Read Online As if by Magic by Kerry Wilkinson - Free Book Online Page A

a sign on the back wall, which read “We appraise anything”. The medal was in a frame but Geoffrey removed the back panel and put on a pair of soft white gloves before taking it out and looking at it closely while he nodded. ‘It will take me an hour or so,’ he said. ‘I’ve got a couple of things to do first.’
    After checking his rates, Jessica told him to go ahead and then left the shop. She and Dave went for breakfast, which she insisted he pay for considering he had received a free meal from her parents the previous day, before they returned.
    The medal had been put tidily back in the frame and Geoffrey returned it, along with a short note on headed paper which he had signed. ‘This is a Queen’s Sudan Medal, yes?’ he said.
    ‘Probably,’ Jessica replied with a shrug. ‘It says Sudan on the front. You’re the expert, I have no idea.’
    Geoffrey nodded. ‘Yes, it’s a Queen Sudan from the end of the nineteenth century. Winston Churchill actually fought in that campaign, did you know that?’
    Jessica shook her head.
    ‘It’s in near-enough mint condition,’ Geoffrey added. ‘I would say it’s worth around £2,000 or so – perhaps more if it went to auction.’
    Jessica put it back in her pocket and looked at the note, before handing it to Dave. ‘Not bad, is it sweetie?’ she said linking an arm through Dave’s.
    ‘Er, what?’ he replied, stammering over his words.
    ‘I said that’s pretty good, isn’t it? Two grand for one of Dad’s old medals. That can probably pay for the engagement ring, can’t it?’
    Jessica gripped his arm tighter.
    ‘I... suppose,’ Dave said, looking from Jessica to Geoffrey and then back again.
    ‘If you’re after something specific, we have many items in the cabinet here,’ Geoffrey said, scraping his chair backward and standing up before pointing to the case in between them.
    ‘Oh, isn’t that wonderful,’ Jessica said, speaking in a slightly higher tone and squeezing Dave’s arm as hard as she could until he yelped slightly and shook her off. ‘We’ve been talking about a lightning-quick wedding, so we could get the whole thing done and dusted.’
    Geoffrey was suddenly looking eager at the prospect of a sale.
    ‘We should probably shop around or something,’ Dave said, still stammering.
    Jessica scowled. ‘Oh well, perhaps we’ll come back later. What time are you open until?’
    ‘Six o’clock.’
    Nodding enthusiastically, Jessica told him they would be back and then left the shop.
    ‘What was all that about?’ Dave said as they reached the car. He was rubbing his arm and wincing.
    ‘Nothing, I just like putting the shits up you. You should have seen your face.’
    ‘Well it’s no surprise, given the fact I was suddenly facing a lifetime of marriage... to you.’
    Jessica got into the car and shut the door. ‘What’s so wrong about that?’
    ‘I’d rather go gay.’
    ‘Just for that, I’m not giving you that fiver after all – or the extra fiver for breakfast.’
    ‘So why did you tell him we’d be going back?’
    ‘Because we will be. We’ve just got one pit-stop to make first.’

SEVEN
    Jessica was relieved when Balthazar himself opened the door as she didn’t think she could take too much more of Ashleigh.
    Balthazar was wearing a black suit, including a waistcoat, but the pinstripes made him look even thinner than he already was. After inviting them in, he spun on the spot, a cape swishing theatrically behind him. The longer parts of his hair had been greased back and he now looked far more of a showman than he had the previous day. He led them through the house, muttering under his breath as he walked. Jessica was relieved he hadn’t kissed her hand this time around.
    ‘Is everything all right?’ she asked, while Dave glanced around the house, possibly looking for Ashleigh.
    ‘I’m just busy,’ Balthazar replied as he hurried through the door into the area with the stage they had been in the previous