THE MAGIC TOUCH (Historical Romance) (4 page)

“Come back here on Saturday afternoon and I shall give you both an insight into the magic shows.”

Edna pulled at Hope’s arm and tried to entice her away, but she was reluctant to leave the gentleman who had created feelings in her she had never known before. On the one hand, she felt she had to trust her aunt’s judgment, at least to some extent, and avoid him, but a
t the same time some invisible thread drew her to him. She felt on the upsurge of an adventure and knew one false move could put an abrupt end to it. His eyes had held hers and for a moment Hope thought he’d recognised her. Also, she’d made the mistake of not washing off her scent. Most gentlemen only smelt of tobacco. Whatever anyone said about him, someone like Beaumont would never put up with a shameless woman who pretended to be someone she was not. She was sure he had a strict code of what was acceptable.

When they had collided, a spark of something had run through her whole body. Had he felt it as well
? she speculated. With her eyes still on him, Hope wondered what she could say or do to prolong this meeting, but Edna was tugging at her and reluctantly she gave in to her maid’s unspoken pleas. Coming to her senses when they had put a short distance between them and Beaumont, Hope quailed at the thought she had acted inappropriately. Although now her legs couldn’t carry her away fast enough, with Beaumont’s invitation ringing in her head, she knew she would be returning to this very place. The thing of which she wasn’t certain was if she would be returning as Richard or Hope.

Last time I promised to
make a journal entry about the two gentlemen I encountered at Aunt Constance’s dinner. These are my thoughts. I wish I could write more expressively like Charles Dickens. Maybe one day I will do as the Bronte sisters did and send off some work to a publisher using a masculine pseudonym, Richard perhaps. I find it impossible to believe that I dared dress as a man and fooled everyone.

The Honourable James Henderson is a perfectly decent and pleasant young man. He is clean
-shaven with a ‘good head of hair’ as Papa would say. I think he is slightly younger than I am, possibly twenty-two or twenty-three. He enjoys shooting parties on big estates. I am unsure why he is regarded as a good match for Isabella by Lady Padstock as he is the youngest son, thus will inherit little. The Padstocks are very rich (how vulgar of me to mention it) so maybe marriage into a good family is all they are looking for.

Now to Beaumont. How baffling
that he chooses not to use a title. When I find out the reason, I will note it down here in my journal. How to describe him? His age is difficult to judge, but I think he may be thirty-five or thereabouts. Why has he never married? Maybe he has. His black hair curls over his collar and his beard and moustache are neatly trimmed. His shoulders are broad as he fills his coat and he is taller than I, but not by too much. I would only need to stretch up a little for my lips to reach his. I am remembering his eyes which are deep pools to drown in. What nonsense this is. Anyone would think I am in love with him. Have I fallen under his spell? I will write no more.

* * *

The days went by unbearably slowly. Hope tried to fill them as best she could, but was getting increasingly impatient at the thought of returning to the fair on Saturday. As she tried to unravel her reasons, she wasn’t sure if it was the thought of meeting Beaumont again or viewing the magic lantern shows or the whole new life which was opening up before her. Then came news she did not want to hear.

“I’ve asked Ed
na to help me with my wardrobe. It’s time I sorted through the vast array of clothing I have. After the meeting about the Female Aid Society, I feel sure they can be put to good use.”

“I could
assist you, Aunt,” replied Hope.

“It’s not your place, dear. But you being here has helped me to see that I must look to the future instead of remaining in the past.” Constance smiled at her niece. “Perhaps you can help with sorting some of your uncle’s books.
There are some volumes he preferred not to put into the library as they were special to him. Most of them are travel books, I believe, so they may appeal to you. You might like to keep them or at least read them whilst you are here. You must go and see what you can find.”

“I’d like that,” said Hope. Then she added, “I found Uncle Eustace’s room as you suggested. It’s full of
appealing things.” She daren’t add anything more, except to ask when her aunt and Edna would be engaged in the sorting of her outfits.

“On Saturday afternoon. We’ve nothing arranged for that time and it would suit me well.”

Hope’s mood plummeted. Without Edna to accompany her it seemed she was thwarted unless… Oh my goodness, did she have the courage to return to the fair on her own? If she did, she would have to go as Richard because she would have no chaperone. The thought caused her heart to beat faster and she was sure her face was as pink as the roses on Aunt Constance’s table. Her mind raced along with her heart as she tried to envisage the situation. First of all she must make sure she had the necessary attire for her proposed outing and to do that, she would need to enter her uncle’s room. Now, of course, she had the perfect excuse.

“I will go and look at Uncle’
s books right away if that is convenient to you.”

“Please do, my dear. Maybe Stevenson can clear the room soon. I feel I am ready to oversee that undertaking too.”

Hope didn’t skip out of the room or run up the stairs. She felt as though she was deceiving her aunt. She had been brought up to be open and honest and talk about her undertakings to her parents. Was it dishonest of her to remove some of her uncle’s clothes and to use them to deceive her aunt further by going out in secret?

B
ack in the room her negative thoughts quickly disappeared and she was soon lost in another world as she curled up in her uncle’s well-upholstered chair with a book open in her lap.

Hope sighed as she snapped the book shut. It had taken her on a journey to the sorts of places she thought her parents would be
visiting. She had especially enjoyed the section on Paris which sounded the most romantic city. If only one day she would have the chance to experience all it offered, just as her parents would do. She felt guilty when envy crossed her mind. How could she be jealous of her own parents? They deserved to be touring abroad and she was certain a letter would arrive from them soon. Her aunt had invited her to take some of the books and she scooped up an armful together with some of Uncle Eustace’s clothes. When she touched the outfit she’d worn to the fair a tremor of anticipation ran through her. Hope returned to her own room, put the books on a shelf, and found a hiding place for Richard’s clothes.

* * *

On Saturday, Hope woke early and lay in bed thinking of the day ahead. When Edna arrived to help her get dressed, she decided she wouldn’t raise the subject of the fair. That way the maid wouldn’t be put in a difficult situation if questions were asked.

How she managed to get through breakfast and
luncheon, she didn’t know. She certainly had no appetite, but tried to force a small amount of food down so her aunt would not think she was coming down with something.

At last her aunt said, “
You will have some time to yourself today, Hope. I’ve asked Edna to assist me as you might remember.”

“Yes, I do.” As if she would forget that. She gave her aunt time to ensconce herself upstairs
before she followed. Once inside her room, Hope changed into Richard’s clothes and sat breathlessly on the bed. Hearing what she thought was an exchange between her aunt and Edna, and a door closing, Hope took a chance and peeped out onto the landing. All seemed clear and she descended the stairs, opened the front door and fled along the pavement not daring to look behind her.

When she’d turned the corner, she slowed down and put on her best swagger. People passed her, but no comment was made and no one looked strangely at her. Feeling confident, she peered into shop windows and ambled along. There was no hurry.
Her new awareness of fashion swayed her into stopping at one particular window. The dress she viewed was utterly elegant and she spent a long time surveying it. Then she knew she’d made a mistake. Why would a young man be staring into a dress shop? As she turned away abruptly, a carriage drew up outside the shop. And out of it stepped Isabella Padstock. They stood facing each other and Hope knew she should do something. Raise her hat. That was it, but as she reached up to do so, she knew her face would be in full view.

Thinking and acting quickly, she put one hand up to her hat and with the other, opened the door of the shop. Isabella glanced briefly at her before she swept inside making no sign of recognition.
Again Hope had gone undetected, but she felt she had to put distance between herself and Isabella as quickly as possible.

Marching along the road at a pace, Hope
could identify none of the landmarks she’d remembered from her expedition with Edna. She was well and truly lost. Then she recalled her initial ideas when she’d considered the freedom gentlemen had. She could, of course, ask the way to the fair.

With her sudden new-
found confidence she enquired of another gentleman the way to the fair and to her horror he offered to accompany her as he too was going to see the magic lantern show. Now she had to act the part of a man for a considerable time. As soon as the man discovered his companion was French and on a visit to London he talked about the sights they passed. Hope shrugged and muttered the occasional non or oui. On arrival at their destination they parted company and Hope sighed with relief as she took a seat. All she wanted to do was enjoy the show and listen to Beaumont’s story telling.

“Ah, I wondered if you’d return for today’s show.” Beaumont was at her side. “Is your cousin not with you?”

“My cousin? Yes, I mean, no, she was unavailable so I came alone.” Hope longed for Beaumont to talk to her further, but at the same time she was aware that he might detect that she was neither French nor a man.

“I remember her calling you Richard. Delighted you returned. I promised you and your cousin an insight into the magic shows
. Please come with me and I will demonstrate the order to place the slides into the lantern. They have to be inserted like this. I will stand at the front and tell the story whilst you manoeuvre the slides, if that is agreeable to you.” He appeared in a remarkably good mood as he chuckled and beamed at her.

Hope’s hand
s trembled. How should she respond? Should she simply flee and never return? But the thought of listening to Beaumont’s harmonious voice and being in close proximity to him decided her. As she fumbled with the first of the slides at the start of the show she wondered how she had managed to get herself into such an awful predicament. Papa and Mama often said she was impulsive, but they had made no attempt to curb her spontaneity. She supposed that if she had been one of Lady Padstock’s daughters she would be safe at home sewing or at the dressmaker. The lights were dimmed and gradually she relaxed and was able to concentrate on putting the slides in and out at the correct moment. She began to enjoy herself. Listening to Beaumont, she was transported and almost squeaked with delight each time one of the slides she’d inserted was magnified upon the screen. She found she was working in harmony with the man who now filled her thoughts. That he trusted her with this responsibility filled her with pleasure and she didn’t want to let him down. When the story ended the audience applauded rapturously. Beaumont returned to her side.

“A resounding success, Richard. The next
images are accompanied by my pianist, but at the end of the show I am going to my club to eat and would be pleased if you would accompany me. I would like to show my appreciation for your help.”

Is that how gentlemen behaved? Inviting someone they barely knew to their club
. And how was she to evade the invitation?

“My cousin, you met, Edna, ees, I mean she ees expecting me ‘ome when the show is over.”

“That is a pity. Another time perhaps.”

Hope couldn’t concentrate on the pictures of
faraway places she had only ever read about in books. All she could think about was Beaumont. It would be illuminating to visit a gentlemen’s club, but she wasn’t ready for an incident of that sort quite yet. She felt slightly sick and dizzy. What a fool she was. What had she expected to gain by coming to this unsuitable place?

At the end of the show she
wanted to steal away, but it was as though Beaumont had been keeping an eye on her and he was by her side as soon as she stood up.

“I have a request to make. I am putting on a show
on the twenty-first at St Martin’s church hall in aid of a very worthwhile charity and need some assistance. It would simply be inserting the slides as you have done today. I would welcome your help as would the beneficiaries. It is for the Female Aid Society. A worthy cause.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll be there.” Hope fled from him before another word was said. It was only when she was some streets away that she was able to stop and allow herself to take some deep breaths.
She was falling deeper and deeper into a horrible pit of deception. To let the Female Aid Society down would be terrible, but she might not be able to attend if her aunt had other plans. And then it occurred to her that her aunt might also be attending the charitable function.

Arriving at Aunt Constance’s
house, Hope was unable to bring herself to use the front entrance and instead crept through the kitchen door and made her way silently to her rooms using the servants’ stairs. Thankfully she didn’t meet a soul until she opened her door.

“Hope! Richard! Where have you been? I’ve been worried and have lied to you
r aunt. She wanted to know your whereabouts and I told her you are suffering from a headache. She almost insisted on coming in to see you so I told her you were asleep and it was best not to disturb you.”

“
Thank you, Edna. I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you where I was going because I didn’t want to involve you. But I see I have done worse than that. I have put you in an intolerable position and I am very sorry.”

“Did you not
think your absence would be noticed?”

“
I didn’t think, Edna. Please forgive me.” She took the young maid’s hands in her own.

“Of course I do,
but I am worried. Your aunt might send me away and my family depends on me. I can’t let them down.”

“I understand a
nd I’m truly sorry.”

Edna gave her a smile. “You’d get away with anything. Let me help you take those clothes off and let’s return you to being Hope. I prefer her to Richard.”

As Edna busied herself Hope told her about the afternoon’s events and about the invitation to help at the charity event.