‘I am well, Jethro, and yourself?’
Jethro sank back onto the grass with a shake of his head. ‘We are very worried,’ he admitted. ‘Our daughter Charity has disappeared.’
Luca was glad of the darkness as it hid the colour that rose in his cheeks. So, she had done it. Charity had made her escape.
‘What do you mean – she’s disappeared?’ Rory was horrified.
Jethro shrugged. ‘Just that my friend. We all went to bed and when we woke the next morning she was gone.’
‘But why would she do that? Have you tried to find her?’
‘She left a note saying that she had formed an attachment with a young man not of our choosing so felt she must leave. I do not know why she would do such a thing,’ Jethro told him. ‘And yes, we have tried to find her but with no luck. Her mother is distraught. It is as if she has vanished into thin air. Her mother thinks it may be because I was about to announce her engagement to her cousin. She did not seem keen on him, but that is the way we do things – a girl will always marry a man of her parents’ choosing. It is a great disgrace for a Gypsy girl to run away. I fear she might be with another young man. And if that’s the case, when I find them, he will wish for death.’
Luca gulped. Jethro didn’t sound like he was joking.
Rory began to pour some tankards of ale and passed them around. Very soon they were getting merry, but Luca needed to keep his wits about him. After all, it would be here that Charity would seek Scarlet out to tell him where she was and when she did he would have to move quickly to get away. He could hardly wait.
Chapter Twelve
The next few days were painful for Charity. Knowing that Luca was so close was a sweet torture. Even so, she knew that she must choose her moment to find Scarlet carefully. She was afraid of going into town. Even more afraid of venturing anywhere near the Gypsy camp for fear of being seen. And what excuse could she make to Mr Wells for sneaking out late at night?
The perfect opportunity presented itself when Maureen came to the farm one day. She told Charity that Eddie had asked if she would like to go with him and the children to the circus. He had kindly invited Charity too but she had declined as she couldn’t be seen by any of the circus folk.
‘It’s been years since I went to one,’ Maureen confided happily. ‘In fact, I was only a little girl.’
Charity smiled at her. Maureen was such a lovely person.
‘A night out will do you good.’ Charity said. ‘What were you thinking of wearing?’
Maureen looked bemused. ‘Wearing? Why, what’s wrong with what I have on?’
‘Absolutely nothing if you’re working,’ Charity told her tactfully. ‘But perhaps we could find you something a little more colourful for an evening out. And you could wear your hair loose too. I bet it’s really pretty when it isn’t tied back. Come on, let’s go and look in Mary’s trunk. Eddie did tell you to help yourself.’
Maureen self-consciously touched the unbecoming bun on the back of her head. She couldn’t remember the last time she had worn her hair loose.
They sifted through the clothes in the trunk and eventually Charity lifted out a dress. ‘Look at this. It would be perfect for a night out at the circus.’ It was cream cotton sprigged with small blue forget-me-nots.
Maureen sighed. ‘Oh, I remember Mary wearing that.’ She looked sad.
‘What actually happened to her?’ Charity asked. She had never liked to ask Eddie.
‘She died when having their last child and the baby passed away as well. It was a little boy.’ Maureen shook her head as she remembered. ‘The last thing she said to me was, “Look after them for me, Maureen.” And I have tried to. But I can’t do as much as I’d like with Mother being so ill. Still, he has you now.’
‘Yes, but I won’t be here forever. Sadly, neither will your mother,’ Charity answered. ‘But now try this on. We can soon alter it if we need to. We can wash and iron it and freshen it up as well.’
Maureen slipped out of her drab outfit and into the dress. Charity turned her to look in the cheval mirror.
‘Just look at yourself. You’re beautiful. And the dress fits as if it was made for you.’
Maureen blushed. She’d never considered herself to be beautiful. But she had to admit she did look very different in the dress.
‘Right, that’s you all sorted,’ Charity said happily. But then a wave of nausea made her clap her hand across her mouth.
As she made a run for the door, Maureen frowned. It was beginning to look horribly like her suspicions might be correct.
The following night there was great excitement in the farmhouse. Charity was getting the children ready to go to the circus, Eddie was upstairs getting changed and Maureen was due to arrive any minute.
After a while, Eddie came down in a clean shirt and trousers. His hair was still wet and seeing how happy the children were, he smiled.
