‘We were only jesting,’ Gino laughed as he drew on his trousers. ‘Just a little reverie to while away the hours. Laughter is good for the soul, non?’ He flexed his bare arms and the muscles of his abdomen where the elephant’s trunk was etched, jerked up and down.
Gwen took Ettie’s cape and bonnet, drawing her gently across the room to a couch beneath the window. ‘The elephant is a reminder from our days with the cirque.’
‘The circus?’ Ettie translated.
‘We travelled all the world. Gino with his trained animals. And Lily and I were dancers. Have you ever been to a circus?’
‘No,’ replied Ettie sadly.
’Mon Dieu, did those nuns never let you out?’
‘On Sunday afternoons I could do as I pleased,’ she replied modestly. ‘But mostly I spent them with the orphans. Or teaching Michael his letters.’
Gwen sat beside her, reaching out to a small table on which there were glasses and a bottle of green liquid. ‘Let’s drink to Michael.’
’But I don’t …’ protested Ettie as Gwen filled a glass and pushed it to Ettie's lips.
‘Just a sip, a tiny, tiny, sip. The green fairy will restore you from the shock of Gino’s penis.’
Ettie swallowed. She gasped as the aniseed flowed fire-like into her chest.
Gwen patted her back. ‘Just a little more.’
The effect was to cause Ettie's cheeks to burn red and her head to whirl.
Gwen took hold of her hands and squeezed them. ‘Welcome to the real Soho, little beauty. Now you can relax and tell us all your secrets.’
Ettie couldn’t reply. Her voice was trapped somewhere between her throat and her mouth. She felt a kind of floating sensation that wasn’t at all unpleasant.
Gwen bent forward and rhythmically stroked the back of her neck. ‘There, there, child. You will soon get your breath back. Now, what about this sweetheart of yours?’
Ettie giggled. Her head was spinning. The green fairy had washed all her worries away.
Gwen waved her hand, calling out, ‘Gino, time you were gone.’
When Ettie looked round Gino was dressed in a crumpled white shirt tucked into his tight black trousers. The crimson feather in his hat bobbed as he fell to his knees beside her and took hold of her hand. Kissing it, he recited in a lilting voice, ‘I met a lady in the meads, full beautiful, a faery’s child. Her hair was long, her foot was light, and her eyes were wild …’ He arched his fine black eyebrows. Then springing to his feet, he bowed.
Ettie giggled. Despite his former nakedness, she didn’t feel embarrassed. He looked so amusing with his shivering red feather.
‘Ah, were you in my arms dear love,’ he breathed fixing her with a solemn gaze, ‘the happiness would take my breath away. No wish could match such ecstasy!’ He pressed a kiss to Ettie's cheek. ‘Au revoir,’ he murmured and was gone.
A young woman dressed only in her bloomers and stays appeared from another room. She was joined by a tall man wearing a bright red jacket and striped trousers. The heels of the soldier’s highly polished boots clipped the wooden boards as he crossed the floor.
Stretching out her hand, Gwen smiled playfully. Into her palm the departing guest dropped a handful of coins. Ettie noted how swiftly they disappeared into the folds of her robe.
‘Lily,’ called Gwen after the man had gone, ‘sit here.’
Ettie's head felt light and her legs even lighter. The furniture went in and out of focus. Lily curled beside her. A soft scent filled the air. Ettie thought how beautiful she was, raven-haired and olive-skinned. She whispered, ‘You are much prettier than I expected.’
‘Thank you,’ Ettie replied politely.
‘In the cirque I was known as Delilah. But now I’m just Lily.’
Ettie felt Lily’s soft breath on her cheek. Her full lips opened as she peered into Ettie's face. ‘Do you know what Delilah did to Sampson?’
Ettie nodded eagerly. ‘She cut off his hair and he lost his strength.’
‘What a mean thing to do!’ Lily exclaimed dramatically. ‘When the poor boy was fast asleep.’ She snuggled close. ‘Can you imagine the shock Gino would have if we cut off his beautiful locks?’
‘Better than his couilles,’ chuckled Gwen.
The two women burst into laughter. Ettie found herself laughing too, though at what she couldn’t say. Her whole body felt as though it was floating on a cloud of happiness.
‘More green fairy!’ cried Lily pointing to the bottle on the table. Ettie refused but Gwen and Lily filled their glasses.
Lily pranced around the room so fiercely that her bosoms escaped from her stays.
‘Tell us about your sweetheart,’ Gwen insisted. ‘Tell us about Michael.’
Her new friends danced around her, whisking her here and there until they fell exhausted on the couch.
‘Michael’s an orphan too, and …’ Ettie tried to think of Michael but everything was very vague. ‘He shot Old Jim with his catapult and …’ she giggled. ‘I can’t remember any more!’
‘Old Jim!’ screeched Lily.
‘Shot with a catapult!’ exclaimed Gwen.
Once more they were all laughing.
Much to Ettie's delight her friends began to sing. She was entranced by their beautiful voices and the movements they made explained the words of the songs. Later they performed mimes from their former days in the cirque. Ettie thought how talented they were, though she doubted Sister Patrick would approve.
When the sun dipped behind the tall chimney pots of the houses in the courtyard, they sat on the rug and ate slices of salt beef from Terence’s shop and soft brown dates from the market. The meal seemed to Ettie to be the most delicious she had ever tasted. No wonder Terence was so happy. And Gino so reluctant to leave.
When a tall wooden clock standing in the corner of the room chimed six, Ettie knew she must leave too.
‘We’ll walk with you to Silver Street,’ Lily and Gwen insisted, dressing in their skirts and blouses.
In a haze of happiness, Ettie walked arm in arm with her new friends. Her mind was full of the wonderful events of the afternoon.
The evening air was soft
