Page 10 of A Whisper and a Curse (Raven & Wren #3)
“ L ord 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.”
“Not at all,” Hadrian assured him with a smile.
They said goodbye to Tilda’s grandmother, and Vaughn held the door for them as they departed. When they were settled in the coach, Hadrian asked, “Do you tell your grandmother everything about your investigations? Leaving out anything grisly, of course,” he added with a smile.
“Not everything. I don’t tell her about your visions, which are a vital part of our investigations. Is your head all right today?” His headaches didn’t typically last into the following day, but Tilda wanted to ask anyway.
“Yes. Thank you for your concern. I’ve been thinking of the vision I had when I touched the glass that Montrose handed me. I’d like to know who else was in the memory, particularly who was doing the levitating.”
Tilda nodded. “Thank you for your demonstration. You certainly delighted Grandmama and Vaughn.”
“And you?” he asked in a teasing tone.
“Quite. Had you practiced?”
“I did, in fact. I confess I was eager to see if I could do it, so when I arrived home last night, I made Sharp, my valet, watch me try. He helped me perfect my technique. Then he had to try it too. By this morning, he’d taught two footmen and one of the maids.
However, the trick doesn’t work as well for women because the hem of the gown rather disrupts the effect of levitating. ”
“I’m going to have to attempt this for myself,” Tilda said. “You’ve done a great investigative service.”
Hadrian chuckled. “Happy to do my part.”
“Do you plan to show your mother the trick?” Tilda asked.
“I’m considering it, although I’m not sure it will deter her from attending another séance.
She isn’t interested in levitation and likely won’t care that it’s a cheat.
Furthermore, I believe she accepts that some mediums are frauds, which is why she hired you in the first place.
She wants to be assured that Mrs. Frost is not among that number. ”
Tilda inclined her head. “We must prove that Mrs. Frost doesn’t actually speak to the dead. Hopefully, we can do that tomorrow when we call on her. Or at least move closer to that goal.”
“I wanted to ask you something about last night,” Hadrian said, his gaze cautious. “Did it bother you when Mrs. Frost asked about your father?”
“It surprised me,” Tilda replied.
“I noticed you didn’t answer,” he said softly. “Would you speak to him if you could?”
“No, I don’t think I would, if it was even possible.
” She eyed Hadrian a moment. He actually possessed a power that would allow her to recall something precious—one of her father’s memories.
“I have wondered, however, if you might see one of his memories some time. There are things in my grandmother’s house that he touched in the past.”
Hadrian leaned slightly forward, his blue eyes gleaming in the afternoon light filtering into the coach. “I would do that for you, if you wanted me to.” He held her gaze. “Would you?”
Tilda exhaled. “I don’t know. It only occurred to me that it might be possible.”
“I can’t quite determine if you believe the mediums can speak to the dead or not,” Hadrian said, eyeing her intently.
“Because I haven’t yet made a determination.”
Hadrian leaned slightly forward. “Perhaps it’s that I can’t tell if you want to believe it or not. I am not sure of your overall impression of the spiritualism movement.”
“I don’t know that I have one yet. I tend to reserve judgment until I can gather as much information as possible.
Like you, I’m inclined to disbelieve that these mediums speak to the dead, and I do not doubt that levitating and other tricks they execute are likely fabricated, though I would still like to find proof,” she added pointedly.
“However, I also know that I cannot explain your ability, nor can I discount the possibility that someone else is similarly gifted.”
“I can’t imagine how we’ll find proof of that.” He pressed back against the squab, squaring his shoulders. “And if we did, how would I explain it to my mother?”
“You could tell her the truth about yourself,” Tilda said quietly, almost holding her breath as she waited for his reply.
She was not surprised when Hadrian shook his head.
“Why not?” she asked.
“For the same reason I didn’t tell you—I am afraid she won’t believe me. Or that she’ll think I’m mad. Sometimes, I think I’m mad.”
“I believed you. And you are not mad,” she said vehemently. He’d been very concerned about that when the visions had started, and she understood why he would be.
“It isn’t normal, Tilda.”
Tilda heard an edge of revulsion in his tone, and it pulled at her heart. “Is that what you dislike? That you see yourself as abnormal?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Because I am.”
“I don’t see you that way.” She gave him a look that dared him to argue before directing her attention out the window. “The Boasting Goat is up ahead.”
“What are you hoping to learn today?” Hadrian asked, probably glad that Tilda had abandoned talk of his ability and how he felt about it.
“I would like to know who else was in the vision you saw when you touched that glass last night. I hope you might recognize someone—or several someones—at the inquest.”
Hadrian inclined his head. “I will certainly inform you if that is the case.”
“Remember to block me from the mediums’ sight, if at all possible,” she said.
Hadrian chuckled. “They will no doubt recognize me. Why shall I say I am there?”
“You’re a member of the House of Lords and you take an interest in public safety.”