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see him,” Aren said.
    Now she knew he was a ghost, she could find out his address and go and see him by herself. “I understand. I’ll have Tobin take you back to your office.”
    “I don’t want you going to see him alone,” he said, guessing her thoughts.
    “It never occurred to me.”
    “I mean it, Raiden. He could be dangerous. Ghosts can be unpredictable when they’re newly dead. It’s different from summoning them back with their bones or ashes. You have no control over them. Promise me you won’t go and see him.”
    Raiden remained silent. She stared out of the window, avoiding Aren’s gaze.
    “Promise me,” Aren said, tilting her chin up to force her to meet his eyes.
    “I can’t.”
    “Raiden…” He sighed heavily. “Why do you always have to be so stubborn? Why can’t you be agreeable like other girls?”
    He climbed out of the carriage. Raiden felt hollow. She would go without him. She would do whatever she had to. But she would rather go with Aren. She didn’t want to go against his wishes or argue with him.  
    “I need you to take us to a house belonging to a James Matherson.” Aren was speaking to Tobin. He proceeded to give the driver detailed instructions on how to get there.
    “Thank you,” she said when he climbed back in.
    He sighed and shook his head. “I know I’m going to regret this.”
     

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
    “This is where he lived?” Raiden asked, looking out the window. The carriage had arrived at a street of modest terraced houses. The occupants were middle class, minor witches and businessmen. They weren’t titled, but they could afford to employ servants and to send their children to school. Raiden turned from the window to face Aren. “I thought you said he had no money.”
    “He didn’t,” Aren said. “Up until a few months ago he was renting a room in a boarding house and then he took a house here.”
    “Where did he get the money from?”
    “I haven’t been able to find out. No family has come forward and he didn’t appear to have any friends. The landlady from his boarding house was the only person at his funeral. I intend to speak to her tomorrow. I’m hoping she might know something.”
    The carriage pulled to a stop. Tobin opened the door and pulled down the steps. Raiden knew which one was James Matherson’s house. A black cross had been painted on the door. It was a warning there was a ghost in the house that might be dangerous. Ghosts could be volatile. Some people did not deal very well with being dead.
    Aren escorted her across the road. He took a key from his breast pocket and unlocked the door.
    “Mr Matherson,” Aren called as he shut the door behind them. “Mr Matherson. My name is Aren Feralis. I’m with Smallpeace, Dawes and Pumprey, the solicitors. I came yesterday.”
    There was no response. Three doors led off from the hallway. At the end of the hall was a staircase that curved upwards.
    There was a light switch on the wall. Raiden flicked the switch and the light overhead came on. She flicked it off and they went off. On, off. On, off. There was only gas or fireflies at home. They didn’t have electric lights yet. It was like magic the way they came on. Magic for those that didn’t have magic, she thought to herself.
    Aren put his hand over hers, preventing her from using the switch again.
    “He has electric lights,” she said.
    “I know. There’s a power station near here at Holborn Viaduct.” He took his hand away. “I’m going to see if Matherson is upstairs.”
    “I’ll come with you.”
    “No. Let me see how he is first. Wait here and don’t touch anything.” He went up the stairs, calling out to the ghost.
    The house seemed empty. They didn’t know if Matherson was still here. He could have crossed over. Raiden opened the closest door. It led into the parlour. Yellow and blue floral wallpaper covered the walls. There was a dark blue sofa in front of the fireplace and a cabinet which was empty. The