Page 32 of A Whisper and a Curse

“We’ll need to speak with them,” the constable said, lifting his pencil to write in his notebook. “What are their names?”

The siblings hesitated, but Jacob finally answered, and the constable wrote them down.

The constable fixed his gaze on Jacob. “Where can I find them?”

“I’m not certain,” he said quickly.

“Come now, Mr. Henry.” The constable narrowed one eye at the retainer. “You work with these people. Surely you know where they can be found. It isn’t wise to lie to the police.”

“You’ll have to ask the society,” Ellen said, her voice squeaking. Taking a deep breath, she added, “The man in charge there.”

Jacob frowned at his sister, and it seemed to Hadrian that the butler was troubled by something. And the maid was very upset. Perhaps it was that they’d just found their employer murdered in a ghastly fashion.

“Did Mrs. Frost ever speak to you about the séances or her work as a medium?” Tilda asked.

Jacob looked down as he shook his head. “No.” The man seemed agitated, and again Hadrian wondered if it was simply due to the murder.

Ellen met Tilda’s gaze, her soft brown eyes losing a bit of their timidity. “She told me yesterday that she was considering leaving the society. She was upset about her friend, Mr. Ward, who’d died.”

“Was she afraid?” Hadrian asked.

“I think so.” Ellen shifted her eyes away from them. “She said she wasn’t entirely happy, that London was perhaps too fast for her.”

Tilda’s eyes narrowed slightly. “She wasn’t from here?”

“She was from somewhere west,” Ellen replied. “She said she came to London after her husband died.”

“Was there anyone with whom Mrs. Frost was particularly close?” Tilda asked. “Perhaps a friend or even a gentleman?”

Jacob’s brow furrowed as he regarded Tilda. “Why are you asking us questions about Mrs. Frost after she has died?”

“These are questions I am going to ask,” the constable said. “So you may as well answer them.”

“There was no one in particular,” Jacob replied. “All the mediums in the society are close. And Mrs. Frost had regular clients who attended her séances and teas.”

The constable scrutinized them. “I need their names. I’ll repeat what I told you at the start of this interview—whatever you say will help us find the villain who did this to Mrs. Frost.”

“There were a few ladies who came to tea nearly every week the past couple of months,” Ellen said. “Mrs. Hemmings, Mrs. York, and Lady Gillivray.”

The constable wrote the names down. Hadrian wondered why Tilda wasn’t doing the same, but he suspected she was committing them to memory and would record them later.

“If you think of anyone else, I expect you’ll let us know,” the constable said with a tap of his pen against the paper of his notebook.

Ellen nodded, but Jacob didn’t react. His features were locked in consternation.

Hadrian sensed the siblings’ worry and perhaps fear. “What will you do now that your employer has died?”

Jacob blinked. “We’ll manage.” He took his sister’s hand.

“If you require assistance, please call at Ravenhurst House,” Hadrian said.

Jacob sent Hadrian a look of surprise. “That is most kind of you, my lord.”

“I have one more question,” Tilda said. “Ellen, did Mrs. Frost wear pearl earrings? I found one upstairs near … where she was.”

Ellen’s brows drew together. “No, she did not wear earrings.”

“Thank you,” Tilda said warmly. “Please accept my condolences.” She pivoted to leave.