Skinner: London Magic

by Atonia

Part 3

They opted for an early dinner, and although Connie peppered him with questions he would only smile and say –later. Once back in the flat he did try and prepare her for what was to come.

“You’ve been curious about me and my brothers and my life I know, Connie, but it’s not so easy to explain. The word magic has been mentioned several times. I don’t know how much you believe in magic, but you’re about to get an introduction to it tonight. I’m taking a chance with you, Connie.”

“Max, I think I told you I was with you, I still am and if magic is real and is connected to you in some way, then I’m still with you.”

“Just remember you said that later on tonight. Are you much of a movie buff, do you go to the theater at all?”

“Not so much to the theater, but I used to watch a good number of DVD’s, the last two years have been different of course, I’ve had something to do with my time. Why do you ask?”

“You obviously haven’t seen A Good Year or you would know…” he looked out toward the now darkened Thames. “What if you saw a character in a movie that really attracted you and through magic you could have him, have him as a companion for a season, three months out of a year. What if there was a place where this could happen?”

“What are you telling me, that this is possible somehow?”

“Yes.” He bit his lip and the door bell rang. “That will be Jack, don’t be alarmed at his appearance, it’s who he is.”

Jack was leaning on the wall when Max opened the door, “Max, you have need of me?”

“Jack, yes I do, come in brother,” they embraced briefly but Jack’s eye was caught by the woman standing by a chair at the table. “It was good of you to come so quickly.”

“I was in London on some business, you are going to introduce me aren’t you?”

“Jack this is Connie Duncan-Smythe, my brother, Jack Aubrey.”

Connie closed her mouth and tried to regain her composure; there was probably an explanation for his attire, “I’m, um happy to meet you.”

Jack smiled, “I assure you the pleasure is mine,” he bowed slightly and kissed her hand. He looked at her a moment and determined she was not part of the magic that surrounded himself and his brothers and Toni. “I’m at your service, Max, what can I do for you?”

“I was hoping you could explain to Connie our existence, how we came to be. You see we’ve embarked on this relationship that,” he looked at her, “may very well prove to be serious. I don’t like not telling her the truth when she asks questions, I’ve forewarned her a little.”

“I see, well find another glass and I’ll try to explain, although I’m sure you could have done that yourself, Max.”

“I would have made a mess of it, Jack, you’re much better at this sort of thing, you did very well with Terry when he lost his memory.”

“May I call you Connie?  First of all you will have to have an open mind and believe what I tell you is true. It all began at a place called The House of Four Seasons…”

Max watched her face as Jack told the story, her expressions went from incredulous to awe. She looked at Max frequently with affection in her eyes. He was hoping she wasn’t thinking about flight schedules.

Jack took a drink from his glass, “and so that brings us to Max who found himself out in reality here in London and realized it whilst Terry was kidnapped.”

“I had suspected it when I came back from Boston and had no desire to go back to work the next day, I actually did nothing for a few days and then Terry was back in London to see Henry and of course he was kidnapped.”

“What an incredible journey you’ve had, I think it’s wonderful, oh not all the terrible things that happened to Terry of course, but just the fact that it happened at all, that you actually came out of a movie and now exist here. But tell me, Jack, are you not out in reality now?” Connie asked.

“Yes and no, I still have my ship and my men and live in that world, but I also can live in this reality as you call it. I’m from a different age, a different era, and I do not think I want to live in this modern world. Toni understood that better than anyone I believe. You should meet her, Connie I think you would be friends.”

“I would love to meet her.”

“You will in the spring, Terry says they are coming over to Provence.”

“To France, I still can’t get over you moving to France, good God man have you no conscience at all?”

“Napoleon was defeated, Jack, we are no longer at war with France.”

“Yes well, I still live it every day, it’s not over for me. We’ve come to the end of this bottle, Max.”

Max got up and looked for another bottle of wine.

“Tell me, Connie, how serious is this relationship with Max?” Jack asked quietly.

“I know it’s crazy sounding, but I think I’m in love with him.”

“Not crazy at all, it’s good that you have recognized it so early on; he needs this, Connie, he was a very lonely man here in London, in his movie and since he came out. You’ll be good for him.” Jack smiled at her.

“We’re down to plonk, I’m going to have to restock his supply,” Max opened the last bottle of wine he could find.

“I’ll help you,” Connie looked up at him and smiled, “unlike you I do remember a good wine.”

“Will you have time before your flight?”

“I’m not going anywhere…unless you are?”

Max smiled and poured her glass of wine and refilled Jack’s “Thanks Jack, I think you saved my ass.”

“One of these days somebody is going to have to save mine, I’ve saved the K&R man three times; there is something wrong with this.” He sipped the wine and looked into the glass.

“You may have another to save, Terry says John is going to have to tell Donna, she’s asking questions he can’t answer.”

“Oh Lord, you didn’t happen to record this dissertation tonight did you on one of those machines?”

“No, ever been to Alaska, Jack?”

“I have not. Perhaps he should take her to the house, I could meet them there if necessary. I can’t drink this what else have you got, any brandy?”

“Yeah, there’s plenty of Scotch?”

“Horrible grog, brandy will have to do.

“I’m glad you know my history now, Connie, it allows me to speak freely with you.”

“Yes, I understand now why you were reluctant to tell me, but you know it doesn’t make any difference between us. However, I will not tell my father or my sister about all this.”

“That is good, I do not think this kind of thing needs to get around, especially concerning the House. We must protect it you understand. I hope someday Max will take you there for you to experience the magic.”

“I’d love to go, it sounds so incredibley wonderful.” Connie excused herself and went to the bathroom.

“Max, have you noticed how like Toni she is, not in looks but something about her?”

“Yes I have, I think that’s what attracted me to her. She’s lovely isn’t she?”

“Yes, very. I’m glad you’ve found someone, Max, hold onto her.”

“I’m going to try, she’s anti marriage right now but who knows that may change.”

“There have been so many changes, and now to sort out John. That may not be as easy as telling a story; I have no idea how Donna will react to Toni and John.” Jack sighed and sipped his brandy.

“Would it help do you think if we were all there, including Toni and Terry?”

“I think it might, but Toni may not want to travel. You might ask them and see. Ah here she is, our lovely Connie, we’ve brought you into our family now.”

“I’m honored to be a part of it, and I look forward to meeting the rest of the family.”

“That may be arranged shortly; I will leave that up to you Max to make arrangements.”

“I can do that, well this has turned out to be a rather nice evening,” he smiled at Connie and took her hand across the table.

“Are we staying here tonight?” Jack asked.

“We can, I’ve my car downstairs, but I’m not sure I’d want to drive after all this wine and now brandy.”

“Excellent, I shall try and remember how to unfold that sofa into a bed.”

“I can help with that and find you some linens,” Connie offered.

“Thank you, my dear.” Jack smiled back, he liked her more and more.

Jack watched her go off to find pillows and sheets, “How did you meet her?”

“It was the chicken in my bedroom…” Max grinned.

“Never mind.” Jack raised a brow.

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