Mr. Davies said nothing.
Katya thought back to her infamous interview with Mr. Warden. She could have walked away from his office and the promise of a job at the carnival, her reputation still intact. Sitting in the driver’s seat of the carnival carriage, Katya knew she would make the same decision again. “It’s my own fault, I suppose,” she said.
Mr. Davies’ voice rose to life. “You’re much more, Miss Romanova. Although my dealings with Mrs. Irina Solomon have been few and brief, I would say you’re the more caring of the two. You’re more interested in the world around you.”
Katya did not feel any better. “Let me know when caring and paying attention amount to anything.”
“They do. It might not seem like it, but they do.”
“Did you ever meet a woman you wanted to marry, Mr. Davies?”
Mr. Davies shifted uncomfortably. “Of course. Most men have.”
“Did she live here or back home in Cornwall?”
“Cornwall, but that was a long time ago.”
Katya let the subject rest. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Davies.” She turned to step down from the driver’s seat.
“Miss Romanova, I don’t want you to think I don’t appreciate you coming to talk to me,” Mr. Davies said.
Katya turned back to him and remained beside him.
“I have such a small connection to the carnival. I rarely speak to anyone who works here except for you and Mr. Warden to pick up my salary.”
“I didn’t know our conversations meant that much to you.”
“Let me be honest. Not everyone here is welcoming, and I’m not just talking about Mr. Lieber.”
Katya understood completely. Heinz was often short with her. The English cook barely acknowledged her. Before she had gotten to know Brady, she would have counted him as standoffish or worse. Mr. Warden’s security seemed downright creepy. “Why do you want to be a bigger part of the carnival? It must be nice to serve the city in some other capacity.”
“The carnival’s the best opportunity in the city. Between the railroad strikes and long hours at the factories, the carnival is anybody’s best choice. It’s not going anywhere.”
“That’s true, but look what happened to the other charwoman we had. Agna cried to Mr. Warden, which is understandable, but within days, that other woman was out of a job. The carnival’s secure, but Mr. Warden’s impossible to predict.”
“That’s true. Do you worry about your job?”
“No. Mr. Warden could replace me, but I know he’d rather spend his time making money than finding new staff.”
“At least someone around here knows something about him. He’s a bit of a mystery, isn’t he?”
“Indeed.” Katya realized that knowing Mr. Warden’s criminal past still told her very little about him. She did not know where he came from or how long he intended to run the carnival himself. He must not anticipate being caught, or he would have left the city months ago.
The maintenance crew ambled through the gates, laughing as one voice. They noticed Katya up in the driver’s seat and tipped their hats on cue. They muted their amusement as men always did when they shared jokes not meant for mixed company.
“Good evening,” Katya greeted them stiffly. She did not mind the band members seeing her talking to Mr. Davies, but she did not feel comfortable having a group of rowdy workmen finding her there.
Maddox filed past at the end of the line. He tipped his hat with a respectful nod and walked on with the others toward the streetcar. Katya thought about asking Mr. Davies if he knew anything about Maddox but decided against it.
“Thank you, Mr. Davies.” Katya slipped down from the driver’s seat.
“Any time, Miss Romanova,” Mr. Davies said. “I’ve got nowhere else to go.”
Katya wandered back into the carnival grounds. With the band and maintenance men gone, only a handful of workers remained amongst the still machines. The security, expectantly, lingered nowhere to be seen.
Katya began one final story featuring Agna and Mr. Davies. Agna approached the carriage where Mr. Davies sat high in his usual seat. She did not glance up at him, and he did not notice anything particular about her. She climbed into the carriage, and he waited for the other women to climb in behind her.
It was the one true story she had told herself all day.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Agna labored like a constantly driven beast. Even when Katya tried to avoid her, she glimpsed Agna no less than three or four times a night, always with buckets in her hands. She wiped sweat from her face, smeared blood off the calluses on her palms, and grimaced when her apron caught the vomit of a child who rode the Kaleidoscope too soon after eating. But none of it slowed her pace or lessened her determination.
Out of growing concern, Katya resolved to follow her. She always kept a safe distance of fifteen feet, although Katya doubted Agna would notice if Katya literally waltzed in front of her. Katya usually sought out a place to eat her supper in private, but for a few nights, she nibbled it as she walked.
Agna’s taught, pained expression never lightened. She never sat to rest or paused more than five minutes to consume a meal. Agna’s appearance became more and more bedraggled, her hair falling out of place at the back of her head and her complexion paling.
One night, Agna stumbled over an uneven clump of earth, the weight of the buckets slinging her toward the ground. She dropped the buckets with two messy splashes before she righted herself. A man in a pressed black suit jumped out of the way as the deluge leapt at his shoes. He snapped at Agna in a language Katya did not understand before stalking on his way. Agna gave no response Katya could see. Katya’s heart thumped in sympathy from deep in her belly, but before she could ask herself if she should help, Agna pried the buckets up again. She waddled away with them, and Katya turned her head. She could barely look at Agna anymore. The woman would work herself to death if no one intervened.
Katya waited until Isolde arrived and departed for the night before she made her way to Mr. Warden’s office. She wondered if she should knock first. Katya had rarely hesitated before, but she was not sure how welcome she would be. Katya pushed the door open and stepped inside.
“Mr. Warden?” she called to let him know whom it was.
Mr. Warden stood up to meet her, standing by his desk in the other room. “Katya, how are you?”
“All right.”
“What brings me the pleasure of your company?”
Katya stopped in the doorway between rooms. “I wanted to talk to you about Agna Lieber.”
Mr. Warden lowered himself into his desk chair. His pleasantness soured. “What about Agna Lieber?”
“I’m not complaining, but she’s working too hard.”
“Maintenance tells me their tools have never been cleaner.”
Katya quickly obliged him. “I’m sure it’s true.”
“The operators say the rides are cleaner than they’ve ever been.”
“She’s a great worker.”
Mr. Warden leaned back in his chair, almost slumping his shoulders in an informal posture. “So what’s the problem?”
“She’s going to kill herself. Have you seen her?”
“Yes, I’ve seen her.”
“She looks horrible. I thought the woman before her wore herself ragged, but this turns my stomach. She’s never smiled once.”
Mr. Warden offered a wry twist of his lips. “She’s grieving, Katya.”
Katya shook her head. “She might be grieving, but even Irina looks happy from time to time. I’ve never met any woman with a worse mood than Irina.”
“What do you expect me to do about Mrs. Lieber?”
“Something. Anything. You’re the one who gave her the job.”
“I did.”
“Can’t you give her something else? Can’t you tell her she doesn’t have to wash the whole carnival by herself every night with Scrubb’s Ammonia and a toothbrush?”
Mr. Warden’s expression d
id not soften. “She wanted work, and I gave her work. I cleared the position for her. If I hadn’t done that, she’d be giving up much more than her private carriage. She’d lose her house, and her little girl would be selling newspapers on the street.”
“It can’t be the only job she can do.”
Mr. Warden sweetened his tone. “Who has more experience cleaning than a wife and a mother?”
“You know what I mean. She must have other skills.”
“You want me to give her another job at the carnival?”
“Yes,” Katya said, finally feeling like she was getting through to him.
“You want me to give Mrs. Lieber a better job with more exposure to the customers. You want me to give her a job where she’ll have to pay to alter her clothes in order to work. I was thinking of Mrs. Lieber when I gave her this job. I did her a favor.”
Katya wished she had not come into the office. “I’m telling you what I see. You don’t have to be cruel.”
“Katya.” Mr. Warden held his hand out until Katya stepped forward and took it. “I’ve told you before to leave the running of the carnival to me. I have everyone’s best interests at heart.”
“But she...” Katya saw no point in repeating herself. Agna was wasting away, her cheeks sinking in between the bones. Her blue eyes, once lackluster, looked hollow now. “I thought you could do more.”
“I would if I could, my dear. You know I would.”
Katya humored Mr. Warden with a hint of forgiveness in the curve of her mouth.
“Is there anything else bothering you?” he asked.
“No.”
“Good.”
Katya slipped her hand out of Mr. Warden’s. “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell Mrs. Lieber I spoke up for her. She’s not very fond of me.”
“Give her a chance to know you. I’m sure she’ll warm up to you.”
Katya nodded. She realized the heady floral scent filling her nose must be the lingering perfume of Isolde Neumann. Katya had rarely smelled it before except on wealthy patrons and a few people she had passed while shopping downtown. “I hope you take your girlfriend on real dates, Mr. Warden, instead of restricting her to the confines of the carnival.”
Mr. Warden lifted his dark eyebrows. “Oh?”
“I see her here almost every night. You’re seeing Isolde Neumann, aren’t you?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
Katya decided not to press him. Mr. Warden was too practiced at evasion to give up easily. “She’s lovely.”
“As are you.”
For once, Katya recoiled at one of Mr. Warden’s compliments. She could hardly believe he would continue to be forward with her, but she could hardly admit it surprised her.
Mr. Warden flicked his eyes over Katya’s dress. “It’s been a while since you wore anything new,” he added.
“I’ve been working on some designs. I haven’t put anything on paper yet.”
“I look forward to seeing you wear them.”
Katya backed up into the doorway. “I won’t take up any more of your time. I know you have a lot to manage with the carnival.”
“But not overworking myself.”
Katya flashed a tense smile.
“Don’t you worry about Mrs. Lieber,” Mr. Warden said. “She’s well compensated for her efforts. Not as well as you are, but she’ll be able to keep her house.”
The bottom of Katya’s stomach twisted. She wanted to ask Mr. Warden to lower her salary, to make it even with what the other women were making. But she could not. She had come to rely on that extra money, even revel in it. It paid for her costumes, her customized jackets, beautifully tailored dresses, and eye-catching hats.
Katya murmured a thank you as she turned and walked out of the office. She had never been so disappointed in herself. Caring indeed, Mr. Davies, she thought. I’m as underhanded as Mr. Warden.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Katya strolled past the Kaleidoscope, smiling broadly at the patrons waiting in line. “Are you doing all right?”
Half nodded.
“Do you need anything?” she asked.
The rest of the guests shook their heads. A young woman stood off to the side bouncing a baby in her arms, her wide eyes searching the crowd.
Katya walked over to her. “May I help you?”
“Oh, you’re with the carnival.” The young woman shifted the baby to the other side of her chest. Where the infant had been, a long shimmer of drool glistened on the front of her jacket. “My husband’s on the ride, and it’s our first time here. Do you know where I could clean myself up?”
“I can show you to the water closets. They all have sinks in them with a little pump right there.”
“No, I can find them if you point them out to me. I’ll only be a minute. Would you tell my husband, if he gets off before I’m back, that I’ll meet him here?”
“Of course.”
“He’s rather short and wears silver, steel-framed glasses.”
Katya gestured to the Cannon halfway across the carnival. “There’s a line of them right in front of that coaster.”
“Thank you.”
The woman set off, nestling the baby securely against her chest. A well-dressed couple in finely pressed silks pushed a wicker baby stroller a few steps behind her, and Katya imagined the young mother would very much prefer to afford one for her own child.
Katya glanced up at the Kaleidoscope, whirling and gliding on its platform. She did not know when it might stop, but as long as she was serving one of the guests, she did not mind standing still to wait for it. Katya folded her hands together and turned her attention to the crowd flowing past her. Maddox stood behind the moving people, stationary under the glow of the lamplight shining above him. His eyes remained on Katya in every moment people did not pass directly between them.
Katya did not move from her spot, determined to carry out her word to the young mother. Maddox timed a gap in the shifting crowd and crossed through it, tipping his hat as he walked up to Katya.
“I’m waiting for a guest,” Katya explained.
“What are you waiting for, exactly?”
“A woman with a baby or her husband on the Kaleidoscope, whoever reaches me first.”
“So you’re stuck here?” Maddox asked, perking up with a grin. “You won’t be running off?”
Katya sighed. “Yes, Mr. O’Sullivan. I’m stuck here.”
“I wanted to ask you if you’d like to go to the theater with me some afternoon.”
Katya felt her cheeks fire into a blush. She wished she could slip away. She wished the ride would end or the woman would carry her baby back from the water closets, her jacket cleaned of drool. “I thought I told you to ask someone else.”
“I don’t want to ask anyone else.”
“I don’t go to the theater very much. It bores me.”
“Really?”
“It’s not a reflection on the actors or the playwrights,” Katya informed Maddox, barely looking at him. “They’re very good. It’s just that nothing compares to the carnival as far as I’m concerned.”
“I agree on that. I just thought you might like to do other things for entertainment.”
Katya did not know how to send Maddox away without hurting his feelings. “I enjoy a stroll or a ride through the park every now and again.”
Maddox adjusted his hat. “You like Mr. Davies better, is that it?”
Katya met Maddox’s gaze. “Romantically? No. He’s a friend. He’s too old for me by several years.”
“I thought someone more interested in money than fun might look past a man’s age. A lot of women do.”
Katya’s hands fidgeted, each one pulling at the fabric on the gloved fingers of the other. “I don’t care that much about money anymore.”
“No?”
Katya looked away, searching out the woman with the baby. The Kaleidoscope whirred to a stop behind her, and one of the operators ushered the patrons down the iron sta
ircase.
“Excuse me.” Katya stepped away, studying the line of patrons. When a short man wearing glinting steel spectacles set foot on the ground, Katya approached him. He glanced around him at the waiting crowd. “Sir, I spoke with your wife. She’ll be back in a moment.”
The patron bowed his head in thanks.
When Katya turned to move on through the grounds, Maddox blocked her from taking a single step.
“You also told me,” Maddox said, “I shouldn’t waste my time asking someone to the theater or the parks. You told me a night at the carnival would win over any woman.”
Katya swallowed hard. “Yes, I did.”
“Would you ride the carnival with me, Miss Romanova?”
Katya laughed without meaning to.
“Have you ever ridden the carnival before?”
“No. Ask Mr. Warden for a night off? Do you know how impossible it would be to convince him of that?”
“Not a night off. We can ride everything while we’re working.” Maddox corrected himself. “Supposed to be working.”
“I can’t do that. Somebody will report us. We’ll lose our jobs.”
“I bet we won’t.” Maddox’s eyes shone steadily.
Katya raised her palm to indicate the passing crowd. “Who’s supposed to help the guests while I’m spinning and coasting all over the night?”
“They’ll help themselves.”
The woman with the baby gave Katya an appreciative nod as she walked by. The baby rested limply, sleeping, with its head on her shoulder. She fell into step with her husband as they headed to the next attraction.
Katya swept her hand toward them. “The new guests can’t even find the water closets without my help.” She blanched at raising her voice about such a private subject.
Maddox stepped back, tipping his hat in resignation. “Very well. I just thought you’d like to enjoy the place you love so much instead of always toiling in it.”
Maddox walked away. Katya did not usually feel bad about turning down a suitor. Men had asked her on at least half a dozen dates while she performed her duties at the carnival. She had declined afternoons watching baseball, listening to opera, and less sophisticated suggestions of a few hours in a room at the Stock Yards Exchange and Hotel.
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