"It must have, but I wouldn't know." He too took a sip of his tea but watched me the entire time over the rim of his cup. "He died after we'd both left Eton. Jacob had gone on to Oxford I believe."
My ghost had failed to mention that fact. Jacob shifted his weight. "It was so long ago," I said lightly. "I find it hard to recall the dates."
Mr. Culvert lowered his cup and locked his gaze with mine. "And he wasn't my friend."
Oh dear. This was going to be more difficult than I imagined. "He, uh, mentioned you though. Frequently."
Jacob groaned. "Tell him we were in the same debating team once."
"You were on the debating team together," I said.
"No, that was my cousin, another Culvert," Mr. Culvert said.
"Oh."
Jacob shrugged. "I thought it was him." He frowned, shook his head. "I just can't seem to recall him. The uncle I spoke to in the Waiting Area was adamant his nephew George went to Eton in my year level. Why can't I remember him?"
"It must have been some other team then," I offered. "Cricket?"
"I didn't play sports unless I had to," Mr. Culvert said. "And Jacob and I were never on the same team. He was always in the firsts-cricket, rugby et cetera. I was...not. So you see, I'd be very surprised if he noticed me at all."
Jacob sighed. "He's right. It's a large school and our paths probably never crossed."
"He was like that," Mr. Culvert went on.
"Like what?" I finally had a chance to find out more about my ghost and unfortunately he had to be listening. Perhaps I should have stopped Mr. Culvert before he said something Jacob ought not to hear.
Or perhaps not. I might not get another opportunity to discover more. If Jacob didn't want to listen he could simply vanish and return later.
Jacob, however, did not disappear. He'd gone very rigid and that steely glare was back. "Emily, don't," he said.
He was right. It wasn't fair. I sighed. "Nevermind," I said.
"I don't mind," said Mr. Culvert cheerily. He passed me the plate of biscuits and I took one. "But surely you would know what he was like, being his friend." "Emily," Jacob warned.
"Uh..." With my mouth full of biscuit I couldn't say anything else without spraying crumbs in my lap and over the floor. The thick Oriental rug was so lovely and I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of my host...
"He was quite oblivious to those around him, wouldn't you say?" Mr. Culvert said, somewhat oblivious himself to my plight.