The London Séance Society: A Novel

On February 10, 1873, Mr. Morley, the vice president of the Department of Spiritualism within the London Séance Society, finds himself in a difficult position after the murder of the Society’s president, Mr. Volckman. For years, the Society worked to connect reliable mediums with people who desired to contact the dead. The all-male Society enjoyed relative prosperity, and Morley found that he was able to support himself and his ailing mother. He was even able to open a small business running a liquor cellar. However, Volckman’s murder was preceded by rumors that the Society was employing fraudulent mediums; these rumors negatively impacted the Society’s reputation and income. Morely, a man who already lacks self-esteem due to a large birthmark on his face, is now faced with the task of dealing with the impact of these rumors while investigating his boss’s death.

The narrative returns to Lenna’s perspective. When the doors to the séance room open, Lenna initially believes it might be a ghost. This prompts memories of her introduction to the world of spiritualism. Because of her interest in biology and archeology, she believes in rational, tangible, and scientific explanations, and her rationality and skepticism would often put her in conflict with Evie, who wholeheartedly embraced spiritualism. Now, she realizes that the intruder isn’t a ghost, but a messenger with a letter for Vaudeline. Vaudeline is horrified by the letter, which bears news of someone’s death. She is so distraught that she cannot begin the séance by herself, so Lenna begins the incantation to summon the spirits.

The narrative returns to Morely’s experiences in London on February 11, 1873. He is visited by Constable Beck, a member of the Metropolitan Police who is also involved with the Society. Morely suggests enlisting Vaudeline D’Allaire to solve the mystery of Volckman’s murder. She used to work for them but was abruptly sent to Paris some months ago. Beck agrees to her return and promises to provide security for her while she is in London, in case her investigation places her in danger.

Reading an article about ectoplasm reminds Morely of a lecture that he gave back in June, when he encountered a beautiful young woman named Evie dressed as a man. Morely, who was normally scorned by woman because of his birth defect, was surprised to find that Evie was interested in talking to him. He invited her on a walk and found her to be intensely interested in spiritualism. 

The narrative returns to Lenna’s experiences on February 14, 1873. Vaudeline takes over the séance after Lenna performs the opening incantations, and the medium discovers that the murdered girl was killed by a jilted lover. The parents are dissatisfied with this revelation because they were unaware that their daughter had a lover. Lenna is disappointed by the outcome because the séance didn’t provide any tangible evidence of ghosts. After the girl’s parents leave, Vaudeline explains that the letter reported the death of Mr. Volckman, one of her associates when she worked in London. Vaudeline tells Lenna that she left London because she believed that fraudulent mediums were working within the London Séance Society. Volckman, upon beginning an investigation of his own, believed that her life was in danger. The rest of the letter is a request from a man named Morely asking Vaudeline to return to London to help ascertain the circumstances of Volckman’s murder.

Vaudeline asks Lenna to return with her to London because she believes Lenna to be one of the most talented budding mediums that she has ever tutored. Her request is accompanied by a brush of her hand against Lenna’s—physical contact that both surprises and arouses Lenna. Despite the temptation of that touch, Lenna is distressed by the idea of attending another séance that yields no proof of ghosts. She expresses this frustration to Vaudeline, who is hurt by her lack of belief. Lenna sits alone outside and is eventually joined by Vaudeline. The medium tries to touch Lenna’s hand again, but Lenna pulls away.

After Vaudeline leaves her, Lenna reflects on a similar disagreement that she had with Evie before her death. The incident occurred on the anniversary of the death of Eloise—Lenna’s very close friend—and Eloise’s father, Mr. Heslop. Evie revealed that she had been trying to contact Eloise, and in one séance, she transcribed a message that she believed came from her friend. The message consisted of the letter L with a pair of interlocking hearts inside of a hexagon. At the time, this information disturbed Lenna, who believed that Evie must have been snooping through her belongings; she had received a hexagonally-folded letter from Eloise years ago in which Eloise described her romantic feelings for Lenna—feelings that Lenna had reciprocated. Lenna disbelieved Evie and never got the chance to apologize before her sister’s death.

Later that day, Vaudeline tells Lenna that she has arranged to go to London by herself. She admits that what hurt her the most deeply was not Lenna’s questioning of the legitimacy of her craft, but the fact that she pulled her hand away when Vaudeline tried to touch her. Vaudeline then kisses Lenna on the cheek. That night, Lenna wrestles with her desire and eventually masturbates while thinking of Vaudeline.