As the first glimmer of dawn appeared, I stole downstairs with a picture letter I’d done for Mother.
There was an eye, then a picture of me on a cart beside a milestone saying ‘London 10 miles’. I did not actually know the distance, but that would do. Then I’d drawn a globe, and finally, a picture of me on a stage. I hoped it would say to her, ‘I have gone to London with the company, to the Globe, so I can be on stage.’
I ended with my pictures for ‘I love you’. Then I burned all the old drawings I’d left lying around, and put my letter on the table.
I took half a loaf, which was a bit stale, and some wrinkled apples from the apple store.
It hurt to leave Hoppy behind, but I needed to reach town before the company left, and he couldn’t run that fast.
I almost flew down the road but, even so, I was too late.
The yard was empty. The company had left.
As I walked slowly back into the market place, a voice said, ‘You looking for the players?’
It was the grumpy ostler.
‘I was,’ I said. ‘But they’ve gone.’
He gestured with his thumb. ‘They can only be a mile up the London road. Young lad like you could catch up with ’em in no time.’
My grin must have nearly split my face in half! ‘Thank you!’ I cried, and I raced towards the London road.
I didn’t stop running until I saw the wagon and carts lumbering along ahead of me. I slipped into the trees at the roadside to think what to do. If I asked them to take me, they might refuse. That would be that. But if I stowed away, they would take me without knowing.
The last cart was full of props. Even though it was covered by sacking, I could tell what it was by all the lumps and bumps sticking out. Old John Merry was driving it, and the way he slumped in his seat suggested he was half asleep.
I was wondering how to sneak on to the cart when I felt a familiar tug at my breeches. I nearly jumped out of my skin!
‘Rosa!’ I whispered.‘What are you doing here?’
‘Nuffin’,’ she said. ‘Just walkin’ about. You’re going then? Going where you’se happy?’
I’d just finished explaining my plan, when Gilbert slipped through the trees, clutching a handful of duck eggs.
‘What you up to?’ he asked.
Rosa quickly told him. ‘He ’ad to leave ’is dog behind,’ she added, ‘’cos of his lame leg. Now ’e has to get on the cart. I thought I’d try the crying trick. What d’you think, Pa?’
‘Reckon that would do it,’ he said. ‘You carry on, Rosa, my pet. I’ll see you later. I got something to do.’
I watched him melt into the trees. When I turned back, Rosa was gone!
The train of carts was rounding a bend. I slipped through the trees, keeping pace with the rear cart, when suddenly, the driver of the big front wagon gave a shout.
‘Woah!’ he cried. ‘Hold fast!’
The carts stopped, and then I heard it. Rosa’s voice, crying, wailing.
I moved to the side so I could see what she was up to. She was sitting in the middle of the road in front of the lead wagon, howling her eyes out.
‘I lost me penny!’ she bawled. ‘Aow, aow, I lost me penny.’
Old John shouted from the back, ‘What’s amiss?’
‘Little girl lost her penny!’ came the reply. ‘She won’t move!’
Old John Merry swore, then called, ‘Give her a penny quick, and let’s be on our way.’
While they fussed over Rosa and her penny, I darted to the back of the props cart, and slid beneath the musty-smelling sacking.
My heart thumped, and there was pounding in my ears.
After a few moments, the cart jerked into motion.
We’d only travelled a few yards when a corner of the sacking was lifted, revealing Rosa’s mischievous little face. She walked behind the cart, crouched down so old John wouldn’t see her if he turned round, which was unlikely. He was probably dozing off again.
‘Thank you, Rosa,’ I whispered. ‘One day I will write a play, and I will name the heroine Rosa. She’ll be brave and clever, like you.’
She grinned. ‘Travel safely,’ she said. ‘I will see you again, one day.’
The sacking dropped.
We moved so slowly I knew it would be a long journey. I tried to get comfortable, but a sword stuck into my back. I pushed it aside and felt for the leather bag I’d stuffed beneath the throne. I found it and pulled out the crowns. Rolled up, the bag made a pillow for my head.
I wished they’d hurry. After what seemed ages, we’d probably covered a mile at most.
I heard soft footsteps at the back of the cart. Then a chink of light revealed a big gnarled hand, shoving a cloth-wrapped package beneath the sacking.
I froze. What was happening?
My heart thumped. In a moment I would be discovered. We were still so close to Kinglake Manor that I’d be bound to be sent home, in disgrace.
The sacking lifted a little higher, and my heart thumped harder, because the next thing that was thrust towards me was my little dog. Hoppy! Gilbert’s grinning face appeared. He, like Rosa, was crouching behind the cart, walking to keep up with it.
‘Thought you’d be better off with company, lad,’ he whispered. ‘Weren’t no trouble getting him. I’m good with dogs, me.’
‘Thank you, Gilbert,’ I whispered, as my face was licked all over.
And he was gone.
I settled down, hugging Hoppy.
We were on our way to London, together.