The Vagabond Clown by Edward Marston Read Free Book Online Page B

been left behind because economies had to be made. Reduced in size, the company would be discarding some who would not work again until Westfield’s Men returned to the capital. Actors were not lone victims. Thomas Skillen, the stagekeeper, was too old and frail to cope with the exigencies of travel and there was no place either for such loyal souls as Nathan Curtis, the carpenter, and Hugh Wegges, the tireman. Their functions would fall to other, less practised, hands.
    Margery Firethorn had made the long trip from Shoreditch so that her husband would have a wife and children to wave him off. Her face was set in an expression of quiet resignation but she brightened as soon as she saw Nicholas approaching. After rushing across to hug him, she kissed Anne in greeting and nudged her playfully.
    ‘You have chosen the handsomest man in the company,’ she said.
    Anne smiled. ‘We chose each other, Margery.’
    ‘That’s how it should be. You are blessed in her, Nick.’
    ‘I’m in no danger of forgetting that,’ he assured her. ‘Anne reminded me of it only this morning. But you must excuse me,’ he said, as new faces arrived. ‘I must make an inventory of who is here and who is yet to come.’
    Margery watched him go then stood close enough to Anne to whisper to her.
    ‘I’m surprised that you two have never wed,’ she confided.
    ‘How do you know that we have not?’ teased Anne.
    ‘Because I would see it in your face. If he were mine, I’d drag him to the altar.’
    ‘Nick is not a person to be dragged anywhere.’
    ‘He dotes on you, Anne.’
    ‘Would marriage secure or spoil his devotion?’
    ‘An apt question,’ conceded Margery, glancing at her husband. ‘Lawrence’s passion has never waned but I can only count on it when we share our bed. Let him venture outside London and he becomes a lusty bachelor. You’ll have no cause to doubt Nick but I’ll not be able to show a like trust in my husband.’
    ‘You should, Margery. Whenever they are abroad, Nick says, Lawrence never ceases to mention your name with fondness.’
    ‘Only when his guilt stirs.’
    ‘Yes,’ said Anne, ‘he’s guilty at having to leave you behind.’
    She looked across at Firethorn and saw him enjoying a few last moments of fatherhood. His two sons were sitting astride his horse while he chatted with them. Anne’s gaze moved to Edmund Hoode, who was talking earnestly with Owen Elias, then on to Nicholas. He had taken control with his usual efficiency. After counting heads, he was helping George Dart to check the list of scenery, properties and costumes that would be making the journey to Kent. Anne’s surge of pride was matched by her sense of loss. Itwas inspiring to see Nicholas at work with the troupe. He was in his element and everyone treated him with respect. When she remembered that she would not be seeing him for some weeks, a tremor ran through her. Margery’s hand went to her arm.
    ‘Be brave, Anne,’ she urged. ‘The first night is the worst.’
    Nicholas himself was not looking that far ahead. He had a more immediate concern. When he was satisfied that the wagons had been correctly loaded, he turned to look for missing persons again. Three had been absent at the first count and he was relieved to see that both James Ingram and Rowland Carr had now appeared. However, he was disturbed when there was still no sign of the latest addition to the troupe. He was not alone in being worried about Gideon Mussett. Hoode came anxiously across to him.
    ‘Where
is
he, Nick?’ he asked.
    ‘He’ll be here,’ said Nicholas with conviction.
    ‘And if he does not come?’
    ‘Then I take the blame squarely on my shoulders, Edmund.’
    ‘I feared that this might happen.’
    ‘Have faith. He gave me his word.’
    ‘Only when he was sober,’ said Hoode, glancing around. ‘And how long will sobriety last when he has so many taverns in which to get drunk? If he is here, I suspect that he’s lying in a stupor in the