Evermore (5 page)

"No, no. Oh very well, yes." He gave me a
crooked smile and pushed his glasses up his nose. "I simply want to
ask you some questions about Miss Beaufort. What sort of dances she
likes best, her hobbies, that sort of thing."

Meaning he wanted to charm her at the ball.
Dear George got sweeter and sweeter with every moment. "What I
could teach you about women in general, and Adelaide in particular,
would take the rest of the day, and that's only because you know so
little. I'm sorry, George, we don't have the luxury today."

He sighed. "Of course. You did say it was
important. Something's happened in the Waiting Area?"

I told him about the fading spirits and
everything Jacob had said. "He's going to find out what he can from
the Administrators, but it's chaotic up there apparently."

"And he thinks a living person is causing the
chaos?"

"He does. But how can that be? How can
someone from here influence what happens there?"

"A curse perhaps." He moved one of the
ladders fixed to the bookshelf railing and positioned it near the
fireplace. That corner of the library seemed gloomier than the
rest, being furthest away from the large arched windows that looked
out upon Wilton Crescent.

"It seems likely since our recent problems
with demons and possessions have mostly come about from curses in
one form or another."

Some curses, or incantations, could only be
spoken by a medium for them to work, and some needed a talisman or
object, but others could be uttered by anyone. Learning the words,
however, was another issue entirely.

"George," I hedged, "you may not like what
I'm going to suggest, but do you think someone from the Society For
Supernatural Activity would have the know-how to do something like
this?"

He looked down at me from halfway up the
ladder. "Someone like Price you mean?"

"Yes." Leviticus Price was an eccentric
scholar connected to the man who'd released the shape-shifting
demon. He'd also proved evasive when we tried to ask him about
possession. I didn't like him. He made feel like I was little
better than something he'd scraped off the bottom of his shoe.
Perhaps I was biased by my dislike and forming unfair conclusions,
but so be it. We had to start somewhere.

"It's possible." George tilted his head to
the side to read the book spines. "But I have the most extensive
library of all the members and he hasn't been here. Nor has anyone
else of late and I doubt our villain would find a text on ways to
disrupt the Otherworld anywhere else in London."

"Perhaps he hasn't found the information in a
book at all."

George peered down his nose at me. "Where
else would he find it? Who would be in possession of such obscure
knowledge and not write it down?"

I shrugged, but the more I thought about it,
the more the idea took flight. All the books in George's library
were written in the last few centuries by Englishmen or translated
into English from foreign texts, but the authors must have gotten
the information from somewhere. So where? Who had told them about
the supernatural in the first place?

"He was elected Grand Master, you know,"
George said, flicking through a heavy leather bound book.

"Price? Grand Master of what?"

"The Grand Master is head of the Society." He
shut the book, tucked it under his arm, and descended the ladder.
"I'm not sure how he managed it. He's not particularly well liked,
but he is extremely clever. Perhaps the general membership thought
he deserved to be leader since he's so devoted to the
supernatural."

"Does it give him any special powers?"

"Like flying or super-human strength?"

"Very amusing."

George's blue eyes twinkled behind his
glasses. "He chairs our meetings and has the final say on changes
to our charter."

"That doesn't sound very interesting."

A footman entered carrying
a tray with tea things. He set it down just as Mrs. Culvert
entered. "Ah, Miss Chambers, what a
lovely
surprise." Her tight smile
didn't reach her eyes, which were equally tight, pulled back at the
corners by her severe hairstyle. "How
are
you, my dear?"

"Well, thank you."

"And your family?"

"My sister and aunt are also well," I said,
although Mrs. Culvert didn't seem to be listening to my answer.

"Mother, don't you have a lunch appointment?"
George asked.

"Yes, yes, all in good
time. I want to chat to Miss Chambers first.
Such
a sweet girl. Just like her
friend. What's her name again?"

I wasn't looking at George but I could
practically hear his eyeballs rolling back in his head. "You know
her name is Adelaide Beaufort," he said, "and we can both see
through your poor attempt to disguise your interest."

When I first met George, he would never have
spoken to his mother so boldly. I wasn't sure whether to be shocked
or to cheer him. Mrs. Culvert wasn't a particularly pleasant lady.
She didn't like me. When we'd first met, she didn't want me in her
house at all. Clearly I was unacceptable company for her son to
keep. Being a medium, dusky of skin, and not from Society, I wasn't
the sort of girl she wanted near her son in case we formed an
affection for one another. Fortunately it was her son's house and
he enjoyed my company. It was only after she learned of my
friendship with Adelaide that she accepted me.

Mrs. Culvert's smile didn't waver. It was as
if it had been painted on along with the rouge on her cheeks. "I
suppose you'll be at Miss Beaufort's coming out ball? I'm not going
of course. I have other commitments that evening, but I'm sure you
younger ones will enjoy yourselves."

"Mother," George said on a
sigh, "do you
have
to?" He'd told me that his mother desperately wanted to go to
the ball but had not received an invitation. I felt a twinge of
sympathy for her, but only a twinge, mind.

Through the open door of the library, we
could hear the knocker bang on the front door. A moment, later the
footman announced, "A Mr. Hyde."

"Who?" asked Mrs. Culvert.

"I wonder why Theo is here," I said.

"I imagine it's to see you," said George with
a wink.

Theo entered and bowed to Mrs. Culvert and
myself. "I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all." George introduced him to his
mother. "She was just leaving."

"In a moment." Her fingers brushed her lips
and she eyed Theo up and down with an undisguised flash of
desire.

I couldn't blame her. Theo was a handsome
man. He was blond like George, but that's where the similarity
ended. Where George's hair was a riot of boyish curls, Theo's was
thick and straight. He was broader in the chest and shoulders too.
George had the lean frame and milky skin of a London scholar.

"Are you related to the Hydes of Mayfair?"
Mrs. Culvert asked.

"I'm from Shropshire, madam, but I'm related
to the Arbuthnots of Kensington," Theo said.

"Are the Arbuthnots peerage?"

"No."

"Oh." Her mouth flattened
and her eyes turned hard and colorless once more. "Don't let me
keep you young people from doing whatever it is you do in here."
She headed for the door. "Give my regards to Miss Beaufort and Lady
Preston, Miss Chambers. And do tell Miss Beaufort that George
is
very much
looking forward to attending the ball." She waggled her
fingers at me then left. Her heels clicked on the tiled entrance
hall until they disappeared altogether.

George breathed a sigh of relief.

"Theo, what brings you here?" I asked.

He took my hands and kissed the back of one.
"I wanted to see you. I went to your house, but your sister said
you'd come here." His smile was warm and focused entirely on me. A
little thrill skidded down my spine at the attention.

"You don't have lectures this morning?"

He rubbed my hands with his thumbs, his gaze
intent on the small swirling motion. "No."

How odd. It was Tuesday and I was sure he had
lectures every Tuesday morning. "And Carson and Kellerman didn't
need you instead?" I asked, referring to the law firm where he
worked.

He let go of my hands. "So many questions,
Emily, you're worse than my aunt. No, I am not needed there today."
He nodded at George. "How do you do, Culvert?"

George passed him a book. "Since you've not
got anything better to do, want to help us research?"

"Of course. At least these books are more
interesting than the legal tomes I usually study."

"Easier to understand too, eh?" said George,
climbing the ladder once more.

Theo laughed and set the book on the table. I
poured tea for us and it wasn't until I handed Theo his cup that I
realized he'd been watching me.

"You're looking quite beautiful this
morning," he said, accepting the cup.

My face heated as it always did. Theo had
come calling at our Druids Way house many times since he'd helped
to send the spirit of Mortlock back to the Otherworld. He was very
attentive and always complimented me on my appearance. Although I
liked it, I had not quite grown used to it. All my life people had
stared at me or whispered about me because of either my talent as a
medium or my darker than white skin. To now have nice things said
about me, to be called beautiful and exotic by handsome men like
Theo, George, and Jacob was quite a change. I was not yet
accustomed to it. I might never be.

"Is your ball gown finished?" he asked.

"Almost." I pulled the book toward me since
he hadn't opened it.

"The ball will be quite an event on the
social calendar, and I'm rather looking forward to it."

"So am I. But for now, we must find out what
is happening in the Waiting Area." I launched yet again into the
details of our current supernatural problem. Theo listened, his
expression growing more and more serious.

"I'm glad I'm available to help." He took a
book from George who'd descended the ladder with an armful. Theo
blew dust off the top.

"I don't think these ones have been touched
since my father died," George said, sitting opposite.

We each set to our books. Lunch came and
went, as did another round of tea, and the pile of books we
finished studying grew higher and higher. When a footman entered
and lit the cast iron gas lamps, I realized it had grown late in
the day.

"I should go," I said. "Celia will be getting
worried."

"I'll walk you home," Theo said, rising. "I'd
take you in my carriage, but the driver is washing it today." He
grinned. He didn't have a coach of his own. His cousin in
Kensington did, but I'd not once seen Theo borrow it. Like me, he
either walked or caught the omnibus.

"Tell him to stay on the main roads," said
Jacob, flaring into existence next to me. My heart lurched in my
chest. It was so good to see him again. "It's growing dark and some
of the less frequented lanes will be dangerous." He faded a little
before once more solidifying.

"Jacob is here," I announced. "If you're
busy, Theo, then he can walk with me."

"No," Jacob said. "I want him to do it."

I raised my brows at him.

"I'm not busy," Theo said cheerfully.

Jacob crossed his arms and raised his brows
right back at me. "It's settled then."

I tried not to be upset that he didn't want
to escort me home. After all, being invisible to everyone but me
was hardly a deterrent to thugs. I also knew he was trying to push
me toward Theo. He'd stated his opinion on the matter of Theo
courting me before. Stated it very clearly. He was certainly in
favor of us spending more time alone together.

"My killer said I must give
something up,"
he'd once told me.
"Something dear to me. You are dear to
me."

It was impossible to feel put out after that
declaration. Jacob felt that giving me up would break the curse
laid upon him at the moment of his death, and he would finally be
allowed to crossover. I didn't like it, but I wanted what was best
for him, and crossing over was definitely for the best. I couldn't
bear to have him remain here and watch me grow old.

Besides, if I could not be escorted by Jacob
then Theo was a good second choice. He was excellent company.

"You're not going to disagree with me, are
you?" Jacob asked.

"Of course not. When have I ever been known
to disagree with you?"

He snorted softly. "Frequently. I'm beginning
to think it's your favorite pastime."

"If you said things that made perfectly good
sense, I wouldn't need to disagree with you."

"Walking home with Theo doesn't make good
sense? It does to me, Em. I won't be much help at the moment." His
voice drifted as he spoke and he vanished completely.

"Jacob!"

He returned again, his brows knitted with
anxiety. "See what I mean?"

I blew out a measured breath. "Have you
learned anything from the Administrators?"

He perched on the edge of the table and
flipped through the nearest book. Theo's eyes widened, but George
didn't flutter an eyelash. He was used to Jacob now, and seeing
objects move as if of their own free will no longer caught him
unawares.

"They know how it's being done," he said
gravely. "It's quite shocking. You may need to sit down."

I sat.

"What is it?" Theo asked. "What has he
said?"

"Nothing yet." I nodded at Jacob. "Go
on."

He closed the book. "You
won't find the answers in any of these, I'm afraid. Not this time,
although the villain
is
using a curse."

"We thought as much. It's definitely caused
by a curse," I told George and Theo. "Why won't we find information
about it in one of these books? They're riddled with all sorts of
useful incantations."