Read Online Prelude to Magic: The Prequel to Moonlight and Illusions by Diane Wylie - Free Book Online

tunes. The room
blazed with light. Massive chandeliers hung from the ceiling and
lit sconces adorned every wall. Garlands and wreaths of pine added
their scent to the perfumes of the ladies in attendance. Red and
green ribbons, along with heavily ornament-laden Christmas trees,
abounded.
    The orchestra switched to a newly popular Viennese
Waltz. Stephen held out a hand to Ruby. “Shall we dance?”
    At her nod, he led her out to join the other
elegantly-clothed guests, smiling a greeting to their neighbors,
Mr. and Mrs. Percy Robinson, who were already on the floor. He took
his wife’s hand and they began whirling to the haunting melody.
Soon her cheeks were pink and a smile touched her lips, a rare
sight of late. Peace and contentment filled his soul. He had made
her happy, at least for a time.
    “I love you,” he said into her ear.
    “And I you,” she replied.
    At the end of the waltz, Stephen’s spirits rose, and
he was happier than he had been in some time. The long period of
mourning had ended and life could begin again.
    Exchanging pleasantries with people they knew, the
two of them found an intimate table with a view of the dance floor.
He took two glasses of champagne from a passing server and gave one
to Ruby.
    “A toast to you, my lovely wife, and to the new year
beginning soon.”
    The color was still high in Ruby’s cheeks as they
drank, and she still smiled. “I hope it will be a good year,
husband.”
    With a nod in agreement, Stephen gazed about the
glittering room. Putting a hand to his chest, he felt the
reassuring lump under his vest. The Companion Spirit nestled in its cocoon of black velvet. Tonight, when Ruby slept, he
would go to his workshop to replenish his magical energies for the
Sunday afternoon show. Hopefully the moon would be shining brightly
tonight.
    They danced again—a minuet and another two-step
waltz—then Stephen’s stomach rumbled.
    “Let’s retire to the buffet table, shall we?” he
asked.
    “I was wondering how long you could wait,” Ruby
replied with a laugh. “You always have quite an appetite.”
    “Eating is always an enjoyable pastime for me.”
Stephen patted his stomach.
    Shaking her head, the corners of Ruby’s mouth
lifted. “I don’t know how you’ve managed to stay so trim. Why, you
look much the same as you did thirty years ago.”
    “Enough talk.” They both stood and he offered her
his arm. “Follow me.”
    So many people had come out to celebrate the
holidays tonight. They sparkled like jewels and talked like
magpies. Stephen and Ruby fell silent as they waited their turn
beside a tall folding screen used to give some order to the throngs
of guests.
    “Did you see them tonight?” The gossipy voice of an
unseen woman asked on the other side of the screen.
    “See whom?” A bored-sounding female voice
responded.
    “The magician and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen
Elliott.”
    Husband and wife exchanged glances, but kept
silent.
    “What about them?” the second woman asked. She still
sounded uninterested.
    “Isn’t it scandalous how much older she is? Imagine
taking a husband so much younger than yourself!”
    Outraged, Stephen opened his mouth to protest, but
Ruby put her hand up to stop him. Then she put a finger to her
lips. She obviously wanted to hear more.
    “Dear me, Ethel, you are mistaken. I’ve known both
of them for years. Mr. Elliott is a year or so older than his wife,
if memory serves. My husband and I went to one of his first
illusionist performances in 1890. He has not aged a bit by
comparison with his wife.”
    The first woman spoke again. “How old is Mr.
Elliott, do you think?”
    “Now I am not one to gossip, as you know, but I
expect they are both in their fifties by now, dear. Twenty years
ago we first saw him perform as ‘The Illusionist.’ I daresay his
show has improved tremendously since then.”
    The line of people moved forward, but Ruby bent down
to fix her shoe. Stephen, taking the hint, waved several