Chapter Four
It was the following evening before they were able to steal another moment together.
The men had gone into town for a drink at the inn.
Charity’s mother was still unwell and fast asleep in the vardo, so Charity lifted her shawl and crept quietly away into the darkness.
Luca spotted her almost instantly. He had barely taken his eyes off her vardo, hoping for a sight of her.
The fair was deserted now and the last of the visitors had long gone, but he had stayed up, picking litter.
‘I can’t be long. Papa might return soon,’ she told him in a hushed voice. He nodded. Every single stolen moment with her was precious.
‘Has any more been said about finding you a husband?’ he asked. He had hardly slept the night before for worrying about it.
‘When I was outside preparing our meal this evening, I heard my parents talking.’ She sighed as she hugged her shawl to her. ‘It is as I thought. They have my cousin in mind for me. They will speak to his parents at Appleby Fair.’
‘But it’s so unfair,’ Luca growled. ‘Surely they would understand if we told them how we feel about each other. We are not so very different. We both live on the road, travelling from place to place.’
‘I think you would find your parents would be against it too if they knew.’ Charity shook her head. ‘I am sure they will have someone in mind for you as well. It’s only because you are a man that they haven’t suggested you settling down yet.’
They had reached the hedge bordering the field now. Luca gathered her into his arms.
‘So how long will you be staying here?’
‘Your father has gone with mine to decide on a payment for the two horses. The palomino and the white one. Then we will probably move on.’
At that moment they heard the sound of laughter floating across the field. It was the men returning and Charity panicked. Gypsy girls knew better than to disobey their parents.
‘I must go.’
She was off like the wind, her long hair flying behind her. Luca stayed in the shelter of the hedge. He didn’t move again until he saw that Charity was safely back inside the vardo. Only then did he stuff his hands into his pockets and make his way back to his own trailer.
The next morning, Luca and his father collected the two horses. As Jethro had said, they were magnificent. Luca knew that he would enjoy training them to perform in the ring.
‘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.