Sapphire Battersea Read online

  ‘That will cover the cab fare, just in case,’ she said, tucking it up my velvet cuff.

  I smiled at her gratefully and gave Sarah a little nod. ‘We’ll be fine,’ I said grandly.

  ‘Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you,’ said Mrs Briskett, folding her arms. ‘It’s not right and fitting, meddling with the supernatural. It’s just a form of witchcraft, that’s what I say.’

  ‘Well, we don’t care what she says, do we, Hetty?’ Sarah murmured to me and we set off.

  WE WALKED AWAY from the town, along a stream, down many winding lanes. I tried to take note of the way we were going in case I had to steer Sarah back, but I soon became muddled. I was surprised when we stopped in front of a relatively modest cottage with an ordinary suburban garden. It had a little privet hedge, a patch of emerald-green lawn, and a bright flowerbed of marigolds and geraniums edged with scallop shells.

  Sarah led me up the red and black tiled garden path and pulled the bell by the front door. A tall pale woman in black answered the door.

  ‘Is she Madame Berenice, or her servant?’ I whispered to Sarah.

  ‘No, no. She is Emily. I believe she is Madame Berenice’s sister. She will serve us refreshments afterwards.’

  ‘Afterwards!’ I repeated excitedly.

  Emily took our shawls silently. Sarah pressed a little envelope of money into her hand and murmured something about materialization. Emily nodded, and still without speaking led us into a very dark room, the curtains shrouded with thick black velvet. I expected her to light a lamp but she went away again.

  It was so very dark after the bright evening sunshine that for a moment or two I could see nothing, but I sensed we weren’t alone. No one spoke, but I could hear someone breathing, someone rustling. I could smell liniment and floral scent. I gradually began to make out a small group of people sitting on chairs set around a table in a circle. There was tall thin Mr Brown from Dedman’s grocery, sitting very erect; two elderly ladies, both in black – and a woman with compelling dark eyes wearing a strange feathered turban and extravagant robes. I did not need Sarah to introduce me. She was clearly Madame Berenice.

  ‘Sit down, Sarah,’ she said, in a deep voice. ‘And who is the little person with you?’

  ‘This is Hetty Feather, Madame Berenice. She is our new little maid, come to help me home if necessary,’ Sarah whispered deferentially. ‘I’ve asked for another materialization, madame. I do hope that’s convenient?’

  ‘I will do my best, but as you know, there are no guarantees. Our spirit friends are very sensitive, especially when there is a stranger in their midst.’ She was staring at me intently in the darkness, and I couldn’t help squirming.

  ‘Would you like Hetty to wait outside, madame?’ Sarah asked.

  ‘Oh no, please may I stay!’ I said, determined not to miss out on anything.

  ‘Are you a believer, Hetty Feather?’ asked Madame Berenice.

  I wasn’t quite sure what she meant. ‘I go to church every Sunday,’ I said.

  ‘Do you believe in the psychic sciences, child?’

  ‘I – I’m not sure what they are,’ I said.

  ‘She’s very ignorant, madame. She’s a foundling, brought up at the hospital. She knows very little, but she’s a good helpful girl, eager to learn,’ said Sarah.

  ‘There is no greater wonder in all nature than the communication between the spirit world and our own,’ said Madame Berenice. She uttered her words with great expression, as if she were on stage. ‘Have you lost a loved one, Hetty Feather?’

  ‘I’ve lost my dear mama,’ I said huskily.

  ‘No, no, Hetty, your mother is still living,’ said Sarah. ‘Madame Berenice is asking you if any of your dear friends and family have passed away.’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ I said, a little flustered.

  ‘Can’t we get on with the seance, Madame Berenice?’ Mr Brown said.

  ‘Calm yourself, sir. There must be no impatience, no restlessness, or the spirits won’t come,’ Madame Berenice rebuked him. ‘Sit within the circle, Hetty Feather.’

  I tried to find an empty chair in the darkness, and tripped over a footstool in my blunderings.

  ‘Hetty! Sit down! You’re keeping Madame Berenice waiting,’ Sarah hissed.

  ‘I can’t help it. I can’t see,’ I whispered. ‘Why can’t we draw the curtains a little?’

  ‘We need total darkness, child,’ said Madame Berenice. ‘Those dwelling in the spiritual sphere are shy and wary of our world. It is a harsh, crude environment, and we have to be considerate. If we are lucky enough to achieve a total materialization again—’

  ‘Oh please, please!’ Sarah begged.

  ‘Then it would be like exposing a newborn baby to blinding light,’ Madame Berenice continued. ‘We have to be in harmony with the creation of all animal structures, as they are created in the darkness of the womb. Now, are we all ready?’

  I found a spare chair at last and sat down abruptly.

  ‘Let us join hands and see if the spirits will come to us today.’

  I had to hold hands on one side with Sarah, which felt odd, and on the other side with Mr Brown, which felt even odder. They both gripped tightly, almost crushing my fingers. I had a sudden intense tickle on my nose, but I couldn’t wriggle either hand free to give it a good scratch. I was trapped in this silent circle in this musty dark room.

  ‘Is there anybody there?’ Madame Berenice asked, her voice even deeper.

  I held my breath, but nobody answered.

  ‘Is … there … anybody … there?’ she cried, again and again, for a full five minutes.

  Nothing happened. There was silence, though Madame Berenice was breathing heavily now, as if running to catch a train.

  ‘Speak now, dear spirits,’ she gasped – and then suddenly gave a little scream.

  I jumped, and had to bite my lips to stop myself giggling hysterically.

  ‘Hello, dear Father!’ Madame Berenice lisped, in a strangely high-pitched baby voice.

  ‘It is my Cedric!’ Mr Brown choked, crushing my fingers.

  ‘Yes, Father! I have come to tell you how happy I am,’ the weird little voice squeaked.

  ‘Will you ask my little lad if he’s in any pain now?’ Mr Brown asked.

  ‘There is no pain in the spirit world, dear Father.’

  ‘Oh, thank God! So could you ask if he is keeping up with his schooling? He was always such a bright little lad.’

  ‘I know all the secrets of the spirit spheres, Father. I have no need of earthly schooling,’ said Cedric.

  ‘So what do you do all day, Cedric?’ I asked eagerly.

  I wanted to know if he flew around the world, manifesting himself in and out of houses at whim, or whether he hovered in the same spot in space, waiting to be summoned. But Sarah shook my arm fiercely, practically detaching it from my shoulder.

  ‘You mustn’t speak directly to the spirits, Hetty!’ she hissed. ‘Besides, he’s not your loved one’s spirit. Be quiet at once, and let poor Mr Brown commune properly.’

  ‘Could you tell him how much his mother and I miss him?’ Mr Brown asked, his voice hoarse with emotion.

  ‘But I am always with you, Father. Please give my love to Mother,’ Cedric squeaked, his voice so high-pitched it made Madame Berenice gasp.

  ‘Oh, the Lord be praised,’ Mr Brown said, and the rest of the circle murmured this too. His hand was hot and damp and I could feel him shaking.

  I did not know what to make of all this. Mr Brown clearly thought a miracle had taken place and that his dead little boy had actually spoken to him. The voice hadn’t really sounded like a little boy. It had sounded like a middle-aged lady pretending to be a child. Perhaps it was inevitable that Cedric would sound like Madame Berenice if he were using her as an earthly vehicle.

  She was gasping again, almost as if she were having a seizure.

  ‘Could you ask my Cedric if he could visit us in our own home?’ Mr Brown asked desperately.