Page 77 of Affair

“Behold, the magician,” one of the men announced with a small giggle. “He appears before us.”

Charlotte quickly put her eye to the peephole again. She was startled to see that there was a new figure inside the secret chamber. She was quite certain that the door had not been Opened. It was as if he had simply materialized out of the wardrobe.

The magician walked slowly across the room to stand amid the languidly sprawled men. He was cloaked from head to foot in flowing black robes. A heavy hood was pulled down very low over his face. Charlotte could not make out his features—because of the shadows cast by the hood, she thought. Then the newcomer turned his head slightly. Light glinted on a gleaming black silk mask that concealed his entire face.

It is only a gentlemen’s game, she thought.An entertainment Hamilton and his friends have invented to amuse themselves. But she could not stop the shiver of dread that feathered her nerves.

“Let us see how strong this power of yours really is,” Norris said with an air of bravado that sounded false.

The shrouded figure raised his hand. An object dangled from his fingers, a glittering pendant. The club members stared at it with undisguised fascination.

Frozen fingers traced Charlotte’s spine. The incense had become almost overpowering. She tried to get a closer look at the pendant but it was impossible to make it out from this distance.

She flinched when Baxter’s hand clamped around her shoulder. Without a word she stepped back.

Baxter took a turn at the peephole. Charlotte put her ear to the wall.

“I’ve got it,” one of the club members said. “Put him into a trance that can be tested at some later time.”

“Make Norrie cluck like a chicken tomorrow night in the midst of the Clapham soiree.”

“Have him bare his arse in Pall Mall at the height of the shopping hour.”

“Persuade him to dance with Lady Buelton’s horse-faced chit.”

“There is no power,” Norris declared in ringing accents, “neither in this world nor on the metaphysical plane, that could make me dance with Buelton’s daughter.”

Weak laughter greeted this announcement. And then a hush fell in the chamber.

Charlotte pressed closer to the wall but she heard nothing. She prodded Baxter again. He hesitated and then stepped aside.

She peeked through the hole and was startled to see that the chamber had been further darkened. Someone had put out the lamp. The coals on the small brazier still glowed but the red-gold glare did not illuminate the faces of the men.

The magician lit a single candle and placed it directly in front of Norris.

As Charlotte watched, the cloaked figure moved in the shadows. The edges of his robes swirled around him, flapping gently in the manner of great, black wings. The pendant in his hand swayed slowly, catching and reflecting the light of the candle.

The club members began to chant again, this time in a heavy, throbbing rhythm that echoed the beat of the blood in Charlotte’s veins.

“Lead and silver, electrum and gold,

Degrees of power, ancient and old.”

Charlotte strained to watch the proceedings, heedless of the strong scent of the incense. She thought she heard the magician speak but his voice was pitched below the rising level of the chant. Another chill lanced through her but she could not pull back.

She had to get closer, she realized. She wanted to see the pendant. Sheneededto see the pendant. Nothing had ever been quite so important.

Baxter gripped her wrist and tugged her away from the peephole. Charlotte tried to wriggle free of his grasp. He put a hand over her mouth and forcibly pulled her from her observation point. She started to struggle. He held her more securely. His palm tightened over her mouth. He locked her against his chest so that she could not move.

Angrily she tried to pry at his fingers. Baxter tightened his hold. Charlotte realized her head was spinning. She took several breaths that were not laced with incense. Suddenly the small, moonlit chamber in which she stood came back into focus. She relaxed abruptly against Baxter.

What on earth had happened? she wondered, chagrined by her own odd behavior. His hand still covering her mouth, Baxter tugged her toward the connecting door. She understood. It was time to leave. He was absolutely correct, she thought. Best to remove themselves from the premises now while the club members and their pet magician were involved in their curious ritual.

She touched Baxter’s hand to let him know that she was ready to accompany him. He hesitated briefly and then slowly removed his palm from her mouth. Charlotte said nothing.

Baxter took her hand and guided her back through the connecting door. They emerged into the chamber where they had first taken refuge.

Baxter went to the hall door, opened it, and peered out into the corridor. Then he pulled Charlotte into the passageway.

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