Page 94 of A Whisper and a Curse

Three more raps.

Again, Hadrian’s hand cinched Tilda’s. She looked at Lady Ravenhurst, whose lips were parted, her gaze fixed rapturously on the medium.

“Speak to your son, Lady Ravenhurst,” Mrs. Griswold urged. Her focus remained on the candles.

Lady Ravenhurst closed her eyes. “Gabriel, my darling boy. I can sense you are here.”

Hadrian was stone-faced as he looked toward his mother.

“Mama?” Mrs. Griswold said, her voice deepening.

Lady Ravenhurst gasped. “Gabriel?”

“I am here, Mama. Is Ravenhurst here too?”

Tilda watched Hadrian. His lips flattened, and his eyes narrowed.

“Yes, your brother is here,” the dowager countess replied in a higher, more excited tone. “Are you well, my boy?”

“He’sdead,” Hadrian breathed so that only Tilda likely heard him.

“I’m glad to speak with you,” Mrs. Griswold said. “I’ve seen Father here. We are happy to be together.” Their father was happy? That didn’t sound like the man Hadrian had described to Tilda.

Hadrian exhaled then and nearly released Tilda’s hand. She gripped him more tightly. “Don’t let go,” she said softly but urgently.

Lady Ravenhurst’s brow furrowed, and she opened her eyes. She glanced toward Hadrian. Tilda couldn’t quite read her expression but thought she may look troubled.

“I am surprised to hear that,” Hadrian said loudly, apparently addressing his brother. “You must have resolved the argument you had before you left for India.”

What was Mrs. Griswold doing? Did she have wrong information about Gabriel and Hadrian’s father? Or was she guessing at their relationship? Since Mallory was absent—assuming he disguised himself as one of the people who usually sat next to the medium—perhaps she had to resort to making estimations and hoping she was close enough to the truth to be believed.

There was a long silence before Mrs. Griswold—rather, Gabriel—responded. “Yes. Father and I recall many wonderful memories together, such as the Christmas you were home from Eton and the snow was as deep as our knees. We built a fort next to the stables and defended it against the groomsmen.”

That was a specific memory. Did that mean Inwood was seeing something from holding Lady Ravenhurst’s hand? Tilda hadn’t seen him speak to Mrs. Griswold. Was it possible that this memory was shared with Mrs. Griswold prior to the séance?

Hadrian’s lips parted, then formed a brief smile before his features seemed to harden once more. “Father wasn’t there.”

“Wasn’t he?” Mrs. Griswold, again speaking as Gabriel in a lower tone, asked.

“He was watching,” Lady Ravenhurst replied. She looked over at Hadrian. “Perhaps you weren’t aware, but he often watched the two of you when you were creating mayhem.” She smiled, then sniffed. Tilda wondered if the dowager countess was crying, but she didn’t appear to be.

“If he was watching, I have to think it was with disapproval. Has he changed his opinion in the spirit realm?” Hadrian’s question held a sardonic edge, and Tilda had to think this was difficult for him. He was revisiting something that was both joyous and fraught because of the relationships between the men in his family.

“Everything changes when you die,” Mrs. Griswold said as Gabriel. “Things that mattered to you in the physical realm fade here. There is only love and joy.”

“That is wonderful to hear,” Lady Ravenhurst said, her attention on Mrs. Griswold. She sniffed again. “Indeed, that is all I have hoped for.”

Hadrian frowned toward his mother. “I’m glad to hear you have peace. Please be at rest, Gabriel. It is time for everyone to move on.” He released Tilda’s hand.

“Goodbye, Mama,” Mrs. Griswold said.

“Don’t go yet,” Lady Ravenhurst cried.

Tilda saw Hadrian flatten his palm against the table. It began to tilt, and if Tilda hadn’t known better, she would have said that Hadrian caused it.

“Lord Ravenhurst, please rejoin hands,” Mrs. Griswold instructed. Her gaze had shifted to Hadrian, and she appeared perturbed. “Your mother wishes to continue speaking with your brother.”

Hadrian’s jaw worked, but he ultimately said nothing. He retook Tilda’s hand as well as that of the woman on his other side.