Anna pulled her gloves more securely on her fingers, walking through the hall. She paused, turning to the clock where the gangly blonde man fiddled with the interior. Anna looked toward the door, where the footman waited with her coat, but forsook him for the struggling repairman.
Tapping on his shoulder Anna pointed to the interior of the clock, "May I?"
He almost tripped over himself trying to speak and bow at once. Instead he clutched his tool and stuttered. "I don't know milady, it's a complicated piece and I-"
"I know," Anna plucked the tool from his hand and ducked inside, adjusting the piece until it fought her and released. She moved the pendulum back in place and the dull thud of the tick filled the hall.
She smiled to herself, stepping back and handing the tool back. He gaped at her, pointing a shaking finger at the clock, "I can't- How'd you- Milady I-"
"Someone a long time ago taught me." Anna ran a hand over the clock, thinking back to the smiling face that explained the complications of the mechanics to her, "Someone who cared very dearly for this clock."
"Yes milady, they must have."
Anna walked to the footman putting on her coat, thinking to herself. "And someone who cared very deeply for me."
She walked out to the drive, nodding to Gwen as her lady's maid got into the front seat with the driver. When Anna climbed into the rear she gave a scowl to the man there.
"I see you decided to come on this trip after all, Mr. Bricker."
Anna's mother sighed at her. "Is that anyway to greet your stepfather?"
"It's what Mr. Bricker will have to accept." Anna adjusted in her seat.
"Anna-"
"It's Lady Ravensburg, Mother," Anna held her voice steady and watched her mother's face pale slightly. "And you're the Dowager Countess. Please don't forget that when they introduce us tomorrow night at the banquet. I'd hate to have to explain the situation to another confused individual like last time."
"That was a simple misunderstanding. Everyone-"
"Everyone knows that Lord Ravensburg died seven years ago. They know you live in Ravenworth Place, not at Ravenworth Castle. The castle and the title are mine and I'd like you to remember it since everyone else does. You only made fools of us when you tried to pretend otherwise." Anna tapped her knuckles on the window behind her, "We're ready Pratt."
The car trundled up the road toward the station and Anna rested her head against the glass of the partition between herself and the driver. A male cough alerted her to her mother's husband and Anna raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
"I was just going to comment on the brilliance of the match."
"I think it's more luck that Mr. Green didn't die in the war really." Anna interlaced her gloved fingers, "And that he finally took interest in his family business."
"Combination of empires as it were." Bricker tried to laugh but Anna only gave him a flat look, her jaw set. "With all you've done to raise the prestige of the Ravensburg name in mercantilism and with their shipping prowess you could sweep the world."
"This is a simple business transaction made more official by the marriage of two families, Mr. Bricker." Anna looked out the window, "Like the way Kings and Queens used to sell off their children to the highest international bidder."
"Anna," He mother chided, "It's not as bad as all that."
"It's exactly that, Mother." Anna shrugged, "But, as you told me once, we're not supposed to be happy in marriage and therefore the business of it can keep me occupied so I don't have to remember that my heart's not in it."
"But Anna, to be both Lady Ravensburg and Duchess of Greypoole…" Her mother sighed with happiness, "It's a dream."
"Your dream, Mother, not mine." Anna shook her head, her voice so low only she heard it, "Never mine."
Anna thanked whatever gods were listening to her unspoken prayer that her mother and Mr. Bricker attempted now more conversation on their drive to the station. The first class carriage was empty except for the three of them but Anna busied herself with details and letters for her business. Occasionally she would see her mother and Mr. Bricker shooting her furtive looks but she ignored them, only speaking to ask the valet for more tea. As the whistle blew on their approach to King's Cross she stacked the letters she finished and handed them to Gwen when they disembarked.
"Please have these posted as soon as possible. I want our factories in Manchester and Leeds operating on these orders by my call day after tomorrow."
"Yes your ladyship."
"And Gwen?" Anna lowered her voice, "Take the rest of the day. I'll just have one of Lady Mary's maids dress me this evening so I won't need you until midnight."
"Your ladyship I can-"
"No," Anna pointed a finger at her, feigning an indignant tone, "Your Mr. Harding needs time with you as well and I won't have him moping about the London office for want of you."
Gwen blushed, "Thank you your ladyship."
"Go on. But please, post those first."
Gwen nodded and disappeared as the crowds around the train ebbed. Anna turned to the porters, "Bring those bags together but we'll need two cars."
"Yes ma'am." The men gathered them up and Anna led the way out of the station, her mother and Mr. Bricker following behind.
"Anna we could take one car."
"I'd rather not waste the driver's time."
Her mother huffed, "I really wish you'd stay at Greypoole House. It's big enough that no talk of impropriety will be-"
"Mother," Anna turned on her heel to face her mother, "Lady Mary extended the invitation before the Greypooles decided they'd open the house for the engagement party. I'm already committed and it's safer, in the long run."
"Safer? Dear there's no-"
"Not for me, Mother. For you." Anna motioned to the porters, "Those bags in this car and the others over there please."
They loaded their cars and Anna paid the porters before nodding at her mother, "Please tell Lady Greypoole I'll be there tomorrow morning, before luncheon. Mr. Green doesn't arrive until the afternoon so they'll be time to freshen up before the party. I won't be late so assuage her fears please."
"I do wish you'd reconsider. She's your future mother-in-law."
"Then she'll understand why I'm staying with the Crawleys. They're a society family, Mother, and stand to offer us potential future business. Aren't I supposed to dedicate my efforts to growing my empire?" Anna thanked the driver of the cab and got into the rear, "Grantham House please."
The cab trundled through London, honking and jeering with the others as they bustled through the Big Smoke. He occasionally apologized about his language when other cars cut him off or he had to stop on a dime but Anna only smiled and soothed his fears. "I'm not bothered."
"It's just-" The man managed a hairpin turn with little room, "You being a lady and all, I don't want to offend any sensibilities."
"I run a factory in Manchester sir," Anna called over the noise, "If anything, I'm indifferent by this point. Reminds me of home really."
"You're a northerner?" The man half-turned to see her, "Is it nice up there?"
"Nice is relative but yes, I believe it is."
"I heard this fellow, bussing him about in this cab just the other day, he was talking about the north and how magical it is."
"Have you ever had reason to visit?" Anna tipped forward slightly to speak without shouting at the top of her lungs.
"No ma'am, I haven't, but after he talked all about the Rive Ouze and this lovely place he knows, Ravenworth Castle, I got the inkling to take the missus and the kids there on holiday. You should've seen the look in his eyes ma'am. It were like he lived there in a dream and with each word he went back to fairyland."
"I can imagine."
"You ever been where he described?"
"I'm grew up there. Ravensburg Village, right in the shadow of that Castle."
"Then you know what he means ma'am?"
"I do." Anna sat back, "I do indeed."
The cab pulled to a smooth stop outside Grantham House and Anna smiled at the footman who opened the door. "Thank you William."
"Pleasure to see you here Lady Ravensburg."
Anna pointed to her cases the driver took from the back, "Please have those put in my room. And tell the housekeeper… who is it again? They just hired someone new and-"
"What should I tell her milady?"
"Tell her I'll need a maid to help me dress for tonight. My lady's maid won't be available until I return this evening. It's nothing too complicated so not to worry about all the buckles and ties."
"I'll let her know."
"Thank you." Anna proceeded up the steps and into the house.
"Anna!" Anna smiled and returned the embrace of the slender woman with large brown eyes. "I was thinking you'd never get here."
"Always so dramatic Mary."
"It took you ages."
"There are more cars on the roads now." Anna turned to William, "Please give this to the cab driver?"
"Very good milady." He took the note and hurried back out the door as Anna followed Mary into the sitting room.
"How was the trip?"
"Uneventful," Anna removed her hat and gloves, passing them and her coat to another footman, "Mother did try to convince me, again, to stay with them at Greypoole House."
"I'm glad you declined," Mary shuddered, "I still can't believe you're marrying him. He's horrible."
"As you never tire of telling me."
"And as you never tire of ignoring."
"If you believe it, he's relatively less horrible than he was seven years ago." Anna perched on the edge of a seat, "But better the devil you know I guess."
"So you keep saying." Mary crossed her legs, "Why not just eschew men entirely? It's not like you've got to worry about protecting your Castle or your family."
"Because there're benefits to having a husband and there is the matter of an heir to it all. Turns out you can't have an heir without a man involved." Anna shrugged, "He was the least worst option of those presented to me."
"And he makes you happy?"
"Of course he doesn't but we're not in the business of being happily married are we?" Anna watched Mary shake her head slightly, "If you've something to say you'd better say it because I'll ignore any more looks you shoot in my direction."
"Anna, it doesn't have to be all dreary misery. I thought that before I met Matthew and now I'm happier than I've ever been."
"And I'm happy for you but men like Matthew only come along once in a long while." Anna bit the inside of her cheek, "I already had my chance and I lost it."
"What do you mean?"
"There was someone, a time ago, that made me very happy but it wasn't meant to be." Anna waved at Mary, "It was before I met you. Before I finished reading at Oxford."
"What happened to him?"
"He had to leave and that was it. He promised to send me word as to his whereabouts but never did. Then war broke out and now it's time to think of the future. That means abandoning a few dreams."
"But Anna," Mary took one of Anna's hands in hers, "The future means nothing without dreams. Don't you have dreams anymore?"
"I did." Anna put her hand over Mary's, "It's just that now I know they won't come true."
Anna thanked the maid as Mary entered the room, holding her fan in one hand, "Are you excited?"
"Not sure how I can be when you just told me to 'bring a nice dress and get ready for a night out'." Anna picked up her fan and clutch. "I don't even know what I should be excited for."
"That's the point of a surprise." Mary swatted Anna's shoulder with her fan. "I promise, you'll enjoy this."
"I don't know how you did it." Anna shook her head, leaving the room with Mary in the lead, "To plan this surprise and my birthday."
"Your birthday was easy. It'll just be a female party."
Anna stopped, putting a hand on Mary's arm, "My mother's not coming is she?"
"I spoke to Lady Greypoole and, as much as I detest that woman, she did agree to take your mother to another dinner that night." Mary rolled her eyes, "I'm sure she'll give you some kind of excuse about how she wishes she could stay but is called away."
"My mother hates celebrating my birthday." Anna scoffed, "She always says it reminds her of my father and her heart can't bear it."
"It is rather a dark memory."
"My mother just can't stand a day where I'm celebrated. Especially since she lost the title and most of her money except for a tight allowance I don't increase on a whim." Anna climbed into the car after Mary. "If there's one thing about being married I might enjoy, it's the idea that spending time with my mother will be even more limited."
"I don't think you realize how lucky you are Anna." Mary tapped the front window to signal the driver, "To have the title and position and money that you do at our age is unprecedented."
"We can thank my father for that."
"What did you say happened at the will reading?"
"My mother fainted and the next male heir, some cousin I only ever saw at one Christmas, was red in the face trying to argue it." Anna snorted, "His lawyers battled for a year but couldn't break it."
"Lucky for you."
"Lucky for the village. He would've driven it into the ground the way he drove his regiment right into German hands."
"I forgot how that ended."
"They were released after months in a prisoner of war camp." Anna sighed, "He had shell shock after that, shook uncontrollably whenever he heard loud noises."
"The war destroyed so many good men."
"And you wonder why I chose a bad one. He was the only one left given we were pretty starved for choice."
"I wonder why you chose at all but we've already rung our ring around this bush." Mary gestured to the building as the car stopped. "We're here."
"A theater? You've taken me for a vaudeville show?"
"Please, don't be so pedestrian." Mary got out of the car and waited for Anna, "It's a magic show."
"I'm a little old for some roadside stall owner to pull a penny from my ear Mary." Anna followed Mary into the interior where Mary handed over their tickets and a uniformed man accompanied them to a high box.
"He's not like those."
"Have you already seen the show?" Anna let the man operating the box to take her coat and accepted a drink.
"Matthew and I came last week and the moment it was over I knew this would be the best way to celebrate with you." Mary took her seat and urged Anna to join her.
"Why?"
"Because you're always so convinced you can solve all of life's mysteries and I wanted to take you somewhere that would stump you for once."
"And you think he can do that?"
"He's an artist. A true wizard." Mary sipped at her glass, "Next to him the rest are penny stealers."
"It's all just mechanics Mary. Practiced tricks."
"So? An opera singer practices to give us an aria. Why should he be different just because he uses his skills to impress and dazzle in a different way?" The lights lowered and Mary tapped the armrest of Anna's chair, "It's starting."
Anna sat back, taking another sip of her champagne before setting it aside. She folded her arms over her chest and squinted against the darkness. The lights on the stage rose slightly but all Anna could see was a chair in the middle of the stage. She raised an eyebrow when the light above it grew brighter and bright until it burst.
Some audience members below them gasped and Anna noted how Mary jumped. Looking back at the stage Anna heard a match strike and now saw someone sitting on the chair. The flame rose from the man's hand and he tossed it into the air where it grew, spinning in place until it replaced the light above the stage.
That was when Anna gasped.
Standing in the light of the stage lights, dressed in an impressive suit, stood John Bates.
This was Mary's great illusionist.
