“Heavens no, for the simple reason that I’m not likely to know any, unless something just falls into my lap. But I intend to make some other, completely different but equally accurate predictions.”

“You mean, the way that fortune-teller that your father told you about did?” Anna asked.

“No, not at first anyway. I just need to predict something that actually happens.”

“How can you possibly do that?” Mother Bates asked.

Before Elizabeth could answer—which was just as well because she hadn’t quite figured it out herself yet—the maid stepped in to announce that Mr. Jake Miles had come to call.

When she showed him in a moment later, he stopped dead just inside the doorway. “I didn’t expect a hen party.”

“What kind of a greeting is that?” Elizabeth scolded him.

Her brother sighed. “Good morning, Mrs. Bates. Good morning, Anna. And nuts to you, Lizzie.” He was gratified when both Mrs. Bates and Anna laughed at his nonsense.

“It’s a good thing I’ve learned good manners or I’d clock you one for that,” Elizabeth said. “Come and sit down and tell us to what we owe the honor of your company.”

Jake took a chair and grinned. “The Old Man told me you were asking about some medium.”

“Yes, and he already warned me that you and he would be no help to me.”

“Oh, Lizzie, how can you think that just because you deserted your loving family to make a fancy society marriage that we would fail to help you in your time of need?”

“Now I really am going to clock you one.”

Anna was laughing but she managed to say, “Have pity on him, Elizabeth. I think he’s here to help.”

“I don’t need his help,” she huffed, feigning a confidence she did not feel.

“Not even if I can tell you a thing or two about your Madame Ophelia?”

“Oh, do tell,” Anna said, having no pride at all. This was the last time Elizabeth let her brother get to know her friends.

Jake glanced at Mrs. Bates, who was smiling appreciatively, and gave his sister a smug grin. “This Ophelia is from St. Louis. She arrived a few months ago with this medium thing already figured out. She’s got a girl working for her.”

“Persephone,” Elizabeth confirmed.

“Per-what?” Jake asked with a frown.

“Persephone.”

“Persephone is a Greek goddess, the queen of the underworld,” Anna added.

Jake nodded his head in approval. “I’m glad to see I’m not wasting my money sending you to college.”

“You have my permission to clock him,” Elizabeth told Anna, who was frowning now.

“About sending me to college . . .” Anna said ominously.

Jake held up his hands in a sign of surrender. “I’m joking,” he claimed. “It’s really your money.”

“What on earth is he talking about?” Mother Bates asked.