Chapter 5: Further Investigations

[HoneyDog]

Lady Amanda’s eyes light up. Rain smashes against the windows - a real downpour is beginning.

“Yes!” she says. “I can make the arrangements. I feel that William might be ready to reach out to us.”

OOC,I'm sure that Lady Amanda will forgive any transgressions in the event of a good seance!

Melody,Melody is dining with several servants, including her roommate, Mr. Smith and Mr. McKenzie. Nobody knows any of the newcomers, but knows about the bad feeling between them and the villagers. The general feeling is that the murderer is probably one of them, but no-one can really give a reason as to why they think so.

[Mr. Handy]

"All right," says Alexander. While he is naturally skeptical, he is curious to see what it's like, as he has never attended a seance before.

[HoneyDog]

"What time would you like to begin?" asks Amanda.

[aine]

"It will take me about an hour to prepare the room. Shall we say ten o'clock, if that is acceptable to everyone? We could start later of course. Would you prefer the library or the study, Lady Amanda?" Isolde looks around the table.

[HoneyDog]

“We’ll use the study. It was William’s, after all” says Amanda firmly. “I will have the servants make the arrangements and then have some rest before we begin. Until ten o’clock.”

She nods her head and leaves the room, looking determined.

OOC,Please raise any questions among yourselves if you have any. Melody can also join the séance, Amanda won’t object.

[Philulhu]

”Very well,” said Captain FitzWilliam. ”I haven’t attended a seance before. What will you need us to do?”

[Mr. Handy]

"Nor have I," says Alexander, "but I'm ready when you are."

[Rooter]

Percy, too, is eager to participate.

[aine]

"Very well." Says Isolde. "It is important that everyone who attends is positive about taking part. Any negative energy could disrupt the proceedings or cause nothing to happen at all. We'll need to be mindful of her Ladyship's feelings but at the same time we need to get to the bottom of this investigation and this may be our best chance.

I'll start the communication but if I succeed then it should be possible for any of us to ask the spirit questions; keep them simple and answerable with either yes or no." She smiles grimly.

"If things start to get out of hand then I'll finish the seance quickly; one can't always be sure of contacting a benevolent spirit! I'll go now and prepare the study. Oh, and wear something warm; it can get cold."

[HoneyDog]

Later that night at 10 pm, the society meets in the company of Lady Amanda in Sir William's study. Some drinks and refreshments have been laid out, but otherwise the room is empty. A large round card table has been placed in the center of the room, and prepared in accordance with Isolde’s instructions. Dimly lit, the light from the oil lanterns sends shadows flickering around the room, but some light as well as heat is provided by a fire in the grate. The door is firmly shut.

Outside, the wind howls and the rain lashes against the windows, shaking the glass in the panes.

[Philulhu]

Mindful about Miss Beauchamp’s warning about being positive, Captain FitzWilliam tried to keep any skepticism at bay. Having not attended a seance before, he was unsure what to expect. He had read in some of the more scurrilous newspapers about how some charlatans had posed as mediums and he hoped tonight would be the real thing...

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander is also trying not to be skeptical, out of respect for Isolde's wishes, but he has a harder time of it. He tries to think of it as a sort of scientific experiment. He helps himself to some tea. "Are we supposed to hold hands?" he asks, having heard that that was often done at a seance.

[aine]

Isolde lights three candles and places them in the centre of the table along with three crystals that sparkle and flicker in the wavering light. She also puts down a small tripod from which hangs a small pendulum.

"Please be seated; Lady Amanda please sit opposite me and yes, we must all hold hands." She sits down with her back to the fireplace and listens to the wind buffeting the window panes. "It can sometimes take a while so please be patient but on a night such as this, hopefully we will make contact!
Before we start, Lady Amanda, what name did his Lordship go by, in his own mind?"

[HoneyDog]

Amanda’s grip on Isolde’s hand is fierce, and her eyes burn intensely.

“William, just William” she mutters, staring at the pendulum.

[Philulhu]

Captain FitzWilliam had opted to sit the other side of Lady Allingham and she held his hand in a vice-like grip. He tried to ignore her nails cutting into the palm of his hand and he studied Miss Beauchamp carefully as she started the seance.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander sits on Captain FitzWilliam's other side and grips his hand, though not as tightly as Amanda does.

[aine]

Isolde breathes deeply and listens. The fire is crackling and the windows rattle on and off but otherwise there is just the noise of breathing. After a little while she says, in a low voice,
"Is there anyone there who wishes to speak to us?"

[HoneyDog]

The rain crashes against the windows, and the firelight flickers, but no answer comes.

[Rooter]

Percy coughs.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander waits patiently, observing his surroundings.