‘We are invited to a meal tonight at the Gypsy camp once the fair is closed. They will be moving on tomorrow,’ Luca’s father informed him.
Luca’s heart sank. On the surrounding farms the farmers would be employing men to plant their potatoes. They also employed people to fell trees when needed. It was a job the Gypsies did each year and now they were keen to get started. Then in June they would move on to Appleby Fair. If, as Charity and Luca feared, her parents did arrange a marriage then Luca and Charity’s relationship would be over. Over before it had even started, Luca thought bitterly.
Thoughts buzzed around in Luca’s head like bees until he felt dizzy. But suddenly it was time for the matinee circus performance and he had to concentrate on that. Once it was over he had to feed the animals. They would rest then until the evening performance when it would all begin once more. The remainder of the day passed slowly and Luca was glad when the fair began to grow quiet. His parents were in their trailer preparing to go for a meal with Charity’s parents. They usually had a get-together on the night before the Gypsies moved on and it often ended up in a party. Luca really wasn’t in the mood but he would go. It was a chance to see Charity, and who knew, they might even be able to snatch a few moments alone.
Chapter Five
The circus folk and the Gypsies were gathered about an enormous campfire. The women were roasting meat and the men were drinking ale from the barrels that had been rolled out. Luca had washed and changed into his best shirt. His hair was still damp and as Charity spotted him, she thought how handsome he looked. The children were racing about and rolling on the grass. The Gypsy dogs were prowling looking for bones and the atmosphere was light. Laughter floated on the air but Luca barely noticed anything or anyone but Charity. Her long dark hair and the gold hoops she wore in her ears gleamed in the glow of the fire. She was so beautiful that she almost took his breath away. Somewhere, someone was playing a fiddle and the Gypsy girls were dancing around the fire.
‘Luca, come and join us, son,’ Luca’s father called to him. He was standing with Charity’s father and Luca made his way towards them. ‘So, what do you think of the new horses?’ His father valued Luca’s opinion.
Someone pressed a mug of ale into Luca’s hand and he nodded his thanks. ‘They’re both beautiful creatures. But I think the palomino will take some training. She’s very spirited.’
His father laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. ‘If anyone can train her, you can,’ he said. He was proud of his son; Luca had always had a way with horses. With all animals if it came to that, and his father had every confidence in him.
As they stood there, Scarlet sidled up to them. She was the daughter of Madame Fifi, who showed the horses in the ring and she and Charity had been best friends who had spent their summers playing together. They had shared all their hopes and dreams. That was until Charity confided in her about her feelings for Luca. Scarlet was very beautiful. Her hair was as red as the flames in the fire and her eyes were a deep green. Young men flocked to her like moths around a flame. She could have had her pick of any she wanted, but there was only one man in her sights. She and Luca had grown up together. She was just one year younger than him and had always thought that one day she would be his bride and now she was seething with jealousy.
‘Shall we join the dance?’ She fluttered her eyelashes at Luca.
When he shook his head, the smile slid from her face. ‘Perhaps later?’ She swung around and marched away, her pride wounded.
From the shelter of a vardo Scarlet kept a close watch on Luca. There would be no sneaking off with Charity that night if she could prevent it. She just wished the morning could come quickly now so that the Gypsies would leave.
Within an hour the ale was flowing like water and many of the men were merry. Apart from Luca, who had kept a low profile as his eyes followed Charity about. Eventually, they managed to make their way towards each other.
‘Shall we take a walk by the brook?’ Luca whispered.
Charity glanced towards Jethro; luckily he was still talking to Luca’s father.
She nodded. ‘Yes, but let me go first. You follow in a couple of minutes.’ Without even looking at him she drew her shawl about her and slipped away.
Luca waited, the minutes dragging by, before following silently. Charity was waiting for him by the stream and they instantly moved into each other’s arms. It was dark by then, so there was little chance of them being seen. Or so they thought.
‘Oh .?.?. hello, you two.’
Scarlet’s voice made them spring guiltily apart. They hadn’t heard her approach.
‘What are you doing here?’ Scarlet asked innocently. Inside, she was burning with jealousy but it wouldn’t do to let them see that.
‘Oh, I just fancied a stroll along the banks of the stream,’ Luca told her. ‘And it seems that Charity had the same idea.’
Scarlet flashed him a smile. ‘That makes three of us then. Shall we walk together?’
When she moved on, Charity and Luca had no choice but to follow her. They walked some way in silence until Scarlet said, ‘Shall we sit down on the grass for a while? We could dangle our feet in the stream.’
‘Actually, I think I might head back now.’ Charity was upset that she and Luca had been robbed of these few precious moments together.
‘It looks like it’s just you and me in that case.’ Scarlet smiled winningly at Luca again and he glanced at Charity helplessly.
It would look too obvious if he were to refuse. He watched Charity stride away, her bright skirts swirling around her, before reluctantly taking a seat on the grass beside Scarlet.
She moved close to him and pulled her skirts above her knees. She was showing a pretty pair of ankles but Luca didn’t notice. He was too busy watching Charity being swallowed up by the darkness.
‘Do you remember how we used to do this when we were children?’
Scarlet’s voice dragged Luca’s thoughts back to her as she dipped her feet into the cold water.
‘Yes, yes I do.’
