Once the crowds dispersed and the hustle and bustle came to an end, a glorious peace descended on the circus camp. Everyone wound down and took time to relax before they headed off to bed.
‘There you go, Timmy, thanks.’ Sergey handed the reins of his horse to the young groom and slipped on the shirt he offered. ‘He deserves a good feed. They both do.’
‘Nice show tonight.’ A second groom, Zac, took Valentina’s horse and they disappeared behind the circle of tents to the stables at the back of the hotel. The horses were in good hands. They had to be, for without them Rudi’s Equestrian Circus wouldn’t exist.
‘You get them every time with that counting stuff.’ Valentina slipped her hand through his arm. ‘How do you get him to do it?’
‘Tsar can count. I’ve told you that before.’
‘Rubbish. You pull on his mane, stamp your foot, blink or something.’
‘Believe me, I don’t. He made a mistake tonight. He’s supposed to count all the ladies, not just one.’ Sergey hadn’t the time or the inclination to dally with one woman, any woman. He couldn’t. He had no idea what the future held. Five years of fruitless searching gave a man a lot of time to think, a lot of time to learn where his priorities lay.
‘Maybe Tsar knows more than you think. You couldn’t take your eyes from her.’
‘From who?’ As if he didn’t know the answer, and Valentina was right, she’d caught his attention. Not that he’d admit it to anyone, except perhaps his big sister. It was her hair, when her hat had fallen off. He’d never seen anything like it, the colour of sunshine, and eyes as blue as a summer sky. One of the Australians they liked to call cornstalks. Her family must have been amongst some of the first settlers, although her father had the look of London about him with that ridiculous top hat and flamboyant waistcoat.
‘The woman with the hair.’ Valentina tossed her own back from her face, black as the night sky, same as his.
‘Unusual colouring, that’s all. Took me by surprise. Now come on, Rudi’s waiting, wants a word.’ Sergey picked up the pace and crossed the camp to the largest of the tents grouped around the flickering fire pit. Inside the lamplight shone, throwing Rudi’s silhouette against the canvas, hunched over the table, his perpetual bottle of rum at his elbow.
‘Do you think Rudi’s any better?’ Valentina tugged on Sergey’s arm to slow him down and lowered her voice. ‘He seems to be drinking a lot more. That’s what he does when he’s in pain.’
‘He’s never out of pain. Won’t ever be. Lucky he can still manage to put one foot in front of the other.’
‘It breaks his heart not to ride anymore.’
There was no doubt about that. Hard enough for any man but for a man with Cossack blood it was as good as a death sentence. The accident had robbed Rudi of his will to live and it was only when the opportunity to buy the circus had come up that he’d found a new way to use his skills. ‘We’re lucky he found an alternative, and he’s got you.’
‘Me?’ Valentina arched a winged eyebrow at him.
‘His protégée.’
‘And you’re not?’
‘He lives his dreams through us now.’ A strange thought for a man who was only ten years older than he was. If it hadn’t been for Rudi, he wouldn’t have had the chance to become a horseman. He’d have ended up like his father, hidden behind a scorching fire heaving irons, a blacksmith. ‘Come on. Let’s not keep him waiting.’
When they walked into the tent Rudi lifted his head, gave a quick grunt and returned to tallying the final monies in his ledger before shutting the tin box with a satisfied bang.
‘Another successful evening?’
‘Down a bit on the last couple of weeks, but good enough.’
‘So we’re back on the road?’ Sergey brought two stools to the other side of the table and helped himself to some rum. ‘Valentina?’
She shook her head and sat down, arranging her brilliant blue cape around her shoulders as though she were still the centre of attention.
‘There’s no point staying in Sydney any longer. One more show tomorrow night before we head off.’ Rudi tapped at the table where a roll of animal skin lay. ‘Time to try new pastures.’
‘What’s the plan?’ One more show would suit Sergey down to the ground. The sooner they got out of the city, the happier he’d be. The claustrophobic atmosphere and seething mass of people made him long for some wide-open spaces and uninterrupted sky. Besides, he’d exhausted every avenue in Sydney.
‘I thought we might head inland. Lots of settlers in the Hunter with money to spend on a night at the circus.’ Rudi unfurled the animal skin and laid it on the table, smoothing it flat with his two big paws.
‘What’ve you got there?’
‘What does it look like? A map.’
Sergey frowned and leant closer. Maps were hard, if not impossible, to come by. Rudi had pulled strings. ‘Where did you get it?’
‘Reinvested some of the profits. Picked it up from a bloke who works in the Government Survey Office.’
‘It covers the whole of south-eastern Australia.’
‘Yep. Compiled from the exploratory expeditions. Got all the roads and tracks marked, too.’
A whistle sneaked out between Sergey’s teeth. It couldn’t be an original, would have to be a copy, it looked like kangaroo skin; an original would be on parchment. Someone making a quid or two on the side. He ran his finger over the coastline, the route they’d spent the last eighteen months travelling from Port Phillip, up the coast and onto Sydney. ‘Must’ve set you back a bit.’
Rudi shrugged his heavy shoulders. ‘A bit, more importantly a swag of tickets for the last two weeks’ performances. I reckon it’s worth it. You know as well as I do moving the circus takes planning. No point finding ourselves stuck in the middle of nowhere, jammed between a swollen river and a mountain range. We need to go where the people go and roads mean people.’
Or one person in particular.
‘I’ve been asking around. Place called Maitland. It seems we can either backtrack across the Hawkesbury River then take the road through Wollombi.’ He traced the route with a stubby finger then looked up and pinned Sergey with a fierce stare. ‘Or take the paddle steamer to Newcastle and up the Hunter River to Morpeth.’ He stabbed at the coastline and then followed a winding line inland. ‘Much quicker.’ He slammed his palm down on the table. ‘We’ll do that.’
‘With five wagons, three drays and more than twenty-five horses?’ A vision of some overloaded half-sunken ark wallowing in the ocean off Sydney Heads flashed through Sergey’s mind.
‘More than one paddle steamer.’
‘It’ll cost.’ They’d need to split the troupe, send some ahead, a day or two apart.
‘Money but not time.’
Sergey smoothed the kangaroo skin and picked out the route up the coastline then inland along the river from Newcastle. ‘Green Hills?’
‘They call it Morpeth now. Map’s a few years old. It’s just a hop and a skip to Maitland. It’s a thriving town, spend a few weeks there and see what’s what.’
Thriving communities meant businesses; businesses meant money, or the need for money, and that meant pawnshops and pubs—the sort of places all manner of low-life congregated. His fists balled in his pockets, the taste of revenge thick on his lips.
‘Nothing this side of hell, and maybe not even that, would induce me to set foot on another ship.’ Valentina puffed out her cheeks and waved her hand in front of her face. ‘I’ll travel by road.’
‘That’s ridiculous.’
Her eyebrows rose high up her forehead and she peered down her long straight nose. ‘I’ll not travel by boat ever again, certainly not on the ocean. Whether it’s a sailing ship or a steam kettle.’
‘Paddle steamers. Takes only a few hours. It will be very pleasant.’
‘No. I’ll travel by road.’
‘Don’t be difficult. We’ll dine at the Quay, board the steamer, breakfast at Newcastle and arrive in Morpeth in a matter of a few hours,’ said Rudi. ‘Travel to Maitland, set up camp and be comfortably established by nightfall.
‘Think of the time it will save for a little inconvenience and days fighting over all those gluepot, corduroy roads.’
‘She won’t do it.’ Sergey rocked back in his chair. He understood his sister’s refusal; she’d suffered appallingly on the journey from Van Diemen’s Land. The moment the ship left Hobart wharf her face had turned a delicate shade of green. ‘Let her go. Dan and Hawke can go with her.’ He didn’t want to be subjected to weeks of complaints and the tirades they’d suffered after the last trip.
‘So when we arrive in Maitland I’ll be minus my tent men and our leading lady.’ Rudi hit his fist on the lid of his takings box. ‘We’ll be lucky to see money like this for a while if we’ve only got half a show.’
‘Sergey’s well able to entertain the crowd, and quite strong enough to sort out the tent with some help from the grooms. You can manage without me for a week or so. Minnie and May and the other girls can extend their performances. They’ll be happy with the extra attention. Jymie can entertain the crowd for hours with his juggling tricks, especially now he has those flaming hoops. Besides, I have some business to attend to before I leave Sydney.’
‘What kind of business?’
‘Nothing to concern you, little brother of mine.’
Rudi threw up his hands and rolled his eyes. ‘It’s impossible to argue with you two when you side against me.’ He flicked his whip in a playful manner, narrowly missing Valentina’s long booted leg. ‘So be it. I’ll make arrangements for the troupe to leave as soon as the paddle steamers can accommodate us.’
‘I’ll make my own arrangements. We’ll take four horses and arrive fresh and rested in a little less than a week.’
So be it. Anything would be better than his sister throwing her heart up.
He stood, turned to leave then stopped. ‘Valentina, have you a moment?’ He needed to get to the bottom of this Sydney business. Trouble followed his sister like the legion of admirers who swarmed to her every performance.
She raised an eyebrow in question then thought better of it, threw Rudi an apologetic smile and nodded.
‘Walk with me.’ Sergey led the way into the big tent, quiet and empty after their earlier performance. ‘What’s this business you have to attend to?’
‘I’m not sure it’s anything to do with you.’
He huffed out a sigh. ‘It has plenty to do with me as you very well know. Are you up to your old tricks again? You promised that was all over.’ What was the little minx planning? Had some bauble caught her eye? That was the last thing they needed.
‘It has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with that. I made a promise to Batya and I’ll honour it.’
Promises were important. He understood that only too well, especially the ones they’d made to their father on his deathbed. ‘Perhaps it would be better if I waited and travelled the Great North Road with you.’
Her eyes flashed and her hands stole to her hips, a familiar sign. ‘You’ll do no such thing. If you must know, I have a dinner engagement and I don’t intend to take my little brother along.’
‘A dinner engagement?’
‘Yes. I have an admirer. Is that so hard to understand?’
No, of course it wasn’t. Every man in every audience had his eyes on Valentina, most of the women as well. The first equestrienne in New South Wales was a novelty.
‘In case it’s slipped your notice I’m no longer a child. Besides,’ she stuck out her lower lip, ‘I’m entitled to a little romance in my life. So are you, my brother dearest.’ She patted his arm. ‘Perhaps you should chase up the lovely young lady who caught your eye tonight.’
‘Whatever are you talking about?’ He turned away. Damn Valentina and her sharp eyes.
‘Don’t give me that nonsense. I saw your face.’ She tossed her black mane, then coiled a curl around her finger before tucking it behind her ear. ‘I’d give anything for hair that colour.’
‘I was simply concerned she’d been embarrassed by Tsar’s antics.’
‘And you would like to make it up to her.’
‘Of course. I’ve no idea what prompted Tsar to pull that stunt.’
‘Perhaps your horse knows more of your heart than you’re prepared to admit. Unlike you, I have nothing to hide. I’ve been invited to dine and I intend to accept. One night, just one night, and then I’ll be on the road and right behind you. I’ll be in Maitland before you know it. Dan and Hawke will be ample protection from any bushrangers or other undesirables and besides, Rudi can’t manage without you.’
‘Rudi would have Dan and Hawke if I accompanied you.’ If Rudi got wind of her assignation he’d forcibly restrain her. He guarded his circus’s reputation like a dingo with a carcass. Only yesterday he’d fined two of the grooms five shillings each for swearing and given two of the slack-rope walkers a talking-to for fluttering their eyelashes.
‘It’s not necessary. I’m entitled to my own freedom and I’m in no danger.’
‘You’re always in danger. Any woman travelling alone is in danger.’ Any woman who couldn’t keep her hands in her pockets, away from temptation.
‘How many times do I have to tell you I’ll not be alone? Dan and Hawke will take care of me.’
‘Answer me one question. Should I know anything more about this meeting, this assignation?’
‘Rest easy.’ Did he imagine it or did those familiar brown eyes slide away from him? ‘I’ve told you. It’s to do with me. Something for myself. I know what I’m doing.’
‘You make certain Dan and Hawke are with you.’
‘I am definitely not taking two muscle-bound rope walkers to dinner.’
‘Oh, Valentina, what am I to do with you?’ He dropped a kiss onto the top of her head. ‘Be sensible. Let them escort you and wait outside until your dinner is over.’
‘I’ll do that.’ She turned up her face and he kissed her forehead before she walked away. And with that he had to be satisfied. She did deserve something for herself after all this time, and what difference would one evening with an admirer make? She was a grown woman, five years older than him.
He wandered back into the tent where Rudi had his nose still buried in the map. ‘Change her mind?’
‘Not a hope in hell.’ Rudi didn’t need to know about this man who was courting Valentina. ‘I can see her point. She was ill for the whole voyage to the mainland. She’d be no use in the ring for at least a week. Cut your losses. It can’t take her more than a few days.’
‘You’re going to have to make some changes to the performance. Spend more time in the ring and have a word with Minnie and May. They can organise the girls to do more rope walking and something else. Get them to turn themselves inside out and wrap around a chair or two, that should go down well. See what Jymie can come up with. Those flaming hoops went down a storm the other night.’ Rudi threw the words over his shoulder, his eyes glued to the map. He was up to something.
‘What’re you looking at? I thought you had the route planned.’
‘Distances, places. This place here.’ He stabbed at the map. ‘A place called Ophir, out west. There’s been a bit of talk. A bloke called Hargreaves reckons he’s discovered gold in the area.’
‘It’s nothing new. They’ve been talking about it for years. Gold’s been found all over the place. The government decided to give him some acknowledgement. Granted him a pension or some such thing. Half his luck.’
‘We’re better off. We’ve been pulling hundreds a night. The Hunter will be just as good. They’re starved for entertainment outside Sydney.’
So they were off to the Hunter. Just as well because he’d exhausted every back alley, every pawnshop, every dubious haunt in The Rocks and around the harbour.