van. And make sure you don’t take all day.’ Before Colenso could answer, she strode back down the street, the way they’d come.
✳
‘Took your time, didn’t you?’ Mara asked, looking up from a document she was studying. ‘Get that card sent, then?’
‘Yes, I did, thank you. And I put the return address as Truro post office, like you said,’ she told the woman.
‘Well, it’ll be another ten days or so before we arrive there so he’ll have plenty of time to reply. Which is more than you’ve got. Jago dropped by with paper for you to make up more cones,’ she said waving her hand at the pile on Colenso’s seat-cum-bed. ‘Said you’d need to make a goodly supply as there are a lot of other sweet stalls and carts, so competition will be fierce. In a right mood, he was, on account of him arriving late yesterday and not getting his usual spot. Said you’ll find him on the north side at the back.’
‘Oh,’ Colenso said, staring in dismay. ‘I’ll never be able get all those done in time.’
‘That’s what I said. He seemed quite put out you weren’t here. Anyhow, he said you’d best roll and twist the paper instead of pasting. Right, I’m off to wander the crowds,’ she said, bangles jangling as she folded her paper and popped it into her pocket. ‘It’s good to let people see there’s a dukkerer in their midst. No use sitting in me tent if no one knows I’m there,’ she winked, taking herself outside.
Colenso smiled. What a mixture the woman was. On the one hand she communed with nature, whilst on the other she possessed the acumen any businessman would envy. As Colenso began rolling and twisting the paper, her thoughts returned to the card she’d posted to Kitto. How surprised he’d be to receive it. She knew he’d be relieved to know she was safe, and could hardly wait until they reached Truro to hear from him.
Heart singing, she quickly worked her way through the pile of paper, and by the time the organ started up, her basket was filled with cones.
Outside the sun was beating down as crowds of laughing people jostled their way around the stalls, seeking out the best attractions. The air was filled with the smell of onions and cooking meat, then she heard the ring of the bell as someone proved their prowess with the hammer bell striker. It took her a few minutes to find the Panam and, when she did, she was greeted by a scowling Jago.
‘I’ve made all these,’ she said brightly. ‘Shall I start filling some?’
‘Probably won’t need them stuck right out here,’ he muttered, staring gloomily across the ground to a cart surrounded by clamouring people. ‘Taylor’s pinched my pitch.’ Leaving him to his mood, she began packing an assortment of the coloured sweets into cones. But by the time she’d finished, they still hadn’t had one single customer.
‘What does he sell that you don’t?’ Colenso asked.
‘Don’t know,’ he growled, determined to stay in his dark mood.
‘Well, I’ll go and have a look, shall I?’ she asked, desperate to do something.
She made her way back through the crowds until she reached the cart. To her surprise, the sweets were similar but not nearly as varied as the ones on the Panam and she could see no evidence of any tablet or rock canes. She watched as the man served a small boy, handing over his purchase in a nondescript twist of paper. Remembering what Mara had said about there being lots of other sweet vendors, she made her way around the various stalls, trying to get an idea of what they were selling.
‘Well, hello,’ a man with a shiny black moustache said from the doorway of his tent. ‘This could just be your lucky day.’ She smiled politely but, when she went to pass, he stepped forward to block her way. ‘Not so fast, darling,’ he drawled, glassy blue eyes eyeing her up and down from under his tall hat.
‘Sorry, I’m in a hurry,’ she murmured.
‘Don’t you know who I am?’ he asked, raising his dark brows when she shook her head. ‘I am Marvellous Marco, Illusionaire Extraordinaire. And who, pray tell, are you?’
‘Colenso,’ she replied, immediately wishing she hadn’t.
‘An exotic name for an exotic beauty.’
‘Sorry, I must go,’ she said shaking her head and hurrying away. Exotic beauty, she thought, running her hand through her shorn locks. Except, instead of wiry tufts, she could feel short but silky hair. Mara had been right. By the time she saw Kitto it would have grown somewhere near back to its normal length. She wondered how he’d got on in London and what he’d been doing since his return. How long it seemed since they’d last been together.
‘Where did you get to?’ Jago muttered, still looking dismal. ‘As you can see I’ve been rushed off my feet in your absence.’
‘Sorry, Jago,’ she replied, ignoring his sarcasm. ‘I had a brilliant idea but then I got stopped by this funny man, Marvellous Marco or something.’
‘You want to stay away from him,’ he said, giving her a sharp look. ‘That man’s bad news. His assistant went missing after the last show and she’s never been heard of since.’
‘Anyhow what was this great idea of yours?’ Jago asked.
‘I thought, if the customers won’t come to us, we’d go to the customers, or rather take the confections to them,’ she told him excitedly.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I could pack the filled cones into my basket and walk around the fair selling them. These are so colourful,’ she said, gesturing to the glistening sweets. ‘But it’s no use having them if no one knows they’re here,’ she added, thinking of Mara’s earlier words. He stood mulling things over then, after another glance at the crowds thronging around his rival, nodded.
‘Certainly worth a try. I’d do it myself but a pretty girl like you will be more of a draw. Promise me you’ll stay away from Marco, though. Mara would have my guts if she thought I’d allowed you to go anywhere near him,’ he added, helping her pack the basket with colourful cones. Then he delved into his money pouch and handed her some coins.
‘In case you need change,’ he said when she looked askance.
‘Of course. And thank you for the wage. I was able to buy my card.’ This time it was his turn to look puzzled. ‘You didn’t give Mara any money, did you?’ she asked. He shook his head.
‘I know I owe you but, truth to tell, after paying Caitlin for the tablet and settling my dues with Big Al, it’s left me a bit short.’
‘You have to pay Big Al?’ she frowned.
‘We all have to. He arranges all this,’ he said, waving his hand around the fair. ‘Then there’s his cut of our takings, protection money …’ He trailed to a halt as if he’d said too much. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll see you get paid for all your hard work … as long as we sell all those.’ He tapped her basket.
‘Well, I’d better get started then.’ She gave him a bright smile and set off, her thoughts in overdrive.
So
