Page 57 of The Duke and the Runaway Bride

“I believe it has, and I am sure they have something to say about it.”

ChapterTwenty-Two

The Families Come Together

Honeyfield House, London

Edwin, Beatrice, Modesty, and Elizabeth were greeted at the door by the butler. He had always been fond of Beatrice when she had lived at Honeyfield House, and he offered her a warm smile first before extending the smile to the rest of the family.

The four guests were shown in, and coats and other accessories were taken by the help. Beatrice had never seen so many servants in the house, and she was sure her father had hired extra help for the evening in an attempt to impress the Duke.

“Right this way,” the butler said.

He had only just turned around and stepped forward when Nathanial appeared, and the butler almost tripped over him.

“Lord Nathanial, where did you come from?” the butler asked.

“I would like to perform a magic trick for you!” Nathanial announced.

“Nathanial, we don’t have time for this,” Beatrice said.

She often grew tired of her younger brothers’ pranks, and she was sure her father did not envisage the night to begin like this. Phineas would want to welcome the Duke to his home and not have his son perform a magic trick in his stead.

“I am a great illusionist, and I will make your mind melt with my finest trick to date,” Nathanial continued, ignoring his sister.

“I would like to see it,” Edwin offered.

“You don’t have to do this,” Beatrice told him.

“I know, but now I am curious about this trick.” Edwin turned to Nathanial. “Let us see your trick.”

Nathanial nodded seriously. “Watch very closely, because I will only show you this one time. I might look like a mortal boy, but I can move through time and space. I am right here before you—you can see me with your eyes. I am not an illusion, but what you are about to see is.” He waved his hand in the air. “I am here one minute!” Then he ran into the room on his left.

Stephen jumped out from another room down the hallway. “And I am here the next!”

“Oh, my goodness!” Modesty gasped. She burst into maniacal laughter and placed a hand on her chest. “Did you see that?” She turned to the rest of the group, her eyes wide in astonishment. “It was truly magic, wasn’t it?”

Elizabeth knew there must be a logical explanation, but she couldn’t figure out what it was. “How is it possible?” she muttered.

“Very good!” the Duke boomed, clapping. “You are a very magical young boy. I look forward to seeing you on the stage in London when you are older. Now, you had better go off and play with… yourself.”

Phineas appeared from even further down the hallway. “What is going on out here? Stephen, stop bothering His Grace. I apologize, Your Grace. My sons have a tendency to bother our guests when they should not.”

“It is no trouble,” Edwin assured him. “They were very entertaining.”

“Ah,” Elizabeth said from beside Beatrice, realizing how the trick was done.

“How can he send him away?” Modesty asked. “Did he see the trick? Does your father also do magic?”

“No, he does not,” Beatrice replied. “It is only my younger brother who possesses that skill.”

She did not want to let on that her younger brothers were twins. Modesty was miffed at how the trick was done, but there was something childlike about her wonder, and Beatrice enjoyed her naivety.

“I had hoped to greet the four of you myself in the drawing room.” Phineas walked forward and smiled at his daughter. “It is so wonderful to have you back in our home again.”

“It is good to be back, Father.”

Beatrice smiled as she looked around the familiar home.

---