Page 100 of The Siren of Sussex

Her ladyship motioned the gentlemen back to their chairs. “I’ve brought my daughter, Anne. And this is Fielding’s niece, Miss Maltravers.”

Zadkiel bowed before resuming his seat. “If you will take your place, my lady. And you, Miss Maltravers. I ask you all to remove your gloves.”

Evelyn took the vacant chair next to Uncle Harris. Lady Arundell and Anne sat down beside each other. The four of them stripped off their evening gloves.

“Hands on the table, if you please,” Zadkiel said. “Palms down, fingers open.”

Evelyn and the others obeyed. The candle flame flickered and snapped, as if caught by an invisible wind.

Zadkiel looked at them each in turn, his manner portentous. “I sense there are doubters among us.”

Lady Arundell harrumphed. “The young have no concept of life’s mysteries.”

“It is to be expected,” Zadkiel said. “And yet, quite strange in the circumstances. I’m sensing a powerful energy among us.”

“Eh?” Uncle Harris tilted forward in his seat. “It’s not coming from my niece, is it?”

“It’s Anne,” Lady Arundell said. “It must be. Dmitri has always said that my daughter has potential.”

“It is not Lady Anne.” Zadkiel’s gaze swung slowly to Evelyn. “It’s emanating from you, ma’am.”

Evelyn blinked. “Me? But . . . I’m not a believer.”

“Spirits aren’t fairies, to be animated by belief. They’re souls who have passed beyond our understanding.” Zadkiel’s voice took on a hypnotic quality. He stared into his crystal ball. Its surface was flawed in several places, fracturing the light from the candle flame.

Anne was right. It was quite a good show. Though Evelyn knew there was nothing real about the endeavor, her heart nonetheless gave a kick of excitement when Zadkiel at last pronounced: “I see a man.”

Lady Arundell sucked in a breath. “Is it the Prince Consort?”

Zadkiel’s brow furrowed. “The clouds have not yet parted. His face is unclear. But the spirits are out in force tonight. We shall soon make contact.” He bent his head to his crystal ball. “Ah! He begins to emerge. A guide, sent to lead us.”

Uncle Harris strained to see for himself. “Can we speak with him?”

“Yes. We must talk to the fellow.” Lady Arundell searched the surface of the crystal. “Let us question him.”

“He’s fading,” Zadkiel said. “Please, my lady, I must have quiet.”

Lady Arundell sat back in her chair with a look of chagrin.

Evelyn exchanged a glance with Anne.

Anne’s mouth quirked.

“Quiet,” Zadkiel said again. “All of you. He’s attempting to reach out to us—to grant us a vision. We must make the conditions hospitable for him.”

Lady Arundell and Uncle Harris obeyed. Along with Anne and Evelyn, they passed the next half hour in taut silence, gazing fixedly into the crystal ball, waiting for something—anything—to happen.

Evelyn’s eyes grew weary. She almost began to imagine she saw movement in the surface of the crystal. A shadow of a figure. It was, indeed, a man. A handsome, dark-haired gentleman. The longer she looked the clearer he became.

She wasn’t the only one who was imagining things.

“I see the remnants of a castle,” Lady Arundell said. “A crumbling structure of red brick.”

Uncle Harris nodded fervently. “I see it, too.”

Anne stared into the crystal ball, frowning. She glanced at Evelyn, brows lifted in question.

Evelyn gave a subtle shake of her head. She didn’t see any redbrick castle, crumbling or otherwise.