“I do feel a little funny,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “Did I say anything else?”

“No, dear,” Mother Bates assured her. “Just that advice about the horse. Perhaps the spirits felt sorry for Mr. Lindhurst and decided to send him a special message.”

Elizabeth laughed and Lindhurst chuckled, but no one else saw any humor in it. The door to the waiting room opened and Persephone came in. She had been smiling, but she stopped dead and her smile vanished, as if she sensed something amiss.

“Did the séance go well?” she asked with a worried frown.

No one spoke for a long moment, and then Madame said, “Mrs. Bates had a special message from the spirits.” She did not look happy about it.

“I’m sure it was just a fluke, if that’s even what it was,” Elizabeth said. “I certainly don’t have any supernatural powers.”

“One never knows,” Madame said, her razor-sharp gaze still fixed on Elizabeth as if searching for evidence of something. Elizabeth revealed nothing, however, simply staring back innocently.

Mr. Lindhurst was the first to move, shoving back his chair and rising to his feet. “I’m sure you’ll excuse me. I want to get out to the track.”

“Honestly, Norman,” his wife said, but he didn’t even pause, brushing past Persephone on his way out.

Everyone else rose more sedately and began to take their leave. Elizabeth turned to Madame Ophelia. “I’m sorry if I disturbed anything. I have no idea what happened.”

“You disturbed nothing. Will I see you again?”

“I . . . Well, I’ll have to see if my husband allows me to return,” Elizabeth managed to say with a straight face. How convenient to be able to blame Gideon for things. Marriage had all sorts of advantages she’d never understood before.

“You may have the gift,” Madame said, although Elizabeth was sure she was being sarcastic. Madame couldn’t possibly believe that, especially when she knew perfectly well there was no “gift” to have.

“Are you sure you’re feeling all right?” Anna said with genuine concern, having come to her side. Or at least her concern appeared to be genuine.

“I feel a bit strange, but not like I’m going to have another fit or anything,” Elizabeth said with an attempt at a reassuring smile.

“I should hope not,” Mother Bates said, slipping an arm around her waist. “You frightened me there for a minute.”

“I’m so sorry,” Elizabeth said quite sincerely. She wouldn’t cause Mother Bates a bit of worry if she could help it.

“Just don’t do it again,” Mother Bates teased.

Mrs. Vanderslice cleared her throat to remind everyone that she was there.

“Allow me to escort you out,” Persephone said quickly with an apprehensive glance at Madame Ophelia, who was still sitting in her chair and had made no attempt to rise.