Heart Burn (7 page)

"How fortunate that you're able to see into a person's mind and know what they're thinking."

Myer tilted his head to the side and regarded Samuel through narrowed eyes. He stared for so long that
I
felt uncomfortable for Samuel. Remarkably, he didn't look away. He met the other man's scrutiny without blinking. "You know I can't do that," Myer said. "My talent doesn't stretch so far. Does yours?"

"No."

A log in the fireplace shifted as the low flames ate through it. The movement broke the standoff between the two men, and they both looked away. I couldn't determine what had just transpired, and I didn't try too hard to think it through. My head hurt enough.

"Why do you think a member of Society summoned the demon?" Myer asked.

"We're not certain," Jack said. "It's one option we're considering among others." He explained about Mott and how his widow mentioned he'd met with someone from a 'Society.'

Myer unclasped his hands. "That's flimsy evidence at best."

"We're aware of that," Samuel said through a clenched jaw.

"And what are your other options?"

"We don't have to discuss them with you."

"Samuel," I said gently.

He tore his gaze away from Myer and raised his brows at me. "You wish to tell him…everything? Are you sure?"

"It's quite all right." I tried to smile, but it probably wasn't very convincing if his worried frown was anything to go by. Beside me, Jack shifted a little closer, but he didn't try to counsel me against speaking. I wasn't sure I wanted to talk about it, but it was necessary. Myer had a long history with Lord Wade and the Society, and that meant he probably knew Reuben Tate. It also meant he was aware of unnatural phenomena. He might be shocked by my revelations, but he wouldn't call me mad.

I told him everything, beginning with how Tate had summoned a demon and used the creature to try to abduct me. I went on to explain why Tate wanted me and that led to my fire starting and failing health.

"Miss Smith, I…" He approached and squatted beside me. He took my hand and cradled it loosely in his own. Whatever unethical things he'd done with his hypnosis, I was certain that the sympathy in his eyes was genuine. "I don't know what to say except that I'll help in any way I can."

"There's nothing you can do," I said, forcing myself to smile for him. I saw no point in wallowing in his pity. "Unless you know of a cure."

"I'm afraid not."

"Do not pretend that you're shocked," Jack snapped.

Whatever had upset him? Did he not like Myer touching me? Did he think Myer was trying to hypnotize me?

Myer let go of my hand and returned to his chair. "Mr. Langley, I can assure you I am very shocked."

"You knew she could start fires," Samuel said. "We know you hypnotized her as a child at Lord Wade's request."

"Yes. Well. That's true. It improved her immeasurably."

"
Improved
her?" Jack snarled. "She was a child!"

"Her ability frightened her, Mr. Langley. Have you ever witnessed a terrified two year-old? No? Let me tell you, it's not an easy thing to calm one. After I put the narcolepsy and memory block in place through hypnosis, she forgot her temper and slept through the worst of it before she could do too much damage. I labeled it a success, as did Lord Wade."

"I label it inhuman. What you did was unforgiveable and a gross abuse of your power." Jack's voice was as cold and sharp as a shard of glass.

Myer clasped his hands in his lap again. The knuckles went white. "Don't judge me, Mr. Langley. You weren't there. Lord Wade and I did what we thought best. Mr. Gladstone, I hope
you
understand at least."

Samuel looked down at the floor and didn't answer.

"Miss Smith?"

"I don't think we should dredge up the past," I said. "What's done is done."

Jack closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He gave a single nod. "Let's discuss the present and how you can help us now, Myer."

"I'm not sure that I can," he said. "If Tate summoned one demon, it stands to reason that he summoned the other by the same means."

"One doesn't automatically equate to the other," Samuel said, looking up. His eyes were clear and bright. Where earlier he'd been angry with Myer for hypnotizing without consent, I was beginning to think he saw the likeness to himself now.

"Whether Tate did it or not, it doesn't matter," I said. "We don't know where he is."

"Do you?" Jack asked our host.

Myer shook his head. "I haven't seen Reuben Tate or August Langley for many years. Not since they let their membership lapse."

"What were they like?" I asked. "Others have said they were brilliant."

"They were. They had a fiery partnership though." He winced. "My apologies, I should have chosen a better word."

"That's quite all right." I removed my gloves to cool my hands. They'd grown progressively hotter. My head ached too, and my skin prickled. I needed to escape the room soon and get into the fresh, cool air. I didn't want to faint in the Myers' drawing room.

"Tate and Langley argued like a poorly matched married couple," Myer said. "But when they set aside their differences and worked together, they produced marvelous things. I wasn't surprised when I heard that one of their cures sold for a substantial amount of money. It was a shame they went their separate ways after that. A great shame."

"What exactly did they do for the Society?"

"Nothing in an official capacity. Studying the supernatural was a hobby of theirs. Their investigations into the scientific basis for unexplained phenomena helped us determine who was fraudulent and who was genuine, particularly in the area of spirit mediums and hypnosis."

"Hypnosis!" Samuel said. "So Langley has been aware of people with natural hypnotic abilities for some time?"

"Oh yes. He even studied me. He declared me genuine. Has he done the same for you, Mr. Gladstone?"

"He hasn't studied me."

Myer laughed. "Don't be so sure about that."

Samuel pouted and looked as if he would ask another question, so I got in first. "Do you know why they stopped being friends?"

"Why not ask Langley himself?" This he said to Jack.

"We have," Jack said. "Now we're asking you, Mr. Myer."

Myer's Adam's apple bobbed furiously. "I don't know. I never knew them well."

"Do you know of anyone else in the Society who can start fires?" I asked.

"You're the only one I've met, Miss Smith. And Tate as it turns out, although that's news to me."

Nobody told him about Jack, nor would we. Myer did not need to know all our secrets.

"Do we have any more questions for Mr. Myer?" I asked Jack. Talking had taxed me. All I wanted to do was get cool and sleep.

Jack must have understood. "We'll go," he said, rising.

"Wait," Myer said. "I have a question for you, Mr. Langley. Why didn't you feel something when I hypnotized my wife? Mr. Gladstone is immune, and I could see that Miss Smith was affected by my voice, but not you. Why?"

Jack lifted one shoulder. "I don't know. Have you never met anyone who wasn't affected?"

"No. Never. Have you, Mr. Gladstone?"

Samuel smiled, and I was relieved to see it was his usual charming one, dimples and all. He'd been out of sorts ever since our arrival. "Only Langley here."

One corner of Jack's mouth lifted in a cocky smile. It was pure arrogance, yet I loved it. I suspected he enjoyed keeping his secret from Myer just as much as I did.

"Any idea as to why?" Myer asked.

"None whatsoever." Samuel stood and held out his hand to me. "Let me help you, Hannah. You look worn out."

I was glad for his strong, steady arm to lean on, and equally glad to see that it didn't bother Jack. His old jealousy hadn't surfaced for some days. I attributed it to their newfound friendship since Samuel had fought the demons alongside Jack. Our lake trysts probably helped reassure him too.

He carried my coat over his arm, and I still held my gloves. I glanced up the staircase as we entered the entrance hall, but there was no sign of Mrs. Myer. I thanked Mr. Myer for his assistance.

"I feel as if I haven't helped at all," he said with an apologetic shrug.

"You may still be able to," Jack said quietly so as not to be overheard by the hovering footman. "If you think of anyone in the Society who may have a connection to Harborough or Frakingham, send word to us there immediately. Speak of this to no one. Hannah's condition is not something you can discuss with others."

"Nor is Samuel's," I added.

"I understand," Myer said. "Trust me. I'm used to secrets of that nature." He signaled for Adamson the footman to open the door. "Mr. Gladstone," he suddenly said, "would you like to dine with me tonight at White's?"

I felt a ripple travel up Samuel's arm. Surprise, perhaps? "I don't see why not," he said. "We have other plans, but I'm sure my company won't be missed."

Myer grinned. "Excellent! I think we'll have a great deal to discuss."

We made our way down to the coach and climbed in. I sat on the bench seat and yawned. "Samuel, you
will
be missed at dinner. Are you sure you want to meet with Myer on your own?"

He shrugged. "Why not? Are you worried about me, Hannah?"

"A little."

"He can't hypnotize me."

"I know, but…" I clicked my tongue. I couldn't explain it, but I had an uneasy feeling in my chest. "I'm not sure I trust him."

"I know I don't," Jack said. "Be careful, Gladstone."

"I will. I don't trust him either. The man hypnotized his own wife right in front of us with no thought how it would affect anyone else." He held up his hands when I opened my mouth to speak. "I know I'm not exactly a paragon of ethical behavior in that department, but I amended my ways before the age of twenty at least. Myer should know better."

Jack pulled out a cushion from the compartment beneath the seat. "Rest until we're back at the hotel, Hannah."

"But I want to talk some more about Myer."

He shook the cushion at me. "Rest, please."

His plea and the lines of worry radiating from his eyes had me reaching for the cushion. I placed it behind my head and closed my eyes. It was blessedly soothing and I instantly relaxed.

"Sorry, Gladstone," I heard Jack say through my sleepy state.

I wondered why he was apologizing, then a blast of cool air washed over my face, cooling me down. Jack had opened the window.

"Not at all," Samuel said. "Pass me Hannah's coat since she doesn't need it."

***

I slept for the rest of the afternoon in my room at Claridges and awoke when Sylvia returned from her outing with Mrs. Beaufort. She helped me dress in a light, summery gown for the evening. I'd decided that the Beauforts and Culverts already knew that I suffered from the heat, so there was no reason to hide it.

Dinner at the Beauforts was an intimate affair with Mrs. Beaufort's young aunt, Cara Moreau there, and Mr. Beaufort's sister, Adelaide Culvert and her husband George too. She was pregnant with their second child, but in good health and spirits. A remarkably pretty woman, she reminded me of Sylvia. Both were fair and rosy-cheeked with a regal tilt to their chins, although Mrs. Culvert's manner of speaking was more measured. Sylvia could learn a thing or two about tact from her.

"I'm quite relieved that Samuel didn't join us," Sylvia said to the group as we sat down to dinner. "Now we can talk frankly about him and Myer."

"Syl," Jack warned.

"Gladstone
and
Myer?" Mrs. Beaufort asked.

Her husband held up his hand for silence, and we all fell to watching the servants, waiting for them to leave so we could talk freely. The footmen brought in a series of dishes and served while the butler poured wine. Once they'd finished, Mr. Beaufort dismissed them, and they departed without a backward glance. Either they were well trained or were used to the informality of their employers.

"Now may I ask why you mentioned Mr. Gladstone in the same breath as Myer?" asked Mrs. Beaufort. "Is he a hypnotist too?"

I felt a twinge of guilt at discussing Samuel and his ability without him present, but it was too late to dismiss her question now. His secret had been revealed and I doubted the Beauforts would allow us to avoid answering.

Jack told them about Samuel's hypnosis. He was met with raised eyebrows, but not derision or disbelief. Very little seemed to surprise this family.

"So how did the meeting with Myer go?" Sylvia asked. "Is he a natural hypnotist like Samuel?"

"He certainly is," Jack muttered.

"You sound disapproving," Mrs. Beaufort said. "Yet you accept Mr. Gladstone's ability."

"He doesn't hypnotize people for amusement or because they disagree with him." I noticed how he didn't say 'against their will.' It would have been a lie. "Myer hypnotized his wife in front of us."

All the ladies gasped. "Good lord!" Mrs. Culvert said, a hand at her throat.

"Despicable man," Mrs. Beaufort muttered. "Utterly without morals, it would seem."

"Did you fall under his spell, Hannah?" Sylvia asked.

"Jack made sure that I didn't."

"Needless to say, the meeting didn't get off to a promising start," Jack said.

"
Why
did he hypnotize his wife?" Mr. Culvert asked. "Did he give you a reason?"

"Does he need a reason?" his wife retorted.

He waved his fork about. "If she were being particularly difficult, for example, or—"

"George!

He lowered his fork and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Of course, it's a terrible business. Absolutely despicable. He should never have done it. But…what was she like, Miss Smith?"

"I found her to be very odd," I said.

"See!"

Mrs. Culvert glared at her husband. "George, oddity is not a reason to hypnotize anyone."

"No. Of course not. I find the situation interesting, that's all. I'm trying to understand it from Mr. Myer's point of view."

"Perhaps you ought to try to understand from his wife's. Imagine living with someone who can hypnotize you whenever he likes and feels no guilt in doing so."