Miss Matilda Hayward and the Freak Show (Miss Matilda Hayward series Book 1)

by Helen Goltz

  ‘Precisely.’

  ‘Even though you look as if you’ve been brawling in the alley,’ she teased him.

  ‘I am hoping my dapper evening wear distracts from my face,’ he said, falling back into their familiar banter.

  She placed her small hand in his, and before he assisted her in, Thomas stopped her. He could hear Alice and Daniel having an animated conversation in the hansom in front of them, so he took the opportunity to have a moment with Matilda.

  ‘Matilda, I need to say something to you.’

  ‘Oh?’ she said. ‘Should I to expect to be on the receiving end of a lecture about interfering in your case?’

  The seriousness of Thomas’s countenance said otherwise.

  ‘Whatever is the matter, Thomas?’ she asked, and bit her bottom lip anxiously.

  ‘I want you to reconsider our friendship,’ he began. Thomas had given this considerable thought. ‘I would like to court you.’

  Matilda’s eyes widened in surprise.

  Daniel called out. ‘Are you two intending to come with us?’

  ‘A moment,’ Thomas answered, and on hearing them resume their lively discussion, he continued. ‘Matilda,’ he said, and raised her hand to his lip, kissing it. ‘May I love you?’

  For a moment she was silent, and Thomas lowered her hand and looked into her eyes. This was it. It would be difficult to continue now if she laughed and turned him down outright. He realised he should have had this discussion later in the evening so as not to endure a night in her company after being rejected. But he found her eyes full of tenderness, and a small smile traced her lips. She nodded.

  ‘Yes, Thomas, yes. I would like that very much.’

  Relief spread across his countenance, and they smiled at each other.

  ‘Thomas!’ Daniel called.

  He rolled his eyes and assisted Matilda into the hansom. She slipped slightly and his firm hands caught her around her slim waist. She sighed with frustration.

  ‘If I didn’t have this gown on, I would be much more capable. I most likely would beat you in,’ she said.

  ‘I doubt it. I’m still stronger and faster,’ he responded.

  ‘Stronger maybe, but faster, I doubt it. Do you want to test that theory?’

  ‘No Matilda, we are all grown up now and you are a lady. Remember?’

  He followed her in and sat beside her. He shook his head.

  ‘You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and the most frustrating.’

  ‘Really?’ she said, and brightened. ‘Thank you, Thomas.’

  He sighed. ‘You’re welcome, Matilda.’

  And the hansom moved taking the four young people on their first official outing together.

  THE END

  I hope you enjoyed Matilda’s adventures. If you would like to read Matilda and Thomas’s next story featuring her brother Gideon and the missing artist’s muse, read on for the first two chapters of Miss Matilda Hayward and the Artist’s Muse now.

  Miss Matilda Hayward and the Artist’s Muse

  Chapter 1

  Miss Matilda Hayward inclined her head to the side and studied the painting in front of her. She was no artist or art critic for that matter, nor did she take a great interest in art – writing was her passion and since securing a position with the Women’s Journal and working with the respected editor, Mrs Dora Lawson, she felt rather pleased with herself. She was a woman with a career path despite the less than enthusiastic acceptance of her new role by her family matriarch, Aunt Audrey, and Matilda’s new beau, Detective Thomas Ashdown. In all fairness, he didn’t discourage it but didn’t encourage it either. Looking at the painting Matilda tried to keep a neutral countenance but, truth be told, the painting was awful and it shouldn’t be – it was a Marlon Dominey original.

  ‘Well then,’ her new friend and fellow writer, Alice, said as she joined her.

  Matilda looked to Alice for her thoughts.

  Alice lowered her voice. ‘It’s rather awful don’t you think?’

  Matilda stifled a laugh. ‘Thank goodness. Yes, awful is kind. I thought it might have been brilliant and I was too ill-advised of the art world to know the difference.’

  Alice studied it some more. ‘I too am no art expert but my father has a fine collection. This is not nearly as good as Marlon Dominey’s past collections – I saw one of his exhibitions in Sydney before I arrived here.’

  ‘I wonder if he has lost his inspiration?’ Matilda whispered.

  ‘Hmm, he’s lost something,’ Alice agreed, and the ladies moved on to the next of his paintings hanging in the exhibition. Matilda glanced around for their dates. Her eyes easily found Thomas Ashdown, Detective, in the room. Tall, dark, lightly bearded and handsome. His eyes met hers for just a moment and softened. Her brother Daniel broke their gaze, distracting Thomas with a nudge as he passed him two filled flute glasses of champagne – one for Thomas and the other to give to Matilda. Daniel picked up another two for himself and his date, Alice, on this, their first outing together. Matilda watched two of her favourite men walking towards them bearing the flutes.

  ‘Champagne for you, Miss Doran,’ Daniel said offering the glass to the young English beauty who had escaped a less than desirable partnering in England to spend some time in the colonies – Australia. Having taken a job at the Women’s Journal as well, she had become firm friends with Matilda. As a consequence, she was warmly welcomed into the breast of the Hayward family, to Daniel’s pleasure.

  ‘Cheers,’ Thomas said, raising his glass. ‘This might help us to discern if the art is any good or not,’ he said in a low voice.

  ‘It’s not something I would want hanging in the drawing-room,’ Daniel responded in an equally low voice. ‘Have we seen enough? Shall we depart and find somewhere to dine?’

  ‘Best idea you have had tonight,’ Thomas agreed.

  ‘Daniel and Thomas, before the speeches?’ Matilda scolded them and Alice laughed.

  ‘No, you are right of course, Matilda,’ Thomas said, with a wry look to Daniel, his childhood friend whose sister he had just officially asked to court after years of friendship. ‘Let’s make our way around and enjoy the exhibition… we might find one we like,’ he muttered.

  ‘Thank the Lord they’re serving alcohol,’ Daniel said swallowing half his glass in two easy gulps. His comment earned him another stern look from his sister, Matilda. He gave her a wink.

  ‘It was so good of your brother, Gideon, to get us tickets for tonight,’ Alice said in her British accent. ‘Everyone is talking about the exhibition.’

  ‘God knows why,’ Daniel continued and earned a glare from a fellow guest. ‘Poor Gideon has a disaster on his hands.’

  ‘I feared as much,’ Matilda agreed, ‘and the showing does not seem to be overrun with patrons. Very few of the paintings have been sold.’

  Matilda dropped her programme and Daniel and Thomas both reached to claim it for her. Her brother rose, leaving Thomas to be chivalrous. Thomas dusted off the program and returned it to Matilda. Her small, slim hand touched his for a moment, the warmth of his skin, the strength of his hand. Her eyes rose from the programme to look at him.

  ‘Thank you, Thomas,’ she said, holding his gaze as if no one else was in the room around them. Daniel noticed, cleared his throat and Matilda dropped her gaze. Thomas stepped back slightly giving his best friend a smirk – Daniel was hardly one to lecture on impropriety.

  With a little colour rising on her cheeks, Matilda turned to Alice. ‘Mrs Lawson is quite happy for us to co-author a small article on the exhibition for the Women’s Journal.’

  ‘Let’s do so!’ Alice exclaimed. ‘It can be our second co-authored piece, how exciting!’

  ‘Given the artwork on display, your article might not be so different to the subject of your last article,’ Daniel joked and the ladies laughed. Alice hit his arm playfully.

  ‘I hardly think the recent visit of the Freak Show t
o the city and its intriguing artists is comparable to these paintings. However, it might be difficult to write the piece, when I can’t in all honesty say I like any of the works,’ she said in a quiet voice.

  ‘Hear, hear,’ Daniel agreed and raised his glass.

  ‘There’s your brother, Gideon, now,’ Alice said looking across the room to a young man who looked like her date, Daniel.

  ‘Yes, he doesn’t look happy,’ Matilda said. ‘He’s only managed the gallery for a short while,’ she explained to Alice, ‘but he’s attracted some big names for showings.’

  ‘He does look a lot like you, Daniel,’ Alice said, looking from one brother to the other.

  ‘He is devilishly handsome,’ Daniel agreed, and Thomas smiled and shook his head.

  ‘If you ask me, he looks somewhat agitated,’ Thomas added, studying Gideon’s expression and movements.

  Matilda nodded. ‘I think you are right, Thomas. I imagine the response to this showing hasn’t been all he hoped.’ She bit her lower lip as she watched her brother from afar.

  ‘But Marlon Dominey is still a big name in the art world regardless of what we think,’ Alice said, looking at the nearest painting hanging on the wall.

  ‘They are saying he’s the most talented artist of his generation,’ Thomas agreed, and Matilda gave him a surprised look.

  ‘I do my homework,’ Thomas told her.

  ‘I can’t see it,’ Daniel said.

  Thomas gave a small shrug. ‘Me either. The art world is in trouble if this is our best offering.’

  ‘Oh, and what was the last thing you painted?’ Matilda teased Thomas as she turned and looked up at him.

  ‘My house,’ he retorted and made the group laugh.

  ‘A fine job you did of that too,’ Daniel said. ‘You’re good with a brush.’

  ‘Thank you, it’s been said before,’ Thomas agreed.

  Matilda laughed again and shook her head at their antics. ‘But what did the critics say of your house painting?’

  ‘A masterpiece in white,’ Daniel quipped. He turned his attention to his date. ‘Speaking of masterpieces, did I mention you looked beautiful tonight, Miss Doran?’ He admired her red evening gown which set off her blue eyes.

  ‘Why I think you might have, Mr Hayward, but thank you again,’ Alice said coyly.

  The matchmaker in Matilda couldn’t help but smile; they looked most handsome together and Daniel was smitten. Thomas cleared his throat. Daniel’s ease at complimenting put him in the awkward position of now having to compliment Matilda again. But Matilda stepped in before he formulated a sincere response.

  ‘I think we all look rather splendid even if I say so myself. We should do this more often. We don’t get to dress up nearly enough,’ she said and then nodded towards the front of the room. ‘Gideon’s coming our way.’

  They turned to see the youngest male of the Hayward family coming towards them. Matilda was intrigued – it wasn’t every day she got to see the rascal of the family, one year her senior, looking so mature and sensible. He shook hands with a few gentlemen and bowed to the ladies as he made his way to her group.

  ‘Miss Doran, Matilda, Thomas, brother, glad you could make it,’ he said.

  ‘Thank you, Mr Hayward, for the tickets, it’s very exciting,’ Alice said, all manners. ‘But where is the artist?’

  ‘Where indeed,’ Gideon said under his breath. ‘He was due here some time ago and we are late for speeches.’

  Just as the words left his lips, there were noises from across the room and spontaneous applause broke out. The group turned their eyes to the entrance where a handsome, confident man had walked in with a beautiful woman on his arm.

  ‘That’s him, is it not?’ Matilda asked, ‘Marlon Dominey?’

  ‘It is, excuse me,’ Gideon said and left the party to go greet and organise the guest of honour.

  Matilda’s eyes widened. Marlon Dominey was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. His dark hair was brushed back from his face, highlighting a square jaw, deep brown eyes, and a smile that could best be described as seductive. She felt herself blush. The woman on his arm was a match for his beauty – dark-haired, full red lips and tawny eyes. She sashayed in, her hand looped through his arm. Her figure was a perfect hourglass and her red gown showed it to perfection. She did not leave his side as they made their way to the front of the gallery, accepting greetings and applause on their way. They made a handsome couple with an air of mystery. Matilda was mesmerised; they appeared so glamorous and worldly, so European perhaps. She felt like a young girl in their presence.

  ‘Oh my, isn’t she glamorous,’ Alice said eyeing the woman on Marlon’s arm.

  Thomas did the gentlemanly thing and feigned disinterest, and Daniel took the question figuratively.

  ‘She’s a little too showy for my liking,’ he said.

  ‘If only the paintings had as much presence as the artist,’ Thomas said for Daniel’s ears but Matilda overhead.

  She agreed, her thoughts interrupted by Gideon introducing the guest of honour for the evening. A robust round of applause welcomed him and Marlon gave a small bow before speaking.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I apologise for our tardiness,’ Marlon began and the guests all appeared to have forgiven him immediately as they watched him, enamoured. He continued, ‘my muse, Miss Sapphire Reubens, and I were inspired by the dusk light on the beautiful river of your city.’

  A small murmur of appreciation rose from the audience and spontaneous applause broke out. Matilda glanced to Thomas, who gave her a raised eyebrow and restrained himself from rolling his eyes. She gave a small smile and returned her attention to studying Marlon’s muse. Sapphire, so exotic and womanly – full-figured and glamorous. Matilda could not imagine what it must be like to be someone’s muse, to inspire their work and creativity. It did not occur to her that beside her, Detective Thomas Ashdown who had known her since they were children, stared at his own muse: Matilda, his first thought every morning and last thought at night. The woman he wanted to keep safe from harm, provide for and make happy. She looked at him again to find him staring at her. Thomas righted himself and returned his attention to the speeches.

  ‘I am glad to be here, to extend my stay in your beautiful country for another season and my thanks to the owner of this fine establishment, Mr Steinman and the Fine Art Gallery Manager, Mr Hayward for the opportunity to display my art for you,’ he began. ‘I cannot with a clear conscious say that I have sacrificed everything on the sacred altar of art, for I have not.’

  ‘That would appear obvious,’ Daniel muttered.

  Marlon continued. ‘My muse, Sapphire, and I have enjoyed ourselves too much to call our visit and my creations suffering. To gaze upon the beauty of your city—’

  Matilda found herself tuning out as she looked around the room. The audience was in the palm of Marlon’s hand as he charmed with his words and beautiful face, but a glance at Thomas, Daniel, and some other young men indicated that the men dragged along to the event under sufferance were not quite as enamoured.

  Thomas leaned towards her and she whispered, ‘His inspiration and creativity from our city does not seem to have met the canvas. I wonder if all is well between Marlon and his muse.’

  ‘Will you be writing that in your article?’ he whispered.

  ‘Heavens no!’ She returned her attention to the speaker.

  Marlon was finishing his speech: ‘My enduring creative partner reminds me that the best part of any speech is brevity and so be it. Thank you again.’

  There was much applause as the artist and his muse gave small bows and then began to meet the guests.

  ‘Can we get out of here now?’ Daniel asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Matilda said, ‘your duty is done.’ She took one more look at Mr Dominey’s beautiful muse, never imagining for a moment what might befall Miss Reubens in the very near future.

  Chapter 2

  Dete
ctive Harry Dart arrived at the office not long after his younger partner, Thomas. The pair had a comfortable routine – Harry, a few years short from hanging up his badge and enjoying his retirement – had been teamed up with the young gun. Thomas’s ambitions sat well with Harry who could mentor and not feel the need to be in the limelight or line of fire. He also recognised the young gun’s talent and wasn’t averse to rising on the success of their crime-solving rate to see out his career.

  ‘The Mrs made you a sandwich,’ Harry said, entering and passing over a wax-wrapped bundle. ‘I told her your nephew, Teddy, was a chef and living with you now, but she appears to have this soft spot for you.’

  ‘She’s a saint is Mrs Dart.’ Thomas said gratefully reaching for the sandwich. ‘Thanks, I’m starving,’ he muttered and took no time unwrapping it and taking a large bite.

  ‘So, did you buy a painting?’

  Thomas snorted and tapped the small headline on the bottom of the newspaper front page. Swallowing his bite, he exclaimed, ‘God no, I could have done better myself after a few stiff drinks.’

  ‘I’d like to see that then. Let me know when you’ll be taking up the brush,’ Harry joked. He leaned over the edge of Thomas’s desk read the headline aloud: ‘Artist’s work unredeemable.’

  ‘That’s being kind,’ Thomas said.

  ‘Oh dear,’ Harry said and proceeded to read the review: ‘The last time I saw work as deluded as Mr Marlon Dominey’s recent collection, I was in a children’s playground and could excuse it. Scrambled and wasteful, it may be time to rinse out the brush. Harsh!’ Harry said.

  ‘But not far from the truth,’ Thomas said. ‘There was little to admire amongst the lot except for the ladies in our company of course.’

  ‘Ah, the delightful Miss Hayward and her writing friend. And to think you got to spend the entire evening together uninterrupted with not one dead body or a good mugging to interrupt you,’ Harry joked.

  ‘Good of the city,’ Thomas agreed and started on the second half of the sandwich.