If you have no rest, it is not my doing. Desperate, Tabby tried to ground herself back in Miss Suze’s dining room. Where was the pink chintz wallpaper? Where was the happy babble of children, the aroma of sweet yams and hoecakes? She tried to take deep, even breaths, but they came out shallow and fast.
Mr. Bishop was joined by another spirit, and then another. Soon Tabby’s mind was filled with the grotesque faces of the dead, all clamoring for her attention.
I am lost! cried a woman with a gaping wound to her head.
I was laid to rest not three days ago and thieves came in the night, stealing my mortal remains away, lamented another. Tell me, how am I to let go of this earthly plane when my coffin lies empty?
You hear us, you see us, yet you do nothing. Have you no compassion for our plight?
You shall have no rest until we have rest!
Louder and louder they shrieked. Tabby’s head filled with pressure, felt as if it were being cracked open from the inside. She was terrified, but a small, detached part of her could only think of the gathering that was happening around her in Miss Suze’s dining room. What did she look like right now to them? How would she explain her episode when it finally ended?
Just when she thought that she would suffocate in the blackness swirling with death, light gradually pierced the void, the grotesque faces fading away like paint running in the rain.
The world came back into focus, the smell of hot food and summer flowers replacing the thick odor of decay. “Careful now,” Eli said, helping her sit up.
Polly, who was crouched down on her other side, handed Tabby a cup. Tabby gulped down the water, the sharp coldness washing away the lingering bile in her throat. She was scared to know, but had to ask. “What happened?”
“You fainted clean away,” said Polly. “One minute you were standing up, the next you were flopping on the ground like a fish on the dock.”
Ella stared at her from the corner, wide-eyed, her dolls crushed to her chest. Tabby gave her a tremulous smile. “It’s all right. I’m all right.”
But when she tried to embrace her, Ella shrank back as if Tabby were a monster.
Eli and Tabby walked back home through the lingering summer evening, the setting sun gilding the Boston buildings in rosy light. As usual, by some mutually unspoken agreement, they took the back way, skirting the busy areas of the city. It would have been a lovely stroll if not for the pregnant silence that hung between her and Eli. Several times Tabby opened her mouth, trying to form the words to explain what had happened, but each time she lost her nerve. Never before had she experienced such an assault on her mind with so many spirits contacting her at the same time, and she had no idea how to explain it away. It ate at her soul, little by little, not to be able to confide in the man she trusted and loved above all else in the world.
6
IN WHICH IT ALL FALLS APART.
IT WAS NEARLY two o’clock before Caleb arrived outside of the Hammond townhouse. He hadn’t had a chance to change his suit, and when he’d caught his reflection in a shop window, his rumpled clothes had all but loudly announced that he had just taken part in a clandestine encounter.
Tabby Cooke had tasted of licorice and sun-ripened strawberries, innocence and desire. He had never wanted the kiss to end. God knew he’d kissed his fair share of women before, but this had somehow been different. Even with Rose, the few times they’d shared a kiss there had been no real passion there. What on earth had he been thinking? It was a new low, even for him. His father’s voice rang out in his head: Good-for-nothing boy. Can’t keep your filthy hands to yourself, can you? Someday you’ll find yourself in real trouble and lord knows I won’t be the one to get you out of it.
It was just that he had been so good since getting engaged. Rose kept him honest and he wanted to please her, even if they weren’t in love. Every time he let his eye wander, he hated himself a little more. So why did he continually do this to himself?
Taking the marble steps two at a time, Caleb rapped his stick on the door and stood back. A moment later, an older black man in tails came to the door and looked down at Caleb with one brow disdainfully raised.
“I say, Roberts, it’s only me, no need to look so vexed. I’ve come to call on Miss Rose.”
But the butler didn’t budge. Perhaps the old man’s hearing was finally starting to go. Pity. Caleb tried again. “I’M HERE TO SEE MISS ROSE,” he said loudly, enunciating every syllable.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake,” said an irritated feminine voice. Rose swept out to the door. “Thank you, Roberts. I’ll handle this.”
The butler shot Caleb a scornful look, and then disappeared back into the house.
“Rose? What is this? Can I come in?”
“Caleb,” she hissed, throwing a look over her shoulder into the hall. “You have some nerve. You were supposed to be here hours ago for luncheon.”
He’d completely forgotten he had promised to come for luncheon today. He fidgeted with the brass head of his cane. He’d never had to beg permission to gain entrance to a woman’s house before. “I can explain. Can I please come in?”
“Mama and Papa are out—they got tired of waiting. I know the past week has been hard on you,” she said, softening a little, “but this is hardly like you. One moment you’re whisking me out to the theater, attentive and full of good cheer, and the next you can barely look me in the eye or bother to honor your engagements.”
He should have apologized and been on his way, but he had to get inside, had to explain to her how truly sorry he was for his behavior this past week. He couldn’t live with himself if he was the heel who seduced virgins behind his intended’s back. “Please? I won’t be but a moment and Roberts won’t let anything untoward happen.” He nodded toward the butler, who was vigorously dusting a clean vase and pretending not to eavesdrop.
He could see the indecision wrestling on her face, but eventually Rose stepped back and opened the door the rest of the way for him. She was wearing a blue silk dress with full bell-shaped sleeves and tiers of lace on the skirt. On another woman it might have looked overly fussy, but Rose wore it with easy grace, the blue bringing out her intelligent eyes and setting off her delicate features. What was wrong with him? What had she ever done to deserve this sort of treatment? And for God’s sake, why couldn’t he cajole his stubborn heart into feeling something more for her?
In the foyer, Caleb deposited his hat and cane on the sideboard and then followed Rose into the parlor. She didn’t offer him anything to drink, just perched herself on a settee and looked at him expectantly. “Well?”
“Look, I know I’ve been distant lately. You have to understand that losing my father was a terrible blow, and everything with the business... Well, I’m a bit lost.”