“They also insist you dispense magic charms.”
“No. I don’t believe in magic, and I have no idea how it works.”
Miss Ralston frowned, so clearly, Joanna wasn’t giving the correct answers.
There were many enchantments she could perform, but she would never display any of them for Miss Ralston. If she gleaned the slightest information about Joanna, she’d use it to Joanna’s detriment.
Plus, she was positive Miss Ralston would like to engage in some ill-wishing, but Joanna would never direct negative energy toward anyone. Life was hard enough without the added burden of harmful thoughts being piled on.
“Don’t be coy with me.” Miss Ralston clucked her tongue with offense. “I should like to purchase a potion.”
“What type of potion?”
“There is a fiend vexing me, and I should like him to vanish, but he refuses to disappear. I would be delighted to spur him along.”
Joanna could barely keep from blanching. She hoped Miss Ralston wasn’t trying to be rid of the Captain! She wasn’t even betrothed to him yet.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t make a person disappear. I simply birth babies and distribute tonics to people who are sick. I have no mysterious abilities.”
“I’m certain you’re lying. How much would you charge for a spell to be cast? I’ll pay double your price.”
“I have no price for such a thing, and this isn’t about Captain Ralston, is it? He’s my benefactor, and I would never consider bad behavior that involved him.”
“Oh, for pity’s sake. It’s not Captain Ralston. He’s about to be my husband. No, this is a snake in the grass who’s overstayed his welcome. I am a woman who is gravely in need of help, and you help women all the time. Why won’t you assist me?”
Joanna wondered who Miss Ralston detested so vehemently, and she would worry about him. She wondered too what it would take to persuade the horrid shrew to leave.
Miss Ralston was growing impatient, and she stuck out her hand. “Can you read palms? Surely it won’t kill you to admit to that small talent.”
Joanna hesitated for an eternity, then she clasped Miss Ralston’s wrist, being careful their palms didn’t connect. There was no detail about Miss Ralston that she wanted disclosed, and she couldn’t forget how the Captain’s cards had shown he wouldn’t be marrying her. Joanna had to be wary lest she divulge a hint of that dicey news.
She scrutinized the appropriate lines, then asked, “Is there any topic in particular you were anxious to have addressed?”
“Will I have a long life?”
“Yes,” Joanna fibbed, figuring she would falsify through the whole appointment.
“Will I be happy?”
“Mostly. You can’t be happy constantly. Fate doesn’t let our paths unfold without occasional difficulties.”
“How many husbands will I have?”
Joanna didn’t see any. “Two.”
“How many children?”
Without thinking, she said, “Well, you’ve already had the one, and I—”
Miss Ralston yanked away. “What are you talking about? I’ve never been married, and I have no children. What sort of charlatan are you?”
Joanna was rattled by what had been exposed, and she inhaled slowly, determined to calm her raging pulse. “I was probably wrong. I don’t perform readings that often, and obviously, I’m out of practice. Would you like me to look again?”
“No, thank you. I’ve found out what I came to discover, which is that you are a fraud, but I wouldn’t like it to spread that I’m ungrateful for any service provided to me.” She opened her reticule and placed a coin on the table.
“You don’t have to pay me,” Joanna insisted. “I haven’t really done anything.”
“That has to be the truest words you’ve ever spoken.”
Miss Ralston stood, so Joanna stood too. Joanna was very petite, and Miss Ralston was quite statuesque. She towered over Joanna, so she felt vulnerable to attack. Joanna never bowed down or cowered, so the irksome sentiment was annoying.
“Since I’ve revealed your failings,” Miss Ralston said, “I am duty-bound to tell you that you will suspend your visits to Margaret. She’s about to be my sister-in-law, and when her mood is so desolate, it would be easy for a swindler to take advantage of her. I demand you break off contact. Do it however you like, but do it immediately.”
“I will,” Joanna lied. She would behave as Margaret Howell requested, and Miss Ralston’s wishes wouldn’t be considered in the conclusion that was chosen.
“I shouldn’t have to meet with you about this again. We don’t need you inflicting yourself on the gullible wretches at the manor. If you persist, I’ll have to confer with Captain Ralston about the wisdom of your residing on the estate. Don’t make me, for I can guarantee you won’t like the ending I orchestrate.”
“I understand.”
Miss Ralston whipped away and left, and Joanna followed her out. She blew out a heavy breath, hating that she’d been threatened and hating too that her presence would cause problems at the manor.
Mrs. Howell wouldn’t agree to have Joanna’s visits cease, and there was the party on Saturday night to which she’d been invited. If she attended after Miss Ralston had warned her away, they’d become enemies. Yet if she didn’t attend, the Captain would demand to be apprised as to the reason, and she didn’t suppose he’d like to hear about Miss Ralston’s edict.
What a quagmire!
She loitered on the stoop, observing as Miss Ralston stomped away. As she reached the gate, Clara was skipping down the path toward the cottage. It was too early for her to be home from school, and Joanna frowned, curious as to why she’d been dismissed.
Clara saw Miss Ralston, and she stopped and stared. Miss Ralston stared too, and as the pair came face to face, the eeriest pall settled over the forest. For an instant, it felt as if the world had quit spinning on its axis so the universe could note their encounter.
Joanna hadn’t noticed it previously, but Miss Ralston and Clara looked exactly alike: white-blond hair, coal-black eyes, a willowy physique. They were so similar that they might
