“I’m afraid we’ll have to wait until the two of you decide on the terms, but we can have it ready in a day or two.”

Waterson frowned, but he said, “That’s fine.”

“Then I’ll get my clerk in here to make the arrangements,” Gideon said. At least Smith would be pleased that Waterson was going to make an appointment this time.

—

Gideon would never have approved of Elizabeth attending a séance alone, but she really had no choice. Jake had managed to look in Madame Ophelia’s appointment book and discovered that Mrs. Darlington attended the Wednesday afternoon séances. If she hoped to protect that good lady, she had to go when Mrs. Darlington was there. Gideon was working at his office at that hour and Mother Bates couldn’t go because Mrs. Darlington knew her. She might mention that Gideon was her attorney. Since he was the one blocking the release of her money and he was also already coincidentally representing too many of Madame Ophelia’s other clients, it seemed foolish to let Mrs. Darlington see Mother Bates.

For all those reasons, Elizabeth found herself entering Madame Ophelia’s storefront all by herself at the appointed time. Persephone was greeting the latest arrivals when Elizabeth walked in.

“Mrs. Gideon, I wasn’t expecting you,” she said before she caught herself and remembered to smile professionally. “I mean, how lovely to see you. Perhaps you made arrangements with Madame Ophelia and she neglected to mention it.”

“I didn’t make arrangements with anyone, I’m sorry to say, and I do apologize for showing up unexpectedly, but . . . may I speak with you privately for a moment, Persephone?”

Having no other choice, Persephone drew her to the far side of the room, as far from the others as possible, although Elizabeth felt certain they would be trying desperately to overhear.

“I would never have just turned up here without letting you know, but I . . . I have had this feeling all day that I needed to be present at this séance. I wasn’t even certain until I walked in that you have them on Wednesday afternoons, but I just knew I had to come here today.”

Persephone’s initial surprise evaporated into concern. “Do you think you have a message to deliver?”

“I have no idea. Oh, Persephone, I don’t know what to think. What if someone else is going to die?” she added in a tortured whisper.

Persephone’s eyes widened. “Is that the message you’re getting?”

“No, not really. And it’s not like the other time, not as dark and frightening. Just urgent, I guess. That’s the only way I can describe it. As if I have an important appointment and I have to keep it, no matter what. Will Madame be too upset that I just showed up unannounced?”

“I’m sure she’ll be fine when I explain.”