Claybourne immediately crouched in front of him. “And who are you?”
Winnie gasped.
“The Earl of Whitson,” Whit said, mimicking his mother’s earlier haughty tone. As young as he was, already he recognized differences in the classes.
“Did you know they have lemonade, pastries, and lollipops over there? Would you like to buy some for you and your mum?” Claybourne asked.
Whit nodded enthusiastically, his weariness suddenly cured.
“Hold out your hand,” Claybourne ordered.
Whit did.
“Fold it up.” Claybourne demonstrated, closing his hand into a fist. Then he snapped his fingers. “Open your hand.”
The boy did, his eyes growing wide at the ha’penny resting on his palm. Winnie gasped again.
“Hmm. I’m not certain that’s enough,” Claybourne said. He looked up at Frannie.
“What’s your opinion on the matter, Miss Darling?”
“Definitely not enough. I should think he’d need at least a shilling.”
“I suspect you’re right.” He turned back to Whit. “Close your hand around the coin and say, ‘Please, sir, may I have more?’”
Whit closed his hand around the coin. “Please, sir, may I have more?”
Claybourne snapped his fingers. Whit opened his hand, his eyes wider than before. The ha’penny was gone. A sixpence rested on his palm.
Frannie tapped Claybourne on the head. “You silly man. That’s not a shilling.”
Catherine realized they were performing, and she wondered how often they’d worked together on something similar. Was this how they’d fleeced people? Was this
performance a remnant of their childhood? They seemed so natural, so comfortable with each other.
“You’re quite right, Miss Darling. What was I thinking? Shall we give it another go, Lord Whitson?”
Grinning broadly, Whit bobbed his head up and down and closed his pudgy fingers over the coin. “Please, sir, may I have more?”
“Why, yes, sir, I think you may,” Claybourne said, snapping his fingers.
Whit opened his fist and crowed. “Look! A shilling!”
Catherine realized he wasn’t the only one with a wide smile. Winnie was grinning as well, as though her troubles had disappeared as easily as the coins.
“How did you do that, my lord?” Catherine asked.
“Magic.”
“Why, yes, I could see that. But what’s the secret?”
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. It’ll ruin the fun.”
“Your Grace, may I take your son over to get some refreshments?” Frannie asked.
Winnie bobbed her head, then said, “I’ll come with you.”
Catherine watched as the threesome strolled toward the refreshment booth. “We should probably go with them.”
