by Dilly Court
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.
Chapter Seventeen
‘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.
‘A fever must have set in,’ Johann said, shaking his head. ‘Hold tight, Liebling. It will be over in a moment.’ He took her arm in a firm grip and pulled. Ignoring Lucy’s scream, he patted her on the shoulder. ‘There. It is done. Now I will make a splint and you will keep it on until the bones knit together.’
Monty released Lucy’s hand and sat back on his haunches. ‘I suppose this rules her out of the show.’
‘For a few weeks, certainly.’ Johann reached for the strips of bandage that Froniga had torn from an old sheet provided by Jenny, and with the aid of some strips of wood hastily cut to size by Barney, the labourer who did all the odd jobs for the circus performers, Johann made a passable splint. ‘That should do, although a doctor could do better.’
Monty slapped him on the back. ‘I doubt it. Well done, Johann.’ He leaned closer, gazing at Lucy with a worried frown. ‘How do you feel now?’
‘Don’t ask stupid questions, Monty,’ Froniga said crossly. ‘How would you feel if you’d just had your bone set by a man with hands like hams?’
‘I’ve done my best.’ Johann struggled to his feet. He had to bend his head and shoulders and even then he grazed the roof of the tent.
Lucy peered up at him through a haze of laudanum and saw a genial giant who had stepped straight from the pages of a children’s storybook. ‘I’m grateful to you, Johann.’
‘It was nothing.’ He bowed and backed out of the tent.
‘How is she?’ Ilsa’s anxious voice floated in from outside, but Johann’s response was lost as they walked away. Lucy felt as if she were floating on a fluffy pink cloud, far above the great dome of the big top.
‘You must rest, Lucy.’
Monty’s voice pierced her consciousness and she struggled to raise her head. ‘I’m sure I’ll be able to ride tomorrow. I can manage with one hand.’
‘You’ll do nothing of the sort. I’ll perform as I did before you joined us, so you mustn’t fret. As soon as you’re feeling stronger we’ll see what you can do.’
Froniga made a shooing motion with her hands. ‘Out, please. Let the girl sleep and she’ll heal all the quicker.’
Monty rose to his feet, beckoning to Froniga, and they went outside. Lucy strained her ears to hear what was being said.
‘I’ve spoken to Pedro.’ Monty’s voice carried on the breeze. ‘But he was nowhere near the big top. He checked his equipment and one of the torches was missing, and the bottle of spirit.’
‘It was deliberate then,’ Froniga’s reply was equally clear.
‘It looks that way, and I won’t stop until I discover the culprit.’
‘But you have an idea who it was?’
‘I do.’
‘And you’ll put a stop to it?’
‘Nothing like this will happen again. I promise you that, Froniga.’
Had they really said all that? Or was it the laudanum talking? Lucy lay back and allowed the drug to take full effect.
When she opened her eyes it was growing dark. Her head was still muzzy from the effects of the laudanum, and at first she could not remember what had happened and why she was in bed. But as she moved the pain in her arm brought it all back to her and she groaned.
‘It’s a pity it wasn’t your neck.’
The voice was all too familiar, and Lucy was suddenly wide awake. ‘It was you, I know it was,’ she said hoarsely. ‘You tried to kill me, Stella.’
‘You have no proof.’
‘Monty knows it was you.’
‘I convinced him otherwise. Like all men, he’s a fool, and I can twist him round my little finger.’
‘I hope you’re satisfied,’ Lucy said angrily. ‘I won’t be able to ride for a week or two.’
‘There’s only one star of this show and it’s me. If you’ve got any sense you’ll go back to London or wherever you came from. This was your second warning. There won’t be another, and next time I’ll make certain it’s final.’ Stella rose swiftly to her feet and left the tent as silently as she had entered.
Lucy made an attempt to rise but the pain was too great and she sank back against the cushions. She took a sip of the medicine that Froniga had left for her and closed her eyes, drifting into a light sleep.
It was some time before Froniga appeared, having finished her stint of fortune telling in a stuffy little tent close to the entrance of the encampment. She regarded Lucy with a worried frown. ‘How are you, my duck?’
‘It’s sore, but I can put up with the pain. But Stella came here and made dire threats. I think she’s mad, Froniga. I really do.’
‘That woman has a nerve. I’ll tell Monty if she’s bothering you.’
‘I don’t think that would help. She said she can make men do anything she wants and I believe her.’
‘I’ll make you some supper and give you another dose of laudanum. You’ll feel better in the morning, and I’ll keep Stella away from you, so stop worrying.’
Lucy dragged herself to a sitting position. ‘I’ve been thinking while I’ve been lying here.’
Froniga chuckled. ‘That’s a bad sign. It’s never a good thing to try to think when you’re under the influence of laudanum.’
‘I was trying to work out how I’m going to raise the money for a lawyer. I don’t suppose they’ll pay me while I’m laid up.’
‘Probably not.’ Froniga peered in the crock where they kept their food. I’m afraid it will have to be bread and cheese.’
‘I’m not very hungry.’
‘You must keep your strength up.’
‘I don’t know why I didn’t think of him before, but I need to see Mr Goldspink, Grandfather’s solicitor.’
‘There’s still the small question of money, my duck. And you won’t be earning anything for a good while yet.’
‘Mr Goldspink might be able to get me an advance on the annuity left to me by my grandmother. Or perhaps I could take out a mortgage on the property in Leman Street. I simply can’t leave Granny to rot in that dreadful place. I must go to London as soon as possible.’
‘I’d come with you, but I can’t afford to lose my pitch here.’
‘Of course not. I wouldn’t expect it of you.’
‘What will you tell Monty?’
Lucy shook her head. ‘I don’t know, but I’ll think of something. I’m too tired now, but I’ll speak to him first thing.’
The early morning sun pierced the rainclouds, creating deep shadows and contrasting pools of light between the gaily painted caravans. The scent of wood smoke from recently lit camp fires mingled with the appetising aroma of frying bacon, but Lucy was not hungry. ‘You’re running away?’ Monty said, frowning.
‘I’m not afraid of Stella, if that’s what you mean.’
‘She swears she had nothing to do with the unfortunate incident.’
‘And you believe her?’
‘I’ve known Stella for a long time. She’s impetuous and has a fiery temper, but you’re accusing her of attempted murder. That’s a different matter altogether.’
‘I didn’t come here to argue with you, Monty. As I can’t ride for a while I thought I’d take the opportunity of visiting my family.’
He leaned against the side of his caravan, folding his arms. ‘You led me to believe you were an orphan, and had been in service since you were a child.’
‘I didn’t think you’d take me on if I told you everything.’
‘What are you afraid of, Lucy? Why can’t you tell me the truth?’
‘Do you mind if I sit down? I’m still feeling a bit groggy.’
‘Wait there; I’ll fetch something for you to sit on.’ He bounded up the steps, disappeared into the van and reappeared carrying a wooden stool. ‘Are you all right? Perhaps you ought to go back to your tent.’
‘I’m fine now.’ She perched on the stool.
‘Do you feel like telling me why you’re leaving us?’
‘I’m not leaving, Monty. I’ll be back when my business in London is completed.’
‘Business?’
‘I might have misled you slightly.’
‘In what way?’
‘For a start, I was never in service.’ She had been evading the issue but she realised that she must tell him the truth or lose his trust completely. She took a deep breath and launched into a brief account of her early childhood on the streets of the East End, and how her life that changed when her grandfather took her under his wing.
Monty listened intently. ‘You must have missed your grandmother very much.’
‘I cried myself to sleep every night for months and I tried to run away, but I was caught and taken back to Albemarle Street. In the beginning I must have given my grandfather a lot of heartache, but we became reconciled as I grew up. I was to inherit everything until Linus contested the will.’
‘Linus?’
‘My father’s cousin.’ Lucy wrapped her arms around her body, shivering at the memory of their last meeting. ‘He’s a hateful person. He took a common-law wife and when she died he wanted nothing more to do with their three children. I’m taking care of my young cousins and glad to do it. They’re better off without him.’
‘He cheated you out of your inheritance and then saddled you with his bastards?’
‘He discovered that my parents didn’t wed until after I was born, and that made him the legal heir. He plans to marry and the children are an embarrassment.’
‘Wasn’t there anyone you could turn to?’
‘I was about to get engaged, but . . .’
‘Let me guess. Your fiancé jilted you when he discovered your lack of fortune.’
‘He’s destined for public office and can’t afford a scandal.’
‘I’d say you’ve had a lucky escape.’
‘That’s as maybe, but it’s not why I left London,’ Lucy said hastily. ‘I wanted to find my grandmother and give her a proper home. I met Froniga by chance and she said she could help me find Granny. The rest you know.’
‘Not quite. You haven’t told me why you’re rushing back to London.’
‘You asked me where we went after the parade.’ Lucy stared down at her tightly clasped hands, una
ble to look him in the eye. ‘My grandmother is a prisoner in Chelmsford jail. We had permission to visit her, and I can’t even begin to describe how awful it was. Whatever she did in the past she doesn’t deserve such a harsh punishment.’
‘So what do you hope to achieve in London?’
‘I’m going to see Mr Goldspink, my grandfather’s solicitor, in the hope that he can help, and I want to make sure that the children are all right. Hester is getting on in years and Bedwin is quite ancient. Pearl is a recovering drug addict, but she’s an old friend and she’s in need of help too. They’re coping with five young ones and three lodgers. It was a lot to ask of anybody and none of them are exactly young.’
‘You’re full of surprises, Lucy Pocket. I always knew you were different, and a story like that confirms it.’
‘You understand now why I must go to London.’
‘I’d go with you if I wasn’t needed here, but I’ll take you to the station and make sure you travel first class.’
‘I’d like to go today, if possible.’
‘There’s only one condition.’
‘What’s that?’
‘You must promise to return to us.’
‘I promise.’ She managed a wobbly smile. ‘I can’t allow Stella to get the better of me. I’ll have to come back if only to prove that I’m not afraid of her.’
‘Stella won’t harm you again. You have my word on that.’
Hester was at first amazed and then shocked to see Lucy standing on the doorstep. ‘What’s happened to you, love?’ she said, staring at the injured arm. ‘Come in out of the rain.’
Lucy stepped inside, shaking the raindrops off her straw bonnet, which she feared was already ruined. She put her valise down with a sigh of relief. ‘I fell off a horse and broke my arm.’