Page 40 of The Ringmaster’s Daughter

Jean stepped into view, his large feet snapping twigs underfoot. ‘I brought you this – didn’t see you at breakfast and Felix told me about your new camp for the day.’

Michel took the coffee and warm roll from Jean. ‘Thank you. I wanted to come by, but I couldn’t leave this lot.’

‘The workhorses are coming down in a bit too – four of them. Felix said he’ll bring them. You OK, Michel? It’s opening night and you look as though you didn’t get a ticket!’

Michel sipped his coffee. ‘I don’t fit in here, Jean. It’s not for me.’

‘You’re leaving?’

‘Tomorrow morning. I’ll see if I can find some work in the town.’

‘But why? You were getting on so well.’

‘Like I said, Jean, I just don’t fit in – Werner has made that pretty clear.’

For a minute or two, neither spoke, and the only sounds were those coming from the birds singing their morning song to each other and the slap, slap of river water that gently lapped against the brown dirt of the bank.

‘Michel, have you noticed anything about us – anything strange?’ Jean broke the silence and Claudette lifted her head, her strong teeth crunching grass.

‘Am I supposed to have noticed something?’

‘You mentioned, when you were on the train, that you know of the Cirque d’Hiver, in Paris. It’s an amazing masterpiece. They have everything, you know – the best costumes, the best acts, elephants, birds of prey: everything. Have you been?’

Michel shook his head.

‘No matter. My point is, think about what you have seen with us – we are hardly world-famous performers. We are nothing more than a bunch of street performers with worn costumes and a train that hardly ever works. We can’t even put on a full circus show anymore, and have turned ourselves into a fair to distract everyone from the lack of talent, animals and magic. So, to say that you don’t fit in is absurd. None of us fit in! That’s the point!’

Michel smiled at Jean. ‘That’s kind of you to say, Jean, but Werner, he wants me gone. Better to leave before I’m thrown out.’

‘Just wait until after tonight, Michel. You have worked hard with Beau.’

‘He’s not finished training yet – he can behave when ridden now and isn’t as flighty, but he’s a far cry from dancing like Werner wants.’

‘And he’ll see that. He’s a reasonable man – really.’

‘Ha! That’s the best joke you have ever told!’ Michel laughed.

‘No, really he is. He’s always like this on the day of the show. Trust me. Just wait.’

‘You really do like him, don’t you?’ Michel asked.

‘Most of the time. Sometimes I don’t.’

‘But he’s beastly to everyone.’

‘He likes perfection.’

‘Why do you excuse him so much? I’ve heard the way he talks to you too.’

Before Jean could answer, Felix appeared, leading a carthorse with each hand, and then following behind, Frieda with two more.

‘They OK here?’ Felix began grounding their lead ropes with a peg. ‘Brought some more pegs for these so they can move about. No good having them tied to a tree all day.’

‘They’ll be fine, thank you, Felix.’

‘Giordano’s looking for you, Jean,’ Felix said as he began to walk away. ‘Something about how your costume is always better than his and he’s going to cut yours to his size.’

‘I need to go!’ Jean leapt up and chased after Felix, yelling, ‘What else did he say?’