Startled by their reaction, Mrs. Vanderslice nevertheless remained undaunted. “Yes, he did. He wants to . . . to speak with you about something important.”

“Oh my, that’s very disturbing,” Elizabeth said. “What did Anna say about all this?”

“Anna? Why should she say anything at all?”

“Surely she had something to say about David’s request, I mean,” Elizabeth said.

Mrs. Vanderslice frowned. “Anna did not accompany me today. She is not a believer.”

Elizabeth nodded, secretly approving Anna’s reluctance. She had done just what they’d decided she should do.

“I can understand why she wouldn’t want to go back,” Mother Bates was saying. “I did think she found the whole experience rather upsetting.”

“She doesn’t believe we’re really communicating with David,” Mrs. Vanderslice said. “I don’t know why she refuses to believe the evidence right in front of her.”

“Well, I can’t imagine what David would need to tell me,” Elizabeth said. “So I can’t imagine I’ll go back, either.”

“But you must!” Mrs. Vanderslice said. “Surely you know that the horse won.”

“What horse?” Elizabeth asked in all innocence.

“I don’t know. Cupid or something. Mr. Lindhurst was raving about it.”

“You remember, Elizabeth,” Mother Bates said helpfully, “that thing you said when you had that little, uh, fit or whatever it was.”

“Don’t remind me,” Elizabeth said, covering her cheeks with both hands as if to conceal a blush. “I was hoping everyone forgot all about it.”

“Hardly. Even Peter was talking about it,” Mrs. Vanderslice said. “You were quite amazing.”

“And quite embarrassed. To tell the truth, that is the real reason I can’t even think about returning. How can I face everyone after that?”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Mrs. Vanderslice said. “In fact, I should feel quite honored if the spirits chose to pass a message through me.”

Indeed, she actually sounded a bit miffed that she hadn’t been the chosen vessel.

“I’m afraid I can’t feel anything but mortification,” Elizabeth said. “So Madame Ophelia will never see me again.”

“Then you can expect Mr. Lindhurst to show up on your doorstep. He won a lot of money, to hear him tell it, and he is anxious for another revelation.”

“I hope Mr. Lindhurst does not actually know where her doorstep is,” Mother Bates said with a frown.

“Oh no,” Mrs. Vanderslice assured them. “Madame Ophelia informed him your prediction was certainly a result of having been in her presence, so he would have to encounter Elizabeth there.”

“Please thank her for me,” Elizabeth said, and she was truly grateful, because returning to Madame Ophelia’s was the very next step in her plan.

CHAPTER FOUR