A Place Called Home (29 page)

‘What's this? Talking to yourself? You know what they say about people who do that.'

She came to a halt, turning her head to meet Monty's amused gaze. ‘I'm not mad, I'm angry.'

He took her hand and linked it through the crook of his arm. ‘Tell me all about it.'

‘You're laughing at me.'

‘Not at all. I overheard what Stella said to you, but you mustn't take any notice of what she says. Beneath it all she's a decent person, if a little temperamental, as are many performers. She'll come round.'

‘I just want her to leave me alone, and I don't like snakes. They scare me.'

A flicker of sympathy lit his eyes and he smiled. ‘Don't worry. The animals are kept under lock and key when they aren't performing. We have very strict rules about that.'

‘Yes, I suppose so.'

‘Come and sit down. You've had a busy day.' He led her to the seating area at the edge of the ring. ‘Where did you and Froniga go when the parade ended?'

‘We went to the common like everyone else.'

‘That's not entirely true, is it?'

‘How do you know?'

‘It's my business to know everything that goes on around here. These are my people and what concerns them also concerns me.'

‘But I'm not . . .' She slumped down on one of the chairs set around the ringside.

He sat down beside her. ‘You're not one of us? Is that what you were going to say?'

‘No. Well, yes. Maybe.'

‘I knew from the moment I set eyes on you that you weren't a performer, but I guessed that you must be desperate to find work.'

‘Why did you take me on, then?'

‘Maybe I was curious to discover why a well brought up young lady would run away to join a travelling circus. You don't look as if you were half starved, or beaten by a wicked stepfather. Or are you escaping an arranged marriage? I'm curious.'

His whimsical smile brought an unwilling response and she chuckled. ‘None of those.'

‘Then why did you come here, and how do you know Froniga?'

‘It's a long story.'

He leaned back in his seat. ‘And we've got all night if necessary. You're a bit of a mystery woman, Lucy Pocket, and you still haven't told me where you went after the parade.'

She was tempted to confide in him, but she was reluctant to reveal her past history to a man who until recently had been a stranger, and to admit that her grandmother was a convicted criminal might make things even more difficult. If she lost her job she would never be able to raise the money for a lawyer. ‘Froniga had an errand to do in town and I went with her,' she said vaguely. ‘It was nothing very interesting.'

‘And that's all you're going to tell me?'

She shrugged her shoulders. ‘That's all there is to it, sir.'

‘Have I offended you in some way, Lucy?' He stared at her, twin furrows deepening on his brow. ‘Why the sudden formality? We're partners in the ring, and you saw fit to call me by my Christian name during rehearsals.'

She rose to her feet. ‘I'm sorry, Monty. I am a bit tired, after all. If you don't mind I think I'll turn in. It has been a long day.' She walked off, resisting the temptation to glance over her shoulder.

The party was in full swing and the sound of laughter reverberated off the canvas dome of the big top, echoing into the night. Lucy left with the sound ringing in her ears, but she was not in a mood to celebrate. She was tired, but she doubted whether she would be able to sleep, even though Jenny had found her a straw-filled palliasse and a clean blanket. The full moon shone down on the camp site and diamond-bright stars twinkled in a black velvet sky. She opened the tent flap and went inside. Moonlight shone through the canvas, making it unnecessary to light the paraffin lamp, and she stepped out of her dress, unlaced her stays and was about to pull back the blanket when it moved. She leapt back, uttering a loud scream as the snake uncoiled and reared its head.

She ran, stumbling over grassy tussocks, but her cries for help were drowned by the noise in the big top. Forgetting that she was only wearing a thin cotton shift, she rushed inside, colliding with Tallulah. ‘Good God, what's happened to you?' Tallulah took off her shawl and wrapped it around Lucy's trembling body.

‘S-snake.' The word tumbled from her lips as she struggled for breath.

When she opened her eyes she was lying on her bed with Froniga kneeling at her side. She struggled to sit up but was restrained with a firm hand. ‘You're all right now, Lucy.'

‘The snake?' She shivered convulsively. ‘It was here in my bed.'

Tallulah's large frame filled the entrance to the tent. ‘Don't worry, my pet. It's back in its crate. You caused quite a sensation running into the marquee in your shift.'

Lucy groaned and subsided against the cushions. ‘Oh no. I don't remember anything except that horrible creature raising its great head.'

‘Now, now,' Froniga said soothingly. ‘It's all over. Stella collected the animal, and as Tallulah said, it's locked up safe and sound.'

‘She did it,' Lucy muttered. ‘Stella put it here on purpose.'

‘Maybe she did,' Tallulah said, chuckling. ‘I wouldn't put anything past that one, but if I was you I'd say nothing.'

Froniga helped Lucy to sit up. ‘Have a sip of this,' she said, holding a glass of water to her lips. ‘Tallulah's right. Everyone knows that Stella was responsible, although she swears she doesn't know how the beast escaped, let alone how it found its way into our tent.'

‘I've made a fool of myself.' Lucy sipped the water. ‘Thank you, Froniga. I'm all right now, I just feel embarrassed. Did everyone see me?'

‘I don't know why you're worrying, my pet,' Tallulah said with her throaty laugh. ‘I wear a more skimpy costume than that when I'm in the ring, and the tightrope walkers wear even less. We're show folk; we don't shock easily. Anyone would think you was a little princess the way you talk.'

Froniga scrambled to her feet. ‘Thanks, Tallulah. But I think she needs a rest now. It'll all be forgotten in the morning.'

‘Yes, they'll all have sore heads and seeing you in your shimmy will have faded from their memories.' Tallulah backed out of the tent, still chuckling.

Lucy held her head in her hands. ‘Did Monty see me like that?'

‘He couldn't help it, my duck. You were screaming your head off and then you fainted. It was a grand entrance.'

‘It's not funny. I've played right into Stella's hands.'

‘Don't worry about it, Lucy. I saw Monty take her to one side. He's no fool, and he knows how to handle her. I've heard they was close once, if you get my meaning.'

‘They were lovers?'

Froniga shrugged her shoulders. ‘I never mentioned the word love. I doubt if Stella has ever loved anyone other than herself. Just be careful and keep out of her way as much as possible.'

Lucy leaned back on her cushions, overcome with exhaustion. ‘I'll do that, but if she pushes me too far I'll forget that Grandfather brought me up to be a lady. I learned how to stand up for myself when I was a nipper.'

‘Go to sleep and forget her. You'll need to be fresh for the first show tomorrow, and you'll probably be the only one with a clear head.' Froniga doused the lamp and lay down on her bed, fully dressed. Within moments she was snoring loudly.

There were obviously some sore heads next morning, but by the early afternoon when the audience had packed the seats all the performers were at their positions ready to give their best. Monty looked every inch the dashing ringmaster in his black hunting coat and riding breeches when he introduced the first act, aided by Arturo, the white-faced clown, Pepe the character clown in his tattered clothes and battered hat, and Leon the auguste, who played the joker in the ring but in real life was an ill-tempered drunk who beat his wife and children, and was regularly threatened with dismissal.

Lucy watched their antics and found herself laughing as heartily as the audience even though she had seen it all before during rehearsals. The shining faces of the children reminded her of those she had left at home. Hester and Pearl would look after them, of course, and they had Bedwin to keep them in order, but she missed them all more than she could say. She had only been away for three weeks but it seemed like years since she left London, and even though she loved the country she knew at heart she would always remain a city girl. The grimy buildings and the crowded streets were still home to her, and she missed the noise and bustle of the metropolis. Her need to secure her grandmother's release was even more pressing now, and she realised that it would take a long time to save enough from her wages to fund a lawyer. Perhaps she had been over-optimistic, but the pay packet she had received earlier that day would only just cover her living expenses. She turned with a start as someone tapped her on the shoulder.

‘You're on next,' Froniga said urgently.

The time had come, and within minutes she would have to prove to Monty and Bertram that she could hold the audience's attention. She hurried outside to mount Imperator and waited for her cue. The well-trained horse behaved impeccably, carrying her through the act like the seasoned trouper he was, and Lucy began to relax. She rode out of the ring to deafening applause, cheers and whistles of appreciation.

Monty was waiting for her outside the marquee and he lifted her from the saddle. ‘Well done.'

‘I did it,' she cried exultantly.

‘You certainly did.' Monty smiled and strode back into the big top to introduce the next act.

Dazed and hardly able to believe that everything had gone well, Lucy led Imperator to where Joe was waiting to groom and take care of him. She was making her way to the ringside to wait for the second half of her performance when Stella appeared as if from nowhere. ‘You think you're very clever, don't you?'

‘Leave me alone.' Lucy walked on but Stella caught her by the wrist, digging her long fingernails into Lucy's flesh.

‘If you've got any sense you'll pack up and go before something bad happens to you.'

Lucy came to a halt, turning to face her. ‘What do you mean by that?'

‘Accidents happen.' Stella moved closer, her eyes narrowed and filled with malice. ‘Monty was mine long before you put in an appearance and he'll be mine again when you're gone.'

‘I'm not going anywhere,' Lucy said evenly. ‘And I'm not interested in Monty. You can have him for all I care.'

‘You set your cap at him from the first, and he's fool enough to be taken in by your simpering, little girl innocence. Leave him alone or you'll suffer for it.'

Lucy wrenched her arm free, rubbing her wrist where tiny spots of scarlet blood bore witness to the pressure of Stella's sharp fingernails. ‘I'm not afraid of you. Believe what you like, but I'm telling you the truth.' Lucy marched off, head held high, but for all her show of bravado she knew that Stella meant every word she said.

The routine with Monty went reasonably well, but Lucy had been more upset by her encounter with Stella than she had realised and she missed one of her cues. Monty covered her mistake with the expertise of many years' experience, but that did not prevent him from reprimanding her severely when they left the ring. Stella was waiting outside with Dario as they prepared to make their entrance and it was obvious by the smirk on her face that she had overheard Monty's heated remarks. Lucy's chagrin was complete. She apologised for her mistake, but even though he made light of it, she could tell that Monty was disappointed. She was angry with herself for allowing Stella's spiteful warnings to affect her performance. It would not happen again, she thought, as she hurried back to her tent.

Next morning Monty made her go through their routine again and again, until he was satisfied that there would be no more mistakes. Lucy was tempted to tell him why she had lost concentration, but she knew he would confront Stella, who would put on her innocent face, smile sweetly and deny everything. Stella, Lucy decided, was a consummate actress and needed to be handled even more carefully.

‘That was excellent,' Monty said as they rode out into the sunshine. ‘Last night's errors were probably due to nerves. You'll do better today.'

‘I'll do my best.' Lucy controlled Imperator with difficulty as he became agitated and caracoled, moving to the left and then the right and almost unseating her. ‘Something's upset him,' she said, leaning forward to stroke the animal's silky neck. ‘Good boy, Imperator.' Then suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a plume of flames shooting into the air. ‘Pedro shouldn't be practising so close to the big top, should he?'

Monty peered into the shadows. ‘He knows better than that. Hey, Pedro. Pedro Sanchez, what the hell are you doing?' He was about to dismount when another burst of flame caused Imperator to rear on his hind legs, unseating Lucy. She was thrown to the ground, landing with a loud thud and a cry of pain.

‘
I'M AFRAID IT'S
broken.' Johann ran his fingers gently along Lucy's left arm, causing her to wince. ‘I'll have to set it, Liebling. It will hurt.'

Monty grasped Lucy's right hand, his brows drawn together in a worried frown. ‘Hold onto me. It will be over in seconds. Johann is an expert bone-setter.'

Froniga pushed him aside, holding a cup to Lucy's lips. ‘Let her drink some of this first. It will ease the pain.'

‘What is it?' Lucy demanded anxiously.

‘Laudanum and water,' Froniga said, raising Lucy's head with her free hand. ‘Drink up and don't argue.'

Lucy drank the mixture and lay back against the cushions on her bed. ‘It was Stella,' she murmured. ‘She did it.'

Monty and Johann exchanged puzzled glances.