‘I didn’t think I had a future career inthis industry.’ Fawn couldn’t keep the bite out of her voice and took another deep breath to steady herself.
‘Of course you do!’ He moved towards her and put his arms around her shoulders, ducking his head so close to her face that she could smell the tobacco on his breath. Their closeness made Walter’s stomach lurch and he wondered if he should be watching them at all, but a part of himfelt as though he could protect her somehow if he kept her in his sights.
‘When you’re my wife there is nothing we won’t be able to accomplish together,’ Hamish said as he stepped closer still to Fawn.
‘I’ve told you, Mr Boatwright, I will never beMrsBoatwright.’
‘AND I HAVE TOLD YOU I WILL HAVE OBEDIENCE.’ Hamish grabbed Fawn’s pearl necklace and wrapped what he could aroundhis fist and roughly yanked her towards him so that she had to stand on tiptoe. She dropped her shoes and clawed at his wrists to release her, but his fists were like wrought iron, unflinching and unaffected by her efforts and his face was red with unadulterated rage. The pearls dug into her neck and it felt as though his knuckles were piercing her windpipe. Walter wanted to yell, to run downthe ladder and give Hamish the beating of a lifetime but he knew if he did he would be risking both their lives. And so Walter clutched his flat cap to his head, bit his tongue until he tasted blood, and watched with bated breath.
‘Youwilldo as I say or there is no use for you,’ Hamish growled through gritted teeth.
‘Hamish…’ Fawn choked and Hamish smiled, his eyes glinting.
‘So this is what it takes for you to say my name.Finally. A little obedience.’ He stroked her cheek with the cold, silver end of his cane. Fawn felt a volcano erupt in her belly and without a second’s thought she conjured up the little saliva that was left in her drying mouth and spat it in one huge wad onto his cheek. Hamish’s fist clenched, and the necklace snapped. Pearls slipped offtheir chain and scattered to the floor like hailstones in a storm and lying amongst them was Fawn, gasping for breath and clutching her throat once again.
‘You bitch!’ Hamish raised his cane in both hands, ready to bring it down onto her head, clean and sharp.
‘STOP!’ Hamish’s head snapped up and Fawn prayed it wasn’t Walter coming to her rescue. But as she looked up through herwatering eyes, she saw Lenny rushing from the wings. ‘Don’t youdaretouch that girl,’ Lenny said, as he ran between them and flung his arms out wide to protect her.
‘Who do you think you are?’
‘I am the stage door man of the Suvern Cross Theat-ah and a friend to every cast member going. This girl ain’t done a single thing except be exceptional in this show and she does just abouteveryfing you’ve asked of ’er but this is asking too much. Now, ’oo do you finkyouare, eh?’ Lenny’s face was puce and the veins in his neck sprouted out so far, Walter could see them from his balcony position. Hamish simply polished the end of his cane with his black cloak.
‘Leonard. Do you have trouble with your ears?’
‘You wha’?’
‘Because not once have you ever seemedto be able tolisten.’
‘I only listen to people I like.’
‘Oh, dear. I fear that way of thinking is going to get you into a spot of bother, one day. Perhaps… one day soon.’
‘Empty threats, Hamish. You throw ’em about left, right and centre, daily, and not once ’ave you ever actually walked the walk. But if I ever see you lay a hand on this girl or anyone else for that matter,so ’elp me God, I will give you what for.’ Lenny held out his hand which Fawn took, the pieces of her broken necklace clutched in the other hand. Slowly, she heaved herself onto her unsteady legs, as Lenny supported her as best he could and escorted her from the stage. ‘Come on, girl. I’ve gotcha. Let’s get you into warmer clothes and sit you down with a nice cup of tea, how does that sound?’
When he was sure the coast was clear, Walter clambered down the ladder and ran ahead through the doors and up into dressing room four and when they came through the door, it was Walter who fell into Fawn’s arms.
‘I felt so helpless,’ he sobbed. ‘There was nothing I could do, I just had to sit and watch him do that to you.’
‘I know, I know. Oh, Walter.’ She stroked his hair.‘Hush now.’ Walter caught Lenny looking at the two of them, clearly closer than theatre staff and actors usually were, but he didn’t raise an eyebrow or give them a look of concern. He merely tipped his flat cap and said, ‘I’ll leave you both to it. I’ll book you a cab, Miss.’
‘I won’t need a cab, but Lenny,’ she reached out her hand and even though her fingers were aching from trying torelease herself from Hamish’s grip, she squeezed his hand, hard. ‘Thank you.’
‘We have to do something,’ Walter sniffed when the door was closed.
‘We’ll figure it out.’
‘We’ve figured it out.’
‘Walter. No.’
‘We can’t let that happen again… wait… why won’t you need a cab?’ Fawn was silent for a moment as she slipped the wig from her head, placed it on its blockand started unpinning her hair. ‘Fawn, you’re not going to that party. Please don’t go, I can’t bear the thought of you being alone with him.’ Fawn threw down the final pin and walked over to Walter.
‘Walter, will you be quiet for just a moment.’ She kissed him then, every ache in her body softening, evaporating into the air above them. Walter’s hands meandered up her back and she heldonto him like a piece of driftwood in a rough and raging sea.
Fawn did order a cab after all, but not to her usual destination where her mother was waiting for her in the drawing room. Instead, Walter found himself in Shepherd’s Bush, opening the door to his run-down flat with Fawn following behind him. She looked out of place in her clean, pristine dress and unscuffed shoes against hispeeling wallpaper and the worn away carpet, but there wasn’t a trace of disgust or disapproval on her face.
‘I’m so pleased I’m here,’ she whispered in his ear as she pulled him into an embrace.
