Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly #1)(9)

The Spirit-Hunters. Hired to protect. That was my answer!

I scanned ahead. They were a three-man team led by Joseph Boyer, and their office was in Machinery Hall at the International Centennial Exhibition.

“Spirit-Hunters,” I whispered. Chills trickled down my back. These people would help me find Elijah. It was their job to help me, and I felt instantly better armed with this knowledge.

I rubbed at my salty cheeks, and my sense of helplessness subsided. I wasn’t lost; I wasn’t alone; there were people I could turn to. People who could help me with my brother and with the spirit my mother had invited into this world.

I lugged myself to bed and slid the paper beneath my pillow. I couldn’t leave the house tonight, but tomorrow... tomorrow, I would see just how good these Spirit-Hunters really were.

CHAPTER FOUR

Saturday morning arrived, and when the sun hit my eyes, yesterday’s horrors flooded my brain. The train station, the letter, the séance—they all crashed in over me.

I hadn’t forgotten my decision to see the Spirit-Hunters, but I also hadn’t worked out a way to do it. It was one thing to run household errands alone, but to go to the crowded Exhibition by myself would raise questions.

As Mary helped me dress, I considered whether sneaking away was worth Mama’s inevitable suspicion.

Mary gripped my corset laces. “Inhale.”

I sucked in, and the corset’s whalebones cinched in. “Too tight!”

“Too fat is more like it.” She gave one final tug before deftly knotting the laces. Then she helped me layer on the petticoats, bustle, skirts, and polonaise of the same gray gown I’d worn yesterday. It was a walking gown, so the train was shorter and allowed easier navigation of the Philadelphia sidewalks. Plus, the smoky color had the advantage of not showing dust.

“Where is it you’re goin’?” Mary asked, her mouth pruned skeptically. “You did the shopping yesterday, and the bank is closed today.” As my mother’s devoted servant, Mary kept no secrets from Mama—or rather, she only kept secrets when the payment was good.

I ignored her probing and focused on pinning my gray, feathered hat at the perfect jaunty angle. As I was pushing in the last pin, a loud knock startled us.

Mary and I exchanged wide-eyed glances before racing from the room. We reached the foyer just as Jeremy opened the door to find Allison Wilcox, flushed and beautiful in a sky blue walking gown. My eyebrows rose in a combination of awe and envy as she swept past Jeremy into the foyer.

“What brings you here so early?” I asked. A morning call could ruin my trip to the Spirit-Hunters—what if Mama woke up before Allison left?

“After last night, Clarence, Mother, and I were dreadfully worried.” She clapped her hands and leaned close. “But it was all a grand hoax?”

I tried to murmur an agreement, but all that came out was a strange gurgling sound. If only it had been a hoax.

Allison’s eyebrows shot up. “I knew it! Now come with me to the Continental. I’m just dying to have tea and show off my new gown.”

I blinked rapidly, at a complete loss for words. She wanted to spend time with me? And at the Continental Hotel no less?

Allison, sensing I needed an extra nudge, added, “I heard the Brazilian emperor is staying there! What if we caught a glimpse? Patience and Mercy would just die with envy!”

I forced a chuckle. Emperors? Overpriced tea? This was definitely not how I wanted to spend my morning—to say nothing of my outfit, which was absolutely unfit for luxurious society.

“Um, wh-who would chaperone?” I asked.

She gave a tinkling laugh and shook her head. “We don’t need a chaperone, Eleanor! It’s not as if we’re going to the theater or a party. I go to tea without Mother all the time.” She held out her arm and crooked it, waiting for me to slip my own arm through. “Now, are you coming or not?”

No chaperone? But that meant... My breath caught in my throat. That meant I had an escape! Ugly dress or not, this was a gaping wide opportunity for an unrestrained trip to the Spirit-Hunters!

My lips twitched with excitement, and before Mary could utter a protest, I snatched my parasol from beside the door and scooted outside with Allison.

We scurried to her family’s carriage—a well-made, black coach that could easily fit eight people.

Allison slid across the purple satin cushions to a window, tied back the lilac curtains, and then gestured for me to do the same. As I fumbled with ribbons, the horses clattered to a start.

I leaned close to the carriage window and watched the mansions, elaborate fences, and well-tended yards roll past. Usually I navigated the hour-long trek into the city on foot or sat crammed on a horse-drawn streetcar. To ride without dust, mud, or horse manure flying into my face—no wonder Allison could wear such a brilliant blue dress!

I snuck a glance at her beautiful gown and then stared mournfully at my own. My petticoat hems were frayed from all the scrubbing I’d put them through, and they’d long since evolved from white to a mottled brown. Plus, there was a rather obvious rip from that dratted old man’s boot at the depot.

Allison poked me with her parasol. “So how’d you do it?”

“Do what?” I shifted my body to face her.

“The séance, of course! How’d you get the floor to shake and the air to freeze?”