They allowed it, and Persephone closed the door to the séance room behind them.

“That was quite a display you put on,” Mrs. Vanderslice said with just the slightest touch of disapproval.

Elizabeth pretended not to notice. “Was it? I hope I didn’t make a fool of myself.”

“I think you made more of a fool of Mr. Lindhurst,” Anna said. “He couldn’t get to the racetrack fast enough.”

“I hope Mrs. Lindhurst isn’t angry with me. I couldn’t help it, really. I have no idea what happened.”

“Whatever happened, we need to get you home,” Mrs. Bates said. “Why don’t we share a cab, if you’re going straight home, too?” she added to Anna.

“That would be fine,” Anna said, and led the way outside, ignoring her mother’s frown.

“I’m sorry you didn’t get your question answered, Mother Bates,” Elizabeth said as the four of them strolled to the corner in search of a cab.

“That’s all right. It wasn’t much of a question. I think I just said I’d like to hear from my mother.”

“That would be a difficult one to answer,” Elizabeth remarked.

“Your question seemed to upset David, Elizabeth,” Mrs. Vanderslice said, still disapproving.

“I certainly didn’t mean for it to,” Elizabeth said quite honestly. She didn’t think anything she did could upset David now.

“But she made him laugh,” Anna said. “Or at least the monk laughed. What was his name again?”

“Peter,” Mother Bates said. “I was wondering if they had monks in Germany in the sixteenth century. Or if there was even an actual Germany then. I’ve been trying to remember my history and—”

“Really, Hazel,” Mrs. Vanderslice said, “what does it matter? If Peter says he was a monk, who are we to argue?”

Who indeed? Elizabeth purposely didn’t glance at Anna, for fear they might both laugh.

They found a cab, and they all managed to squeeze into the backseat with room to spare. Mrs. Vanderslice’s presence made it difficult to speak of anything that had happened at the séance, so they did their best to find some safe topics until the cab pulled up outside the Vanderslice home.

Anna helped her mother out, and then leaned in to get her purse from where she’d left it on the seat. “I’ll try to come over after I get Mother settled,” she whispered before following her mother into the house.

As soon as Elizabeth and Mother Bates were safely inside their own house, Mrs. Bates said, “What on earth was that all about?”

“My fit, you mean?” Elizabeth asked with a grin as she removed her hat.

“Yes, your fit where you gave poor Mr. Lindhurst racing tips.”

“What do you know about racing tips?” Elizabeth asked in amusement.

“I know what they are even if I don’t understand them. Was that a real tip?”