Diamond Read online

  ‘Well, never you mind. I am very good at stitching tiny dolly dresses,’ said Hetty.

  My heart started thumping hopefully. Would she really make Maybelle a new dress? Madame Adeline was delighted to see Hetty too, and gave us tea and cake. I wasn’t sure I should have the cake as Mister was always telling me off for eating too much. He wanted to keep me as small as possible.

  ‘He’s a monster, wanting to stunt your growth,’ said Madame Adeline. ‘You take a slice of cake, Diamond. You need some sweetness in your life.’

  ‘You can’t do back-flips on a full stomach,’ I said, though I had a big bite of cake all the same.

  ‘And what’s a back-flip?’ Hetty asked.

  Here was my chance to show off! I took her behind the wagon and demonstrated. I had practised so many times it was easy enough. Most folk in the circus could do a back-flip as easily and casually as blowing their noses – but Hetty marvelled.

  ‘Oh, show me how to do it!’ she cried, and even though she was nearly grown up, she tucked her dress into her drawers and did her best to copy me. She tried again and again, but always tumbled onto her back. I did my best to show her, but she didn’t have enough spring. I wondered if she could do the crab-walk, for I could do it myself long before I joined the circus, but she couldn’t manage it at all. She lay flat on her back, chuckling – yet she still seemed to have a fancy to learn circus skills.

  When we were back in the wagon, she turned to Madame Adeline. ‘Could I ever be an equestrian like you?’ she asked.

  Madame Addie must have been even fonder of Hetty than I thought, because she said she could try riding Midnight. I’d never known her let anyone else on his back. Tag had often begged for a ride but she’d always refused.

  She lent Hetty a pair of her white fleshings so she wouldn’t expose too much leg, and then gave her a lesson in the big top. Oh dear! Even I could tell that Hetty was never going to make a good horsewoman. She couldn’t even sit straight on Midnight’s bare back. She slid forward, grabbing his mane, which he didn’t care for at all. He became very fidgety and Hetty fell straight off. She landed hard but she did not cry. She begged to have another go, and then another and another.

  Madame Adeline gently told her that was enough.

  ‘I was so good at riding when I was a little tot! Maybe if I practised hard every single day I might get the hang of it. Then perhaps one day I would be good enough to be part of your act?’ said Hetty.

  ‘Oh yes!’ I cried, because it would be my idea of Heaven if Hetty joined the circus too.

  I am sure Madame Adeline thought this as well, but it was clear she didn’t think Hetty belonged on the back of a horse. She took her off to show her around the circus. I longed to go with them, but Mister caught hold of me.

  ‘Where do you think you’re going, missy?’ he said. ‘Back into that ring, for a practice!’

  ‘Oh please, Mister, mayn’t I go with Madame Addie and Hetty just this once?’ I begged.

  ‘You’re not going anywhere near that girl! She’s an insolent little chit. Addie’s got no business letting her poke around here. The circus is private, no place for strangers. And you need to practise more than ever, Diamond. Last night’s performance was a disaster. You deserve a good whipping for such carelessness. If you’re not perfect this afternoon, I’ll send you to Mr Tanglefield, and he’ll be so horrified you’re letting the whole circus down he’ll take his whip and give that bendy little back a set of stripes!’

  I knew this wasn’t just a grisly joke – Mr Tanglefield had marked both Tag and Julip before now. Utter fear sharpened up my steps and stopped every stumble. I gave an immaculate performance that afternoon, though I could feel my mouth stretched in a grim parody of a smile. I must have looked like a mechanical doll as I revolved round and round the ring, concentrating so hard I barely blinked. I sneaked just one look around and saw Hetty, watching and waving. She was there again at the evening performance. I hoped and hoped that she’d come and find me afterwards, but she went off with Jem. He had his arm round her protectively.

  Hetty had seen four whole shows now. I hardly dared hope she’d come back yet again, but an hour or so before the next afternoon’s performance she came running into our ring of wagons. I was practising my tumbles. I had trembled every time Mr Tanglefield cracked his whip during yesterday’s performances.

  I greeted Hetty happily, hoping she would play with me.

  ‘I would love to play with you, Diamond, but I’m afraid I have other business just right now,’ she said, walking on.

  I scrambled to my feet. ‘Are you calling on Madame Adeline? I shall come too!’ I said eagerly.

  ‘I’m not intending to visit Madame Adeline either, not just now. I am here to see Mr Tanglefield.’

  I was so shocked I could scarcely draw breath. It was as if she’d announced she was going to take tea with the Devil himself.

  ‘He is very stern!’ I said. ‘If Mister is very cross with me he threatens to send me to Mr Tanglefield for a good whipping.’

  Hetty looked horrified. ‘Does he really whip you, Diamond?’

  ‘No, but I’m always afeared he might. He has a very big whip, Hetty, and every time he cracks it in the ring it makes me shiver.’

  I pointed out his big fancy wagon, a real dazzler in red and yellow and green. No one ever dared disturb Mr Tanglefield in his wagon, especially when he was getting ready for a show.

  ‘I don’t think you had better disturb him right this minute,’ I cried, trying to catch hold of Hetty, but she wouldn’t be stopped. She ran up the steps and tapped on the door. Mr Tanglefield opened it, half dressed, his hair awry, looking furious – and oh, he had his terrible whip in one hand.

  ‘Hetty! Run!’ I called – but she didn’t seem to hear me. She went inside Mr Tanglefield’s wagon and stayed there for a long time, while I paced up and down in agitation, listening for cries.

  I heard Mister calling for me to get ready for the show, but I hid beneath the wagon.

  ‘Drat that little miss,’ he muttered. ‘She’s starting to be more trouble than she’s worth. I’ll teach her a lesson she won’t forget!’

  I couldn’t help gasping, though I covered my mouth with my hands.

  ‘I can hear you! Where are you?’ said Mister, spinning round.

  I huddled into a tight ball, praying that he wouldn’t look under the wagon. Then I heard Mr Tanglefield’s door banging, and light footsteps.

  ‘Hey, girl, where are you going?’ Mister called. ‘No strangers allowed here.’

  I dared wriggle towards the light. I could just see Hetty, dancing about on the grass. She was wearing a very odd outfit. She’d hitched up her skirts and wore her borrowed fleshings and a smart scarlet coat, with a tall black hat on her head, tipped at a jaunty angle.

  ‘I’m not a stranger here, Mr Beppo . . . sir,’ she said, mocking him. ‘I’m the new star act. Just ask Mr Tanglefield if you don’t believe me.’ She swept him a mocking bow, hat in hand, and then bounced off towards Madame Adeline’s wagon.

  I couldn’t believe my ears. Surely Hetty could not mean she was joining the circus? I gave a squeal of joy and rolled right out from under the wagon, ready to run to her to find out more – but Mister was too quick for me. He caught hold of me by the hair and yanked me upright.

  ‘There you are! How dare you hide from me!’

  ‘Oh, please don’t be angry, Mister Beppo! Tell me, did Hetty – that girl with the red hair – did she really say she was going to be the star of the circus?’

  ‘That chit!’ he said, and he spat on the ground. ‘She’s talking nonsense. Ask Mr Tanglefield indeed! He’d whip her into the middle of next week if he could hear her impertinence. If she’s a circus performer, then I’m Queen of the Fairies.’

  Mister should have sported a wand and wings – because it was true!

  We were up extra early the next morning because we were moving on mid-week, making for Gillford, a town only six miles away. And the moment I stu