Little Stars Read online

‘Don’t you want to join us, Emerald?’ she asked, eyebrows raised.

  ‘Oh, Miss Royal, I want to more than anything in the world! But – but you seemed so shocked by my behaviour last night,’ I stammered.

  ‘I was shocked at both the Rubys, dear. Appalled at Samson, though I know that such behaviour is typical. Far more astonished that Mrs Ruby could be so foolishly vindictive. She prides herself on being a businesswoman too! She could see how well you went down with the audience. Well, more fool her. She has declared your contract null and void, so you are both free to come to us, my dears.’

  ‘You’re sure you want me, Miss Royal? I’m not very good at acting,’ said Diamond. ‘Are there lots of pussycats in all your plays?’

  ‘Not really, dear. But I’m sure we’ll find a little part for you in most things,’ said Miss Royal.

  ‘Perhaps she could be Little Em’ly in David Copperfield?’ I said tentatively.

  Miss Royal laughed. ‘There, you’ve been thinking things out in your head already, Emerald.’

  ‘Emerald!’ said Miss Gibson, sniffing. ‘What are you doing, taking these two little girls and turning them into actors? It’s different playing dollies at the Cavalcade and riding their old cycle. That’s natural enough, though I can’t say that I approve of kiddies in a music hall. But getting themselves up in paint and acting other people, that’s different – and in London too! It’s child labour, whichever way you look at it. Hetty’s hardly old enough to earn her own living, let alone little Diamond.’

  ‘I think Emerald’s been doing her fair share of labour here,’ said Miss Royal mildly.

  ‘Sewing’s different! It’s respectable work, suitable for any young woman,’ said Miss Gibson.

  ‘I’m afraid we have to agree to differ in our opinions.’ Miss Royal stood up. ‘We haven’t got time for further disputes. The girls and I have a train to catch. Come along, my dears. Say goodbye to Miss Gibson.’

  We both hugged and kissed her. Miss Gibson drew away from me and turned her cheek from my kiss, but she clasped Diamond as if she would never let her go. ‘If you don’t like life with these theatricals, you can always come and live with me, Diamond,’ she said.

  ‘Thank you very much, dear Miss Gibson,’ Diamond said. She hesitated. ‘I don’t want you to be lonely. I know you’re not very fond of Maybelle because she’s so plain, but perhaps you’d like Adeline to keep you company when we’re gone? She’s very pretty indeed, and you could make her lots of new dresses and display her in the shop window.’

  ‘Oh, Diamond, I can’t take your dolly!’ said Miss Gibson. ‘But I like your idea of dressing a doll for the window. Perhaps I shall do just that!’

  ‘Thank you very much for looking after us so well, Miss Gibson,’ I said. ‘And you won’t forget to give the letters to Bertie, will you?’

  ‘Oh, Bertie!’ said Diamond, her face falling.

  ‘We must go right away, or we’ll miss the train!’ Miss Royal said quickly.

  So we left Gibson’s Gowns and set off for the station. Diamond carried her dolls and their equipment, and I carried the suitcase. I dithered about taking the penny-farthing.

  ‘You won’t really need it now, will you?’ said Miss Royal.

  I knew she was right, but I was reluctant to let it go.

  ‘It helped us escape from Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus, it’s served as a vehicle, and earned us a living as a novelty act,’ I said, stroking it as if it were a pony, not a penny-farthing.

  ‘You’re starting a new life now,’ said Miss Royal. ‘Actors don’t do novelty acts.’

  So I left it in Miss Gibson’s yard and we hurried towards the station. Mr Parkinson and all the other players were on the platform. A hot, damp porter was struggling with an enormous pile of trunks and cases.

  ‘We’d practically given up on you!’ said Mr Parkinson. ‘Did it take you a while to make up your minds?’

  ‘No, sir, we decided in an instant,’ I said. ‘Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity. I promise you won’t regret it.’

  ‘I hope not,’ he said.

  I swallowed. It was very embarrassing having to ask, but I needed to know something. ‘Please excuse my asking, but what sort of wage will you be paying us?’

  ‘It’s ten shillings, is it not?’ said Mr Parkinson.

  ‘Yes, it was while we were at the Cavalcade, because we were also being paid by Mrs Ruby. But though it will be a privilege to work with your company, I’m afraid Diamond and I won’t be able to manage on such a small sum. Please, sir, could we possibly have a little more?’

  Miss Royal laughed. ‘There, Gerald, we’ll have to put on a production of Oliver Twist in our Dickens season. Young Emerald would play Oliver very nicely!’

  ‘Ten shillings each,’ said Mr Parkinson.

  ‘That’s very kind, sir, and a fair enough salary for Diamond as she’s a little child, and likely to have small parts. But I’m of working age, and perhaps you’ll be kind enough to cast me in bigger parts. I think I might be worth at least a sovereign, especially if I maintain the costumes for the company. So that makes thirty shillings a week for the two of us.’ I held out my hand. ‘Is that a bargain?’

  Mr Parkinson frowned, not at all impressed, but Miss Royal and Harry and the other players were all laughing.

  ‘She’s got you fair and square, Gerald,’ said Miss Royal. ‘I think you’re going to have to say yes.’

  ‘Very well, very well,’ Mr Parkinson muttered, and he shook my hand, though he was still frowning. I was a little worried that I’d been too assertive. I didn’t want him to regret taking us on the very day we joined his company, but on the other hand I had to show him that I wasn’t a fool. Thirty shillings for two Players (albeit small ones) was still a very modest salary. I wasn’t going to let him exploit us just because we were young. And if he gave us a written contract, I would examine it very carefully indeed before signing.

  The train steamed into the station and there was a flurry of activity as the gentlemen Players ordered the porter about and the ladies climbed into the third-class carriage. I had assumed that Miss Royal and Mr Parkinson at least would travel in first-class splendour, but it became clear that even the Principal Players had little money to spare. They didn’t go to eat in the dining carriage. They spread checked napkins on their laps and ate pork pies and drank ginger beer straight out of the bottle like the rest of us. Luckily there were enough provisions for Diamond and me, and we shared out our bacon sandwiches. The ginger cake was particularly popular once it was cut into chunks with Harry’s penknife.

  Diamond ate her share, and fed Adeline and Maybelle crumbs in a way that made Mr and Mrs Greatorex coo at her, but she started staring out of the window anxiously, especially when we drew in to each station.

  ‘What’s the matter, Diamond?’ I asked.

  ‘I’m looking out for Little Foxfield. Isn’t that where Madame Adeline lives now?’

  ‘Yes, but that’s on another railway line entirely. We’re going to London. Didn’t you understand? We’ve joined Miss Royal and Mr Parkinson. We’re going to be Players now, in a London theatre.’

  ‘I know. I’m not stupid,’ said Diamond, a little indignant. ‘But I thought we were still going to see Madame Adeline first. You said we could go and see her, and I want to so much. And I want to see Mr Marvel and all the monkeys, especially Mavis.’

  ‘Yes, I know, and we will go and see them, I promise. But not today.’

  Diamond looked desperately disappointed. ‘You said we could go and see her,’ she wailed.

  ‘And we will. Once we’ve got settled in London,’ I tried to reassure her.

  ‘Well, where are we going to live in London?’ Diamond asked sulkily.

  This was a problem I hadn’t addressed. I had assumed that all the Players would live in one big house in a very jolly, companionable way, but this wasn’t the case.

  ‘Mr Parkinson and I have our own apartment in Bloomsbury,’ said Miss Royal. ‘But it�€