smiled ruefully. “I was asleep, I’m afraid. Or was I...?”
“You did splendidly, Miss Seyrig.” Dr Magnus beamed reassurance. “You passed into a simple hypnotic state, and as you can see now, there was no more cause for concern than in catching an afternoon nap.”
“But I’m sure I just dropped off.” Lisette glanced at her watch. Her appointment had been for three, and it was now almost four o’clock.
“Why not just settle back and rest some more, Miss Seyrig. That’s it, relax again. All you need is to rest a bit, just a pleasant rest.” Her wrist fell back onto the cushions, as her eyes fell shut. “Amber.”
Dr Magnus studied her calm features for a moment. “You are asleep now, Lisette. Can you hear me?”
“Yes.”
“I want you to relax, Lisette. I want you to fall deeper, deeper, deeper into sleep. Deep, deep sleep. Far, far, far into sleep.”
He listened to her breathing, then suggested: “You are thinking of your childhood now, Lisette. You are a little girl, not even in school yet. Something is making you very happy. You remember how happy you are. Why are you so happy?”
Lisette made a childish giggle. “It’s my birthday party, and Ollie the Clown came to play with us.”
“And how old are you today?”
“I’m five.” Her right hand twitched, extended fingers and thumb. “Go deeper now, Lisette. I want you to reach farther back. Far, far back into your memories. Go back to a time before you were a child in San Francisco. Far, farther back, Lisette. I want you to go back to the time of your dreams.”
He studied her face. She remained in a deep hypnotic trance, but her expression registered sudden anxiousness. It was as if she lay in normal sleep—reacting to some intense nightmare. She moaned.
“Deeper, Lisette. Don’t be afraid to remember. Let your mind flow back to another time.”
Her features still showed distress, but she seemed less agitated as his voice urged her deeper.
“Where are you?”
“I’m... I’m not certain.” Her voice came in a well-bred English accent. “It’s quite dark. Only a few candles are burning. I’m frightened.”
“Go back to a happy moment,” Dr Magnus urged her, as her tone grew sharp with fear. “You are happy now. Something very pleasant and wonderful is happening to you.”
Anxiety drained from her features. Her cheeks flushed; she smiled pleasurably.
“Where are you now?”
“I’m dancing. It’s a grand ball to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, and I’ve never seen such a throng. I’m certain Charles means to propose to me tonight, but he’s ever so shy, and now he’s simply fuming that Captain Stapledon has the next two dances. He’s so dashing in his uniform. Everyone is watching us together.”
“What is your name?”
“Elisabeth Beresford.”
“Where do you live, Miss Beresford?”
“We have a house in Chelsea...”
Her expression abruptly changed. “It’s dark again. I’m all alone. I can’t see myself, although surely the candles shed sufficient light. There’s something there in the candlelight. I’m moving closer.”
“One.”
“It’s an open coffin.” Fear edged her voice.
“Two.”
“God in Heaven!”
“Three.”
“We,” Danielle announced grandly, “are invited to a party.”
She produced an engraved card from her bag, presented it to Lisette, then went to hang up her damp raincoat.
“Bloody English summer weather!” Lisette heard her from the kitchen. “Is there any more coffee made? Oh, fantastic!”
She reappeared with a cup of coffee and an opened box of cookies—Lisette couldn’t get used to calling them biscuits. “Want some?”
“No, thanks. Bad for my figure.”
“And coffee on an empty tummy is bad for the nerves,” Danielle said pointedly.
“ Who is Beth Garrington?” Lisette studied the invitation.
“Um.” Danielle tried to wash down a mouthful of crumbs with too-hot coffee. “Some friend of Midge’s. Midge dropped by the gallery this afternoon and gave me the invitation. A costume revel. Rock stars to royalty among the guests. Midge promises that it will be super fun; said the last party Beth threw was unbridled debauchery—there was cocaine being passed around in an antique snuffbox for the guests. Can you imagine that much coke!”
“And how did Midge manage the invitation?”
“I gather the discerning Ms Garrington had admired several of my drawings that Maitland has on display—yea, even unto so far as to purchase one. Midge told her that she knew me and that we two were ornaments for any debauchery.”
“The invitation is in both our names.”
“Midge likes you.”
“Midge despises me. She’s jealous as a cat.”
“Then she must have told our depraved hostess what a lovely couple we make. Besides, Midge is jealous of everyone— even dear Maitland, whose interest in me