Whispers Beyond the Veil

by Jessica Estevao

  “And a shocking lack of character explains yours.”

  “Nell, do you wish to press charges against this woman?” Officer Yancey asked.

  “No, I do not,” the palm reader, apparently named Nell, said. “What I wish is to continue my walk. Shall we?” She directed the question at me.

  “Nothing would please me more.” I tucked my arm under the crook of Nell’s and turned my back on the angry woman. We walked together in silence until we were well out of earshot, and then Nell stopped.

  “What is this job you have for me?”

  “My aunt owns the Hotel Belden. Have you heard of it?”

  “Of course. Honoria Belden is a well-known figure in this town, as is her hotel.”

  “Have you also heard she has transformed the hotel into a center of learning for spiritual seekers?”

  “I know she has employed spiritual practitioners from many disciplines for the season,” Nell said.

  “Exactly. And the one type of practitioner she does not yet have is a palm reader. If you come to the hotel tomorrow I hope to have convinced her to add one to her staff.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  By the time I entered the Belden I was second-guessing my decision to pose as a medium. Honoria stood at the reception desk greeting a new arrival. Millie pressed against a wall biting her lip and passing a feather duster from hand to hand. I slowed my steps in order to assess the situation. From the sound of things an argument was well under way. A potted palm conveniently positioned halfway down the hall provided a perfect spot to hide and observe.

  “I am Mrs. Leander Stickney. This is my nephew Sanford Dobbins. My husband, nephew, and I all have reservations for the season.” A tall, thin middle-aged lady draped entirely in dusty black leaned heavily on the arm of a young man. “You are, of course, expecting us?”

  “We certainly are. Your rooms are prepared and I would be happy to have the staff show you to them unless I can be of any further assistance.”

  “If by staff you mean the imbecilic girl with the feather duster who greeted us when we entered, I doubt we’d find our rooms before the end of the season.” The woman scowled at Honoria and hissed a stream of air out through her teeth like she was a teakettle on the boil.

  “I’m sure Millie was simply tongue-tied in your presence. Not all girls are used to interacting with a lady of refinement such as yourself.” I was surprised. I had always assumed my ability to pour oil on troubled waters by knowing intuitively what people visiting the medicine show wanted to hear was gifted to me by my silver-tongued father. It had never occurred to me it could be a trait shared by my mother’s family as well. Perhaps my mismatched pair of parents had more in common than I had ever considered.

  “She is not the sort I would trot out to greet the guests. When I asked her to mark me down for an appointment with the medium, the foolish girl started to splutter and then told me there was no medium here at the hotel.”

  “Unfortunately, the medium has had to cancel and will not be joining us this season after all.”

  “The medium is the sole reason I booked for the season at this hotel.” Even from a distance I could hear the woman exhale as though a nor’easter was brewing in her lungs. “You should have alerted me to the news before I made the journey here from Boston.”

  “Unfortunately, I only received word that she would not be available this morning. I would have notified you before your arrival if it had been at all possible.”

  “How do you propose to make this up to me?”

  “I hope I may interest you in one of our other spiritual practitioners.” Honoria’s voice was bright but pitched an octave higher than normal. I put it down to panic. This was the time to step in if I was going to do so.

  “There you are,” I said, jumping into the fray. The woman swiveled her flushed face in my direction. “I see that I was right to hurry back to the hotel.”

  “And who, pray tell, are you?”

  “I’m Ruby Proulx, Miss Belden’s niece,” I placed my hand on Honoria’s arm and gave it a squeeze, hard enough to make her look at me.

  “I am happy to conduct a sitting with you at your convenience.” I felt Honoria’s muscles tense under my fingers. I turned to her and smiled my brightest showman smile.

  “You are a medium?” The woman squinted at me. “But you just said a medium was not available.” She swung her scowl to include us both.

  “I am, but had planned to spend the summer here with my aunt in a solely recuperatory capacity.” I pinched Honoria’s arm to prompt her to speak. For once, she seemed to be having trouble finding her voice. “The work of a medium can be so hard on the nerves, as I’m sure a sensitive person like yourself will understand.”

  I was gambling on the possibility that people interested in hotels for the spiritually minded are exactly the sort of folks who like to think of themselves as sensitive. It was a statement calculated to soften her up. It worked like a charm.

  “I can imagine such communications would take their toll.” Her puckered mouth loosened up and smoothed out a bit, and the furrow beneath her brow that had been deep enough to plant potatoes now looked like it awaited poppy seeds instead.

  “It does. In fact it can be so draining when the thread between worlds snaps, leaving the medium hollowed out and in need of utter restoration. Honoria agreed not to mention my gift in order for me to gather my strength. She is so good to me that she was willing to risk disappointing valued guests such as yourself rather than tell anyone of my abilities.”

  “One is always happy to do one’s best for family.” Honoria spoke with only the slightest hesitation in her voice. A wobble that could easily have been attributed to powerful emotion rather than uncertainty or befuddlement.

  “You’re too modest, Aunt.” I closed my eyes and sighed deeply. “My recovery has been swift and complete. I credit the remarkable energy of this place for my speedy refreshment.”

  “So you are offering yourself as a replacement medium?” the woman asked.

  “I consider our meeting to be fated. I don’t believe I am a replacement. I believe the spirits have arranged for the cancellation in order to bring us together.” I placed my free hand over my heart. “I was out walking the beach when I had my first contact from the other side in months. It said to hurry back as there was someone here who had need of my gifts most urgently. Someone who had suffered great losses and with whom those on the other side wished to make contact.”

  The woman’s eyes widened, and I knew I had her like a fat fish on my line. I felt a familiar thrill of triumph at the success of my patter. As though this woman with her urgency and her sunken eyes were just another desperate customer at the medicine show. I felt both ashamed of myself and elated at the same time.

  “And you think this person is me?” she asked.

  “I am certain of it.” I paused and gazed off into space, hoping I looked as though my thoughts were in angelic realms. Suddenly, I heard the voice in my head, more clearly than ever before.

  “Speak of a ginger-colored dog with a missing ear sitting atop a crippled boy’s lap.”

  I closed my eyes and began to sway slightly back and forth. In a soft voice I said, “A boy without use of his legs is making himself known to me.” I paused and waited for a sign from our disgruntled guest. I heard a squeak of surprise from Mr. Dobbins and took that to be all the assurance I needed that I was on track. “A ginger dog with a damaged ear keeps watch over him in the world beyond.”

  “Roland is here with us?” I heard her ask, her voice climbing an octave in disbelief. “My Roland?” I fluttered my eyelids open and blinked at my surroundings.

  “Please excuse me. I was just overcome by a very strong presence. It was entirely overwhelming and I am afraid it caused me to take leave of my own senses.” I bit down on my lip as if concentrating feverishly on something no one else could hear.
“My impression is that there was much more he wanted to say but that the atmosphere in the room was not conducive to maintaining a connection.” I shrugged and focused my attention entirely on Mrs. Stickney.

  “What is wrong with the atmosphere?” she asked.

  “Hostility drives away all but the most unsavory of spirits.” I paused for effect. “This boy had a pure quality and I am very surprised he made contact at all. He must have been strongly drawn to some energy here to cross the barrier and to contact me without me opening myself to the experience.”

  “It must have been Roland,” Mr. Dobbins said, not keeping the enthusiasm from his voice. “This is exactly why we’ve come.”

  “I suppose in light of Roland’s approval of this girl we can give the hotel a try. At least until Mr. Stickney arrives and determines whether or not he approves of the place.”

  “I will do everything in my power to assure your visit and that of your husband is a pleasant and instructive one,” Honoria said.

  “You can start to curry my favor by scheduling a sitting for me with Miss Proulx. Come, Sanford, we must rest after the difficulties of the morning.” With that, she pointed at Ben, who silently fetched two room keys from the hooks on the wall behind the desk and glided up the main staircase ahead of Mrs. Stickney and her nephew.

  • • •

  I felt a tumult of emotions as Honoria held fast to my arm and pulled me up the stairs to her private room. I gathered my courage up in both hands and commenced to embroider a pretty lie. I bit my lip for show and lowered myself gingerly onto the settee beside her.

  “Please explain to me what just happened,” she said.

  “I have been less truthful than I ought to have been,” I said.

  “In which way?” Honoria’s brows pulled together and I could feel that I needed to hurry this confession along. She didn’t deserve any more worries in her life at the moment.

  “Yesterday when you asked about my gift I told you about the tarot cards but I did not tell you that I can hear those who have passed on. They speak to me, give me messages for their loved ones.” I dropped my voice to barely above a whisper and lowered my eyes to my lap as though I were afraid. “I’ve always kept my abilities a secret for fear of being sent to an asylum. Withholding the information from you was a reflex. I’m sorry I was less than forthcoming.”

  I sank back against the settee as if the confession had physically exhausted me. Honoria pulled her hands away and clasped them to the base of her throat.

  “I cannot imagine how distressing it would be to have your abilities without any guidance or reassurance that you were not suffering from an imbalance of the mind. It was very brave of you to come forward in order to help me.”

  “I want to help in any way that I can.”

  “Oh, my dear child, you have no idea how delighted I am to hear this. I knew, simply knew, you were bringing a world of good with you to the Belden and to me.” Honoria’s eyes filled with tears and she whisked a lace-trimmed hankie from somewhere in her sleeve. “You see, Miss Roberts canceling this morning has caused more distress than I like to admit. Most of our guests have booked their stays with us on account of the medium. Frankly, all the other disciplines are like sideshows to the main event,” Honoria said. “Not that I would like them to feel that way, so I trust you will keep that in confidence.”

  “Of course.”

  “Also in confidence, I would tell you that all my capital is tied up in the renovations and staff salaries here at the Belden. Everything looks prosperous but in reality I have mortgaged the hotel to stay afloat. When Flora Roberts canceled I had no idea how I was going to survive the season. But now, you’ve offered the solution.”

  “But, Aunt, I’ve never really done any professional readings for anyone. Are you sure I can do it?”

  “Of course you can. All you have to do is listen to your instincts and the rest will fall into place.”

  “I would be loath to give your clients an experience that does not meet their expectations.”

  “I’ll tell you what. I’ll send a message round to my dear friend Orazelia and her daughter, Lucy. You may remember them from the Divination Circle yesterday?” she asked. I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. They will come and you may practice on them. We will start at once since the majority of the guests arrive today.”

  “If you really think it will help, I will try.” I said, letting my lower lip tremble ever so slightly.

  “Ruby, I can’t tell you how your honesty has saved the season.”

  “Does that mean I am in your good graces?”

  “Even without this you would be. Why do you ask?”

  “I may have behaved high-handedly, rashly even.”

  “How so?”

  “I was out walking the beach this morning when I encountered a palm reader. She was instrumental in prompting me to tell you about my mediumistic abilities.”

  “But how does this end in rashness?”

  “She was an Indian lady, and another woman on the beach accused her of being a filthy vagrant. She went so far as to call for the police.” It was all coming back in a rush. I could feel Nell’s discomfort, my indignation, and the dowdy woman’s hostility all roiling in my gut. Honoria reached out and grasped my hand.

  “That sounds most unpleasant.”

  “It was preposterous. Before I knew what I was saying I told the woman, in front of Officer Yancey, that Nell was your employee and that she had no cause to abuse her. And then as soon as we were out of earshot it occurred to me that you didn’t have a palm reader here at the Belden. I thought she would make a wonderful addition to the staff. I hope I have not done wrong.”

  “My dear, I think it is an absolutely marvelous suggestion. I should have thought of it myself.”

  “So you aren’t feeling cross with me that I’ve made this offer without consulting you?”

  “I want you to feel the Hotel Belden is your home. My fondest wish is that one day it will be yours to run. Why should you not start to learn the running of the place now?”

  “I’m so pleased you aren’t upset.”

  “Ruby, my dear, I can’t think of anything you could do, short of outright lying, that would make me angry with you.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Honoria was as good as her word. A flurry of messages sent back and forth secured a sitting with her dear friend Orazelia and her daughter, Lucy, for that very day. As I stood pacing the room where I had met Honoria only the day before, I was glad the meeting had not been set for after lunch. My stomach tangled in knots anticipating the test before me.

  I soothed myself by making preparations to the room. Setting the scene was an important part of any show. I adjusted the heavy velvet drapes to exclude all light and lit the candle on the table in the center of the room. While I had no experience personally with running a séance, I had seen it done on many occasions. Medicine shows often featured mediums as one of the acts and I had made a practice of studying their techniques. I told myself that this was simply another sort of performance like a card reading or a miracle medical diagnosis session. I looked around the room and decided there was nothing left to do but to await my clients’ arrival.

  I had to wait only a few moments until Honoria drew back the midnight blue portiere, and with her usual gust of energy blew into the séance room. Riding in her wake was a short, pleasantly rounded lady approximately Honoria’s own age and a young, slim woman of just about mine.

  “Ruby, allow me to present my very dear friend Orazelia and her daughter, Lucinda. They are eager to be your first sitters.”

  “We are delighted to help in any way we can. It is such a privilege to have a session with someone with a true gift,” Orazelia said.

  “Mother is simply smitten with the idea.” Lucinda smiled at me over her mother’s head as if to say she was humoring her. “I hope we
aren’t putting you to any trouble?”

  “I should say the same to you. Thank you so much for finding the time on such short notice,” I said.

  “The world of spirit is where I prefer to expend most of my energy. It is a rare pleasure to be with you today.” Orazelia’s plump face displayed a charming pair of dimples. “Besides, we had already determined to pay you a call today to welcome you to Old Orchard.”

  “I wish I could stay and take part but duties call and call at this time of year,” Honoria said. In the near distance the peal of the bell at the front desk rang out. With a quiet swish of the portiere, Honoria was gone and I was left to face the music alone. Both women sat in their chairs at the table and turned expectant faces to me. I drew in a deep breath and took the remaining seat.

  Part of me was nervous at the thought of trying this out on strangers on my own, but the greater part of me was relieved to work through it in private. I suspected Honoria’s scrutiny would have made it more difficult to focus on the subtle clues the sitters would give off as to whether or not I was on the right track concerning their loved ones.

  “Shall we begin?” I reached out my upturned hands and drew in a deep breath. “An unbroken circle is important. The physical contact enhances the intention of the group to connect with those on the other side.” Each of them gave me a hand and joined their other hands together.

  I wasn’t making up the importance of touch, but its value was not for the reasons stated. When I had worked the medicine show Father had drilled into my head from the very beginning the importance of making physical contact with a mark. If you’re observant, you can learn a great deal by looking at someone’s face and observing the set of their shoulders, the stiffness of their spine as they speak. But even more of their hearts and minds are revealed by the body’s infinitesimal twitches and tightenings, invisible to the eye but easily sensed by touch.