The apology, combined with a compliment, gets a small smile from him and he nods. "It's all right. If you do decide to talk to the dead again, just be careful about summoning 'spirits'. It's people being vague that's the trouble."

He slices a shred of cake with his fork, but doesn't eat it, thinking instead. "You never struck me as the seancing type. Or did you use prayer? I could imagine you praying, but not huddled around a table listening to a gypsy woman."