Wicked and Wonderful Read Online Free PDF Page B

use between the real meat of our performances and yet we are required to arrange our lives around her safety.” He addressed Judith directly. “Ye are scarcely more than a lady of the chorus and no better than an opera dancer, whatever ye pretend to be.”
    John intervened. “That’s enough, Charles.” he said sharply. “Judy’s voice has brought in the shillings when our best tragedy could not, so I will hear no more from ye on that head. But there is something else.” Without warning, he jerked the shirt from Judith’s hands and waved it in the air. “There is not a village where we perform that she does not leave clothes fer the poor. And yes, I know that some of the ladies help as well but do ye have even a speck of an idea how kindly we are looked upon fer that? Most gentlefolk scorn troupes like ours, but Judy has opened doors we otherwise could not. This part of our reputation is known all over the kingdom.”
    Judith had never heard John so vehement on the subject before, but now she felt embarrassed. She had never meant to have her one little effort at charity to be paraded before the troupe in such a manner. She was certain the effect would only be to increase the resentment toward her. There was nothing to be done, however.
    “I believe you make too much of the matter,” she said firmly, taking the shirt from him. “And if you have lost my needle, I shall insist you purchase another one for me.”
    She met John’s gaze and shook her head. Even Margaret understood the volatility of the situation and laid a hand on her husband’s arm.
    Charles grew sullen, turning to sit on a log beside Horace who scooted away from him. He picked up a stick and poked angrily at the fire so that sparks rose in the air.
    “Wat do we do then?” Betty called out.
    Freddy sitting next to her groaned loudly and exclaimed, “Zeus, Betty. Do ye never eat anything but onions?”
    Betty laughed heartily at this, slapped Freddy on the back and blew her breath on his face. “Oy am particularly fond o’ onions and Mrs. Marnhull says I may eat as many o’ them as I like.” She rose and moved to stand near Charles. Lifting a challenging brow to Judith, she said, “I quite agree with Charlie. We should stay. And if proper Miss Judith can’t manage the gentl’men, I shall be happy to do so for her.” She swung her hips, clucked her tongue, and rolled her eyes.
    Margaret covered Shelly’s eyes. “Betty,” she complained.
    “Aw, she’ll learn soon enough.” Betty responded. She sat down at the long bench next to the table and this time blew her breath on Bobby.
    In response, he gave her a strong pinch. A row might have erupted had Henry not suddenly said, “I will help take every tent down, I am that convinced we should leave. John, will ye not agree with me?
    John tilted his head. “Our camp is all but settled, as ye can plainly see, and Judy is not troubled, not by half. I am that sorry, Henry, but I believe we should stay.”
    The majority of the actors added their agreement to John’s pronouncement. Henry grimaced a little more, breathing hard through his nostrils.
    John, always ready to navigate swiftly the shoals of troupe tensions, added, “Since I can see that ye are overset, wat do ye say to three days? If Kelthorne has bothered any of the ladies during that time, then we shall follow yer bidding and move on to Devonshire.”
    “Oy wouldna mind if Kelthorne bothered me,” Betty called out. “Judy, if he sets to pestering ye, give him a nudge in my direction.”
    Bobby jumped to his feet, stepping several feet away from Betty. “I agree, Judy. If ye need protection, send Betty. Her dragon’s breath would slay a thousand rogues.”
    Laughter passed round the troupe once more. After a moment, John reverted to the subject at hand. “Henry, will ye agree to that?”
    “I don’t see as I have been given a choice.”
    “What say ye, troupe?” John asked. “Those fer three days, say aye.”
    The resounding