Page 19 of The Journal of a Thousand Years
Willie crossed her arms over her chest and gave Lady Stanhope a look of childish satisfaction.
Lady Stanhope tensed. She tried to steer Gabe away from us, but he was having none of it. He stayed put. She finally gave in. “I wanted privacy because they are not magicians. They won’t understand.”
“I’m not a magician either.”
She leaned closer to him. “You say that because you don’t fully understand your ability yet.”
“What ability?”
“To heal yourself.”
Gabe sighed. “That report was pure fiction. The newspaper printed a retraction.”
“Newspapers only print retractions when they can’t prove their statements and they don’t want to be sued. Most of the time, there is an underlying truth to the claims.”
“Not this time. If you don’t mind…”
She showed no inclination to leave. Her attention was now entirely focused on Gabe. It was as if the rest of us didn’t exist. “I understand you believe your fast healing is natural, but it isn’t. It’s special.Youare special, Gabriel. You’re a magician of a unique kind. Discovering one’s magic is a confusing time. I can help you navigate through it and direct you down a path that enables you to take advantage of it.”
Gabe trapped her hand, resting on his arm beneath his own, and steered her back to her motorcar. “I can’t heal myself any faster than you, Lady Stanhope. I’m sorry you were taken in by that article, but none of it was true.” He opened the door and guided her to the seat.
Lady Stanhope wasn’t giving up that easily. “I can introduce you to important people while helping you reach your full potential as a magician of the rarest degree. You’ll attendexclusive parties, be invited to the homes of famous people. You’ll be celebrated wherever you go.”
“I don’t want any of that.” He went to close the door, but she put out a hand to keep it open.
“People will try to exploit you, Gabriel, but I can protect you.”
Willie stepped forward, grabbed the door and slammed it closed. “Drive off now before someone scratches the paintwork. It happens all the time around here. It’s a bad area.”
The driver gulped and quickly obeyed.
“That was strange,” Alex said as we headed to Gabe’s Vauxhall. “Does she genuinely believe what she’s saying?”
Gabe opened the rear door for me. “I think she wants the newspaper report to be true, and for me to desire fame and fortune.”
“Why? What does she gain from it?”
Gabe shrugged. “To be there for the ride?”
I suspected he was right, in a way. Lady Stanhope liked to discover young magicians who were previously unknown. She nurtured them and introduced them to people who would pay handsomely for their magician-made wares. A few months ago, she’d discovered an artist at the Royal Academy exhibition, and wanted to act as his agent. She’d offered to mentor him in exchange for a reward of sorts. Unaware of his own worth, or how to navigate the new world he was being thrust into, the artist had naively believed she was acting in his best interests.
Her reasons then were selfish, as they were now. Gabe was neither naive nor desperate for fame, but if his magic became public knowledge, Lady Stanhope would benefit socially by simply being in his inner circle.
Willie grabbed the crank handle from the floor of the front passenger seat. “And they say I’m mad.”
“She’s just bored,” Gabe said.
“Then she should get a hobby. Or shoot something. That’s what I usually do.”
On the driveto the library, I told Gabe and the others about Mr. Jakes’ visit and his warning that Thurlow might kidnap someone close to Gabe to force him to react. It meant they all took the walk down Crooked Lane very seriously.
Alex was the first to spot the parcel wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. “Stand back. It could be an explosive device.”
It had been propped up against the door with a small card tucked into the string. The card bore my name in neat handwriting. I couldn’t be sure if the sensation of magical warmth that I felt came from the card or the contents of the parcel. The fact I felt it at all from a distance away meant it was strong.
“How will we know for sure?” Willie asked.
“One of us will have to unwrap it,” Alex said. “Very, very carefully.”
