Magic by Moonlight Read Free Page A

His first. Perhaps she’d come around yet, but
for the moment he sensed it might be best to stop trying. “Very
well, ma chérie. I will not touch you again. Until you
request it, at least.” He got suavely to his feet, smoothing one
hand over the long, wavy locks he wore and brushing at his
breeches.
    “Don’t hold your breath.”
    “Nonetheless, never let it be said that
Alexandre failed to come to the aid of a lady in need.”
    “What I need is to know who does your hair.
Captain Hook?”
    “Why were you calling for help?” he asked,
ignoring her puzzling question.
    She looked at the floor, shook her head.
“This is unreal.”
    “I can see you are greatly distressed. Has
some rogue insulted your honor, then? Shall I call him out, teach
him a lesson he will not soon forget?”
    She closed her eyes and he noticed how thick
and dark her lashes were, resting upon her fair cheeks. “You’re the
one who’s gonna be distressed. I think I—I think I messed up.”
    “It is understandable, chérie. You
are only a woman, after all.”
    Her head came up, eyes narrow. “Watch it,
Al.”
    “I am only saying that whatever is wrong, I
can make it right. So, tell me now, what has befallen you?”
    “It’s what’s befallen you we have to worry
about,” she said.
    He frowned at her. “I do not
understand.”
    “Do they have witches where you come from,
Al?”
    He lifted his brows. “Oui, but they
are not a problem. If they get out of hand, we simply hang them.”
Then he frowned. “You are not a witch, are you, lady?”
    “No. Not...exactly. But...well, maybe you’d
better sit down.”
    “If you wish it.” He tucked his damaged hat
under his arm and walked to the settee, but he didn’t sit until she
did. “Now,” he said, “tell Alexandre what troubles you...but first, ma chérie, tell me your name.”
    She blinked. “Oh. It’s Mary Catherine
Hammersmith. But I go by M. C. Hammer. It’s...sort of a joke.”
    “My lady Hammer,” he repeated, lowering his
head respectfully. “Now, why are you so troubled, eh?”
    She looked decidedly sheepish. “I got into
trouble. I needed help. And I found this...old book...with a...an
incantation...”
    “A witch’s spell?”
    She nodded. “Right...a spell for protection.
And I said the words out loud...and I must have messed it up,
because the next thing I knew, you were here.”
    He smiled slowly, and lifted a hand to
gently pat her head. “Poor Lady Hammer...you truly believe that you
have brought me here by witchery?”
    “Oh. I’m pretty sure of it.”
    “What makes you so sure, little one? Perhaps
I simply heard your lovely voice asking for protection, and
followed the sound to find you here.”
    “Well, that wouldn’t have been possible, Al.
See, you...you sort of...traveled...through time.”
    He studied her face. Poor, disturbed beauty.
Surely he could find a way to pull her from her delusions! He must.
She was entirely too beautiful to be a lunatic.
    “You don’t believe me, do you? This is the
future, Al. The year is 2012.”
    “Oh, sweet Lady Hammer. Sssh.” He ran his
hand through her hair. “You will be all right. I will find help for
you, I vow it.”
    She closed her eyes, poor little thing. “I
can prove it,” she said.
    “Oh?” He so wanted to help her get well. He
wasn’t certain, but he didn’t think it would be quite chivalrous to
seduce a lunatic. So until he cured her...
    “See that little box over there?” she asked,
pointing.
    He followed her gaze and nodded. She picked
up a smaller item, thumbed a button, and the box came to life all
on its own. “Sacre bleu!” he shouted, leaping to his feet as
tiny Musketeers, his own comrades, battled their enemies, all the
while held captive inside the box! He drew his sword and lashed out
at the thing, but its face was impenetrable.
    *
    The poor S.O.B. was still swinging his sword
at the television set when the front door burst open and Aunt Kate
appeared. Mary Catherine sank a