Theo didn’t have to be asked twice. He leapt offthe stage and elbowed his way through the crowd, followed closely by Lena, her hands clenched into fists. Someone was attacking one of her children. She would not allow it. She was ready to swing at them in defence. She crashed into Theo’s back, who had come to a full stop.
A small circle of curious onlookers had formed around Mona—the two men, and a third who stood wide-legged in front of them, bending a horsewhip.
“I said, pick them all up.” A voice, cold and quiet, sent shivers of dread down their spines. The silence was thick enough to cut with a butter knife.
Lena pushed through the crowd and saw that the situation had reversed itself: The two men were on their knees, scrambling about to pick up the coins.
“And if I find that you have a single coin in your pockets that doesn’t belong to you, I will…” He did not finish the sentence but flexed the whip demonstratively.
The men turned pale and scrambled about even faster.
“You should whip them anyway,” a voice shouted from the crowd. “They’re good-for-nothing drunkards who need to be taught a lesson.”
“Aye, bullying such a pretty girl. ‘Twould serve them right if you were to whip them,” a woman agreed.
“Mona!” Out of breath, Lena reached the girl and drew her to her chest protectively. “Are you well?”
“I am now, Mama,” Mona said. “He intervened just in time.”
The Duke of Aldingbourne, dressed as a common peasant, towered over the two men on the ground, who were clearlyterrified of him.
Lena gasped.
“I swear it’s all the coins,” one of the men stammered. “She can have all of mine, too.” He added a handful ofKreuzerand emptied his pockets to show him that there was nothing left. “Please let us go. We will never do this again.”
The Duke grabbed him by the collar. “If you do, I will know about it and come after you.” He brought his face close to his. “I have connections with the secret police, you know.”
Wide-eyed with panic, the drunkard began to blubber forth apologies. When he let him go, both men scuttled off and disappeared into the crowd.
The Duke picked up the tin box lying on the ground and shook it so the coins rattled together. “The show has ended. If you enjoyed it, your contribution is greatly appreciated.”
People pulled out their purses and generously dropped coins into the box as the Duke walked around.
Lena and the Arenheim children stood by, jaws dropping.
“I’ve never seen anyone do anything so cracking fantastic.” Les finally said.
Hecki nodded mutely and stared in awe at the Duke as he continued to make his rounds holding out the box, and the coins kept dropping, dropping, dropping. Then he reached Lena and stopped in front of her, shaking the box.
“This should be enough, don’t you think? If you add more coins, it will overflow.” He held the box out to her.
Lena took it. “When did youarrive?”
“Long before you, apparently.” The Duke shrugged. “I came with Karl and Emma Bauer to help them set up the stall. We nearly sold all the biscuits before you arrived.”
Lena uttered a puff of incredulous laughter.
“Wait.” Theo had pushed himself forwards. “Did you just say you sold our biscuits?”
“Yes, he did, every single one of them,” a booming voice said behind them. Karl beamed at the Duke. “We made good work of it, didn’t we? Although it has to be said that it was really he who did all the work. He sold most of it while I helped our neighbour with his stall, which had collapsed on him. Julius was on his own most of the time, weren’t you?” Karl clapped his hand on the Duke’s shoulder.
“Business went well,” he replied laconically.
“Business went well,” Lena echoed, stunned.
“I see your performance has come to an end, too.” He nodded at the children, who gazed at him with open mouths, as if seeing him in an entirely new light.
“Thank you for helping me,” Mona said shyly.
