The Time Baroness (The Time Mistress Series) (20 page)

Cassandra looked at him, thinking, then smiled softly with her eyes. “Yes. Let us do it!”

“Capital!” he cried and people turned to look in their direction. He lowered his voice and went on excitedly “We have all but perfected the two Bach Violin Sonatas for Harpsichord, and Beethoven’s Sonata Number Five. Let us do one of the Bach and also the Beethoven and it will add up to around an hour of music, perfect for an evening soiree, and then dinner!”

“Yes, yes,” she quieted him further with a tap of her fan on his shoulder. “But let us plan it tomorrow when we meet to practice. Enough talk now, people are looking.”

“Of course, yes.” He bowed and moved away. Cassandra caught up with James, and took the arm that wasn’t escorting Elizabeth Charles.

The following day was Monday; five days remained of their stay in Bath. The Franklins and most of the others would return to Hampshire on Saturday. Only the Charleses were planning to stay on for several more weeks, much to the disappointment of James and Elizabeth. Friday they were all planning to ride out to the countryside to picnic along the Avon River since the mid-October weather had, so far, been temperate, the days sunny.

Cassandra and Ben set the evening of their concert for Thursday and immediately sent invitations out to their circle. Cassandra received a reply from Lady Charles that same day, refusing the invitation, on grounds that she was occupied elsewhere that evening. On Wednesday, a curt apology arrived from the lady with news that her other plans had been canceled, and that she would indeed attend the concert. Cassandra assumed pressure had been put on her by not only the daughter and niece, who wanted to be anywhere James was, but by their circle of friends in general, who were all abuzz over the upcoming event.

On Thursday evening at seven o’clock, everyone was assembled in the grand parlor of Ben’s parents’ townhouse on George Street. His parents were in London, and he was occupying the place alone. His mother had been the decorator, and gilt ornamentation shone from the moldings of all the walls and ceilings, and framed the paintings of fine ladies and gentlemen cavorting in pastoral scenes. Gold adorned a great crystal chandelier dangling from the high ceiling. The sofas and chairs were covered in satin brocade in dark pinks and wines. Bronze and marble statuettes of Grecian ladies posed on pedestals about the room.

The guests were transfixed by the grandeur. After champagne and hors d’ourvres were served, they settled into the seats arranged near the instruments. Cassandra sat down at the gold-encrusted piano, and Ben took a moment to tune up his violin.

They began with the Bach piece, playing fluidly, yet precisely. When the Bach concluded, the audience applauded heartily. Ben and Cassandra took a moment to gather themselves, and then launched into the Beethoven Sonata. At the beginning, the piece shifted its focus from violin to piano. When one stood out, the other accompanied, weaving focus back and forth between the two instruments, and then joining in equal strength. In the first movement, the arpeggios on the piano were difficult, and Cassandra concentrated deeply. There was great power in the piece. As they played, Cassandra was aware of how perfectly it reflected their relationship. Fiery at one moment, sweet the next, passionate and then contemplative.

The second movement was even sweeter, sublimely tender. The musicians smiled at each other as they played. In the third movement the music frolicked—it was for this movement, and the last, that it was called the Spring Sonata.

When it concluded, the musicians happily spent, the assembly leapt to their feet, all except Lady Charles, who feigned exhaustion and sat waving a large fan in front of her face. Cassandra and Ben took a modest bow, and there were shaking of hands and congratulations. They all filed into the dining room for a dinner served by many attendants.

Although the sky threatened rain the morning of their trip to the countryside, no one was willing to let it be thwarted. The servants packed up carriages and curricles with food and tableware, and the Charleses, the Franklins, the Holcombs, and Edward Clarke set out around ten o’clock, dressed warmly, but with anticipation of a pleasant day. They drove north along the river for about an hour until they found an idyllic spot with clusters of trees, rambling low hills, and inviting meadows. While servants unpacked the picnic, the others went to explore. James and Elizabeth immediately struck out on their own. They seemed to Cassandra to be dejected in contrast to last night’s merriment. She worried for James. He had gotten too attached.

She and Ben had no such luxury to wander off alone together. They were forced to keep company with Ladies Charles and Holcomb, while Jane, Eunice, and Edward formed their own expedition. The two young women took each of Edward’s arms as they strolled off toward the river. While Eunice looked about at the scenery, Cassandra noticed that Edward and Jane continuously stole glances at each other. She smiled to herself.

She longed to walk briskly up a nearby incline and continue among the rolling hills for exercise. But the other two ladies began a slow amble down a slope toward a meadow, and Cassandra had no choice but to join them. Ben, ever the gentleman, obliged the slower pace without objection, engaging cheerfully in any topic of conversation the women entertained.

Cassandra relaxed into the moment and took in the bright oranges and golds of the leaves on the birches, poplars, and maples abundant in the area. They had gained some vivid color during the past two weeks. Even under the overcast sky, they were striking, Cassandra thought, more so than she could remember seeing in her future world. Could it be, she thought, that everything here in this time is actually more intense than it will be three hundred years from now? Her thoughts wandered to the party the night before, the pleasure of performing with Ben. She tried to ignore the longing ache in her body at not having been in bed with him since before they’d left Selborne. In Bath, the quarters were too close, their movements too monitored.

The young people convened back at the picnic area where the food had been laid out; the others joined them, and all arranged themselves on blankets for the lunch of cold fowl, meats and cheeses, breads, pickled vegetables, apples, nuts, and sweets. James, Elizabeth, Jane, Eunice, and Edward dispersed once more for a final look at what may not have been explored.

Cassandra saw Elizabeth and James break away from their friends, running off around the side of a hill and out of sight. She noticed Lady Charles’ lips tighten, watching the young people go.

“My Lady,” she began, hoping to distract her, “do not you think the leaves are strikingly vivid?”

“I suppose,” the woman responded, adjusting a pillow under her posterior. “Every year is the same to me, but if you say so.”

“It is just that, well, I think they are more so here than in the States. I do not remember seeing such yellows and oranges.”

“Well it does not surprise me. This is England after all!”

“What do we all say to a walk down there by the river, as long as the ground is not too damp?” she suggested.

“Yes, good idea,” said Lady Holcomb rising to her feet, “I could use some exercise.”

Ben leapt to assist her, and Cassandra stood up on her own, smoothing out her overcoat.

“I think I have had enough walking,” complained Lady Charles. “Will no one stay here to keep me company?” Ben, Charlotte, and Cassandra hesitated, looking from one to the other.

Suddenly, there was a shout, a girl’s piercing cry of alarm, and everyone looked in the direction of where James and Elizabeth had disappeared to. The shriek came again, louder.

Lady Charles scrambled to her feet. “Elizabeth!” she cried.

Ben and Edward were already running toward the sound, and the ladies moved as quickly as their gowns would allow. Elizabeth soon came racing around from behind the hillock, shrieking and sobbing. Ben got to her first and tried to hold her, but she broke away and ran to her mother in hysterics.

“Evil” she cried, “It is evil. I…I cannot…do not let it near me!” She was almost unintelligible. James appeared a moment later, running after her, calling her name, but Elizabeth clasped onto her mother crying, “No, no! Send him away! He is evil!”

“My God, James,” said Ben, going quickly to him, “what did you do?”

“Nothing!” cried James, “I didn’t harm her! I did nothing!”

“James!” said Cassandra in distress, “what happened? What is going on?” She had a sudden, sinking fear.

“Mother,” he gasped, running up to her. “I must speak to you—only you.”

“Oh my God, what is it?”

“Tell us, Elizabeth,” interjected Lady Charles. “Tell us what happened.”

“No!” cried James.

“Tell us this minute!” commanded Lady Charles.

“He has something. Something evil; it is something of the devil!”

“What on earth?” Lady Charles asked in horror. “Did you touch her?”

“No! Of course not. I can’t—” uttered James, “I can’t. Mother—” His face was stark white.

“Please,” said Cassandra, “please, let me talk to him for a moment; let me determine—”

“No!” shouted Lady Charles, “I want an explanation. I demand an explanation right now!”

“For goodness sake,” remarked Lady Holcomb, trying to calm the situation. “Whatever it is, it cannot be so bad.”

Jane and Eunice clung to each other, and Edward’s freckles stood out as the color faded from his face.

Cassandra turned to Ben pleadingly, “Ben, I must speak to him—”

“Tell us now!” shrieked Lady Charles, “or I will have him arrested!” A rather ridiculous thing to say, Cassandra thought with irritation, as there was no-one around but their own party.

“Cassandra,” said Ben gently, “I think it best if the young man explains himself.”

“There is no explanation! It is a terrible, terrible thing!” screamed Elizabeth. Lady Charles held her close, stroking her brow.

“Calm down, everyone,” said Ben. “Why do you not explain to me what happened, son,” he said kindly to James. “I am sure it is nothing.”

Cassandra remained frozen. She feared the worst. Slowly James reached into his pocket and pulled out his hand to reveal a small, black, metallic object, one-eighth of an inch thick, and one inch square. In the middle was a small circle. Cassandra gasped reflexively. Everyone leaned in to see, except Elizabeth who turned away and sobbed into her mother’s bosom.

“What is it?” asked Edward.

“It is nothing!” said James.

Ben looked at Cassandra, who felt as if she were going to faint. “Cassandra, do you know what it is?”

“I, um—”

“She does not know!” James blurted out.

“Well, what is it?” pressed Ben.

“Touch the circle!” cried Elizabeth. “You shall see; it is enchanted!”

They all looked at each other, except for Cassandra, who stared fixedly at the object in James’s hand. Ben slowly reached out his hand and tentatively touched the circle. Everyone stepped back. Nothing happened. “Press it!” Elizabeth insisted, “press it hard!”

Ben pressed it harder and then jumped as if he had received an electrical shock. He looked all around wildly, his eyes frightened. Then he began to bat at the air, and shake his head. “What is it?” he cried. “Who is that? I do not see them. What is happening?” James pressed the button again and Ben relaxed somewhat but still trembled.

“What! What?” exclaimed Lady Charles.

“Some kind of music!” declared Ben. “Music in the air, but, but something like fairy music, strange singing, and an instrument. I do not know. I do not know what it was or where it came from!”

“There was no music,” scoffed Lady Charles, “what do you mean?”

“There was!” cried Ben, “there was! Music all around me.”

“It is true, mother,” cried Elizabeth, “you push that circle and music comes into your head, horrible, terrible music. It is magic!”

“May I try?” asked Edward, stepping slowly forward.

James shrugged in resignation and held out the contraption. Edward took it and pressed the circle and, like Ben, looked around wildly in panic at first. But after a few moments, he began to accept what he was hearing and stared ahead in amazement. “It sounds like your voice, James,” he said loudly, “like you have been enchanted!”

“Yes, yes!” screamed Elizabeth, “it is him, he told me it was him singing, but he is standing here in front of us, silent. How can he be singing and not singing? And such horrible music, it is not fairy music, but devil music!”

“Edward,” interrupted Jane, “can you hear me?”

“Yes,” replied Edward, “just fine, but this music is all around me!”

“How can it be?” asked Jane. She grasped Eunice’s arm more tightly.

“It is James’ voice,” added Ben. “You are right, Edward, I thought the voice sounded very familiar. I do not understand,” he said looking from James to Cassandra. “What does this mean?”

James hung his head, and Cassandra opened her mouth to speak, but could say nothing.

Edward gingerly pressed the circle on the object and handed it back to James.

“What is it, James? Tell us,” he said.

“I cannot explain it, exactly,” he replied slowly.

“He said it was a wondrous invention from America!” Elizabeth declared. “He said that it could capture music. He said that he wrote a song, and he wanted me to hear it, that he also played a strange kind of American instrument, and that the tiny box captured the song for others to hear. But no kind of human could make music like that! And how can it be in such a tiny thing!” She began to sob anew. “I am scared, mother, take me away from him!”