by Joan Wolf
“That’s right,” Gianni agreed.
“Apparently the soldiers had never heard of us. Well, the search is over and they found nothing. Let’s get on to our meeting with Vincent. We can tidy up the wagons once we’re parked for the night.” Gabrielle struggled to keep her voice confident.
The men agreed and began to move away. “Albert,” Gabrielle said. “Will you drive the hay wagon? I want to ride with Leo.”
She was suddenly grateful for his presence.
“Certainly,” Albert replied.
The boys went to their respective wagons and Leo put his hands around Gabrielle’s waist and swung her to the wagon seat.
“Leo!” Her cheeks were flushed. “I told you I can get into the wagon unassisted.”
“This way is faster.” He climbed into the seat next to her and picked up the reins.
“This is terrible,” Gabrielle said. She twisted her hands together in distress. “Nothing like this ever happened when Papa carried gold for Monsieur Rothschild.”
“This is a very different mission,” Leo said grimly.
“I didn’t realize…” Her voice was breathless. “I wouldn’t have taken the gold if I had known how dangerous it was going to be.”
“Calm down,” Leo said. “They didn’t find it.”
“They almost did! When I think how close they came…”
“When we’re parked for the night, I’ll nail those boards down,” he said.
“And he was suspicious of you. I knew it was a mistake to send an Englishman with us! You are only calling attention to us.”
“Next time don’t leave me with only Albert in the front wagon and I won’t have to talk and betray myself.”
She threw him an annoyed look but didn’t answer.
It will be all right, she told herself. Don’t get yourself into a panic, Gabrielle. Everything is going to be all right.
Vincent was waiting for the wagons at the designated place and took them to a field some two miles from the city of Rouen. The wagons lined up on the field in the same order in which they had stood in Amiens and all of the circus folk jumped out. They were still buzzing about the roadblock.
“Why did that soldier stop us?” Henri asked.
Luc repeated what he had heard from his soldier, that they were looking for gold being smuggled to Wellington.
“And they thought we might be carrying it?” Carlotta was indignant. “Everyone knows the Cirque Equestre. It’s ridiculous to suspect us of doing something illegal.”
“That’s what I told the lieutenant,” Gabrielle said.
“Where did the gold come from?” Jeanne asked curiously.
Leo replied, “He didn’t say. There must be quite of lot of it, though, if they have the army out looking for it.”
He sounded indifferent and Gabrielle shot him a glance. There was nothing on his face or in his eyes to indicate he found the situation anything other than a nuisance.
“Well, we have better things to do than to stand here talking about stolen gold,” she said. “Let’s get the tents set up, yes? The sooner everything is settled here, the sooner we can find our hotel.”
The crowd scattered as each person went about his or her accustomed task, leaving Gabrielle and Leo alone. They looked at each other.
“I don’t like this,” Gabrielle said.
“I don’t like it, either,” Leo agreed. “We’re traveling the main road. We’ll probably run into more roadblocks.”
“We always travel the main road. It would look suspicious for us to deviate from that.”
His golden brows drew together.
She said, “We play good-size cities and towns. We don’t play villages.”
“I’ll nail down those loose boards,” he said again. “There’s little chance of a search party prying up the floorboards.”
Gabrielle said, “I have been thinking, Leo, and I still think it would be a good idea for you to study what Gerard does as ringmaster.”
“What?” He stared at her in astonishment, his thick hair blowing in the breeze.
She said, “If you were our ringmaster your presence with the circus would not be so odd,” she explained. “A circus draws its performers from many countries. The Maronis are from Italy.”
“You’re mad if you think I’m going to perform in this circus,” he said flatly. “That subject is closed.”
But she persisted. “All the ringmaster has to do is announce the acts and keep Coco going around the ring while the boys perform.”
“Gabrielle, I am not going to make a fool of myself with this circus. Period. I am disguised as your husband. That should be enough to satisfy any French inquiries.”
“It didn’t satisfy that lieutenant. He definitely found it suspicious that you were present and that the circus was traveling toward Spain. You would be much more explainable if you were part of the circus.”
He continued to frown.
“I’m right, Leo. You know I’m right.”
He thrust his hand through his hair. “What would the others think if you suddenly replaced Gerard?”
“Gerard took over the ringmaster job when Papa died because there was no one else. He’s not very good—his voice isn’t loud enough and he doesn’t have the commanding presence Papa had. You would do a better job. Everyone will see that.”
“Won’t Gerard be hurt if you take his job away from him? I thought you wanted to keep all your circus members happy.”
“Gerard knows about the gold. He will understand why we are making the change.”
“Then what will Gerard do?”
“What he used to do—help with the horses. He worked for Papa when he was the king’s Master of the Horse and he’s been with the circus ever since it was formed. He helped train all our horses. He and Papa created the act with the Arabians. He’s also a very good vet.”
Leo stared off toward where the tents were being unloaded from the wagons. “I swore I wouldn’t get involved with this circus—” he began.
“You are involved, Leo,” she pointed out. “I didn’t ask for an English escort and now it’s up to you not to endanger us.”
There was a long silence. Then he said grimly, “I’ll tell you what we’ll do. If we meet any more French roadblocks, you can introduce me as your ringmaster. The search party will never know if I actually perform or not.”
“But suppose one of them comes to a performance?”
He struggled within himself for an answer. The last thing he wanted to do in all this world was to perform for a circus. He would have to clown with Sully. He shuddered at the thought.
On the other hand, that damn lieutenant had been suspicious of him. There was no denying that.
“All right,” he said grimly. “I’ll study Gerard and if we meet any more French roadblocks, and you have to introduce me as your ringmaster, I’ll do the two shows the following day.”
Fourteen
Gabrielle pulled Gerard aside before dinner that evening and explained what she was going to do about the ringmaster’s job. “The army is looking for us, Gerard,” she said. “I’m scared.”
They were standing by themselves in the vestibule of their hotel. The others had gone into the dining room. It was already dark outside and the lamp on the hotel desk cast a faint glow into the corner where they were standing.
He patted her arm. “That search was enough to scare anyone,” he said.
“It was always so easy when Papa transported gold for Monsieur Rothschild. We followed our usual schedule, we gave our shows, and when we reached our destination, the gold was unloaded and that was that. I never thought that this would be any different.”
“If you remember, I advised you not to accept this mission,” he reminded her.
“I know, but I wanted the money to send Albert to art school, so when they insisted on sending Leo along, I agreed. I knew that he was coming with us to keep me honest, and I thought he would just be a nuisance.”
“It’s a good idea
to have him be the ringmaster.” Gerard smiled wryly. “How does he feel about it?”
“He’s not happy, but he’ll do it if he has to.”
“He’s all right, Gabrielle? He’s not…bothering…you at all?”
“He’s a gentleman, Gerard. Everything is all right.”
“Good. I was not in favor of this masquerade, you know.”
“I know. I didn’t like it, either, but I didn’t want to turn down this job. First of all, I thought Papa would want me to do it, and then there was the money for Albert.”
“Your father would never have sent Albert to art school.”
“I know. But he should go.”
“He has talent, but he is a very good rider as well.”
“He’ll never be a great rider, Gerard, and he may well be a great painter. And that’s where his heart is. I have to give him the chance.”
He kissed her hand. “You’re a good girl, Gabrielle. But after this, let’s not carry any more gold!”
“I couldn’t agree more,” she replied fervently. “We’d better go into dinner—the others will be wondering what we are doing.”
There was a seat vacant next to Leo and Gabrielle went to take it. Gerard sat next to Emma.
Antonio said, “What were you two cooking up?”
Gabrielle said, “Leo is going to understudy Gerard.”
There was a moment of silence at the table. Gabrielle saw Leo’s hand tighten around his glass.
“Is Leo going to take over as ringmaster?” Franz finally asked.
“May I have some wine?” Gabrielle said to Leo. Then, to the rest of the table, “Eventually.”
Jeanne said with a smile, “Leo will look magnificent in the ring.”
Pierre scowled at her.
Leo poured Gabrielle her wine and said, “For now I am just going to learn the job by watching Gerard.”
“You don’t mind, Gerard?” Henri asked.
“Not at all. I am too old to be the ringmaster. Leo will do a better job.”
Luc said, “He has an accent.”
“He has a slight accent, but he is perfectly fluent,” Gabrielle said. “His accent will not be a problem.”
“I think you will make a fine ringmaster, Leo,” Sully declared. “And you will like being more a part of the circus.”
“Yes,” Leo said expressionlessly. “That will be nice.”
“We will have to get Leo a costume, Gabrielle,” Emma said.
Leo took a long drink of his wine.
“Yes. He will need a red huntsman’s jacket and a top hat. He already has breeches and boots.”
Emma said, “We’ll go shopping in between shows tomorrow in Rouen.”
“Good idea,” Gabrielle said.
Leo drank some more wine.
How the hell did I get into this? Leo thought as he listened to Gabrielle and Emma talk. I swore I wouldn’t perform, and now here I am, auditioning for the role of ringmaster! Well, I’m not going to do it unless I feel the French are breathing down our necks.
He wished he had Herries and Rothschild in front of him right now. He would give them a piece of his mind.
The only positive side to this new role of his was that it had evidently made Luc very unhappy. He sat scowling over his dinner, shooting dark, brooding glances at Gabrielle.
Leo was glad that Luc was unhappy. He did not like Luc. He did not like the way Luc continued to badger Gabrielle despite knowing she was a married woman and off limits.
Leo was grateful when Gerard changed the subject. “When those soldiers stopped us this afternoon I was afraid they might be looking to conscript for the army.” The men began to complain about Napoleon’s new drive to fill up his devastated ranks.
As soon as dinner was over, Leo excused himself and went out to the stable yard behind the hotel, where the wagons carrying the gold were parked. They looked completely undisturbed as they sat there in the dark. He would come back later, when everyone was in bed, and nail down those damn floorboards.
When he got back inside the circus party had moved from the dining room into the salon. When he appeared they were discussing what they would do with the rest of the evening.
“How about a game of chess?” Leo said to Mathieu.
Mathieu smiled. “Good—a challenge. Albert is too easy.”
“Everyone is too easy for you,” Albert said.
Mathieu said, “You would always rather draw than play chess, anyway.”
“That’s true. And I think I’ll draw you and Leo while you play.” Albert looked at Leo. “You won’t mind, Leo?”
“Not at all.”
“Come to the cafe with us, Gabrielle,” Luc said. “There’s nothing going on here for you.”
“You can keep us company while we play,” Leo said, wanting Gabrielle to keep away from Luc.
Gabrielle hesitated and glanced at Sully. “I think I will go to the cafe, Leo,” she said.
Luc threw Leo a triumphant look. Leo was conscious of a desire to punch him in the nose.
After the cafe party had left, Leo realized that this would be a good time to work on the wagons. He told the boys what he was going to do and they offered to post themselves at the hotel’s back door and intercept anyone who might be going into the stable yard.
It took Leo five minutes to hammer down the loose boards in both wagons, then he rejoined the boys and they went back into the salon. They set the chessboard up in front of the fireplace and Leo and Mathieu began to play.
At first Leo moved his pieces automatically, his mind on Gabrielle. About ten minutes into the game, when he lost a knight, he realized that Mathieu was not just a good player; he was a very good player. Leo began to pay attention to what he was doing.
They played for an hour, both of them absorbed in each move. It ended with Mathieu winning.
“Where did you learn to play chess like that?” Leo demanded as he watched Mathieu gather the pieces together.
“My papa was a very good player. We used to play all the time.”
“Don’t feel bad, Leo,” Albert said. “He beats me all the time—and he gives me a handicap of two knights and a bishop!”
“This was fun,” Mathieu said. “I haven’t had a challenge like that since Papa died.”
“Did you beat your father, too?” Leo asked.
“I started to beat him when I was fourteen,” Mathieu said.
“Well, I am impressed,” Leo said. “I must confess I never expected to lose.”
Mathieu grinned. “I know.”
He looked so like his sister when he smiled like that. Leo looked at the clock and said, “I think I will walk down to the cafe and see what’s going on.”
“They’ll only be drinking wine and talking,” Albert said. “That’s what they always do.”
“You don’t sound very interested,” Leo said.
“Oh, it’s fine. But an evening like this is nicer. For a little while it was like Papa was back with us.”
“Didn’t your papa go to the cafe?”
“Sometimes he did. But he would stay with us most of the time, playing chess with Mathieu while I drew. Like tonight.”
Leo asked curiously, “And what did Gabrielle do?”
“Andre always wanted to go to the cafe, so she would go with him.”
“And before she married?”
“She would work on her book.”
Leo looked from Albert to Mathieu. “Book? What book?”
“She wrote a book about Papa’s training methods. He would work on it with her.”
“What happened to this book? Did they finish it?”
“Oh, yes.”
“And was it ever published?”
“No.” Albert looked at Mathieu.
Mathieu said, “Papa always meant to take it to a publishing house in Paris, but he never got around to it. I think he was a little afraid to call attention to himself. Gabrielle said he was scarred by the Revolution.”
“I would like to read it,” L
eo said.
“Gabrielle must have it somewhere,” Mathieu said. “Ask her about it.”
“I will.”
Leo stood up. “Where is this cafe? Do you know? Is it one you went to last year?”
“It’s one street down,” Mathieu said. “Do you want me to go with you to show you?”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll find it,” Leo returned.
He left the two boys behind in the warmth of the salon and went out into the chilly night. The circus folk had pushed several tables together in the cafe and were laughing over something when he came in. He frowned as he noticed that Gabrielle was sitting next to Luc. As he stood in the door, Luc leaned over and said something into her ear and she turned to him with a smile on her face.
Leo stepped into the light of the cafe.
Jeanne saw him first. “Leo! How nice to see you. Bring a chair over and join us.”
Leo forced himself to smile. “Thanks, I will.”
Gabrielle looked at him. “How did the chess game go?”
“I lost,” he said.
She gave him her wonderful smile. “Mathieu is a brilliant chess player. Papa used to say that if he could play chess for money he would be rich.”
Leo brought a chair to the tables. Unfortunately there was no room next to Gabrielle and he was forced to place his chair next to Jeanne. She gave him a long look from her slanting black eyes and said, “Are you a good chess player, Leo?”
“I thought I was,” Leo said.
“You have to be smart to play chess,” Jeanne said admiringly.
“Mathieu must be a genius, then,” Leo said.
“Mathieu is very smart,” Gabrielle said. “He is particularly good at mathematics.”
A boy like that should be in school, not traveling around with a circus, Leo thought.
“Are you good at mathematics, Leo?” Jeanne asked.
“Who cares what he’s good at?” Pierre said harshly.
Gabrielle said quietly, “Jeanne was just asking a question, Pierre.”
Pierre glowered at Gabrielle but didn’t reply.
Leo said, “I have a feeling I’m not as good as Mathieu.”
Emma changed the subject. “What do you think the weather is going to be like tomorrow, Sully?”