He opened his eyes—despite the fact that doing so was forbidden during this part of a séance—and caught Evie watching him. Without a sound, he lifted his hand from hers, breaking the circle, and made a V with his second and third fingers, which he then held to his lips. He stuck his tongue through the opening and waggled it suggestively.
Her stomach turned.
God knows she hadn’t led a sheltered life. She was used to rough language and she’d seen a great deal during her time at Miss Rose’s, including this particular rude gesture. But there was something about Stein. A predatoriness that terrified her.
Harcastle’s hand shifted and covered hers. She wasn’t surprised to find his eyes open. A shrewd investigator, he would never close them during a séance. But had he caught the obscene gesture? Usually, whenever she knew he was looking at her, she kept her face carefully blank. This time she let him see every ounce of what she felt. Violated by a powerful man’s insults and assaults on her person. Impotent to retaliate.
Harcastle took it all in, and for her pains, he returned a single, slow nod.
A bob of the head wasn’t much to go on with so much at stake, but she was angry and anger always made her reckless. What had he said about why he wouldn’t use the photograph to discredit her? Something about wanting to win the right way. He cared about fairness, didn’t he? In that case, he shouldn’t hold her to the terms of their agreement, not in these circumstances.
Right, Lord Stein, you disgusting lecher, this is for every woman you’ve ever hurt.
“You may all open your eyes now,” she announced.
…
Evangeline took a deep breath, then allowed her head to sink heavily onto her chest.
As far as Alex was concerned, Stein deserved what was coming. Something had been bothering her all night, which suggested that what he’d witnessed was only a small part of what Stein had put her through. Even if it were all, Alex wouldn’t lift a finger to stop whatever punishment she decided to mete out.
Stein had always been a thug. Alex knew his reputation and now he’d seen firsthand how he treated women. Evie’s position here was amorphous, neither guest nor employee, but either way, Stein owed her his protection while she was under his roof. Those were the rules society set. Seeing them disregarded so egregiously was to blame for this anger roiling in Alex’s gut. Or so he told himself, but he knew there was more to it.
He had never been a possessive lover and he was fascinated by the primitive outrage he’d felt when he’d seen Stein’s filthy gesture. Scratch the surface and humankind were little better than animals. Even the aristocrats. Even cold-blooded specimens like Alex.
But his retrogressive sexual instincts weren’t all. That look on her face… He’d never seen anything like it. A tumult of anger, hurt, and, worst of all, helplessness. He never wanted to see that look again, and he knew he’d do anything to keep her from feeling that way. Anything.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, he counted silently. Six, five, four, three, two…
Just as the gentlemen began to grow restless, her head swung up again.
“Good heavens!” Miss Hale cried.
Evangeline’s eyes were rolled back so that no pupil or iris showed. With a painful-looking twist of her neck, she faced Stein, the expression on her face pure malevolence. “Johnny boy,” she growled.
Stein’s smug smile vanished.
Compared to this, what she’d done to Alex at the last séance had been almost kind. Despite the threat he’d posed, she’d put hardly any effort into scaring him. It hadn’t been personal, he realized. This was.
“Johnny boy, what have you been doing?”
Smythe chuckled. “Lord, that made me jump. A look like that should have killed you on the spot, Stein.”
Lady Stein watched Evangeline, her eyes wide. “Who is she, John? Who’s talking to you?”
“Who is she?” Stein mimicked. “Don’t be ridiculous, woman. It’s only the medium putting on a show.” But his bravado rang false. Alex had never seen a living man turn so pale, like every drop of blood had drained from his face.
Evangeline’s voice turned pleading. “Don’t you recognize me, sweet Johnny? Remember how I used to sing to you.”
A look of pure horror contorted his face. “What is this? How are you doing it?”
She went in for the kill. In her high, wobbly soprano, she sang:
“Oh, don’t deceive me
Oh never leave me
How could you use
A poor maiden so?”
Stein was hooked. That was obvious even before his eyes filled with tears.
“Mama?” he whispered.
“How could you slight so pretty a girl who loves you?
A pretty girl who loves you so dearly and warm?”
Stein broke the circle, burying his face in his hands as he began to weep. Esher and Smythe watched, aghast. This gossip would spread like wildfire through London’s gentlemen’s clubs tomorrow. Alex was almost relieved when Evangeline bowed her head again, her way of signifying the spirit’s supposed departure.
Unfortunately, Stein didn’t take the hint. “Mama?” he said, between great, gulping sobs. “Mama?” With shaking hands, he reached out.
Alex half rose from his seat, determined to intercept Stein before he could manhandle Evangeline again, but the moment Stein’s hand closed on her shoulder, her head jerked up. Everyone present, Alex included, jumped about a foot.
“I’m very, very cross with you, Johnny.”
Stein yelped. Miss Hale screamed and fled the room. The two other gentlemen leaped back from the table, overturning their chairs. It was chaos. Slowly Lady Stein rose from her place, caught Evangeline’s hand, and kissed it.
“Thank you,” she said simply.
Chapter Seven
Alex almost missed the moment Evangeline slipped from the room.
He strode past his host, now weeping in his wife’s arms, and out into the cavernous entrance hall after her. No footman lingered by the door but she heaved it open herself and slid out into the night.
If he waited for his hat and coat, he’d lose her.
“Miss Jones,” he called as he closed the door behind him. “Miss Jones, wait.”
She stood on the bottom step, about to step onto the street. “Did you see what Lord Stein did?” she asked without turning.
“I saw.”
“Then you understand why I’d rather be alone. I’m afraid I’ve had enough of aristocrats for one evening.”