01 - Memories of the Dead Read Online Free Page A

elated when
Clara rang and agreed to come to the séance, she didn’t even make a fuss when
Clara insisted she would need a second invite for her partner in the firm to
come along too.
    Clara had just hung up the
phone receiver, feeling rotten about the whole situation, when the front door
opened and Tommy appeared, his chair being pushed by their housemaid Annie.
    “Where have you been? It’s
bitter outside.” Clara heard the sharpness of her tone and regretted it. She
had been so protective of Tommy since he had come home, but she knew she was
beginning to drive everyone crazy, especially herself.
    “Hold your hat, old thing.”
Tommy grinned, “Annie just wheeled this old crock down to the library, that’s
all. It only opens for two hours on a Wednesday, remember?”
    Clara mentally kicked herself.
Tommy had told her last night he was going to go to the local lending library
and see what books they had on Spiritualism.
    “Any luck?” Clara asked,
casting an apologetic smile at Annie – their one and only servant, regular
dogs-body and loyal friend – who seemed to spend most of her time making sure
Tommy had everything he needed. She winked back at Clara, a reminder that they
were old enough friends for her to know when nerves had gotten the better of
her mistress’ tongue.
    “Did you find anything good?”
Clara asked making a determined effort to change the subject.
    “A couple of titles. ‘From
Darkness to Light: a Re-evaluation of Christianity and Spiritualism’ and
‘Essays on the Spiritualist Church and its role in Mediumship’.”
    “Sounds quite riveting.”
    “Well, at least I have
something for when I can’t sleep and I did pop into Mrs Eaton’s bookshop and
pick up a couple of pamphlets on clairvoyancy.”
    Tommy handed over two slim
volumes.
    “ ‘The Art of Mediumship’ and
‘Thirty Short Lessons Designed to Strengthen the Mind and Promote Clairvoyant
Abilities’. Should I be worried?”
    “I doubt it. It seems mostly
to consist of shouting ‘is anybody there?’ a lot.”
    Clara gave him back the books.
    “Well our places are booked
against my better judgement.”
    “Aren’t you excited to be
rooting out a potential charlatan?”
    “Potential? For certain she is
a charlatan.”
    “Not necessarily, on page 5 of
‘Thirty Lessons’ it clearly states that ‘certainty’ is only a relative state of
mind and once we open our minds to impossibilities we will realise there is
nothing certain about certainty.”
    Clara gave him a withering
look and Tommy began to laugh.
    “If Mrs Greengage starts
spouting nonsense like that I may have trouble holding my tongue.”
    “Keep strong, old thing.”
Tommy chuckled, “We are doing this for the sake of a destitute widow.”
    “Yes, yes. Well I have one
absolute certainty for you, I am in desperate need of a cup of tea.” Clara
replied.
    “That I will happily concur
with.”
     

Chapter Three
     
    Mrs Greengage’s house was a middle terrace with thick
green drapes and a rusty door knocker in the shape of a lion’s head. Clara and
Tommy arrived a few minutes before seven and politely waited outside the door
until it was opened by a robust lady dressed all in black. She had a slight
squint and observed them through a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.
    “Clara and Thomas Fitzgerald.”
Clara offered her hand to shake but Mrs Greengage didn’t move.
    “You’re a little early.” She
gruffed.
    Clara resisted the urge to
look at her watch which she knew would be registering five to seven. She wasn’t
quite sure how to reply but fortunately Mrs Greengage filled the silence.
    “You better come in. We are in
the parlour on the far left.” Mrs Greengage bustled down the corridor without
offering to help Clara negotiate the front step with Tommy’s wheelchair.
    “I don’t like her already.”
She grumbled.
    “Really? And she seemed such an
approachable sort.”
    Finally in the door Clara
wheeled Tommy into the parlour as directed and