Evermore (Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy #3)(58)

"But even if we find them, how will we find the warehouses?" George asked. "How will we search them all?"

"Em, it's hopeless," Jacob said. He still sat on the floor, embracing his knees.

I knelt beside him again. "We have to try, Jacob. I will not give up without a fight. Not when there is a chance." I gritted my teeth and fought back the wave of hopelessness. "George, you must find out where the storage rooms are. Is there a member you can ask?"

He nodded. "Our second master. He lives not far from me."

"Drive us to Lord Preston's house on your way to the second master's home, then send word there once you have some locations. We'll split up and search them."

"If you can convince Lord Preston to help."

"We will." I was utterly determined to make Jacob's father believe us.

"But that will take so much time," Mrs. White said.

"Then we have to hurry. Mrs. Stanley?"

She had finished checking Price's pockets and was searching through the drawers of a desk. "Here!" she shouted, triumphant.

George took the keys off her. "Now, tell us the counter curse. Is it difficult?"

"Not very." She launched into the words one of us would need to speak if—no, when—we found Jacob's body. Unlike the counter curse that fixed the Waiting Area, this one was in English and was easy to remember.

"Let's go," George said when she'd finished.

I went to follow him, but Jacob caught my hand. "Wait." He picked up my shawl from where it hung over the back of the sofa and gently wrapped it around my shoulders. "Take care."

"You're not coming?" I asked.

His eyes turned wild and glassy, as if he wasn't quite seeing things in our realm, but in the Waiting Area and beyond. "I have a better way. Faster," he said. Then he disappeared.

"Jacob!" I tipped my head back and searched the ceiling. George and Celia urged me to go with them, and so did Louis upon his return from the basement.

Precious seconds ticked by and Jacob didn't return. I followed the others out while Mrs. White and Mrs. Stanley remained behind. I wasn't sure it was a good idea leaving the two together but Mrs. White assured me she would be all right, and that she would notify the police about Price's death.

We ran down the stairs and George rattled off instructions to his driver. He certainly heeded the "post-haste" part because the horses flew through the streets back to Belgrave Square.

The ball had ended. There were no coaches outside Lord and Lady Preston's house, and no footmen either. Light shone from the upstairs windows. I ran to the front door, my sister and Louis behind me. George drove off to speak to the Society's second master. I banged on the door and it seemed to take a lifetime for the butler to open it. He loomed large and looked decidedly unhappy about the intrusion, but when he saw my sister and I in our ball gowns, he resumed his professional demeanor. He must have thought we'd left something behind earlier.

"We need to see Lady Preston," I said.

He bowed, but I didn't have time for such niceties. I pushed past him and ran up the stairs.

"Miss! Miss!" he yelled.

"Lady Preston!" I shouted. "Adelaide! We need you. Jacob needs you."

But it was Lord Preston who greeted me at the top of the grand staircase. With his thick, gray moustache and huge frame, he was as ferocious as an angry bear. But I would not back down. I couldn't afford to. He had to listen to me.

"Jacob needs your help, my lord," I said. "I know you don't believe—"

"Enough!" he bellowed. "I have put up with this nonsense for too long."

"Actually, you haven't put up with anything. As I recall, you've been quite belligerent about it all."

"You are a disrespectful, malicious, and base-born girl. I should never have let you into my house tonight. It was a mistake. Now leave."

"Indeed it is enough," said Louis. His voice was a low growl, his jaw rigid as he stood beside me. "I don't care who you are, you will not speak to my daughter like that."

"Who are you?"

"I just made that clear. I'm her father. Emily has come here seeking help for your son. You owe her a great debt, sir."

"Owe? Her?" Lord Preston advanced down the steps, one at a time. "That is laughable. Get. Out. Now. All of you."

I held up my hands, but Lord Preston ignored the placating gesture. He continued to advance down the steps with menacing slowness, his strong brow deeply scored by his frown. "I know this is a lot for you to take in," I said, "but for just this once, set aside your beliefs. I know you're hurt, and I don't blame you for your anger toward me. But listen to me now, I beg you. If our plan doesn't work, you will never see me again."

"You're right, I will never see you again," he snarled. "Starting now. Polson! Remove them."

"Please, my lord." I glanced back at the butler. He looked uncertain as to the reaction he would receive from Louis. "If nothing happens after we find Jacob's body—"

"His what?" Lord Preston took a stumbling step back up the stairs. "You know where his body is? Tell me. Tell me! Where is it? How do you know?" He was advancing again, faster, coming at me with those big paws outstretched as if he would wrap them around my throat and squeeze the answer out.