Evermore (Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy #3)(40)

I shivered. "We must tell Lord and Lady Preston. Perhaps their investigators can work on Blunt and Mrs. White and find enough evidence to bring them to trial. But only after we reverse their curse on the Otherworld. If Lord Preston acts too soon, we're unlikely to get their co-operation."

"You think they'll co-operate now?"

"Perhaps. We need to find something to blackmail them with. Something they want more than revenge on Jacob. And we must find it soon."

We thought about that for a moment, but neither of us had any suggestions. "I'm not sorry that Blunt is involved," George said. "He's a despicable character and deserves whatever he gets. Even the occasional bullet wound."

"Good lord, George, you're positively bloodthirsty."

He suddenly went quite pale and bent over double. His hat tumbled onto the floor and he did not pick it up. "Then why do I want to throw up?" he mumbled into his knees.

I removed my glove and pressed my hand to the back of his neck. He groaned but did not vomit, thank goodness. "Better?" I asked after a moment.

"Much. My apologies, Emily."

"No need to apologize. It was a rather gruesome sight."

"I hope they get him to a hospital soon," he said, straightening.

Blunt had indeed lost a lot of blood by the time we left, but Mrs. White had bound the wound tightly. He should be all right.

"What was Price's role in all this, do you think?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Difficult to say. He didn't seem to be participating in the proceedings at all."

"He looked quite ill, didn't he?"

George nodded, thoughtful. Neither of us spoke for the remainder of the journey.

***

When we finally arrived at my house, Lucy had luncheon waiting for us. George and I gave Celia and Cara the edited version of the morning's events. There was no reason to alarm either of them when they could do nothing about it. Celia in particular would be unbearable if she knew a pistol had been fired.

"So it has come to an end?" She eyed me closely, her boiled eggs forgotten. It would seem she didn't quite believe we had found our villain.

"Almost," I said. "We'll report what we know to Lord Preston, but not until after we stop them destroying the Otherworld. As to how we will do that..." I shrugged.

She seemed satisfied with that answer and continued eating. George and Cara ate heartily too, but I merely picked at my eggs and bacon.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Celia said. "We picked up your gown this morning."

"It's beautiful," Cara gushed. "All that satin and lace...I wish I could have a gown like that."

"One day you will," I said. "There will be balls aplenty for you when you're older."

"You sound positively parental, Emily," George teased.

"Indeed she does." Celia smiled at me. "She's grown up so fast. Soon she shall be married and have children of her own." She sniffed.

"Good lord, Celia, stop marrying me off."

"No, I won't stop. It's my greatest wish to see you settled. Besides, it may not be as far away as all that. Mr. Hyde is quite taken with you. It's obvious in the way he looks at you."

I blushed fiercely and concentrated on my plate to hide my embarrassment.

Cara made a miffed sound through her nose and set her fork down on her plate with a loud clank. When I raised my eyebrows at her she said, "Celia hasn't seen the way Mr. Beaufort looks at you, but I have."

"Enough," Celia said sharply. "Cara, are you finished? If so, you're free to the leave the table. Emily, I suggest you try on your gown in case there are any last minute alterations. It's too late to take it back to the dressmaker, but I can probably manage. Mr. Culvert, will you excuse us?"

"Of course. I'll wait in the drawing room. I need to sit quietly and think anyway."

I had just finished trying on my dress and was making my way into the drawing room to see George when a fierce pounding threatened to knock down the front door. Since Lucy was helping Celia adjust my gown in the small parlor out the back, I opened it. Price's landlady stood there, her broad brimmed hat pulled low over her eyes. She glanced nervously over her shoulder.

"Shut the door," she said, pushing past me. "I don't think I was followed, but it is best to be cautious."

"Uh...what are you doing here?"

"Helping you."

"Helping us? How?"

"Is there somewhere we can sit and talk?"

I led her into the drawing room and George rose out of the armchair. "Good lord!" he said upon seeing her.

"We haven't been formally introduced," I said. "I am Emily Chambers and this is Mr. Culvert."

"Mrs. Stanley," she said, looking at her surroundings rather than at us. Our house was a little larger than her own, but our furniture just as old and worn, except for our new sofa, of course.

"So how can you help us?"

"First of all, you must know that Mr. Price is innocent, as am I."

"I think you'd better explain everything to us," George said. "Starting from the beginning."

"Very well." She sat on the edge of the chair and crossed her feet at the ankles, her reticule in her lap. She had not removed her hat or gloves and looked poised to run off at any moment like a skittish cat. "That woman and Blunt want to destroy the Otherworld. I hate her. She is the devil. Pure evil. You have delayed them, thank God."