Evermore (Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy #3)(14)

"But they can speak?"

"Yes, if they have their wits about them. Most spirits are so shocked by their death and frightened about what will greet them at the end of the tunnel that speaking is the last thing on their mind. Whoever is saying the curse is aware of the transition process and aware of how long they have until they're completely dead and cannot return."

"Someone must be bringing him back to life," I whispered. "That's why you think more than one person is involved."

Jacob nodded and I repeated what he'd said for Theo and George's benefit.

"Amazing," George muttered. He pushed his glasses up his nose and squinted at the bookshelves. "Surely one of these has something useful."

"I doubt it," Theo said. "If this is a gypsy curse, then we'll need a gypsy to learn more about it. The ones I've met cannot read or write."

"Why hasn't the Waiting Area been completely destroyed?" I asked Jacob. "A minute is long enough to utter a curse so one trip should have sufficed, yet our villain has been twice and still the Waiting Area exists."

"Each utterance of the curse is only enough to do partial damage," Jacob said. "It doesn't seem strong enough to destroy it completely."

"Which begs the question, how many times does it need to be spoken before the Waiting Area disappears entirely?"

"The Administrators don't know. It could be done on the next visit, or it could take a few more. Certainly not more than a handful."

We fell into a heavy silence until Theo broke it. "Let me walk you home, Emily. We don't want your sister to worry."

"Go," Jacob said. "He's right and there is nothing more we can do today."

I passed near him and brushed his fingers. His hand curled into a fist and he turned away, ignoring me. Ignoring the spark between us.

"If I learn anything else, I'll come to you immediately," he said.

If you can.

My stomach rolled and I felt a little faint myself. The thought of not seeing Jacob again for the rest of my life was awful enough, but knowing I would not see him again in the Otherworld after my death made my heart ache. We could not allow the destruction of the Waiting Area to continue.

Jacob blinked off and George walked Theo and me to the entrance hall. His mother breezed through as the footman opened the door. "You're still here?" she said, although whether she addressed me or Theo I couldn't tell.

"We were just leaving," I said, edging around her wide burgundy skirt.

She untied her hat and handed it to the footman hovering at her elbow. "You were quite the topic of discussion today among my friends, Miss Chambers."

"Oh?"

"Mother, you know that Emily is a medium," George said. "Do you need to bring up your views now?"

Mrs. Culvert didn't believe in the paranormal. Or rather, she didn't care for it. She may have been married to a demonologist and have a son who shared his interests, but she didn't like discussing anything of that nature. It was social suicide as far as she was concerned, and so she never chatted to me about ghosts. We all preferred it that way.

"Your recent entertainments have become quite the talk among ladies of consequence," she said, pouting sympathetically at me. "Or rather, the lack of entertainment."

"Mother," George ground out. "Don't."

"Such a shame. When I first told my friends that we'd become acquainted they were all aflutter, wanting me to host one of your displays."

"It's called a séance," George said.

I could feel Theo's hand at my back, the gentle pressure reassuring.

"I was never overly keen on the idea, myself," she went on. "I endured enough hocus pocus when Mr. Culvert was alive. Anyway, it seems it no longer matters because no one wants me to host a séance now. You see, Lady Willoughby was quite disappointed that you could not summon her father's ghost, and of course we all know how prone to gossip her friends can be. The whole of London has heard about your failure." She placed a gloved hand on my arm. "Do tell me when you're able to see spirits again. My friends will be most interested to be first in line and I'm prepared to accommodate them this one time, for your sake. No need to thank me." She trotted off toward the grand staircase, her heels click-clacking on the tiles.

"I'm sorry, Emily," George said. "Ignore her. She's not got the faintest idea what you do and how the spirit world works."

I sighed. "Not many do."

"Come, Emily." Theo crooked his elbow. "Take my arm and we'll talk of balls and gowns and happier things on the walk."

Theo did indeed talk of happier things, but I didn't listen very closely. My head was filled with miserable thoughts.

"I've been poor company, and I'm sorry," I said when he delivered me to my front door.

"No need to apologize." He pushed back a curl of my hair that had come loose in the Druids Way breeze. "I enjoy being near you even when you say nothing."

A little flare lit inside me, spreading its warmth. "You're very sweet."

"And you are very interesting." He dipped his head and lifted my chin with his finger. "I cannot stop staring at you," he murmured.