The Royal Ghost Read online

  It was said calmly but it was clearly intended to shock, and it did. Mina knew that it had taken nervous Miss Whinstone all her scant courage to make a public confession to the cruel delusion in which she had been trapped, and could not imagine what additional harm this fresh ordeal would wreak on the lady’s fragile constitution.

  ‘And you believe Miss Eustace?’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘That is unpardonable! It is nothing short of slander!’

  As Mina’s anger mounted, so Hope’s satisfaction increased. ‘I can see you feel very strongly about what you see as an injustice to your friend. As strongly as I feel about the injustice being done to Miss Eustace. But there is something you can do to mend the situation. Miss Eustace might be persuaded out of the goodness of her heart to make some slight changes to her defence. She might, for example, decide to claim simply that she is the innocent victim of a mistake. Miss Whinstone will not therefore be shown to have deliberately lied but simply to have been confused. Under such circumstances there would be no criminal charges for her to answer.’

  ‘How might I —?’ Mina stopped. She understood it all now. She was being blackmailed.

  Arthur Wallace Hope smiled at her.

  She took a deep breath. Her back hurt, her shoulder hurt and her chest hurt. ‘You place me in a very difficult position, since if I was to make the statement you ask for it would be a lie. Do you expect me to put my name to a lie?’

  ‘No, Miss Scarletti, I expect you to acknowledge the truth. One day all the world will recognise it. Eyes will be opened, and the cavillers and bigots who deny the world of the spirit will finally see what is so plain and obvious to others. Their refusal to admit to the true way is a great curse on mankind. It is like the folly of the unlawful whom God punished by sending his flood, allowing only the righteous to live.’

  ‘I cannot see that this is the same thing at all. Surely you cannot be claiming that unbelievers will be washed away by another flood?’

  ‘It is already happening! It has happened! I have seen it with my own eyes on the battlefields of the Crimea. War is the new flood – it is God’s warning to mankind! I know it may seem harsh but it was necessary, like the flood, to sweep away materialism and bring humanity to glory!’

  Mina stared at him. He was noble, intelligent, and fiercely driven by the certainty that he was right. Nothing would or could ever shake him from that position. Not only that, but he had the power to convince others, and he knew it.

  Mina examined the teapot while she was wondering what to say. She offered to refresh his teacup, but he declined. ‘Mr Hope, you have given me a great deal to think about. I cannot give you an answer today. Would you allow me some time to consider what you have said?’

  ‘Of course I will!’

  ‘Please could you assure me that for the time being, Miss Eustace will not be making any accusations of perjury against Miss Whinstone, which would only distress her unnecessarily.’

  ‘You have my promise.’

  Mina poured more tea for herself, but its murky depths looked uninviting, and a few dusty leaves had escaped the strainer. She wished she did have the powers he attributed to her, then she could have divined what to do next. As she reflected on what he had said at his lecture, however, a new idea did come to her. She put the cup down. ‘Perhaps it would assist me in my deliberations if you were to tell me more about your belief that the Royal Pavilion is a focus of spiritual energy. You mentioned at the lecture that you had actually met the Misses Bland, authors of An Encounter?’

  ‘Yes, very recently. I found them modest and virtuous, and quite unconscious of having any powers of their own, although I am sure that they do and would take only a little development. In view of their position in life and retiring natures they do not, however, wish to undertake any séances, which I think is a great pity.’

  ‘How did you encounter them?’

  ‘I wrote to Mr Worple, the printer of the volume, who informed me that because of the unexpected interest in the book and the timidity of its authors, he had been advised that the ladies would not consent to meet with anyone except for a select few individuals. He was kind enough to ask them if I might be introduced and they were happy to allow it. Our meeting took place at his office in London about two weeks ago, and we had a very pleasant afternoon.’

  ‘So if I wished to meet them I could apply to Mr Worple in the same way?’

  ‘You might try, but in view of your opposition to spiritualism, it would be most unlikely that your application would succeed. You may not write to them directly. The ladies wish to preserve their true identity to save embarrassment to their father, who is a clergyman. They are, I might say, quite astonished at the excitement caused by their book. They wrote it for the purposes of information and had it printed at their own expense, not expecting to achieve fame and fortune. I think the supposed indecency is very much inflated. To the innocent all things are innocent.’

  Mina decided that it would not be wise to reveal that she had not only read the book but also discovered the date of the Pavilion visit. Her main concern now was preventing Miss Eustace from defaming Miss Whinstone and also, if at all possible, ensuring that she never returned to ply her fraudulent trade in Brighton. Since the recent surge of interest in the Pavilion as a focus of spiritualism was solely due to An Encounter she thought that if she could reveal the work to be a fiction then that interest, even if it did not evaporate since such things rarely did in their entirety, would be weakened to the point where Miss Eustace was no longer able to capitalise on it.

  ‘Very well,’ she said. ‘I think that I shall pay a visit to the Pavilion and see if I can feel the power of the spirits working there. You may think it strange that I have never been there, but I have lived in Brighton for less than three years, during the first of which I was helping care for my father who was an invalid, and after his death for my mother, who was deeply affected by his loss.’

  ‘I understand, and I very much hope that when you sense the working of the spirits they will bring peace to you and your family. I will leave you now to your thoughts, but if I might be permitted to call again?’

  ‘Of course.’ She rose.

  ‘Incidentally, I have heard tell of another medium in Brighton somewhat different from Miss Eustace but still one I should like to meet. A Miss Foxton?’

  ‘Yes, I have seen one of her performances, but I believe she is no longer in town. If I should hear of her return I will let you know.’

  At this moment, to Mina’s concern she heard the front door open. Could it be her brother who was now about to discover her in close compact with a man? But chattering voices in the hallway told her it was far worse than that; her mother and Enid had returned early. Mina hoped desperately that they would hurry upstairs and she could persuade Mr Hope to leave without their seeing him, but instead they burst into the parlour, laughing, and halted in astonishment. Enid did not know whether to be delighted or furious, but Mr Hope favoured them with one of his most pleasing smiles. ‘Why Miss Scarletti, these must be your charming sisters!’

  Mina made the introductions, while Enid went red in the face and Louisa simpered at the blatant flattery. ‘Mrs Scarletti!’ Hope exclaimed as he bowed to Louisa, ‘Why surely not, you are far too young to have grown daughters! But now I recognise you both as you came to my lecture and I believe I inscribed a book.’ He turned the full power of his gaze onto Enid, who looked ready to melt like a jelly left in the sun.

  ‘Oh I do hope you are not going so soon – please do stay and have some refreshment!’ exclaimed Louisa.

  ‘Yes, please do!’ Enid begged. ‘I should so much like to hear more about Africa!’

  ‘Ladies, I am sorely tempted to accept your kindness, but I regret that I am already engaged for luncheon with the Lord Mayor, who expects me to regale him with my experiences in the Crimea. But I promise that we will meet again.’ He supplied his card. ‘I can be reached here.’

  Once the visitor had gone,
Enid turned upon Mina with a look of fury. ‘Well, what can you mean by it? Why did he call? I can’t believe he was here to see you! Was there no mistake?’

  ‘He wished to engage my support for the publication An Encounter,’ said Mina, which was part of the truth at least. ‘He knows what I think of spirit mediums and thought that if I was to say something in favour of the book it might lend some weight to his arguments.’ She decided to say nothing about Miss Eustace as that was a sore point with her mother.

  ‘I hope you have not agreed to his wishes,’ said Louisa, frowning. ‘He is a man of the world and therefore we must excuse him from not thinking the book indecent, but it is quite unsuitable for the female sex.’

  ‘I have not, but I suggested he might like to call again, something I think you would both wish for,’ said Mina. ‘If you like I will keep him in suspense as to my reply until you tire of his company.’

  From Enid’s expression Mina thought that situation would be a very long time coming.

  Ten

  Mina decided that before she took any further action she should learn as much as she could about Arthur Wallace Hope, and so after luncheon she retired to her room to read African Quest. There was a brief tribute to the author in a foreword by none other than Sir Roderick Murchison, the distinguished geologist, president of the Royal Geographical Society and friend of Dr Livingstone. The editor of the Brighton Gazette had also, when advertising the recent lecture, published some extremely complimentary words about Mr Hope, from which Mina assumed that neither of these authors had ever had the occasion to oppose his wishes.

  Arthur Wallace Hope had been born in 1830, and was the second son of Viscount Hope. Determining on a military career he had joined the 77th East Middlesex Regiment of Foot and served in the Crimea with courage and distinction. He had returned, saddened at the terrible waste of human life, to find that his father had died while he was away. Seeking a purpose and challenge not offered to him by his new status of younger brother and heir presumptive of a Viscount, he soon volunteered for his first trip to Africa. His brother’s untimely death without male issue had elevated him to the family title, although he preferred to be known as plain Mr Hope.

  Mina could easily see why Arthur Wallace Hope had become so convinced of spiritualism. He had been surrounded by death from an early age. Not only had he lost his father and older brother while still in his twenties, but he had witnessed young men dying on the battlefield in their thousands. Seeking adventure in Africa he had been appalled by wars and massacres and seen his own party of gallant friends hacked to death, drowned in surging rapids or ravaged by tropical diseases. It had been impossible for him to accept that the loss of so much promising youth had been for nothing, and that those bright souls were not somewhere close by, enjoying a tranquil afterlife where he would one day meet them again.

  After some thought, Mina decided that what she most needed was sensible advice, and since this was not available at home, she sent a note to Dr Hamid.

  Later that day, her brother Richard arrived unannounced in time for the family to sit down together for dinner. Although not normally the best of timekeepers, his ability to put in an appearance just as food was due to be served was unwaveringly accurate. As ever he was buoyantly optimistic about a brand new business undertaking that was going to make his fortune, but predictably, was unable to provide any significant detail concerning its nature. The only certainty was that a small amount of capital would be required, which through some dreadful bad luck he was unable to lay his hands on. His brother Edward was allowing him board and lodgings at his home in London but was being a terrible bore over money. As usual, Louisa smiled indulgently at Richard, said how happy she was to help him make his way in the world, and agreed to provide what was needed.

  To Mina’s knowledge Richard’s last three enterprises, in all of which he had failed to become rich, had been the gaming table, trying to acquire a wealthy wife, and appearing on stage with Nellie, and she dreaded to think what his next venture might be. In due course she would doubtless be burdened with the information and expected to provide an investment. The main subject of conversation, however, once the question of Richard’s assured success, Mina’s health, the twins’ progress, Enid’s new gown and Louisa’s headaches had been rapidly disposed of, was the visit to their home of the renowned and heroic Arthur Wallace Hope. Both Louisa and Enid thought it obvious to the point where no discussion was required that the distinguished visitor had not wished to see Mina at all, and there had been an innocent error in which she had foolishly encouraged the great man. There, however, their opinions diverged, since Louisa, commenting that Hope must have asked to see Mrs Scarletti and not Miss, was convinced that she had been the object of his interest, whereas Enid, who had been a Miss Scarletti not so very long ago, was of another viewpoint. Enid, however, as did everyone in the house, knew better than to contradict her mother once she had arrived at a fixed opinion, and only let her opposition be known with very pointed glances at Mina and Richard.

  ‘I suppose,’ said Louisa, with a careful lightness of tone, ‘that Mr Hope is not a married man? If he is then his poor wife must be very unhappy with him spending all his time travelling.’

  ‘Oh, he has not had the time to marry, surely,’ said Enid.

  ‘He might have married while he was in Africa,’ suggested Mina.

  ‘What nonsense you talk sometimes,’ said Louisa. ‘There is no one in Africa for him to marry.’

  ‘Unless he has a secret wife who is quite mad and he has her locked up in a tower at his castle!’ giggled Enid, who seemed to find this idea quite exciting.

  Once dinner was done, Mina suggested that she would like to take a refreshing walk to the seafront and asked Richard if he would go with her, to which he at once agreed. Enid and Louisa, saying they had seen the sea quite recently and did not need to see it again so soon, remained at home to examine their recent purchases and give instructions to Rose as to their care.

  ‘Both Enid and mother are in better health than they have been for some while,’ said Richard, as he walked with Mina down Montpelier Road to the inviting vista of the shining ocean. Mina leaned on Richard’s arm, which reduced the awkward seesawing of her gait and therefore the strain on her muscles, and he was happy to amble slowly at her side. Brighton was glowing in its autumn beauty, the sky of that intense clear blue that seems to go on for ever, an unusually kind breeze doing no more than rustle garments and make the ribbons of ladies’ bonnets flutter. ‘I was careful not to mention Mr Inskip in case Enid had a relapse into melancholy. Do we know if that gentleman is alive or dead? Or perhaps he is a little of both? He never seemed to me to be perfectly alive even at the wedding.’

  ‘Enid receives the occasional letter from him, usually to say he is very occupied with business and may not be home for some months. That always seems to cheer her.’

  ‘And before you say it, my dear girl, it is obvious to me that Mr Arthur Wallace Hope came to see you and none other.’

  ‘He did,’ said Mina and was relieved to regale her brother with the full import of the conversation.

  ‘The scoundrel!’ exclaimed Richard. ‘How dare he! I am sorry I was not here to deal with him.’

  ‘It was a difficult interview,’ Mina admitted, ‘but I do think I would not have learned all that I did had there been another person present.’

  ‘Do you want me to call him out? I would, you know.’

  ‘No, Richard, I don’t want you to do anything except watch and listen if he visits again. And not a word to mother or Enid, who would never believe me in any case.’

  ‘What will you do about his demands?’

  ‘I am not sure. I am only happy that the trial date has not yet been set, so I do have time to decide. The good news is that he seems not to have realised that you and Dr Hamid were part of the business, and I hope he never finds out.’

  ‘You must speak with the good doctor, of course.’

  ‘I have sent him a n
ote, and will call as soon as convenient.’

  ‘And while it might be hard on Miss Whinstone, she must be apprised of the danger to herself.’

  ‘I agree. I cannot leave her unprepared. But she is such a nervous lady that I suspect she will beg me to comply with Mr Hope’s wishes in order to spare her from prosecution.’

  ‘Would you do that for her?’

  Mina had already given this fraught matter some very serious consideration and had come to an unhappy conclusion. ‘If necessary. I would not give in to blackmail on my own account but I cannot see another lady suffer for my obstinacy. Poor Miss Whinstone has endured quite enough without being threatened with a criminal charge. My thoughts are my own, of course. They will not change and I hope that those who know me will understand. But I would look like a fool to the public, and that will be hard. Still, these things are quickly forgotten.’

  ‘If there is anything you need doing, I am your man, you have only to ask, and meanwhile, I will bend my mind to the problem.’

  ‘Just promise me you will not break the law, and do nothing without consulting me first,’ Mina pleaded.

  They had reached the promenade, where a sting of salt was in the air, and the pebbled beach lay before them like so many pale brown and cream coloured eggs, streaked here and there with dark weed. In the distance was the cowbell tinkle of the last donkey rides of the day, and pleasure boats were being drawn up to take their rest out of the reach of the hungry sea. In the evening, as the sun sank, dusting the waves with rosy light, Brighton’s visitors would throng to the clifftop or gather in rows along the promenade to watch the spectacle. Mina, who saw tales of horror in everything around her, thought that the crimson blush of the sea resembled blood. Supposing, she thought, it was blood, the spectral remembrance of a sea battle in which many men had lost their lives? That would make a good story. ‘Ghost Blood’ she would call it. Mina decided to purchase a small notebook to carry about with her so she could jot down her story ideas before they vanished.