The Magpie's Sister by Kerri Turner

Author:Kerri Turner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, historical fiction, family, circus, lies, secrets, deception, relationships, friends, friendship, Sydney, Australia, circus drama, women, historical circus, circus performers, tight rope walker, stardom, circus entertainment
ISBN: 9781760687885
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction
Published: 2023-03-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

A shocked silence followed this pronouncement.

Maggie was the first to speak, surprising them all.

‘Rafferty, we can’t.’

He sighed. ‘I know we won’t find crowds like this again soon. But they’re not going to come now. Not after this.’

‘You know it’s not just that.’ Maggie paused. In all her time with the Braun Brothers’ Royal Circus, they had never done a night flitter, and the thought of it filled her with shame. ‘We can’t just sneak away like thieves in the night and then parade into the next town with our heads held high. Gossip spreads faster than fire in country towns—the news will be all around the district in no time.’

‘The next few weeks will be tough, no doubt about it,’ Rafferty said. ‘But there’s nothing we can do about that.’

‘Couldn’t we stay and try to make amends?’ she asked. ‘Maybe put on a benefit show, to raise funds for a rebuild, or the district hospital or something, to win back their good will?’

But Rafferty shook his head. ‘They’ll think we’re trying to buy them off, and we’ll look worse for doing it under the guise of charity.’

Maggie tried to protest again, but he cut her off. ‘We can’t stay, and that’s that.’ His voice was gentle but stern. ‘We’ll be lucky if they don’t try to set our tents alight. There’s no time for goodbyes, let alone making amends. We need to get on the road.’

No time for goodbyes. The words hit Maggie like a blow.

She’d promised Robin she’d come back tomorrow.

She’d promised herself she would rescue her.

And now she couldn’t.

She couldn’t even make a quick trip to the agricultural fair to explain to Robin why she wouldn’t be able to visit anymore; at this time of night the grounds would be closed and the gates locked. Tomorrow, the little girl would be waiting, expecting Maggie to show up; it would be one more disappointment in a lifetime full of them.

Tears stung her eyes, and she swiped at them angrily. She looked one way then another, hoping to find some magic answer; Charlotte reached for her hand, a gesture of concern that enraged Maggie, who snatched it away as if her fingers had met with a hot coal.

‘Do you know what you’ve done?’ she snapped. She’d never spoken with such venom before, not even to her father. ‘How could you be so reckless?’

‘I didn’t mean for this to happen,’ Charlotte said. ‘You know I didn’t. I would never—’

‘Wouldn’t you? Because as far as I can see, you do exactly what you want with no thought for others, and always have. Your day out, your drinking, your act. Do you ever think about anyone but yourself? Or does your selfishness run so deep that there’s no room for thoughts of others in that pretty, empty head?’

Charlotte looked as though she’d been struck.

‘That’s enough now, Maggie girl,’ Rafferty said. ‘All of you, go, and pack your things. I want to be on the road within the hour.’

*

Maggie paced the circus grounds. It had just gone midnight, and most of the packing was done.

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