“Oh, I understand. It was the spirits speaking through you, but what am I supposed to think? One spirit tells me one thing and another spirit tells me something else.”

Elizabeth knew that nobody liked being told what to do, and the best way to ensure they would balk is to give them an order. If a mark made the decision himself, however, he would go to his grave thinking it was the right choice. “I don’t know what to tell you, and I am probably the last person you should ask for advice. You should do what you think is best.”

“But I don’t know what is best,” Mrs. Darlington whined.

Elizabeth laid a hand on Mrs. Darlington’s arm. “Perhaps the spirits will tell you which message is the right one.”

“Yes,” Madame quickly confirmed. “I am sure they will.” Madame would probably make sure that they did.

Mrs. Darlington sighed. “This is all so difficult. I don’t know why Phineas had to die. It has made my life so complicated.”

The other women murmured their sympathy. Madame called for Persephone, who hurried in to escort them out.

Elizabeth didn’t rise with the others. She took a moment to rub her temples, as if her head ached. “I’m sorry. I feel a bit dizzy.”

“That is to be expected,” Madame said, unable to keep all the anger from her voice. She must have been livid that Elizabeth had given Mrs. Darlington second thoughts when she was so ready to turn over a fortune. Still, she apparently couldn’t help her interest in Elizabeth’s powers. “Tell me, what made you believe you needed to attend today’s séance?”

“I can’t really explain it. I felt completely normal when I woke up this morning, but sometime after breakfast, I started thinking I had an important appointment. At first I thought perhaps I did and had just forgotten, but I checked my diary and didn’t find anything. I tried to brush it off, but the feeling kept getting stronger and then I had a flash of something.”

Madame frowned. “A flash?”

“I know it sounds strange, but I don’t know how else to describe it. For just an instant, I saw this room and you and . . . and other people, although I couldn’t see anyone clearly. It happened much too quickly.”

“You actually had a vision?” Madame demanded, still frowning although her anger had become something else entirely.