Free Prelude to Magic: The Prequel to Moonlight and Illusions by Diane Wylie

the
magician led the way out.
    “In the future, sir, you may want to reconsider
listening to neighborhood talk.”
    “I have to agree with you there, Mr. Elliott. I
deserve to be chastised.”
    Apologizing again, his face still as red at the
holly berries on the Christmas wreath; the physician stepped out of
the library.
    Ruby waited in the hall. “How is he, Doctor
Walker?”
    The physician’s eyes darted from her face to
Stephen’s then to the front door. “Your husband is fine, Mrs.
Elliott. There are no problems with his health, I assure you.”
Hurrying to the door, he spoke over his shoulder. “I’ll see myself
out,” he mumbled and was gone.
    Ruby closed the door after briefly watching the
rotund doctor scurry to his carriage and drive away. Then she
turned and regarded Stephen from head to toe.
    Grinning, he shoved his hands in his pockets and
leaned against the doorjam, waiting for her to speak. Finally she
let out a sigh and came closer, wrapping her arms around him. “I
still think something is amiss.”
    “What is amiss is how my wife has no faith in my
physical abilities,” he said, and reached down to lift her into his
arms. All this fuss about his body made him randy as hell. In three
strides he was heading up the staircase. “I intend, my dear, to
demonstrate how capable I can be.”
    Her answer was a giggle as she draped her arms
around his neck and put her head on his shoulder.
    As they lay in each other’s arms, perspiration on
their satiated bodies cooling, Ruby expressed what had apparently
been on her mind. “Why were you shouting at the doctor tonight, my
love?”
    “Oh, yes. We need some curtains for the workshop
windows, sweetheart,” he said, lifting and positioning her on her
side so her rump was against his front. Both of his hands were full
of her luscious breasts.
    “What does that have to do with yelling at Doctor
Walker?”
    “Apparently someone saw me replenishing my magical
abilities.” He nuzzled his nose into the base of her slender
neck.
    “What?” Ruby violently flipped over to face him in
the darkness. “Someone saw you n-naked and had the audacity to ask
Doctor Walker to question you?”
    Stephen put his fingers back on her breasts, loving
the way they filled his hands. “So it would seem.”
    “This isn’t a good omen. What if someone decides
again you are performing black magic and you get put in prison…or
worse?”
    “You worry far too much, darling. I let the good
doctor believe someone had witnessed a perfectly legal act between
a husband and wife.” He cupped her face in the darkness. “An act
very similar to what we just did.”
    She shoved his hands away. “I see how much better
this will appear. Now we will be discussed as sexual deviants who
make love in a workshop in the light of a full moon.”
    Stephen grinned, rolled onto his back, and closed
his eyes, ready for sleep. “I quite like the image, Ruby. We should
try it.”
    * * *
    Using his coat sleeve, Stephen rubbed the bird
droppings off the shiny black fender of his Ford Model T. The auto
sat gleaming in the sunlight in front of the house. Oh, how he
loved this machine.
    He grasped the handle and gave it a crank. Only half
a turn and all four cylinders sprang to life, purring throatily.
This was the sound of a real powerful driving machine. He couldn’t
wait to get the vehicle out, away from the people and houses, so it
could hum along at top speed.
    Today was perfect for driving—clear and sunny—and it
hadn’t rained in over a week. The mud holes in the road should be
dried up nicely.
    Jumping into the seat, he put it in gear and drove
away, waving to Ruby who stood on the front porch watching.
    What a glorious day! This would be a wonderful time
to have whole day to take a respite from the accounting books and,
truth be told, away from planning and practicing magic.
    Last evening he had endured the re-energizing
process so he would be fully prepared for tomorrow’s show.