“What an odd time to be calling,” Mother Bates said, glancing at the clock.

“She probably had to come between séances,” Elizabeth said, rising to greet Persephone. “What a lovely surprise.”

“I’m sorry to intrude, but . . . Oh, hello, Mrs. Bates,” Persephone added to Mother Bates.

“So nice to see you, Persephone.”

“We’ve missed you at the séances,” Persephone said, remembering her duties. “I thought perhaps you would come with Mrs. Gideon.”

“I would love to, but my son doesn’t approve,” Mother Bates said quite truthfully, not that Gideon’s disapproval would have stopped her.

“He allows Mrs. Gideon to attend,” Persephone pointed out.

“Only because she seems to have the gift,” Mother Bates said. “I think he is hoping she will grow bored with it after a while.”

Persephone smiled tolerantly. “Mrs. Gideon isn’t likely to grow bored, not when her powers only seem to be increasing.”

“Is that why you came?” Elizabeth asked with a frown. “To talk about my powers?”

But Persephone seemed to be genuinely concerned about something. “Not exactly. I wanted to speak with you about . . . about what happened yesterday with Mr. Miller.”

“Mr. Miller?” Elizabeth asked uneasily.

“Yes, the young man you spoke with after the séance.” She glanced at Mother Bates questioningly.

“Oh dear, I’m thinking you would like me to leave so you can speak in private,” Mother Bates said, gathering up her needlework.

“I don’t want to drive you out of your own parlor,” Persephone protested weakly.

“Of course you do, dear, and don’t think anything of it. My son would prefer I knew nothing at all about what Elizabeth gets up to at these séances. Please excuse me.” This was easy for her to say because she knew Elizabeth would tell her everything they discussed.

When she was gone, Elizabeth closed the parlor door behind her and turned anxiously to Persephone. “I’m sorry about what happened with the young man. I think I may have frightened him.”

“Not frightened, exactly. I think he was more intrigued,” Persephone said, taking a seat on the sofa at Elizabeth’s silent invitation. Elizabeth sat down beside her. “Can you tell me more about what you saw when you touched his hand?”

Elizabeth reached up and rubbed her forehead. “As I said, it was very quick, just a glimpse.”

“But you saw enough to frighten you.”

Elizabeth smiled wanly. “Everything about this . . . this ability frightens me, Persephone. I think I was already in a state after what happened in the séance, and then . . .”

“What exactly did happen in the séance? Madame doesn’t discuss those things with me, you understand, but perhaps if I knew . . .”

“I actually don’t know myself, but from what the others said, I had a special message for Mrs . . . Mrs. Darlington, I think. Is that her name?”

“It is.”