A Place Called Home (28 page)

‘It's huge.'

‘And will be even bigger in time, but we won't be here that long.' Froniga reached for her tobacco pouch and clay pipe. ‘The carter was here again this morning and I paid him to take a message to the prison, requesting permission to visit Eva Pocket on Sunday, after the grand parade.'

Lucy threw her arms around her. ‘You're wonderful. I don't know what I'd do without you.'

‘Mind my pipe. It's the last one I've got.' Froniga's sharp tone was belied by the warmth of her smile.

Rehearsals for the opening show went on all day and well into the evenings for the next three weeks. Lucy had to learn the routine she was to do solo as well as her part when she worked with Monty. He was an excellent horseman, fearless and in total command of his mount, treating the high-spirited animal with patience and surprising gentleness. Lucy was constantly surprised by the changes in Monty's moods. Sometimes he was autocratic and domineering, verging on the unreasonable, and at other times he was encouraging, giving praise where and when it was due. He made her laugh and at times he made her want to cry. She was too proud to shed a tear in front of him, even when she was humiliated by her failure to achieve the exacting standards he set for both her and himself, but eventually she became more confident and the difficult routines became easier. The aching limbs and sore buttocks that plagued her in the beginning lessened, and she was able to conquer her nerves when performing in the ring, although she preferred not to think about how she would feel when she had a real audience watching her.

The day of the grand parade dawned fine and warm, and the air of anticipation seemed to have affected everyone, including the animals. It was early morning when the cavalcade set off for town. Lucy rode Imperator and Froniga travelled in the van with Johann and Ilsa. Monty had chosen Lucy to ride beside him as he led the parade and she knew that Stella would make her suffer for enjoying such a privilege, but she did not care. It was not the appreciation of the crowds lining the streets cheering and waving that made her stomach churn with excitement, it was the thought of being reunited with her grandmother.

When the parade came to an end they stopped on common land on the outskirts of the town in order to rest the animals before making the return journey to the camp. Lucy and Froniga took the opportunity to slip away, and set off for the prison, hitching a lift with the carter, who had brought his family to enjoy the spectacle. It was a noisy ride as the children were overexcited and one of the younger ones was sick over the side of the cart. His mother patted him on his back, mopped him up and told him off for eating the sweets that the performers had tossed into the crowd as an added incentive to buy tickets for the show.

The carter drew up outside the prison, and his wife informed the eldest boy that this was where he would end up if he didn't behave himself. Lucy and Froniga climbed down to the pavement, thanked the carter and waved to the children as the vehicle lumbered off.

Lucy looked up at the fortress-like exterior of the county jail and her heart sank. ‘What will I do if she doesn't want to see me?'

A GRIM-FACED WARDER
led them through a maze of corridors, using a huge bunch of keys to unlock doors and locking them immediately after they had passed through. In the dim light with the cold striking up through the flagstone floor, Lucy felt as though they were being taken deep into the underworld where all hope was lost and souls writhed in torment. Muffled sobs and moans were accompanied by pleas for help, and the smell of unwashed bodies mingled with the foul odour from the slop buckets. She covered her mouth and nose with her hand, stifling a rising feeling of panic as a sudden urge to leave this dreadful place made her want to run away.

Seeming to sense her growing distress, Froniga slipped her arm around Lucy's shoulders. ‘Think of Eva,' she whispered. ‘She's had to endure this for years.'

The warder came to an abrupt halt, turned and gave her a withering look. ‘This is paradise compared to some places I've worked.' He selected a key and unlocked the cell door. ‘Five minutes is all I can give you.' He thrust it open and stood aside to allow them to enter.

Lucy stepped over the threshold and was immediately accosted by a skeletally thin woman with lank grey hair and a wild expression contorting her features. ‘Get me out of here, and I'll make you a rich woman.'

Froniga pushed her away. ‘Sit down, Mother. We can't help you.'

The woman collapsed onto the floor, burying her head in her hands as she started to wail. Lucy patted her on the shoulder. ‘I'm sorry, but I can't do anything for you.'

‘Eva Pocket.' Froniga stepped in front of Lucy, fending off two more of the inmates who made a grab at her. ‘Eva, where are you?'

The cell was in semi-darkness, and for a moment Lucy thought that the warder must have brought them to the wrong place, but as her eyes grew accustomed to the gloom she saw a shadowy shape in the far corner. The woman was crouched on her haunches, peering at them through a wild mass of tangled curls. Slowly, Lucy made her way towards her, holding out her hand. ‘Granny? Is that you?'

‘Granny, is that you?' One of the women took up the cry in mocking tones and the others joined in. The deafening chorus rose in a crescendo, ceasing as suddenly as it had begun when the object of their derision rose to her feet.

‘Shut up.' Eva Pocket raised herself with difficulty and hobbled towards her granddaughter, peering at her in disbelief. ‘Lucy?'

The voice was hoarse but Lucy had heard it often enough in her dreams. The ragged, shapeless figure could not have looked more unlike the lively, attractive grandmother she remembered, but when she looked into her eyes Lucy knew that she had found her. She flung her arms around Eva, regardless of the lice-ridden condition of the pathetically thin creature, a mere shadow of her former self. ‘Granny, I've found you at last.'

‘Keep away,' Froniga snapped as one of the women slunk up to Lucy, fingering the material of her riding habit.

The woman seemed to shrink inside her prison gown and she retreated, cowed and whimpering like a beaten animal.

Lucy turned to Froniga, a tremulous smile on her lips. ‘We've found her. This is my granny.'

‘How long are you in for, Eva?' Froniga demanded brusquely.

‘Don't speak to her like that.' Lucy tightened her hold on her grandmother's frail body. ‘Can't you see she's ill?'

‘I don't know how much longer I've got to serve,' Eva said with touching dignity. ‘Time doesn't count for much in here. I hardly know if it's night or day.'

‘We must get you out of here.' Lucy clutched her hand, raising it to her cheek. ‘I've wanted to find you for years, but I didn't know where to start. Why didn't you let me know you were in trouble? I could have helped.'

‘You're a lady now,' Eva said, turning away. ‘Go back to your life and leave me here where I belong.'

‘No. Don't talk like that.' Lucy grabbed her by the shoulders, twisting her round so that they were face to face. ‘I won't listen to such nonsense. I'll get you out of here if it's the last thing I do.'

Eva subsided, leaning her head wearily against Lucy's shoulder. ‘I'm a lost cause, my duck. You're even more beautiful now that you're a grown woman.' She fingered the velvet costume, the garish pink softened by the dim light. ‘You're doing well for yourself, I can tell.'

Froniga tapped Lucy on the shoulder. ‘I can hear the guard's flat feet. I think our time is up.'

‘I can't leave her in this terrible place.' Lucy clutched her grandmother's hand. It was happening all over again. She was ten years old facing separation from the person she loved most in the whole world. ‘I won't abandon her here.'

‘You must, but only for now,' Froniga said in a low voice. ‘We'll appeal against her sentence, and we'll find a lawyer to speak up for her.'

Eva snatched her hand free. ‘It won't do no good, gypsy woman. Your sort can foretell the future so you must know there's no chance of me getting off. Unless by some miracle you find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and use it to bribe the beak.'

‘There must be a way,' Lucy cried in desperation. ‘I've found you, Granny. I'm not giving up now.'

The sound of the key grating in the lock was followed by the grinding of the hinges as the door opened and the warder stepped into the cell. ‘Get back,' he warned, raising his truncheon as two of the women moved towards him. ‘Time's up, ladies.'

‘I will return,' Lucy whispered as she kissed Eva on the cheek. ‘I won't let you down, Granny.'

‘Get her out of here. This ain't no place for a girl like my Lucy.' Eva motioned to Froniga. ‘She mustn't come back to this hell.' She turned her face to the wall, standing resolutely stiff and silent.

‘Time's up,' the warder repeated in an ominous tone.

Froniga grabbed Lucy by the shoulders, propelling her towards the open door. ‘We're leaving, mister. Don't get in a stew.' She gave Lucy a shove, sending her stumbling into the corridor to the obvious amusement of the women prisoners. They clustered round the door cackling and thumping on it as the warder locked them in.

Outside the prison walls, Lucy shielded her eyes from the brilliance of the sunshine. The air was clean and sweet-smelling in comparison with the stench inside the jail, and a cool breeze fanned her hot cheeks. ‘I can't believe how horrible that place is,' she said, shuddering. ‘I don't know how she's managed to survive in such conditions.'

Froniga shook out her skirts. ‘I feel as if I'm running with fleas and lice. Anyway, we'd best starting walking or they'll have left without us and it's a long way to the camp.' She marched off without waiting to see if Lucy was following. ‘Come on. You won't do her any good standing outside the bloody jail. We've got to find a way to get Eva out of there.'

With one last glance up at the forbidding walls, Lucy hurried after her. ‘I'll secure her release,' she said breathlessly when she caught up with Froniga. ‘I'll save every penny I earn so that I can hire a good solicitor.'

The parade had been a great success, so Monty announced when they arrived back at camp. They could expect bumper crowds at the first performance and he hoped that people would come from miles around to see the wonders of Charter's circus. That evening there was an impromptu party in the big top where everyone contributed food and Bertram supplied a barrel of beer and a keg of cider. Lucy was not feeling very sociable, but Froniga persuaded her to attend. ‘People will think you're stuck up if you don't go,' she said firmly. ‘You can't help Eva by worrying and making yourself miserable. You need this job and so do I, so we'll both go and look as though we're enjoying ourselves.'

‘Why did you join the circus, Froniga?' Lucy slipped off her costume and stepped into a clean cotton print gown. ‘I thought Romany people always travelled together.'

‘I married a gadjo,' Froniga said calmly. ‘My husband was not of our culture and by marrying him I disgraced my family. They wanted nothing more to do with me.'

‘But that's so sad. Where is he now?'

‘He died.'

‘I'm sorry.' Lucy was lost for words. She wanted to know more, but only if Froniga was willing to confide in her.

‘I chose not to return to my people. I couldn't forgive them for the way they treated us, and I made a life for myself working the fairgrounds and setting up my stall in market places.'

‘Don't you miss your family?'

‘They turned their backs on me and I can't forget that. I choose my friends, and I chose to help you. Now put your hair up and let's join the party.'

They entered the arena together and Froniga went off to join Ilsa and Johann, leaving Lucy standing by the trestle table where Dario had been left in charge of the drinks. He picked up a tin mug, waving it in front of her face. ‘What is your pleasure, pretty lady? Do you like the beer or the cider?'

‘Cider, please.' Lucy managed a smile, although she was feeling far from happy. The dire conditions of the prison and her grandmother's suffering had etched a picture in her mind that was almost impossible to erase.

Dario filled the mug and handed it to her. ‘You like to take a walk with me?'

She shook her head. ‘Not at the moment, thank you. I'm rather tired after the parade.'

‘Ah, yes. The parade was good, no?'

‘It went well, I think.' She was about to edge away when she saw Stella bearing down on them. Her expression was not encouraging.

Dario threw up his hands, grinning absurdly. ‘Here is the love of my life: my beautiful assistant, who also charms snakes.'

Lucy took an involuntary step backwards. ‘I must go and find M—' She broke off. ‘I mean, I see Jenny and Obadiah. I must speak to them.'

‘Don't hurry away on my account,' Stella said, baring her lips in what looked more like a snarl than a smile. ‘You two seem to be getting along splendidly.' She reached past Lucy to slip her hand into Dario's pocket. Taking out a hip flask she unscrewed the cap and took a long drink. ‘Brandy is so much nicer than cider or beer.'

Dario snatched it from her. ‘I keep it for medicinal purposes only. Strong drink and knife throwing do not go together, and tomorrow is our opening night. We both need to keep a clear head, tesoro mio.'

‘Don't tell me what to do, Dario.' Stella's dark eyes narrowed. ‘Play with your little friend. I'm going to find Monty.' She shot a sideways glance at Lucy. ‘Unless you have designs on him too, you Jezebel.'

‘I don't know what you're talking about,' Lucy said coldly. ‘I was on my way to talk to Jenny.' She walked off before Stella had a chance to respond. ‘That woman is impossible,' she muttered beneath her breath.