“Can you draw just one more?” Lady Aylesbury asked, her voice rife with concern. She put a great deal of trust in these pieces of paper.
“Yes, let’s.” Selina often did this when the final card drawn wasn’t satisfactory. It made no difference to her, but today it did. She liked that Tower card even less than Lady Aylesbury did.
Dread mixed with anticipation as she turned over a fourth card.
The Star.
Lady Aylesbury smiled broadly. “That looks promising!”
“Illumination, hope, renewal. This card could signal a beginning for them.” Selina forced the words out while her heart beat heavy in her chest. She knew this card was for her—except she didn’t believe in this!
Maybe she wanted to believe it this time. The possibility of hope and light, for an unburdened future, was a heady thought. And one Selina oughtn’t indulge in.
She swept up the cards. “What is your second question?”
Lady Aylesbury’s gaze had settled on the wall behind Selina, and now she startled. Blinking, she refocused on Selina. “Oh yes, just a moment. So, it seems there is some sort of association between Harry and Lady Gresham, and perhaps the change of the Tower means Harry will stop working so hard—as seen in the Ten of Wands. Because he and Lady Gresham will start a new life together.” The countess looked at Selina in question. She typically provided a summation of the reading for the client, but in her distress she hadn’t. Thankfully, Lady Aylesbury had done a better job than Selina probably could have.
“I think that’s exactly right.” She smiled even though Lady Aylesbury couldn’t see her do so. “Would you like to ask another question?” Selina rather hoped she didn’t, but shuffled the cards anyway.
“Yes, please. I’ve lost my emerald necklace, which my husband just gave me for my birthday last month. I haven’t told him because he’ll be upset. Can you help me find it?”
Selina set the cards down on the table. “This is not something I usually do. It’s very difficult to see something so precise as to where an object may be. When did you lose it?”
“I’m not sure, but I couldn’t find it yesterday. I tore my entire dressing room apart.” She grimaced. “And I’m certain it was there Saturday, because I considered wearing it at our soiree but chose pearls instead.”
Suspicion curled through Selina. She might be wrong, but she was probably right, and if so, she knew precisely where Lady Aylesbury’s necklace was. Unless Beatrix had already fenced it.
“Perhaps you could just tell me if I’ll find it?” Lady Aylesbury asked hopefully.
“I can try. I’m going to lay down three cards at once.”
Three of Wands. The Sun. The Nine of Cups.
The first card—the Three of Wands—was reversed, which signified patience and a wish fulfilled. Since Selina planned to ensure the necklace was returned, this was another alarmingly accurate card. The Nine of Cups was also a wish fulfillment card, and it carried the added “bonus” of indicating the wish might include a man, since the image was of a wealthy gentleman. Selina was strongly considering retiring this deck of cards.
“All these cards point toward success.” She didn’t even have to lie. “You will find your necklace, but the Three of Wands urges patience.”
“Wonderful!” Lady Aylesbury leaned back in her chair in relief. Then she reached for her reticule and withdrew several notes.
Selina was surprised to see so much money. “That is too much,” she said, picking up the cards.
“I was hoping you would take the extra and donate it to your friend’s home for wayward children. Lady Balcombe and I agree it’s an excellent cause.”
Selina set the cards to the side of the table. She’d decided not to discuss her “charity” with Lady Aylesbury given that she was Mr. Sheffield’s mother. It was too risky. But since Lady Balcombe had told her and the countess was bringing it up, Selina couldn’t avoid telling her about it.
“Friends of mine started taking in wayward children—they haven’t been blessed with children of their own—and the number has grown more than they can support without assistance. They do their best to provide a safe place for the children, but it’s a very costly endeavor. I give what I can, and when my clients ask where they might help, I sometimes mention their home.”
“I would be honored to provide assistance. Please give them the money, will you?”
Selina inclined her head. “I will. They will be most grateful.”
Lady Aylesbury stood from the table. “Thank you so much for your insight and expertise. I look forward to our next meeting. May I return at the same time next week?”
Selina nodded. “Yes. Thank you, Lady Aylesbury.” She rose, clasping her gloved hands together as Lady Aylesbury turned and took her leave.
The money lay on the table like a nauseating plate of liver when Selina had been young. She didn’t want it, but was too hungry to decline it. Taking money from Sheffield’s mother felt wrong. Because Selina had met her socially, and she and her daughters had been unbearably kind to her and, more importantly, to Beatrix.
Yes, unbearably. Kindness was not something Selina was used to, and it never failed to make her feel unsettled. Still, money was money, and Selina had learned long ago that, like the liver, you took it when you could and harbored no regrets.
Finished with Madame Sybila’s appointments, Selina removed her veil and changed her clothing, carefully stowing her fortune-teller costume back in the closet. When she emerged from the small room, Mrs. Kinnon was just coming through the curtain from the shop.
“I presumed you were about to leave,” she said. “Mr. Sheffield has been across the street the past quarter hour or so.”
“Since before Lady Aylesbury left?”
“Yes, though watching him try to hide himself behind a street lamp as she departed was rather comical.”
Selina wished she could have seen it. “I suppose I must wait awhile longer before leaving, then.” She wanted him to think she’d been here waiting to see Madame Sybila after his mother. But then she’d have to say she hadn’t seen his mother… She looked to Mrs. Kinnon. “I’m going to need a package of something—an excuse for not seeing Lady Aylesbury as she left. I was too busy making a purchase.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll wrap something up for you.” She went back into the shop, leaving Selina lingering in the corridor.
Selina had told her about assisting Mr. Sheffield with his investigation. Mrs. Kinnon was an enormous help, and Selina simply couldn’t manage the size and scope of her enterprise here in London without the woman’s help.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Kinnon returned with a wrapped package. “Orange and honeysuckle soap. It will suit you well.”
Selina had never indulged in the luxury of extravagantly scented soap. “Thank you.”
“Luther stopped by earlier,” Mrs. Kinnon said with a smile. She, of course, knew him from when they were children. “He said you finally visited him yesterday.”
“It was good to see him after so long.” He’d been thrilled that she’d visited. In fact, his enveloping embrace had gone on a bit too long for Selina’s comfort, prompting her to extricate herself. Then he’d offered his help in whatever way she required, and Selina had relaxed.