In the Time of Spirits
Beth Ford
Publication date
August 6th 2024
Genre
Adult, Historical
An epic adventure through the world of the nineteenth-century spiritualist movement.
In 1890, Addy Cohart is determined to defy convention and remain unmarried-until she meets William Fairley, a psychic medium who gives her hope as she grieves the sudden death of her parents. Addy becomes a devotee of the spiritualist movement, but as she takes on a larger role as William’s assistant, she realizes that all may not be as it seems. As the couple moves from New York to London to Paris, Addy is forced to confront the fact that William’s talents may be a ruse, and that he may even be a criminal. She must decide whom to trust and where to place her loyalties. What price is she willing to pay to protect her love and keep her faith?
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The group settled around the table and sang a hymn, just like the many other sessions Addy had attended. But this one felt profoundly different. She held herself straight, as if the solidness in her spine could translate to her resolve to make it through the evening. The group joined hands, and the powder she knew was on William’s hand burned into her conscience. But she made no mention of it, only sat grim-faced in the dark as those around her received their messages, which she hoped were still legitimate amid the spectacle.
The guests seemed satisfied with them, at least. She stayed silent later as she felt William’s foot slip from his shoe to work the string and as a few droplets of water sent bright sparks flying into the air; she oohed and aahed with the rest of them as the phosphorescence also highlighted her dress and hands. She had, she knew, become part of the farce.
Back at the hotel that night, the dark secrets of the séance room still hung over Addy and William, with Addy struggling to speak beneath their weight. Finally, William spoke as he packed away his tools. “You did a good job tonight. Thank you.”
The praise Addy had wanted to hear for so long fell flat against her ears. She said nothing and continued brushing her hair, enjoying feeling its cool reality slide between her fingers.
William sighed. “Is there something you want to say to me, or are you going to pout all night?”
She set down the brush with a slight click against the glass top of the dressing table. “I don’t know what to say, William. It’s too big.”
“What does that mean, ‘it’s too big’?”
It was Addy’s turn to sigh. “Let’s just go to bed. We can talk about it in the morning.” She slid into bed, her back turned coldly toward his side. She heard him pause, considering; then he turned out the light, grabbed his coat, and went back out into the night.
Beth Ford is a historical fiction author living in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She is the author of the novel In the Times of Spirits and the Cassie Woods, Reporter novella series. Her work has also appeared in a variety of literary journals.
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This is going on my TBR, thanks!
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