The Girl Who Joined the Circus (The Dark Circus Book 1) by H.P. Mallory & J.R. Rain

Author:H.P. Mallory & J.R. Rain [Mallory, H.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rain Press
Published: 2022-07-09T18:30:00+00:00

***

“Hey, there ya are.” Halfrieda waved me into one of the nearby train rooms. “Where’d ya wander off to?”

I came through the door and flopped onto the lower bunk. This room included four bunks but luckily, it was just Halfrieda, Valida and me. “Laurent wants my portrait on the newest poster to promote the circus, and Gesso was sketching me. Unfortunately, the twins aren’t too happy about having to share the limelight.”

“Ooh, eetz wonderful zat Laurent chose you for zee poster!” Balthazar’s head dangled from Valida’s neck as she let out a delighted squeal. “Eet eez quite zee honor to have your portrait done by Gesso.”

“Yeah, an’ so soon after ya joined our little troupe,” Halfrieda added. “I ain’t never been featured on any poster. ‘Course, a woman with a beard…”

“If you want to be on this one, I’ll happily step down and let you replace me,” I moaned. “Apparently, I’m taking up precious space from the twins.”

Halfrieda inhaled sharply between her teeth. “Oooh, no thank ya.”

“I vould zooner pack zee tent all by myself zan be forced to pose with zose two princesses.”

Balthazar slinked down the top bunk of the train car, his tongue flickering curiously in the air. I held out my arm, and my skin tingled when he wrapped his cold body around it. “Is it… is it true that Laurent has… relations with all the female members of the circus?” I asked, feeling sheepish.

Halfrieda snorted, taking a seat on the opposite bed as she untied her work boots. “Nah, I ain’t never seen Laurent be anythin’ but professional. Don’t you listen to a word them girls say, Miss Bindi, they’re jist a pair o’ petty prisses, those two. An’ they ain’t gonna put lyin’ past them if it means they get under yer skin.”

I nodded and couldn’t help the relief that soared through me at her words. I just didn’t want to imagine that the only reason Laurent was showing me such kindness was because he wanted to get me into his bed, just like every other woman. It was a relief to know he wasn’t like that. Or, at least, I hoped Halfrieda knew what she was talking about.

“When did they join Cirque du Noir?” I asked.

“Zey arrived a few days after I did. Nozzing but a sniveling pair of pampered princesses, zey are.”

“Well, I’m takin’ me a nap afore dinner.” Halfrieda yawned, pulling the covers over her body before rolling over.

I carefully rolled over and felt Balthazar slither over to me as he settled on the nape of my neck. A nap couldn’t hurt. Especially after what little sleep I’d gotten the night before. With a yawn, I let my eyes flutter shut. Lulled by the vibration and rhythm of the train’s motion on the tracks, I soon drifted off.

A quiet rapping on the door of the train car stirred me from a deep sleep.

Maybe my instincts were heightened after all the strange things I’d seen over the last few days because I was instantly alert, albeit a little dazed, from the sudden interruption.

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