Chapter One
1890
Above, the stars were twinkling in a dark velvet sky. The Gypsy girls’ skirts twirled and shone like multicoloured jewels in the light from the campfire. They were dancing around it, laughing and enjoying themselves. But as Charity watched them, she had mixed feelings. This party was being held in celebration of her sixteenth birthday. The end of her childhood. That was a daunting thought. Up until now she had led a charmed life. The much-loved daughter of Jethro and Destiny, she had been pampered and spoiled, but she had also never known what it was to live in one place. The community travelled each year from one end of the country to another. The men found work where they could and their main income came from the horses they bred and raised. Charity’s earliest memories were of watching the horses being led into the rivers. There, the Gypsy women and boys would wash them. Then they would brush their tails and manes until they gleamed. Once a year, in early June, they would travel to Appleby Fair in Westmorland. It was here that many of the horses were sold. It was one of Charity’s favourite places. There, they would meet up with other Gypsy groups and friendships were formed.
The women also did what they could to earn money. Charity’s grandmother had what she termed ‘the gift’ and would earn extra money telling people’s fortunes. She also claimed that she could receive messages from the dead. Many people visited her hoping to hear from their dearly departed. Other Gypsy women made lace so fine that it looked like silken cobwebs. The lace sold for great sums of money to those that could afford it.
Charity loved the sense of freedom her life afforded her. She loved to run barefoot through long grass with her best friend, Scarlet. She loved the feeling of the wind in her hair. And she loved the vardo her family lived in. It was a gaily painted wagon on four wheels that contained everything a family needed to live in. In winter she and her brother Matthew lived inside it with their parents. They would sleep on little pull-out beds. A small pot-bellied stove that belched out smoke kept them all warm and cosy. In the summer they would sleep beneath the vardo with the dogs. They would bathe in the rivers and swim to their hearts’ content, laughing and splashing. The river water would also be used to wash their clothes before they were hung on the hedgerows to dry. Charity had only a basic knowledge of reading and writing, but by the age of ten she could ride a horse bareback. She could find mushrooms and watercress and bake bread and milk a goat. She could also skin a rabbit and make a very tasty stew. To Charity it was an idyllic way of life, and all she’d ever known, but that was all set to change.
Once a Gypsy girl reached sixteen years of age, her parents would begin to look for a husband for her. It was this that was concerning Charity. She didn’t feel ready to be married. Especially not to someone her parents chose. There was talk of it being her distant cousin Felix. For some time, the two families had hinted at a union between the two. Admittedly Felix was handsome. The trouble was he knew it, and Charity avoided him whenever she could. Even more so now because her heart belonged to another. Luca was the son of the ringmaster at a circus that also visited the area a few times a year. There had been a spark between them for some time. But the year before they had grown close. Before the Gypsies left they had shared a kiss. And ever since she hadn’t been able to stop thinking of him.
‘Charity!’
As she heard her father’s voice calling her, her thoughts returned to the present. Jethro was standing on the steps of their vardo and she crossed to him.
A hush fell across the assembled crowd as Charity reached him.
‘My loved one.’ He smiled at her proudly as he handed her a gift. It was a beautiful small knife with an intricately carved mother of pearl handle. ‘You must now wear this always in your garter to protect you from unwanted attention. Happy birthday. Today you become a woman.’
‘Thank you, Papa.’
Charity inclined her head and, lifting her skirt, she placed the knife into her garter next to her skin. Such a gift was given to every Gypsy girl in Charity’s community when they reached sixteen. From now on she would be forbidden to be alone with men or boys unless they were family. Jethro would shadow her and save her from unwanted attention until a suitable husband was found. This was one of the Gypsy traditions that Charity felt was unfair. The boys were allowed to pursue whoever they wanted, often leaving broken hearts behind in the towns they visited.
A cheer went up and with a sigh Charity returned to the party. It was her birthday after all.
Chapter Two
Luca hammered in the last tent peg on the guy ropes holding up the big top. He sat back on his heels and surveyed the activity going on around him. Everywhere was hustle and bustle as the circus folk prepared for the first show. He wiped the sweat from his brow and rose to his feet. Now that the enormous tent was up, he could start marking out the ring inside, and once that was done the benches would need to be moved into position. There was still a lot to do.
Luca had never known a life away from the circus, nor did he wish to. His great-grandfather had started the circus and it had been passed down through the family. His father, Rory, owned it now and one day soon it would be Luca’s responsibility. Rory was getting old and was training Luca to take his place when the time was right. Luca would become the ring-master then and be responsible for running the show. Not that the circus people needed much prompting. They each had a job to do and did it without needing to be told.
Next to the circus the small fair that travelled with them was also being erected. It was a more recent add-ition and had proved very popular. There were swing boats and a merry-go-round as well as many stalls. There was a smaller tent where the psychic, Gypsy May-Lee, would peer into her crystal ball and tell people their fortunes. It always amused Luca to see people queuing to see her. He had no idea if Gypsy May-Lee really did have a gift but her punters rarely left disappointed. Another tent housed the bearded lady, although Luca knew that the beard was glued on. The coconut shy was another popular attraction for the visitors.
Behind the fancy costumes and the glamour there was a life of hard work, but Luca didn’t mind that. In fact, he still got a thrill each night when the lights were dimmed. He loved to see the reactions when the performances began. Cocoman the clown would always open the show. He would parade around the ring squirting children with his water pistol. They would squeal with delight at his huge red nose and enormous shoes. And then Luca’s father would appear in his ringmaster’s top hat and tails to wild applause. The timings for the show had to be accurate, and they always were. There were trapeze artists and jugglers. There was Fernando the fire-eater, and not forgetting the live animals they had tamed and trained. Luca played a big role in caring for the animals. He loved each and every one of them. They had bears, performing horses and dogs. There were also two magnificent tigers. The audience would gasp with fear and admiration when they were led into the ring. At one point they had even had an elephant. Sadly, when he grew old, they had retired him to live out the rest of his life in a zoo. Rory had always insisted that the animals should have as good a life as possible. Luca agreed with him and cared for them each day, feeding them and cleaning out their enclosures.
Now, Luca’s eyes moved to the next field. The circus came to Nuneaton twice a year and usually Rory’s good friend, Jethro, would join them. He and his Gypsy camp would set up in the next field over. Rory and Jethro had been good friends since they were boys. Now Luca and Jethro’s son, Matthew, were firm friends too. Originally, Rory’s father had bought some horses for training from Jethro’s father and they would try to meet up three or four times a year. This year, though, there was no sign of Jethro yet, so Luca entered the big top to begin on the ring.
As he worked, Luca’s thoughts turned to Charity, Matthew’s sister. For many years she had trailed around after Luca and Matthew and they’d found her to be a bit of a nuisance. She could climb a tree as well as they could. She could swim like a fish. But she had been childish and annoying. But then two years ago, when the circus and the Gypsy camp met at Appleby Fair, Charity had emerged from her vardo and Luca’s eyes had almost popped out of his head. She was like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. The puppy fat had been replaced by womanly curves. Her dark hair, normally yanked back into an unflattering ponytail, was loose and shining. It hung across her shoulders like a satin cloak and her eyes sparkled. Luca, like most of the circus boys, had had his fair share of girls. They flocked around them, and Luca had always had his pick, but they were easily forgotten. From that moment on, Charity was not. Matthew had noticed the way his friend looked at her and had frowned.
‘You know it wouldn’t do for you to grow fond of my sister,’ he’d warned. ‘She is a Gypsy and expected to marry one of her own kind.’
Luca blushed with embarrassment. No girl had ever made him feel that way before.
‘I’m aware of that,’ he had answered coldly. But still, he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her. It was as if she had cast a spell over him and now he could hardly wait to see her again.
Chapter Three
The Gypsies pulled onto the field at the side of the circus later that day. The evening performance was in full swing and the big top was full of applause and laughter.
Luca had made a point during the show of popping out to see if there was a sight of them. When he did see the vardos arriving his heart did a little flip. He hurried back inside. There would be no time to welcome them until the performance was over. And even then, it would have to wait. This evening it was his turn to work the swing boats, which were so popular with the visiting children.
The evening seemed to pass so slowly. Luca’s eyes kept straying to the Gypsy camp, but as yet there was no sign of Charity. At last, the crowd began to disperse and the fair became quiet. Luca quickly tied the swing boats down and took the evening’s earnings to his father. Only then did he have time to visit the camp.
He found Matthew sitting beside a campfire eating his supper; sausages with potatoes.
Matthew stood up and slapped him on the back and shook his hand as he greeted him. ‘Hello, Luca, it’s good to see you.’
Luca smiled as he returned the greeting but his eyes were searching for Charity. There was no sign of her although he spotted her friend Scarlet, who flashed him a smile.
