The Marquis and the Magician's Assistant (The Rebel Royals 4)

But she couldn’t do that. She wouldn’t. He was a child. Best way to handle children was to teach them a lesson.

Lark turned from the prejudiced little nit to the ire of his attention. The young girl had her head cast down, her gaze averted. The wand in her hand trembled as though any magic gathered there was fizzling out. Her lower lips twisted as though she could no longer give voice to the silly, complicated words used to evoke magic.

The Duchess had invited Lark to teach the school kids a couple of magic tricks as a treat. There were mostly boys in the room. After that remark, the other two girls quietly slipped out the door, leaving the one holding the trembling wand. The girl lifted her gaze then, eyed the door as though she wanted to disappear out of it.

Lark put herself between the door and the would-be magician. The only thing that would be vanishing today would be her lack of self-confidence.

“All right, everyone,” Lark said to the crowded room of kids. “Who’s ready to make a coin disappear?”

There were a number of excited MEs. But also a few groans.

“A coin?” grumbled the little chauvinist in training. “My grandpa can do that. I told you she wasn’t a real magician. She’s a girl.”

“Actually, little man, I’m a grown woman. I’m also the most clever person in the room.”

He quirked a doubtful eyebrow.

“Watch and learn.”

Lark

straightened to find a few more doubtful brows lifted. Here she was again; a girl surrounded by males who thought they knew more than her. She’d had to fight so hard for every trick. She’d studied this craft from the history to the technical, to the science, to the showmanship. Meanwhile, all the gatekeepers had cared about was whether or not she could fit inside a trick box to be sawed in half. Or if her costume was snug enough to distract from their sleight of hand.

Well, no more.

Magic was where she’d found her confidence. More than anything, she wanted to teach that particular trick to the self-conscious little girl whose dreams were leaking out of the corner of her eyes.

“Everyone grab a coin,” said Lark.

The boys all rushed to the table where an array of Córdovian coins lay. They jostled each other for the first pick, even though the coins were all the same. The girl waited on the sidelines for her turn.

Lark took the few steps over to her. She smiled down at the girl and offered her a coin from her pocket. This coin was different. It was special.

“Here,” said Lark. “You can use mine.”

The girl put her wand away. Then she reached out her hands for the coin. Lark placed the coin in the center of the girl's palm.

“What’s your name?” asked Lark.

“Luisa, but everyone calls me Lulu.”

“Lulu, is it? Did you know that’s the name of a famous female magician?”

Lulu’s eyes went wide. Her lip stopped trembling and formed an O of wonder.

“It’s true. Laughing Lulu performed magic tricks where she’d lift more than one man up from the ground.”

“Girls can’t do that,” Lulu whispered.

“Hmmm,” was Lark’s noncommittal response. “But magician’s can.”

Lark grinned at the girl, then gave her a wink. Lulu’s smile grew wider, with a hint of more confidence.

“All right,” Lark said, turning back to the boys. “You’ve got your coins?”

They all held up the coins.

Lark explained the steps to make the coin disappear. The trick was quite simple, but the young men asked copious amounts of questions. Many having nothing to do with the task in their hands.