Midsummer Magic (17 page)

‘Welcome, welcome,’ said Freddie, ‘do come in. We’re having drinks on the lawn, and we can sit down and go over the finer points of the contracts.’

He ushered them through the house, and Ant looked around him at the cool interior, with marble floors and a magnificent wooden staircase, paintings of long-dead aristocrats lining the walls, before they were led out into a glorious garden.

If the front garden had looked impressive, the back garden was magnificent. A large lawn, with neat flowerbeds at either side, led to a terraced garden at the bottom which was a riot of colour. A rose arch made way for a sunken garden, from where the tinkling sound of water suggested the pond at the bottom of the terrace had been carefully laid to create the illusion of a waterfall. Even Ant, who knew nothing about gardens, could see it was amazing.

‘I’d heard they’d done up the gardens here,’ said Josie, ‘I hadn’t realised they were quite so beautiful. When I was a child they were a wilderness.’

‘Aren’t they magnificent?’ said Auberon Fanshawe coming towards them, his hand extended in greeting. ‘I’ve stayed in lots of wonderful places over the years, but I can honestly say I would really love to make this my permanent home.’

‘Drink, anyone?’ Freddie clicked his finger, and as if by magic a waiter appeared bearing a tray of champagne and Bucks Fizz. Everyone took a glass except Harry, who opted for orange juice.

‘To all of you,’ said Freddie, raising his glass, ‘and thank you for sharing in my experiment.’

‘Are you sure it’s safe?’ said Josie, who still seemed down on the whole idea.

‘Quite sure,’ said Freddie. ‘Look, Jack here, our lawyer, will go through it with you, but honestly, as I told you before, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, and we can stop the experiment at any time. Why don’t I demonstrate how easy it is on one of you? And we’ll take it from there.’

Ant put his hand up.

‘I’m up for it,’ he said.

‘All right,’ said Freddie, and led Ant to a chair in the middle of the lawn. A blank screen had been set up behind the chair, and a camera was also in place.

‘This is Will, our cameraman,’ said Freddie, ‘and he’ll be with us tonight, to record what happens.’

Ant sat down, slightly nervous now that it was about to happen, but Freddie put a light hand on his shoulder.

‘Nothing at all to be worried about,’ he said. ‘I just want you to think about something that makes you relax.’

Ant immediately imagined himself on a beach in Australia.

‘Take a few deep breaths, and imagine you are descending a spiral staircase,’ began Freddie. ‘I’m going to count down from two hundred, and when you get to one, you will be at the bottom …’

Ant was vaguely aware of Freddie counting, and before he knew it, Freddie had reached one.

‘Now you are completely relaxed,’ he heard Freddie saying; his mind was drifting and Freddie’s voice sounded as if it came from a long way away. ‘I’d like you to go and let the person you’re closest to here know how you feel about them.’

Overcome with a strong emotion and fuzzy warmth, Ant got up and walked over to Harry and gave him a huge bear hug.

‘Aw, mate,’ he said, ‘Aw, mate.’

Harry squirmed a little under his embrace, but Ant didn’t mind, he just felt a beatific sense of warmth that he was here on this lovely day with Harry, Josie and Diana.

‘Now go back and sit down and go to sleep.’

Ant wandered back to his chair, and sat down, and within seconds was fast asleep. He was dreaming about Diana, about how she’d been when they were young; remembering the joy he’d felt in her presence, when he heard Freddie say, ‘… and one and you’re awake.’

He shook his head, and said, ‘Was that it?’

‘That was it,’ said Freddie. ‘Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?’

‘I still don’t like it,’ said Josie, even though the others were convinced by Freddie’s display, and had eagerly agreed to meet Freddie at sunset at the Standing Stones so they could begin the experiment.

She couldn’t put her finger on why, but Josie had a sudden bad feeling about this. There were strange undercurrents in the air. Diana and Ant were still on edge with each other, and she had the distinct impression that Harry was not telling her something. Having seen Ant suddenly come over all affectionate to Harry made her wonder if under hypnotism, they might all reveal things they’d rather keep hidden. Josie wasn’t sure she wanted to know his innermost thoughts at the moment. She had a horrible feeling they wouldn’t chime with hers.

‘I’m not sure,’ she said. ‘I think we should let things lie.’

‘Oh, don’t be a spoilsport, Josie,’ said Harry, tickling her.

‘Yes, go on, Josie,’ urged Diana. ‘Nothing happened to Ant, and I know it was a bit mean, but seeing what Freddie did to Mike was quite funny.’

Everyone but her seemed to think being hypnotised was a huge laugh. But Josie had the weirdest feeling that she’d regret it if she did.

‘What if we cause things to happen that we don’t intend?’ said Josie.

‘What things?’ laughed Harry.

‘I don’t know. We might all turn into axe murderers, or kill ourselves.’

‘I doubt that is going to happen,’ said Harry, laughing. ‘You have far too vivid an imagination.’

‘Maybe that is a bit extreme,’ said Josie. ‘But I think we’re playing with fire. All I’m saying is that I don’t want to get burnt.’

The sun was dipping low in the sky as they clambered up to the Standing Stones, casting long shadows across the grass. It was a warm balmy evening, but Diana kept shivering. She was slightly apprehensive about what was going to happen, especially as Nicola had been quite frantic when she found out about it.

‘But what if you all get attacked, or fall off the edge of the cliff,’ she’d wailed.

‘I really don’t think that’s going to happen, Mum,’ said Josie, which was a bit rich considering she’d also been worrying about it.

Nicola had only consented when they’d promised to go well prepared, with proper trainers, warm clothes, torches for when it got dark, and even a food parcel, but she was still fretting about it when they set off.

Luckily Peter was more worried about being late for a golf dinner dance they were attending at a hotel fifty miles away where they were staying the night, and told them they were idiots, but it was on their heads. Diana didn’t like to say, ‘I’m only doing it for the money’; she didn’t imagine for one moment they’d understand. But it was her only motivation.

‘Okay,’ said Freddie, as they gathered by the Standing Stones at eight thirty. ‘You met Will earlier. With your permission, he’s going to follow us round this evening and film anything interesting that happens.

‘What I’d like to do, if you have no objections, is to take each of you individually, and make some suggestions that the others can’t hear,’ continued Freddie. ‘Don’t worry, Bron and Will are going to be sitting with me all the time. Nothing’s going to happen.’

‘So who’s first?’

‘Okay,’ said Diana, ‘I’ll go for it.’

She followed Freddie to the middle of the Standing Stones, where Freddie had set up two chairs, and Will had his camera set up.

The sun’s last rays cast golden shadows on the grass, the sound of seagulls keening floated from high in the sky, and there was the constant thrum of waves crashing against the rocks below.

It was quite breathtakingly beautiful, and Diana felt her misgivings fade away. Somehow, she knew this was going to be a night to remember.

‘Where do you want me?’ she asked.

‘If you just sit there, we’ll check out the sound and lighting,’ said Freddie.

Another ten minutes of fiddling went on before Freddie appeared happy.

‘No need to be worried,’ he said eventually, ‘just let your mind empty.’

‘Do I have to look into your eyes?’ said Diana.

‘No, nothing like that,’ said Freddie calmly. ‘I just want you to relax, take some deep breaths and imagine somewhere that makes you feel safe and happy. If at any time you feel worried, go to your safe place, and everything will be fine. Shut your eyes if it helps.’

‘Okay,’ said Diana. She felt a little shiver of excitement. Now it came to it, it was quite thrilling being hypnotised. She shut her eyes, and tried to think of the last time she’d felt safe. A picture popped into her head of her being eight years old, and lying by the fire, staring into the flames. She saw sprites, and fairies and magic in those flames, and she knew somewhere in the house her mum would be cooking dinner for her. She felt secure in a way she hadn’t done for years.

‘Now I want you to imagine climbing down a spiral staircase, till we get to your safe place. I’m going to count down from ten. Ten; you are descending the first couple of stairs …’ his voice rolled over her like warm melted hot chocolate. ‘Think calming thoughts.’

Despite herself, Diana began to relax. Freddie’s voice was like a summer’s breeze blowing gently through every corner of her mind, making her feel safe, warm, content. She was vaguely aware that when they reached the bottom of the stairs, a picture came into her head of playing by the fire with a small furry black and white kitten. He’d been a present for her eighth birthday. A deep feeling of contentment stole over her and she felt utterly relaxed.

‘I’m going to unlock your deepest desires,’ Freddie purred. ‘When the film crew have gone, you’re going to have a little sleep, and when you hear an owl hoot, you will wake up, completely refreshed. The first person you see when you wake will be the person you plight your troth with at midnight, tonight.’

Diana felt detached from herself, but very happy. She let out a deep sigh. Slowly she became aware that she was resurfacing, ‘Three, you are climbing back up the stairs …’ Freddie’s voice soothed her, and she could see the next step, feel the metal handrail, ‘Two, nearly at the top now … One, wake up …’

Diana shook her head, blinking a little.

‘Was that it?’ she said, feeling a little disorientated.

‘That’s it,’ said Freddie. ‘Now go and join your friends, and we’ll have the next person. Let’s say, Ant.’

Ant came strolling into the centre of the circle. He was feeling more confident tonight. Whatever suggestions Freddie might think he’d planted earlier, nothing had happened, apart from him feeling mildly affectionate towards Harry which was undoubtedly the booze talking, proving the whole hypnotism thing was pure bunkum. Easy money.

‘So, Ant, how do you feel tonight?’ said Freddie, as he sat down.

‘Fine,’ said Ant. ‘I still don’t think you can do it.’

‘Really?’ said Freddie, with an amused smile. ‘We’ll see, shall we?’

Ant settled into his seat, vaguely aware that Freddie had started speaking again. Once more he was descending a spiral staircase, one step at a time, ‘three, two, one, you’re asleep …’ said Freddie, and then Ant had the strangest sensation of floating. He was soaring high above the earth, feeling that the stars were almost within his grasp. It was a dizzying, intoxicating sensation. Looking down, he could see his own body slumped over a chair, while Freddie was leaning in and whispering in his ear. Freddie was saying something like, ‘… as this was your idea, you are responsible for your companions. If anything goes wrong tonight, it is up to you to put it right …’

That didn’t seem too bad, Ant thought lazily, wondering if he could float as high as the gulls. It was a pleasant sensation up here, with the soft sea breeze on his face, and the sensation of wheeling, arching up, up and away. He felt freer then he’d ever felt, and almost wished he could stay here for ever. ‘… Three, two, one, and you’re awake.’

Ant sat up with a jolt. For a minute, he felt cheated, as if deprived of some great treat, and then a little foolish. Had he really imagined he’d been floating up in the sky? How daft was that?

‘We done?’ he said, to hide his embarrassment.

‘We’re done,’ said Freddie.

‘I think your wallet is going to be somewhat lighter by the end of the evening,’ said Ant. ‘I don’t feel any different at all.’

‘We’ll see,’ said Freddie. ‘We’ll see.’

Josie went next. Despite her forebodings, Diana and Ant had come back seeming very chilled and relaxed about the whole thing. Maybe she was making a fuss about nothing.

‘Still nervous?’ said Freddie, as she sat down.

‘A bit,’ said Josie. ‘Are you sure you’re not going to do anything bad to us?’

‘On my life,’ said Freddie. ‘Hypnotism is really harmless. I’ve done it on Bron dozens of times, haven’t I?’

‘Absolutely,’ said Bron, ‘there’s nothing to it. And I promise you, I won’t let any harm come to you.’

‘Okay,’ said Josie, slightly mollified. Bron was like your favourite uncle. She couldn’t imagine him letting anything bad happen. ‘Now what?’

‘I’m just going to chat to you for a bit. Think of lovely things, and things that make you happy.’

Josie could hear Freddie’s voice floating over her, tinkling like a running stream. ‘I am going to take you to your safe place,’ she heard him say and then she was walking through a beautiful forest that had a river running through it, filled with flowers, birds, sunshine and laughter. It was wonderful, she had the sensation of being truly alive and at one with nature. She had never felt so incredible in her life.

‘You will find your heart’s desire tonight,’ Freddie’s voice flowed overhead from a long way off. ‘The first person you see when you wake up is your life’s partner. You know you are meant to be together for ever …’

Josie smiled happily as Harry came running through the woods towards her, and she flung herself into his arms.

‘… And, two, you are at the top of the stairs, and one, you’re awake.’

Josie felt absurdly happy, as if someone had just given her the best present in her life, if only she could remember what it was.

‘I feel fantastic,’ she said in surprise.

‘And you will continue to do so,’ assured Freddie. ‘You’re in for a magical and surprising evening.’

By the time it was Harry’s turn, he was feeling both a little bored and a little concerned about what they were doing. He couldn’t help but feel that maybe Nicola was right and they were making themselves very vulnerable out on the cliffs after dark.