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.’
She could see that he was distracted and pouted prettily. ‘I hope I didn’t disturb anything between you two?’
He shook his head. ‘No, of course you didn’t,’ he lied.
‘Good.’ She stared at him. ‘Because you must know nothing could come of you and Charity wanting to be together. We are circus people, Luca, and Charity is a Gypsy. We marry our own kind.’
He jumped effortlessly to his feet and looked down at her.
‘I don’t know why. We’re not so very different from them. We both live travelling lives.’
She shrugged. ‘Even so, that’s how it is and has been since the dawn of time. It is our tradition. Perhaps you should look for a suitable wife amongst your own kind.’
He shook his head. ‘I think it’s too late for that.’ And without another word he marched away leaving Scarlet with tears in her eyes.
After hurrying through the darkness, Luca saw Charity just about to enter her parents’ vardo. She saw him coming and paused.
‘Wait for me later tonight down by the stream,’ she whispered. ‘I’ll slip out when my parents are asleep. They’ll be drunk by then and probably won’t even notice.’
He nodded and walked away.
Later, down by the stream, it was the early hours of the morning before he heard her soft tread on the grass behind him. Everywhere was quiet save for the sound of the night creatures. The giant bonfire was nothing more than ash and embers now. The party was long over and the camp was deserted.
‘I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.’ He rushed towards her and took her in his arms. He had been on his feet since early the previous morning and he was exhausted. But he would have waited all night for her if need be. This might be their last chance to be together.
‘What are we going to do?’ she asked forlornly.
He sighed. ‘I don’t know but we must think of something. I can’t bear the thought of you being promised to someone else.’ And then their lips touched and the world seemed to stand still. That night on the banks of the stream the two became one.
‘I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,’ Luca fretted when it was over and she lay in his arms. She shook her head. ‘Don’t be sorry, I’m not.’ She had given him that which should have been saved for her husband. She had no regrets. It had felt like the most natural thing in the world.
‘But what shall we do now?’
‘If it means us being together I must run away,’ she told him solemnly.
‘And become my wife?’
She nodded. ‘I think I would like that. I am already yours now.’
Charity stroked his hair. ‘My family and I will leave for Appleby Fair in the morning. You and the circus will join us within the next month. While we are there, I will be going into town to buy provisions. When I’m there I’ll try to find a job and somewhere to stay in the surrounding villages.
On a farm perhaps or in a shop. I cannot remain with my parents now.
They would disown me if they knew what I’d done.
And anyway, we must be together. So, before they can announce who they wish me to marry I must slip away.
Somehow, before my people move on, I’ll get word to Scarlet of where I’ll be.
Then when the circus leaves Appleby you can come to join me.
We’ll have to make a life away from our people if we are to be together. ’
Luca nodded in agreement as he drew her to her feet. It would be a wrench for him to leave his people. He loved his life in the circus, but he loved Charity more. They adjusted their clothing and hand in hand made their way back to the camp.
‘I shall count the days until I see you again. And please be careful,’ he whispered.
She nodded as they shared one last kiss. And then she crept back into her parents’ vardo. The decision had been made.