Just for a moment, Scarlet scowled. He hadn’t been too tired to go walking with Charity the night before. ‘Then perhaps you’d like to come to our vardo for supper?’ She smiled prettily at him. ‘I’m making a rabbit stew. It’s one of your favourites.’
Again, Luca shook his head. ‘Thanks, but like I said, I’m a bit tired.’
Scarlet didn’t believe a word of it. Luca was one of the most hard-working young men in the circus. More like pining for Charity, she thought spitefully. Even so, she kept her smile fixed firmly in place. That morning Charity had confided to her the plan she and Luca had made to be together. Now Scarlet had only a few weeks to get him to focus on her rather than Charity. She was used to young men flocking around her for attention. And whatever she had to do, she was determined that Luca would be one of them.
It was customary for the circus men to bathe in the river after the fair had closed, and so late that night Luca made his way there. He had waited until all was quiet. He wasn’t in the mood for company. Luckily, the riverbank was deserted when he arrived and so he quickly stripped his clothes off and dived in. The cold water closed around him and after swimming a few yards he turned on his back to float. High above the sky was studded with stars but he barely noticed. He was thinking of Charity and wondering what she was doing. He was so immersed in his thoughts that it was some time before he saw a shape on the riverbank. It was a person and whoever it was, they were stripping their clothes off. Assuming it was one of the circus lads Luca looked away. As he turned back and the moon sailed from behind the clouds, he was horrified to see Scarlet swimming towards him. She was quite naked and smiling at him. With an oath he struck out for the riverbank.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’ He was so angry it was hard not to shout. ‘If your father found us here naked together he’d go mad.’
She laughed as she swam towards him. ‘So he would. He’d probably order you to marry me now you’ve seen me like this. But would that be such a bad thing?’
Luca climbed out of the river and snatched up his shirt to cover himself. As Scarlet climbed out beside him, he couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was. Her breasts were full and high and her waist was tiny, her legs long and shapely. Even so his heart belonged to another and he turned his back on her. He began to yank his clothes on as she reached out to him.
‘Don’t you like what you see?’ Her voice was seductive but he wasn’t tempted.
‘You’re a beautiful girl, Scarlet, but you know I love Charity. She told me she’d confided in you.’
She scowled. ‘Yes, she did. But you and I both know nothing can ever come of that. Her people and ours would never allow it.’
He shrugged as he hastily buttoned his trousers, averting his eyes.
‘We’ll find a way,’ he told her. And without another word, he hurried away leaving Scarlet with just her anger for company.
Chapter Seven
They had been at Appleby Fair for a week but it had felt like a year to Charity. Every day she had fretted that this might be the day that her father announced who he wanted her to marry.
She had been shopping in the town on a few occasions now, and despite asking around, as yet she had had no luck finding a job or a place for her and Luca to live. Still, she consoled herself, there was plenty of time. The circus wouldn’t be arriving for another two or three weeks at least. She was missing Luca every minute of every day. Her mother had noticed that she was quiet and not her usual self. Charity had told her she thought she was coming down with a cold and she had accepted that. During the day many deals had been struck. People came from miles around to view the livestock. They had been so busy that the daylight hours seemed to have passed in a blur. The young men frequently bathed the horses in the river until their coats gleamed. Then, when they emerged, the girls were kept busy braiding the horses’ manes and brushing their tails. Charity was doing this one day when Felix, her cousin, approached her. His black hair curled on his shoulders and he was bare chested. His skin was golden brown and his arms heavily muscled.
‘Good day,’ he greeted her. ‘I hear your family and mine are to throw a party next week.’
Charity’s heart sank. This would likely be when their fathers were planning to announce their betrothal.
‘Good day, Felix.’ She tried to stay calm. He liked what he saw if the way he was looking at her was anything to go by – like she was one of his horses. She chewed on her lip. Just one week to find somewhere to escape to. She must be gone before the announcement was made. Otherwise, it would bring shame on both families. Tomorrow she would double her efforts.
The next morning Charity set off bright and early. Luckily, her mother needed some things from the town. Instead of heading towards the shops, though, she set off for Orton. It was a small pretty market town a few miles from Appleby. After a good walk she began to approach the farms and small holdings she passed. At each one she enquired if there were any jobs going.
Some, seeing her brightly coloured Gypsy clothing, shooed her away. Others merely shook their heads, and she began to become down-hearted. By lunchtime she’d had no luck at all and she turned to begin the journey back. It wouldn’t do for her to be gone for too long. It might arouse suspicion. The sun was beating down by that time and she was hot and thirsty.
She passed a small farmhouse where she saw a man feeding pigs in a sty. She opened the gate to the farmyard and approached him. He stared at her suspiciously before asking, ‘What can I do for you?’ His voice was not friendly.
‘I’m looking for work.’
He frowned as he eyed her up and down.
‘Aren’t you a Gypsy? One of those from Appleby Fair?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, I am. But I wish to find work and leave them.’
He scratched his head. ‘And what sort of job is it you’re after?’
‘I’m willing to do anything,’ she told him hastily. ‘Housework, farm work, whatever you have. I’m a good worker.’ Suddenly she was hopeful. At least he hadn’t immediately turned her away.
He scratched his head as he looked across the yard to the farmhouse. He was quite a young man, somewhere in his thirties, she judged, and he had a kind face, although he looked weary.
‘Well . . .’ He paused. ‘I could do with someone to mind my children and keep house. I lost my wife last year and it’s been difficult. I have a woman from the village come in twice a week. She does some washing and cleaning for me, but it’s not enough really. I have the farm to run and the children are alone for much of the time. Would you be willing to live in? I couldn’t pay you too much.’
Charity nodded eagerly.
