’d remembered to demonstrate what he’d seen in his vision the night before.

Returning to the floor, Hadrian turned and faced them. “It’s all about putting distance between the trick and the audience so they can’t see what is happening. And the performer must angle themselves in a specific manner so that the observers will only see the foot that is lifted. Meanwhile, I am rising on the front of my other foot, which remains solidly on the ground.” He demonstrated for them as he spoke. Then he turned again to repeat the trick.

“Marvelous,” Tilda breathed. She was most impressed with his mastery of the performance after having only seen it in a vision.

Hadrian lowered his foot to the floor and turned with a grin. “One must also not allow anyone to stand where they can see the front foot, as Vaughn was able to do.”

Vaughn clapped, and Tilda and her grandmother joined in the applause.

“Well done, my lord,” Vaughn said. “If your earldom is ever in need of funds, I’d say you could perform that trick all over England and call the act The Floating Earl.”

Hadrian chuckled. “I would never want to bamboozle anyone.”

Vaughn nodded. “Of course not. I didn’t mean to imply you would. Perhaps I am too familiar.”