Evermore (Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy #3)(5)

"It dumbfounds me that a father would say such things to his daughter's friend," I said.

"Not even if he thought he was right?" Celia asked, steering me down the pavement. "Perhaps he thinks he's protecting her from further hurt. She and her mother have suffered greatly from Jacob's death, and if he truly believes you are indeed a fraud, he would not want you hurting them further with what he thinks are lies."

Sometimes I hated it when she made sense. "Stop making excuses for him, Celia. He's awful and that's that."

"His manners could certainly do with some improving. Whoever said the upper classes were the most polite got it wrong. In my opinion, they are the most ill-mannered."

We walked side by side past shops and distinctive red brick houses until we reached Druids Way. I planted my hand on my hat to stop it being blown off in the sudden breeze that always greeted us in our street. Celia had a ribbon beneath her chin keeping her bonnet securely in place so that she could continue to hold my arm and carry the carpet bag.

With my head bent into the wind, I didn't see the spirit until we reached the steps leading up to our front door. He was sitting on the top step, his forehead resting on arms crossed over his knees. I couldn't see his face, but I didn't need to. I knew who it was, even though the difference in him was profound.

"Jacob!"

He lifted his head and I was struck by the weariness that shadowed his eyes. His shoulders were stooped, as if they carried a load too heavy to bear. "Em."

I pulled free of Celia and ran to him. "What's happened?" I squatted before him and touched his cheek. It was cooler than usual. "You're so faint." Despite Madame Friage and Lord Fulham both appearing extremely faded, I hadn't thought Jacob would suffer the same fate. He was more solid than every other spirit I'd encountered. Whereas they were smudged at the edges, he was as sharp and bold to me as any live person.

Not anymore. Whatever had befallen them affected Jacob as well. Which meant he was struggling to remain in our realm.

Jacob closed his hand over mine. It didn't feel as solid as usual, and that scared me. "I'm growing fainter because I'm dying, Em."

"But you're already dead."

He gave me a crooked smile. "Yes, but not like this. This is different. If I continue to fade, I'll no longer exist as a conscious entity. None of us will."

No. It wasn't possible. There must be some horrible mistake. But Jacob didn't look like a man in error. He closed his eyes and tipped his head forward onto his knees again.

Oh God.

"What's he saying?" Celia asked.

My throat tightened, but I managed to speak, albeit softly. "He says he, and all the spirits in the Waiting Area, are going to become nothing."





CHAPTER 2





"This requires a cup of tea," Celia announced. "Let's go inside."

"I don't think tea will solve my problem," Jacob said.

I didn't think so either, but it would make Celia feel better and remove us from prying eyes. Our elderly neighbors liked to occupy their day by watching the street through their windows.

Lucy, our maid, met us in the hallway. I told her Jacob was present and she went very still. Only her eyeballs moved, scanning the vicinity. She could not see him, of course. Only I could, and Cara, my ten year-old aunt who'd moved into the spare bedroom.

"Where's Cara?" I asked, hanging up my hat on the coat stand.

"In the kitchen helping me bake." Lucy took the bag Celia passed to her. "Shall I fetch her, miss?"

"No!" Celia and I both said together. I didn't want Cara to worry or feel that she needed to help us. She'd had a difficult life and it was time she enjoyed the few years of childhood remaining and leave serious matters to her elders. Apparently Celia had the same idea.

"Can you bring tea into the drawing room, please?" Celia said.

"Yes, Miss Chambers." Lucy turned to go but stopped. "Oh, I almost forgot. A man called today." Her gaze flicked to me, so naturally I asked if the visitor were George.

"Or Mr. Hyde?" Celia asked. She was referring to Theodore Hyde, a gentleman who'd been calling on me frequently of late.

My face grew hot and I didn't dare look at Jacob. He wanted me to encourage Theo's attentions, despite the intense, unresolved feelings between himself and me. He wanted me to live a full life until we met again in the Otherworld, but I was still unsure of my feelings toward Theo. I liked him very much, but did I love him enough to consider marrying him? Perhaps, in time...

"Not Mr. Hyde or Mr. Culvert neither," Lucy said. "It was a stranger." She bit on her plump bottom lip and her gaze once more settled on me.

"Did he leave his name?" Celia asked.

"No, Miss Chambers."

"Did he state his business?" I said.

"No, Miss Emily. He said he'd return another time."

"How odd." We had no more questions and Celia dismissed Lucy. The maid bobbed a curtsy and bustled back to the kitchen.

"It's the height of rudeness not to leave a calling card," Celia muttered as she walked into the drawing room. "The absolute height." She paused in the doorway and sighed at the threadbare sofa before proceeding to it. We'd almost bought a new one, but she had declared my ball gown more important. An investment in my future, she'd called it. Most of the profits from our séances had been used to pay for the dress.