The Medium

"He's not a particularly nice gentleman," I said. We sat opposite each other, our knees almost touching. Fortunately the bench seats were covered in padded maroon velvet cushions or it would have been a terribly uncomfortable ride. The carriage traveled fast along the wider, emptier outersuburban roads and we were jostled about like beans in a pot of boiling water.

He sighed. "I'm sorry I subjected you to his rudeness. I should have come alone."

"Nonsense. I found it quite beneficial."

"Oh?" George pushed his glasses up his nose. "In what way?"

"It gave me a chance to form an opinion about him and I now think he had something to do with the release of the demon."

The spectacles slid down his nose again and he peered over the top of them at me. "You've made that assumption on the basis that he's not particularly nice?"

When he put it like that it didn't sound like a very convincing reason. "And because he didn't seem shocked at the damage the demon has caused."

George nodded and once more pushed the glasses up to their rightful position. "True. He was quick to turn the discussion back to Blunt and his possible involvement too.

You do think he's involved, don't you?"

"Blunt? Of course he is. It's obvious."

"Yes, yes, obvious." He gave me a grim smile but it vanished when the carriage turned a corner and we both lurched to one side. Righting himself, George banged on the cabin roof. "Slow down, Weston!" To me he said, "Apologies. The driver knows I like to go fast but I don't usually have a passenger of the female persuasion with me."

"It's quite all right, George." I straightened my pillbox hat and hoped my hair had managed to maintain some semblance of control. "And another thing about Price," I said. "Blunt mentioned he was a generous benefactor, but I cannot see how Price would have much money if his housing situation is any indication." I pointed at the buildings through the window but we'd long since left behind the rows and rows of identical houses. They'd been replaced by the statelier, colonnaded, residences of old money and the occasional shop that catered for their exclusive needs. "Price doesn't seem like he can afford to be all that generous with his funds."

George nodded. "I'd not thought of that. Well done, Emily."

"Thank you, George."

He smiled at me. I smiled back.

And then I realized why he was smiling. He moved to sit beside me and covered my hand with his own. With a squeak of alarm, I slipped it free and shifted to where he'd been sitting so we were once more opposite each other.