Eliza was correct with her timing, the dimming of the sconces signaled the start of the activity less than a minute after Eliza's initial question. The remaining guests that were lingering around the room find their seats and Lady Dupree gets everyone's attention by striding off to the terrace doors. She turns toward her room of curious guests and loudly says, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce this evening's honored guests." She gestures toward the French doors and without touching them, they open inward, revealing two women standing behind them.
Their entrance was very theatrical, with a few gasps heard around the room after the doors appear to open on their own. Two elderly women dressed in all black appear to glide into the space as Lady Dupree adds, "Madame Bouchard and her companion, Lady Landry."
Silence covers the room and Madam Bouchard sweeps her gaze across all of the anxious faces seated around the table. Every inch of her skin to the tip of her chin is hidden beneath black lace and silk. Large gemstones decorate her fingers and her gray hair is pulled into a nest at the top of her head. Her companion is also dressed in black, but not so lavishly. She almost appears as if she just left a funeral in her black cotton frock.
Lady Dupree leads the women to the two open seats at the table and no one says a word as they get settled. Eliza glances at the other eager faces seated at the table but in the dark light, it's hard to tell if they are anxious or excited. Eliza notices one gaze not aimed at the women and she follows Cecilia's gaze to Colin. Colin faces the medium and she almost wants to give his hand a squeeze. She'd rather know how he is connected to Cecilia than how these women are connected to the dead.
"I fear many of you have had a brush with death," Madam Bouchard cryptically says as she looks around the table again demanding everyone's attention. "Some more recently than others." Her voice is deep and husky with a French accent peeking through. It's not harsh enough for Eliza to believe it's real, but more to create an interesting character. That gets Eliza's chest to untighten as this may all be an elaborate, intimate performance after all.
"The other side feels more comfortable communicating in a welcome space. Without eyes of judgment watching as they cross to the other side," Madame warns. "So, to invite them to communicate with us, I must ask you all to close your eyes and open your minds." Eliza assumes the rest of the guests will obey Madame Bouchard's rules and she gives a quick glance to Colin before snapping her eyes shut. Silence falls over the shadowy room again with the candelabra sitting in the middle of the table, flicking eerie lighting around the small space.
"Esprits, vous êtes les bienvenus ici" Madame Bouchard says loudly and Eliza's French is good enough to know that she just welcomed the spirits into the room. She wonders if English ghosts will understand French enough to know they are being summoned into this manor's game room.
The two terrace doors suddenly slam shut, causing everyone to jolt in their seat with Lady Perry shrieking beside Eliza. Madame Bouchard stays focused with her eyes closed and everyone eventually follows her lead. She murmurs more French words, while Eliza's heart settles, but she still hasn't squeezed Colin's hand. She's now curious enough to see this through.
After more murmuring, Madam Bouchard finally whispers, "I am receiving something from a woman. A young woman who has passed recently." Eliza immediately thinks of Penelope and shoots her eyes open. She notices everyone is still sitting with their eyes shut, with the exception of Lady Landry. She can see the whites of her eyes across the room and quickly feels them on her. The women lock eyes and Landry silently instructs Eliza to shut her eyes again.
"This woman...she's sending me the letter...A..." The clairvoyant says, still continuing her French accent with her eyes clamped shut. A woman's voice cuts through the stillness, "Anna?" It sounded like one of the guests on Eliza's left, but Madame Bouchard doesn't confirm if the spirit is "Anna" yet. She mumbles something in French and then, in another higher-pitched voice says, "Yes, it is I, Anna." The wide wooden table sharts shaking, which causes everyone to shoot their eyes open again. Mr. Dupree slams his palm down on the table which instantly stops the quivering. Whispers fill the room while Lady Landry snaps to get everyone refocused.
"I'm afraid I lost Anna," Madame Bouchard confesses and Lady Landry looks equally disappointed.
"Can you get her back?" The woman to Eliza's left anxiously asks and adds, "That may have been my cousin, who passed earlier this year from illness."
"Ah yes, I definitely sensed this woman had fallen ill," Madame Bouchard says confidently, but Eliza was glad the darkness hid her eye roll. She meets Colin's smirk in the dark and she knows that he thinks this is all a game as well. Lady Landry finally gets everyone to refocus and calmness once again falls over the dark room. Madame Bouchard pleads for Anna to come back to her, but after a lack of communication from Anna, possibly because Anna's French is lacking, she shifts her focus to a man that is suddenly trying to communicate with the group.
"This man...he's happy. Une vie heureuse. He had a peaceful death," Madam Bouchard tells the group. "He's...I'm seeing the countryside. I want to say his name is Tom? Thomas?" No one connects with the older man, so Madame Bouchard tries to reach out to the other realm once more. She whimpers and growls as spirits grasp at her and everyone is eager to have a spirit come through that they connect with.
"Oh dear," the medium suddenly says sadly. "I fear, this next spirit has something sinister connected to her...I'm getting revenge? Or a feeling of...seeking justice of some sort." Eliza again thinks of Penelope, but Madam Bouchard suggesting her name starts with an R has Eliza less interested.
"Rachel possibly?" Madame suggests, but no one admits to knowing a Rachel. "I fear...I fear...this woman suffered a gruesome death. She keeps...I think she's touching her head." Gasps once again are heard around the room but Bouchard quickly continues, "She has a connection to Nottinghamshire. She's leading me...I see...a servant's entrance? And she is leading me...where are you taking me, Rachel? What are you trying to tell me?" Madame Bouchard shouts. "She's leading me to a pantry...I think she got her head wound here."
"Rose?" Lady Dupree suddenly gasps and Madame Bouchard latches onto her suggestion quickly, "Rose? Rose, why are you so angry?" The medium grips the table cloth causing hands to move toward her and Eliza opens her eyes to watch Bouchard's head drop back as she shouts to the ceiling, "Did something happen to you in the pantry, Rose? Has justice not been fought for you? Was your death no accident?"
"Rose fell off a ladder!" Lord Dupree shouts breaking the silence, "There was nothing foul about her fall." Everyone's eyes are now on Lord Dupree. His outburst caused a break in the trance. The table abruptly shakes again and another woman shrieks when the candles are blown out in one quick woosh. A glass shattering against a wall somewhere in the room causes more gasps and panic amongst the guests. Everyone breaks into conversation until Lady Dupree brings the lights up.
"The connection is broken ma chérie. I'm afraid that is where our evening ends," Madame Bouchard tells Lady Dupree solemnly and she nods in agreement. She is as white as the pearls twisted around her neck and her husband sits flushed at the table. Lady Landry helps Madame Bouchard from her seat and they glide out of the door Cecilia came in through.
"Well..." Lady Dupree starts, addressing the startled guests, "I think...that concludes the evening's entertainment." She twists her hands together and then shoots out of the opposite door, leaving Lord Dupree alone to say the goodbyes. Everyone stands from their seat and as Margaret comes over to them, Eliza notices the seductive wink Cecilia tosses Colin. Colin dismisses it by looking at Eliza and asks if she's ready to head back to Elsick house. Margaret is already draping her arm through Colin's elbow and Eliza is perturbed that she'll have to wait until his aunt is out of earshot to get answers as to who Cecila Cameron is and why she feels it's appropriate to flirt with her future husband.
