K the ghost K
ESME
of
GOREY
Saturday, April the Seventeenth
Attended Lord and Lady Musgrove's
dinner party tonight.
I went with the sole hope of picking up
some decent monster hunting tips (Uncle
has promised I may take a tour when I turn
twenty-one), but rapidly began to fear that I
would hear nothing useful at all. I think it is
perfectly ridiculous the way Perdina Meeks
chatters on about all the monsters she has
killed, when I know perfectly well she screams
upon seeing a mouse. What a torment it was
to hear her discuss werewolves as though she
knew everything. I know for a fact that it is
silver and not iron (as she says) that has the
desired adverse effect upon their physiology.
There had been nothing but silly chatter
from Perdina, and on my left I was seated
closest to Lord Gorey. He was delightfully
dark and brooding. Becoming a widower
does bring out the best in certain Gentlemen.
But all of his attention was devoted to Miss
Benedicta Basilio, though I think she is not so
sympathetic as she pretends.
If only I had been seated down at the
opposite end of the table! Lady Musgrove has
been on any number of hunts, and her cabinet
of Ghost Glass is, by itself, quite worthy of
being showcased within a museum. One
hears rumors she has got the ghost of George
Plantagenet, the First Duke of Clarence—
though, of course, she cannot brag upon it.
The Crown frowns upon their family being
held in private collections.
"I cannot, I will not cease my efforts until I
see my wife again!" Lord Gorey's vehemence
drew my attention back to my left.
"I am only concerned for your safety," Miss
Basilio said. “One never knows the disposition
of the dead. They can be quite... unpredictable.”
“I will attend upon J.W. Wells, and what is
more, the appointment is already set for this
Wednesday evening!"
Perdina's face was alight with interest.
"J.W. Wells? Is he not the proprietor of J.W.
Wells and Co., Family Sorcerers? Is there to
be a séance for your departed wife? A séance!
How exciting!"
Her voice carried easily across the floral
centerpiece. The entire table stopped their
conversation to hear Lord Gorey's reply.
In moments, it was settled. Perdina had invited herself, and after that, the rest of the table.
Lord Gorey could hardly deny the privilege.
The séance is hence to be a public event—or, at
the very least, it has ceased being private. Lord
and Lady Musgrove had the compassion to
claim a prior engagement, but I cannot afford
to be so kind. If Lady Musgrove will not be in
attendance, I feel someone with sense and an
untarnished perspective should be.
In addition, Aunt and Uncle have never
allowed me to attend a séance, and I have
always been most curious.