by Sam Michaels
‘You haven’t mentioned her bastard of a husband. What’s going on in your head?’
‘Nothing, Gran. I’m just biding my time. Don’t worry, I ain’t forgotten or forgiven. He’ll get what’s coming to him soon enough.’
‘Be careful, love. Your father’s in no fit state to look out for you and I don’t suppose you’ve heard the last from Billy.’
‘Probably not, but he’ll be hearing from me… when I’m ready.’
‘Like I said, be careful. From what I’ve heard, he’s stepping on toes close to home.’
‘What do you mean by that, Gran?’
‘Something your father said when he was pissed. He let slip that Ezzy is having to cough up to Billy’s gang. The blokes who beat you up have been calling into Ezzy’s every week for money. Diabolical it is, a bloody cheek. I dunno what makes them think they’ve got the right to go around threatening people and taking their hard-earned money.’
‘Oh, they have, have they? That’s another one to chalk up for them.’
‘Yeah, well, don’t say anything. I don’t think Ezzy wants anyone to know what’s going on. He’s a proud man, by all accounts.’
‘I won’t say a word. Anyway, that’s enough about Billy and his thugs. I’m off out. I won’t be late, see you later.’
She had no doubt that Billy Wilcox would be coming for her again soon, but she refused to be intimidated. She’d survived his attacks, and now, if anything, it should be him who was scared of her!
Heads turned as Georgina walked self-assuredly to Ethel’s. She wasn’t used to receiving so much attention and couldn’t help smirking when two chaps on a motorbike passed and gave her a wolf-whistle.
‘You looks lovely,’ Ethel exclaimed when she opened her front door.
‘Thanks. Are you ready to go?’
‘Yes. See ya later, Mum,’ Ethel called over her shoulder. As they began walking, she said, ‘I ain’t never been to the fair before.’
‘You’re in for a treat, but make sure you don’t wander off without me.’
Once they arrived, Ethel was keen to ride on the Spinner, but the colourful frontage of the boxing booth drew Georgina.
‘The match is about to start, Ethel. I promise you, we’ll just watch the main fight and then you can go on all the rides.’
Georgina didn’t notice Ethel pouting. She was too intent at getting a good view of the boxing ring. Two old-timers were having a bout. One of them had been a champion in his day. Georgina forgot her new ladylike demeanour and roared and cheered with the crowds. The champion swung a left hook and knocked out his opponent. The fight had only lasted two rounds. Georgina thought she could have done better herself. Then the showman climbed into the ring and called to the audience for any brave volunteers to come and challenge the champion. The winner would receive the nobbings.
‘Go on, Georgina, you could beat him,’ Ethel urged.
‘Shush, no. They won’t let a woman in the ring, and I ain’t dressed for fighting.’
The showman asked for some encouragement. The crowd responded by throwing coins into the ring. The champion jeered. Then a man stepped up and received a rapturous cheer. As he climbed under the ropes, he peeled off his shirt to reveal a tanned and muscular torso. The sight took Georgina’s breath away. She’d never seen such an attractive body and he had a handsome face to match.
The challenger and the showman exchanged a few words then the showman announced, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Lash, the bare-knuckle Gypsy King.’
Some of the crowd booed but most applauded. They were only interested in seeing blood.
Lash stepped into the centre of the ring and touched gloves with the champion. Georgina didn’t realise but her fists were clenched by her sides as she silently willed Lash to win.
The fight began, but within a minute Lash had floored the champion and it was all over. He’d impressed Georgina. The crowd began to bay for more, while Georgina stood transfixed amid the racket with her eyes firmly fixed on Lash. He seemed to sense that she was watching him and scanned the faces in front of him until he saw her. For a moment their eyes locked and Georgina felt a tingle, like an electric current had passed through her.
‘Can we go now?’ Ethel asked, breaking Georgina’s thoughts.
‘Yes,’ she answered, but kept her gaze firmly on Lash.
He jumped from the boxing ring and Georgina lost sight of him, but she instinctively knew he was coming to her.
‘Come on then,’ Ethel said, and pulled on Georgina’s sleeve.
She turned to leave, then felt a hand on her shoulder. Her stomach knotted, and her pulse quickened. She hesitated, giving herself a moment to compose herself before slowly turning back to face the man who’d had such an unexplained effect on her.
‘If you don’t mind, I’d like to make your acquaintance, ma’am. I’d tip my hat if I was wearing one.’ Lash smiled.
Georgina was enthralled by his courtesy, but found she couldn’t answer. She peered up, mesmerised by his black eyes.
‘I’m Lash, but you already know that. It’s a pleasure to meet you.’
Georgina swallowed hard and managed to say, ‘Georgina… Georgina Garrett.’
‘I’d like to show you the fair in a way you’ve probably never seen it before and if that appeals to you, meet me at the coconut shy in twenty minutes. Please, don’t be alarmed. I’ll ensure we are chaperoned.’
Georgina nodded. She thought she probably shouldn’t agree to be meeting an unknown man, but she had a yearning to be near him. He smiled and then he was gone.
‘What about the rides?’ Ethel asked.
‘You heard the man. He’s going to show us the fair.’
Georgina found it all very intriguing and the idea of being chaperoned amused her. She tried not to fluster and hoped her calm exterior hid her excitement. Lash’s dark and mysterious looks had beguiled her and for the first time, passion stirred. She found his black hair and olive skin seductively striking.
She didn’t know it, but Lash’s gypsy aunt, his Bibio, had read the stones and foreseen the fate of her nephew. She’d told him he’d marry the gadji (non-Romani) girl with violet eyes, but prikaza (bad luck) would be bestowed upon them.
However, it was meant to be, and today was the first day of the rest of their lives.
45
Billy unlocked the door to the attic. As soon as he opened it, the stench hit him. Since he’d discovered that Molly had been to Battersea, he’d kept her prisoner in the loft and had even boarded up the window. It had been a week, and from the overpowering smell emanating from the bucket he’d left for her, it was clear it needed emptying.
‘Get up,’ he snapped in disgust.
It would have been so much easier to have given her a slap, but he couldn’t harm her, not whilst she was carrying his child.
Molly heaved herself up from the mattress on the floor, and pushed her lank, greasy hair behind her ears. ‘Please, Billy. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I’ll never see my friends or family again,’ she pleaded.
‘Too right you won’t. Just so you know, because of your little pleasure trip, your mother has lost her job. And if you dare defy me again, I’ll see to it that Ethel, your backwards fucking sister, is locked up in an asylum for good.’
Molly’s eyes widened. ‘No, Billy, no. I promise I’ll do what you say.’
‘Good. Now I’ll get you a bowl of water. You fucking stink and need a wash.’
Billy grabbed the bucket with distaste, and quickly emptied it. He then took Molly a bowl of water, soap and a towel. While she cleaned herself, he went to get her some food and water before locking the attic door again. He was sick to the back teeth of having to show consideration for his wife’s welfare and couldn’t wait for the baby to be born. As he left the house, slamming the front door behind him, he gritted his teeth in frustration. Once that child was out of her, he’d make sure she never disobeyed him again.
*
Georgina looked up at the clouds and tried
to make pictures from the patterns they formed. She was feeling relaxed, lying on her back on a horse blanket with Lash beside her. ‘There, that one there… it looks like a fish,’ she said, pointing upwards. The fair and the rest of the world felt far off in the distance as they idled hours away on top of a small hill.
Lash rolled over to his side and supported his head with his muscular arm. The long piece of grass he was chewing tickled her cheek and she smiled as she brushed it away.
‘How did you get this scar?’ Lash asked as he tenderly ran his finger across the light purple mark above her eyebrow.
Georgina’s breezy mood changed as she felt herself tense at the memory. ‘I… erm… I was attacked. Two men, they jumped me and beat me. I was trying to protect my friend and they didn’t like it.’
‘You know who did this?’ Lash asked, sounding outraged.
‘Yes, local lads, working for Billy Wilcox.’
Lash took the piece of grass from his mouth and threw it to one side as he sat upright. ‘Billy Wilcox, I know his name… I’m going to make sure he never forgets mine.’
‘No, it’s all right, Lash, this is my problem, not yours.’ Georgina looked up at his profile and could see the anger in his jaw. She liked the idea of having a strong man to protect her, but she wanted to exact her own retribution on Billy.
‘You’re my woman, Georgina. I’ll see to it that Billy Wilcox never hurts you again.’
‘Please, Lash, leave him to me.’
‘I can’t do that – it’s not our way. In my clan, if a woman wants to punish a man, she won’t pick up a stick or use her fists, she’ll throw her skirts at him, contaminate him with marime. Some say it’s superstition but it’s our belief. Billy Wilcox needs more than to be soiled.’
‘Oh, don’t worry, I intend to do a lot more than throw my skirt at him!’
‘You don’t understand, Georgina. My family isn’t pure Roma blood, but we live our life as many of our ancestors did. First, I will meet with the elders and then Billy’s fate will be decided. You must not interfere, you’re in my world now.’
Georgina could feel her frustration rising and pushed herself to her feet. She didn’t believe in all the hocus-pocus rubbish that Lash talked about, though she kept her thoughts to herself. Instead, pleading with her eyes, she said, ‘All right, you deal with Billy Wilcox, but in the meantime, I’m scared, Lash. Can you get me a gun or something to protect myself?’ She’d quickly learnt how to get what she wanted from Lash and felt sure he’d fulfil her request.
Lash reached out his hands and grabbed her, then gently pulled her down towards him. Georgina kneeled in front and held her breath. She wanted him to kiss her again, to feel his musky breath against her skin, to run her hands over his back and feel his taut muscles. But most of all, she wanted him to agree to give her a gun.
‘Yes, my love, if it makes you feel safe, I’ll give you a pistol this evening and I’ll show you how to use it, but you have nothing to fear, not any more.’
Georgina smiled and closed her eyes as she felt the softness of Lash’s full lips pressing against hers. She’d got what she wanted, a gun and her man’s lust.
After a few minutes, he breathlessly pulled away but Georgina felt concerned as she saw his face take on a serious expression.
‘The men who attacked you, did they defile you?’
Georgina understood his question. She knew her purity was important to him. No, Malc and Sid hadn’t done anything like that but the policemen had abused her and Georgina wasn’t sure if she was still a virgin. She lowered her eyes as she struggled to find the right words.
‘Have you laid with a man, Georgina?’
Thankfully, she could answer this question truthfully and vehemently shook her head. ‘No, and I won’t lay with any man unless I am married.’
Lash’s seriousness softened and she saw a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he smiled. ‘You’re a good woman,’ he said, ‘and as much as I’d like to, I won’t try and change your mind.’
He held her until the sun began to set, telling her of his life and travels. She enjoyed every moment in his arms and his soft gypsy twang almost sent her off to sleep.
‘Come now, it’s getting late,’ Lash eventually said as he jumped to his feet and helped her up. ‘When you are invited to sit at my family table, you’ll be offered a seat reserved for gadji. Don’t worry, one day you’ll have the seat next to mine.’
Georgina said nothing but allowed Lash to lead her down the hill and to where the caravans were settled on the edge of the fair. She felt a little nervous about entering Lash’s community and feared she wouldn’t be welcomed. As if reading her mind, Lash gently squeezed her hand.
‘Don’t worry, my family have mixed blood. My grandfather took an outsider for his wife. You may be greeted with some mistrust at first, but never with hate.’
Georgina swallowed hard and followed Lash as he weaved around the tents and wooden caravans. Some were beautifully painted with ornate detail, but others looked decrepit. Children playing stopped to look at her and Georgina tried not to stare back at the women in long skirts who shadily ogled her.
‘Here, come in,’ Lash said, when they came to the caravan he’d grown up in.
Georgina slowly followed him up the wooden steps and hesitantly went inside. She wasn’t sure what to expect and couldn’t see much past Lash’s broad frame. She glanced round, taking in the polished china proudly on display, then Lash stepped to one side and Georgina saw a middle-aged woman sat at a table. She guessed the woman was Lash’s mother as the family resemblance was striking.
The woman looked her up and down, then barked, ‘Besh!’
Georgina wanted to flee, but Lash pulled out a seat and said, ‘My mother insists you must sit.’
‘Oh,’ Georgina said, surprised, and smiled nervously at the woman as she sat.
Lash’s mother then rattled off something that Georgina didn’t understand, and Lash answered, ‘Bori.’
Again, the woman spoke and once she had finished, Lash told her, ‘Speak in English, as your own mother did.’
To Georgina’s relief, the woman finally smiled, saying, ‘I’m sorry, I like to tease. It’s very nice to meet you, Georgina, and you are welcome. Would you like some nettle tea?’
‘Thank you, that would be nice,’ she answered. Georgina wasn’t sure it would be but didn’t want to appear rude.
‘You call me Sackra,’ Lash’s mother said as she went to the stove.
‘That’s a beautiful name,’ Georgina answered.
Lash leaned forward and whispered, ‘It’s not her name. It means mother-in-law.’
Georgina could feel her cheeks flush and whispered back, ‘I heard you say the word Bori to your mother. What does it mean?’
‘Daughter-in-law.’
Georgina said nothing but raised her eyebrows. It seemed she really was being welcomed as part of the family though she’d only known Lash a matter of weeks and there’d been no mention of marriage.
‘I’ll be back soon. I’m going to get the thing we spoke of earlier.’
Georgina nodded. She now felt comfortable with his mother and understood that she wouldn’t be allowed into Lash’s caravan without a chaperone.
Moments later, Georgina sipped on the hot nettle tea. The earthy taste wasn’t as bad as she’d expected and now she plucked up the courage to ask Sackra if she could read the leaves.
‘No, but Lash’s aunt, my sister, she reads them and foretold of you. I fear my son’s fortune but he will make his own fate.’
Georgina wasn’t sure what Sackra meant but sidestepped the comment to ask about the caravan. As the woman went on to tell of its history, Lash appeared and indicated with his head that it was time to leave. ‘I’ll see you, may angle sar te merel kadi yag,’ he said to his mother.
‘Yes, my son, and Georgina, remember, kon del tut o nai shai dela tut wi o vast – if my son willingly gives you one finger he will also give you the whole hand.’
&n
bsp; Lash helped Georgina as she stepped down from the caravan, her mind still contemplating Sackra’s words.
‘I’ll walk you home now.’
‘What did your mother mean about the finger and the hand?’
‘She likes you and it was her way of telling you what a good man I am.’ He laughed.
‘I already know that.’
Once out of sight of the prying eyes of the clans, Lash handed Georgina the small pistol and several bullets. He showed her how to load the gun and how to fire it, then told her, ‘Only use this if you feel your life is in danger.’
‘I know, thanks, Lash. I feel better knowing I have this close by.’
They were soon outside Georgina’s house but she didn’t want to leave him and as he pulled her into his arms, she husked, ‘I wish you didn’t have to go.’
‘Me too, but I told my mother I’d be back before the fire burns out.’
‘I wondered what you’d said. I hoped it wasn’t something about me.’
‘I’d never talk bad of you, Georgina. I’ll teach you my tongue, and our children will know the Roma ways.’
Georgina felt her stomach flip. He’d referred to marriage and children again! It was too soon. He didn’t know her. He had no idea of the things she’d done. She’d never felt this way about a man. She must love him but could he still love her if he knew she was a killer? Would he forgive her for using the gun and killing again? She hoped so, but was too afraid to ask for fear of losing him.
*
The next day, Georgina wrapped a black lace shawl round her shoulders and studied her reflection in the gilt-framed mirror on her bedroom wall. She looked good, she knew she did, and smirked to herself at the thought of her face being the last thing that Billy Wilcox would see before she blew his brains out.
She picked up her purse and opened it. The small hand pistol she’d managed to persuade Lash to give her was safely tucked inside. She liked that he was chivalrous and though she could have left Billy for Lash to deal with, this was something that had festered within her for years.
‘You look smashing, love. Are you going out with Lash again?’ Her gran asked when she went downstairs.
