Minnie and May circled the ring, their bodies as stiff and ungainly as the backboard of the wagon, putting Sergey in mind of Catherine. She’d said she’d come as soon as they were settled yet days had passed and there’d been no sight or sign of her. What he really wanted to do was to ride down to the house but the picture of the huge black wreath on the door and the pained faces at the funeral held him back. Everyone needed time to mourn, though that didn’t fit because Catherine had ridden out the day she’d offered the campsite, on her way to see De Silva.
Perhaps the solicitor had delivered bad news.
He’d returned to Maitland yesterday simply as an excuse to get out of the camp, saying he’d check to see if anyone had travelled the Great North Road and seen Valentina. She couldn’t be easy to miss; certainly Dan and Hawke’s seven-foot frames would have caused a comment. No one had anything to offer, the town even quieter than when they’d first arrived. The only pawnshop he’d found had been closed and there appeared to be no other moneylenders in town.
Neither of the horses Minnie and May perched on could manage to keep pace with the other. It was insanity to expect the two acrobats to become trick riders overnight.
‘You two look like a couple of bags of half-eaten chaff,’ Rudi called out.
The tension rolled from Rudi in great waves and Sergey had little idea how to appease him. Rudi’s princess could do no wrong and anyone trying to imitate her was bound for failure. Although, as he cast his eye over the two girls he decided that Rudi was right. Minnie and May weren’t up to scratch. Never would be.
Put them on the ground and their movements were perfectly synchronised, lithe and streamlined, the pair of contortionists could turn themselves inside out around a chair or any other inanimate object, for that matter. Put them on a horse and they might as well be deboned slabs of meat. He let out a disgruntled moan and turned his back. He couldn’t tolerate the disjointed efforts of the two young women a moment longer.
Rudi flicked the tip of his whip against his boot. ‘Any of the other girls ride?’
‘No one’s putting their hand up, none of the men either.’
‘I don’t want a man. Valentina was the first equestrienne to perform in the country and she’s the hallmark of Rudi’s Circus. If I can’t have Valentina I want another woman.’ His whip snaked out again, causing the horses to shy.
One of the girls let fly an ear-piercing squeal, which threw the horses out completely. In perfect accord Minnie and May vaulted to the ground and stormed off.
Rudi rolled his eyes. ‘So have you got another idea?’
‘Honestly? No. If they could ride as well as Catherine I’d have them ready in a matter of days.’
‘Catherine! Your head is full of nothing but Catherine. I thought you said she was coming to make sure we’d settled in. Looks like she’s had second thoughts. Last thing I want is to be landed with an unexpected camp charge.’
‘She said there wouldn’t be one. Perhaps I should ride down to the house and let them know we’re here, see if I can find out about charges.’
‘Don’t waste your time. Make the girls ride these horses. I need another act, two at best since Jymie’s claiming exhaustion.’ Rudi brought the back of his hand to his forehead and groaned in an accurate parody of the melodramatic juggler. ‘Dan and Hawke need replacing, too.’
The two strong men did very little in the ring other than stand around with their arms folded, rippling their muscles and eying any woman who took their fancy. No one else could replicate their huge frames and bulging muscles, no matter how hard they tried. As for Jymie—he was as temperamental as an unbroken colt, and about as flighty.
‘I can’t understand why you aren’t more concerned about your sister. Should have put my foot down and kept her close at hand.’
‘We’ll give Valentina a few more days.’
Rudi couldn’t have stopped her, unless he’d physically restrained her. And besides, she had every right to make her own decisions. As she constantly reminded him, she was a grown woman. She’d find them, a circus camp was hardly inconspicuous and the longer she took the more chance he had of seeing Catherine again.
‘No income for over a week. It’s close to two hundred miles to the Turon. It’s going to take us two weeks at best, three, even four allowing for mishaps. That’s what we should have done in the first place instead of wasting time here. I hadn’t factored in the possibility of you falling head over heels in love with a squatter’s daughter.’
‘I haven’t fallen in love with her. I just felt for her. You know as well as I do what it’s like when you lose someone you love.’
‘You’ll have to train the girls while we’re on the road. Make ’em ride the whole way, that’ll get them used to the horses.’ Rudi stamped his foot, a no-nonsense-don’t-argue-with-me kind of stamp and limped off.
Sergey doubted very much that Minnie and May would manage to improve even after months in the saddle. He and Valentina had ridden from an early age and since Rudi had taken them all under his wing, horses had ruled their lives. Hours spent in the saddle every day, for years. Investing the money he’d accumulated from his horse-breaking business in the circus might have given Rudi a new lease of life, something to get his teeth into once he’d accepted the fact he’d never ride again. It hadn’t improved his tolerance level, though.
Sergey tapped his foot in the dust in the centre of the makeshift arena as Minnie and May clambered back astride the two horses and circled again, and again.
The circus had proved a great investment, not just for Rudi but for all of them. Life was looking up until his troubled little brother had taken matters into his own hands and insisted on accepting the wretched job as nightwatchman at the pawnbrokers in Hobart. Why Nikolas couldn’t have been happy with the circus Sergey had no idea. He pulled his weight, did as much as he was able. Not everyone had the timing or the balance to be a trick rider. Much like Minnie and May. Perhaps he was expecting too much of the two girls.
A cry from May made him lift his head. His gaze tracked their pointed fingers and his breath hitched.
With her golden hair streaming behind her, Catherine flew down the hill, the sun gleaming off her as brightly as it did her immaculately groomed horse.
His hovering lethargy, and all thoughts of anything else, vanished.
A smile crept across her face as she crested the hill. Nestled in the valley like a crop of mushrooms, the white circus tents billowed in the breeze. Squeezing her knees against Bessie’s flanks she raced down, waves of ridiculous excitement surging through her.
Using some rocks from the riverbank, they’d created an arena and Sergey stood in the middle, arms folded, tapping his foot and shaking his head. Even from this distance she could tell he wasn’t impressed.
Before Bessie had the chance to heed her command to stop she leapt from the saddle and Timmy appeared from nowhere. ‘You want to stay away from Sergey, he’s worse than Rudi.’
‘What’s the problem?’
He bent down and picked up her disreputable cabbage-palm hat and handed it to her. ‘Rudi’s decided we need some more acts since Valentina hasn’t turned up. He wants Minnie and May to take over. They just can’t seem to get the hang of it. The two of them can manage six backward somersaults and a handspring in the blink of an eye. Put them on a horse and …’ He rolled his eyes heavenward. ‘Sacks of rotten potatoes.’
‘You got here much sooner that I expected. I thought it would take longer to dismantle everything.’
‘Rudi got some bee in his bonnet about not wanting to do any more shows if there wasn’t a decent audience and so we started packing up pretty much as soon as Sergey came back and told Rudi about your offer of a campsite.’
‘Rudi thought it was a good idea to move camp?’
‘Rudi’s only interested in the takings, anything that saves money is a good idea. And Valentina, that’s probably why he’s in such a mood.’
‘Right.’ Try as she may to look interested in Timmy’s round up of events, she couldn’t stop her eyes drifting to Sergey standing in the middle of the ring beneath a thundercloud of irritation. Minnie and May did look like sacks of potatoes, their natural grace and fluid movements completely overshadowed by their stiff uncomfortable seat. They both appeared terrified. ‘Thanks for looking after Bessie. I won’t be long.’
‘Not a problem.’ Timmy ambled off in the direction of the river. ‘Catch you later. Bessie’ll be in the horse yard.’
A whip cracked and she spun around. Rudi stood in the arena next to Sergey and the two women were hanging on for grim death as Rudi forced the horses faster and faster. ‘For God’s sake, put some spirit into it. If you can’t do any better than that …’
Minnie pulled up and catapulted to the ground and May followed two seconds later. Both horses shied and backed across the ring. ‘We’re no pinch artists. These are Valentina’s tricks. We’re acrobats, contortionists. Do it yourself, you’re the equestrians.’ They flounced out of the arena in tandem, their matching heads bobbing in time to their wild gestures.
Sergey’s soft whistle brought the two horses to his side, their nostrils quivering with interest as he produced a couple of apples.
‘Sergey!’
His face broke into a welcoming grin and she as good as ran the last twenty yards. ‘This is a nice surprise.’ He smoothed his hand down one of the horse’s nose and beamed at her.
‘Just what we need. Another bloody surprise.’ Rudi cracked his whip at nothing and stormed off.
She raised her eyebrows in question.
Sergey just shook his head and grimaced. ‘Rudi’s feeling the pinch. He forgets that all these tricks take time to master. Not everyone can do them. Valentina makes it looks so simple but she’s been at it for years.’
‘You could make it a little easier for them.’
‘Minnie and May? How am I supposed to do that? Both of them are scared witless of the horses and as soon as they’re anywhere near an animal they freeze. No amount of effort will make it any easier. They need practice.’
She ran her hand over the velvet muzzle of one of the horses. ‘Are they used to riding without saddles?’
He shrugged. Sergey had the same attitude as Rudi. Everything came so naturally to him he just couldn’t seem to understand that trick riding wasn’t as easy as he made it look.
‘Maybe if you started with something less demanding.’
He glared at her. ‘What’s demanding about cantering around a ring?’
Perhaps she’d overstepped the mark but the tear-stained faces and downturned mouths of the two girls who were usually so joyful made her heart bleed. ‘Can I show you something?’
She took the one of the bridles from him, her mouth dry. She might make a fool of herself but Archie made her work Bessie bareback. He said it was the only way to get to know an animal and these horses, unlike Bessie, were used to an arena. They knew what was expected of them.
Without mounting she walked one of the horses around and around. The horse had been trying so hard to please that he was confused. However, after a couple of laps he stepped out and once he knew what was expected the tension drained from him.
Sergey stood scowling with his arms folded, one foot tapping up and down. Knowing he wouldn’t put up with her interference for much longer she drew alongside him, her heart in her mouth and her blood pounding. She had to prove her point. ‘Can you give me a leg up?’
‘Not a good idea. They’ve had enough.’
‘Just for a moment, please.’ She took off her hat and lowered it to the ground careful not to spook the horses. Sergey was caught in some sort of battle. She could tell he wanted to put his foot down and say no but his curiosity was killing him. He hadn’t expected the horse to settle so quickly. If he thought she couldn’t ride bareback or manage an unknown horse he was in for a surprise. She never shied away from a challenge, certainly not one she thought she could win.
‘I can mount from one of the rocks if you’d prefer. I thought this might be a more gentle introduction for the horse to a new rider.’
He let out a huff and narrowed his eyes at her. She smiled and looked pointedly at his hands then he interlaced his fingers.
Holding her breath she slipped her foot into his hands and sprang up, lowering herself gently onto the horse. His ears flickered and he skittered sideways. Once she’d settled onto his back, her legs hanging long and loose and her hands simply resting on the reins, she clicked her tongue.
The horse stepped forward, lifting his legs high, his hooves picking daintily on the ground, and then began a slow canter around the ring.
‘Sit deep,’ Sergey murmured as she passed him. ‘Legs back a little.’
She brought her shoulders up.
‘That’s it. Don’t tip forward.’
She hadn’t needed to do anything, the horse knew what was expected of him and by the time she’d completed two more circuits he’d settled into a rhythmic gait.
Sergey mounted Tsar and followed right behind her. Two laps, three and then he peeled off and brought the horse to the centre of the ring. She followed until they were side by side.
In one fluid movement Sergey switched to her horse, sitting behind her. The tang of his sweat filled her nostrils and his warmth radiated against her back as she sat cradled between his muscled thighs. He clicked his tongue and the horse moved forward into a canter.
His hands touched her back and the next thing she knew he was standing, standing behind her, arms outstretched as they cantered around the arena.
She dropped the reins and spread her arms wide. A great bubble of elation rose inside her. Free, soaring like birds. She never wanted it to end.
After another lap of the ring, the horse’s muscles bunched beneath her, and without seeming to do anything Sergey was once again seated behind her.
‘You’ve done this before.’ His words, barely above a whisper, sent a streak of heat down her back.
‘Never.’
‘Archie knows his stuff. He’s taught you well.’ And he was gone, back astride Tsar.
‘Follow me, let the horse take the lead.’ He threw the words over his shoulder and guided Tsar back to the outside of the ring and began a slow canter.
Without a word of command her horse followed and they circled the ring. Then Sergey slowed and her horse picked its feet up high. Forward in a trot, then halt, then trot again.
She mirrored every one of his movements, no standing but arms spread, reins free leaving the horse to follow his well-established routine.
Finally Sergey swivelled around until he sat facing Tsar’s rump. ‘Time for a break.’ He pulled up and sprang to the ground, murmured something, and ran his hand slowly down Tsar’s neck, thanking him. Then he dropped the reins and turned to her. ‘Down you come.’
She lifted her leg to slide down and his big hands grasped her around the waist and lowered her, spinning her around once before settling her feet back down on the ground.
He scratched his head and wiped a hand down his face. ‘If you can do it, why can’t Minnie and May?’
‘Because they’re frightened.’
‘Frightened? What of? You’re not, are you?’
‘No. But I can’t remember when I wasn’t on horseback. And I had a wonderful teacher. You made me relax.’
He let out a huge sigh. ‘That’s what Rudi says is important, but it doesn’t solve my problem. How am I going to get the girls to relax? Rudi wants another act.’
‘Let’s walk down to the river. The horses need a drink and so do I.’ What she had to say wasn’t going to go down well but it had to be said. ‘They’re frightened of you and Rudi and worried they will lose their jobs if they can’t do what you want.’
‘They’re the only ones who can fill the gap Valentina has left. Can you see any of the band riding, the slack-rope walkers, or perhaps Jymie with his juggling balls and flaming hoops?’
The picture brought a smile to her lips.
‘Rudi can’t either. He was a master in his heyday. Just not anymore, not since his accident.’
‘What happened?’
‘It’s where his temper and preference for too much rum comes in. He fell, got trampled, messed up his legs badly. No one expected him to walk again. He’s proved us all wrong. He knew he couldn’t keep his horse-breaking business alive so when the circus came up for sale he leapt at the chance.’
They’d reached the river and Sergey walked the two horses into the water where they snuffled and paddled in the shallows. Catherine pulled off her boots and waded in, enjoying the shock of the icy water cooling her blood. She hadn’t realised how nervous she’d been. Sweat had stuck her shirt to her back and the midday sun beating down hot and hard on her head had made her hair damp.
Sergey slumped down in the shade, his gaze raking her. What was he going to say? Berate her for telling him the truth? Think her bigheaded because she’d pushed herself forwards. What if she’d made a mistake and something had happened to one of their precious horses? She’d taken quite a risk, although he’d encouraged her. The truth was she’d enjoyed the challenge. Now if she’d been on Bessie, a horse she knew, how much more could she show him?
A thrill trickled through her at the memory of Sergey astride Tsar rearing on his back legs, balanced like a statute above the crowd. She let out a long slow breath and kicked at the water. How she’d love to learn more of the tricks Sergey and Valentina performed.
‘Would you do something for me?’
Her head shot up. ‘I beg your pardon. I was miles away.’
‘It’s asking a lot, particularly after you’ve been so kind allowing us to use your land.’
‘Asking what?’
He sprang up, his body suddenly alive with energy once again. ‘Would you help the girls?’
‘Help them?’
‘Yes. Teach them. If, as you say, they are scared then perhaps a woman’s touch …’ His eyes widened and the hint of a smile lifted the corner of his lips. How could she refuse him?
‘I’m no expert.’ Not compared to him, or Rudi. Surely one of them would be the better teacher, or even Archie. ‘It’s just because I have ridden for so long. It’s like second nature, no different from walking.’
‘Now you sound like Rudi. He taught both Valentina and me to ride.’ He gave a frustrated kick and sent a cascade of water in her direction. It landed on her shirt making damp splotches. ‘Perhaps you have Cossack blood, like Rudi. Do you?’ Sergey asked. ‘A Cossack child is taught to ride from birth. By three years old he’s competent. Our life with the circus isn’t so different from Rudi’s ancestors, specific customs, rules and traditions based on simplicity.’
Apart from the fact she’d been taught to ride so early, there was nothing about her life that resembled that of the Cossacks. Certainly not the simplicity part. ‘I can’t teach Minnie and May to ride. I know nothing of your skills and tricks.’
‘But you can teach the girls the most important thing they need before they can succeed. Confidence.’
‘Confidence?’ Minnie and May had bucket loads, more confidence than she had. She, who right at this very moment was concerned she’d offended Rudi, and worse Sergey. She, who didn’t dare front Bartholomew and call him to task about this ridiculous marriage.
‘You’re the most confident woman I have ever met. Brave and determined too. Look what you did for your father. How many women would take matters into their own hands and succeed?’
‘I wouldn’t have succeeded if you hadn’t happened along the road.’
‘Then it was a lucky day for both of us.’ He held out his hand and pulled her close. For a moment or two they stood hands clasped, fingers intertwined. A slow prickling sensation danced up her spine until the hairs on the back of her neck lifted. She pulled her hands free.
‘So will you do it?’
Do what? Throw Bartholomew aside and claim what was rightfully hers or be brow beaten into submission. ‘What would you have me do?’
‘Work with the girls. Help them with their confidence and then we’ll introduce a few simple routines to keep the audience amused until Valentina arrives.’
It would be churlish to refuse, especially after the help he’d given her. ‘Yes I will.’
‘You’ll come every day.’ Excitement danced in his eyes, making him look boyish and full of enthusiasm. A Sergey she’d never glimpsed.
‘I can come every day for an hour or two, I have other matters to attend to.’ The property. The house. The account ledgers. Bartholomew. Somehow she had to make a decision.
‘In that case we’ve no time to waste. He grabbed her hand again and dragged her back to the horses. ‘Up you go. It’s important for you to understand what I’ll be requiring of the girls.’
She settled onto the horse’s back as he leapt astride and danced Tsar sideways across the grassy plain. ‘Now you try.’
She didn’t know how to tell the horse to do this. She sat there like a stodgy lump.
He rode back to where she was sitting. ‘Just line him up. He’ll come when I call. Relax.’
She brought her horse’s head around and Sergey let out a short whistle. Tsar moved once again, side stepping with the delicacy of a waltzing debutante.
With a tiny shift of her weight the horse lifted his feet and followed Sergey. The bubble of excitement returned. Oh, she wanted to do all of those tricks! Most especially the one where Sergey walked his horse on its hind legs then brought it to a statuesque standstill.
‘Now we will pirouette. Hup!’ The horse picked up his feet and pranced in circles around and around until Catherine was light headed and giddy.
Trick after trick until her mind swirled and her body ached. She had done nothing except follow where Sergey and Tsar led.
‘That’s enough for one day. You’re a natural.’
And it had felt natural, as though she’d waited all her life for just this moment. ‘It’s time I left. I must go and find Timmy; he’s looking after Bessie. Archie and Mrs Duffen will be wondering where I am.’
‘Would you like me to escort you?’
As much as she’d like to spend more time with this man, this fascinating man, she had to go home and face her demons. ‘No, that’s not necessary. I’ve ridden the property for so long I know every twist and turn.’
He raised her hand and dropped a kiss onto the back of her fingers. ‘You’ll come again tomorrow?’
She nodded and rode up to the enclosure where Timmy stood waiting. She slid down, her muscles screaming, and mounted Bessie, settling into the familiar security of her saddle. A long soak in a warm bath was in order tonight.
‘Until tomorrow.’ Sergey reached up and took her hand, squeezed it in a lingering caress that set her heart thudding in the oddest way. ‘If ever you change your mind and would like to become a circus rider just let me know.’
With a laugh she rode away into the lengthening afternoon shadows. That was the stuff of dreams.
‘Well, look at you. That’s more like it.’ Archie took Bessie’s reins and led her into the stables. ‘Nice bit of fresh air and exercise has brought the bloom back to your cheeks.’
Catherine schooled her expression. The fresh air had certainly cleared some of the cobwebs from her mind, however she doubted the flush on her face had much to do with the air. More the waves of euphoria flooding her body since she’d left the circus camp. Not since she left, from the moment she’d mounted the circus horse in the ring. The prospect of going back tomorrow and the next day filled her with a dizzying excitement. The only cloud hovering on the horizon was the knowledge that the circus would soon be leaving. She wouldn’t think of that right now. She’d simply enjoy what the next few days offered.
‘Mrs Duffen’s looking for you. Said you missed your dinner and she’s worrying that you’re not eating. Doesn’t look as though it’s doing you much harm, though.’ He threw her a wink, which reignited the colour in her face.
With a skip she bolted through the archway and into the courtyard before Archie could examine her any further. That was the trouble, Archie’d known her all her life and he could read her like a book. He’d always been good at that. Said if he could read a horse, reading a man or a woman was easy.
She stopped in her tracks. The image of Sergey’s brooding face changing to a radiant smile filled her vision. Had he read her and had she played right into his hands? If you change your mind and would like to become a circus rider just let me know.
She couldn’t even dream about it, and she had too much to do if she wanted to return to the camp tomorrow. She’d told De Silva she’d go over the accounts and make a decision. The ride had cleared her mind, now maybe she’d attack the ledgers and find a way to keep Cottington without marrying Bartholomew. No matter what Pa thought he wanted, it would be a betrayal to hand everything over and move to Sydney. ‘I’m back, Mrs Duffen. I’ll be in Pa’s study.’
‘About time too.’ Mrs Duffen appeared in the hallway, wiping her hands on her apron. ‘Where, may I ask, have you been?’
‘Out riding.’
‘I can see that.’ She tipped her nose in the air and gave a loud sniff. ‘And you smell as though you have been rolling in the hay. Get yourself upstairs and cleaned up.’
‘I’ve got some things to do first.’
‘No, you haven’t. Get upstairs.’
‘Can you send Susy up with the ledgers, please. They’re on Pa’s desk in the study.’
‘I’ll do that and you give her those disgusting clothes. I’ve no idea when they were last washed.’
Catherine let out a huge sigh. Handing over her breeches wasn’t an option. What would she wear tomorrow? She couldn’t go down to the circus camp dressed in a velvet riding habit, perched sidesaddle. ‘My breeches are fine. They don’t need a wash. I’ll hang them up and let the air get to them. Bessie got a bit flustered. I may have ridden her too hard.’ Where had that come from?
‘Upstairs with you and hurry up.’
Taking the stairs two at a time, Catherine made for her bedchamber.
Archie was right, the trip to the circus camp had dispersed the heavy clouds hanging over her and despite all the riding today she had more energy than she’d had since Pa died.
It wasn’t so much his death as much as she missed him, longed for the evenings they’d spent talking and reading. He was in a better place than the past two pain-wracked years, but the repercussions, the paperwork, De Silva’s concern about her ability to manage and, worst of all, Gatenby’s visit threatened to make her life a misery. She had to make Bartholomew understand she couldn’t marry him. Not in three weeks, not on July the seventh. Never.
‘Are these the books you wanted, miss?’ Susy edged into the room and placed the ledgers side by side on Catherine’s bureau. ‘Mrs Duffen said I was to take your dirty clothes.’
‘I’ll change later and please don’t wash my breeches. Simply sponge them. I’ll be riding again tomorrow.’
She’d sort out this money business once and for all, then write a letter to Bartholomew and formally decline his offer of marriage. There was no point in him making unnecessary arrangements, as he had with Pa’s funeral. Besides, she’d already made up her mind. Femme sole. The only question that remained was the best way to achieve it.
A prickle of shame traced her skin. She was in mourning but so far removed from the picture she had painted for Gatenby. It was tantamount to a lie. She shook her head and peered into the mirror. No hedging. She’d lied. She would always mourn Pa but life must go on. She had a property to manage and she couldn’t destroy the hopes and dreams of a hundred and sixty-seven people who called Cottington Hill home.
By the time she’d thumbed her way through pages and pages of De Silva’s neat columns and rows of figures her head was spinning. No matter which way she twisted the totals, marriage to Bartholomew was the most obvious solution to Cottington’s financial woes. Pa had been right. She slammed the books closed. Damn it to hell. There must be another way.