Marvellous Malvolio, or some such name.’
‘Yes; he wanted top billing, didn’t he?’
‘So he did, and when Henry told him he couldn’t have it he took umbrage and left. We can’t do with folks like that. We’re all equal here, in Henry’s eyes at least, and Percy’s. Though I can think of one or two who might consider themselves superior.’
Susannah didn’t enlarge upon her statement, and neither did Maddy enquire any further. She didn’t like to tittle-tattle about other members of the troupe. Letty had told her it was a most unprofessional thing to do and something theydid not encourage in their company.
Maddy assumed that Susannah was referring to the Colmans. Carlo was all right, very much under his wife’s thumb though, and as for Queenie, she didn’t half fancy herself…
Maddy was surprised to realise that she hadn’t thought about Samuel for at least ten minutes.
‘My turn for a wash now,’ she said. ‘Wait for me; I won’t be long, then we can go down for breakfast together.’
Mrs Howard served them with porridge, followed by bacon, egg, sausage and fried bread. Nancy, who had already taken her dogs for a walk – they were now sitting obediently at her side – was halfway through her breakfast.
‘Carlo and Queenie haven’t put in an appearance yet,’ she told them. ‘I gather she is a habitually late riser.’
Mrs Howard overheard her. ‘I serve breakfast until ten o’clock,’ she said. ‘I think that’s late enough for anybody and I’m not prepared to extend it any further. They’ve just managed to scrape in so far, with five minutes to spare. Of course I know you professional people keep odd hours, but I do have to draw the line somewhere.’
‘And quite right too,’ agreed Nancy as the landlady took her plate away. ‘Queenie and Carlo insisted on a double room,’ she commented as Mrs Howard went into the kitchen. ‘Pete and me, we’ll always fit in where we can if we can’t get a roomtogether. Pete’s sharing with Henry this week, and your Frank.’ She nodded towards Susannah. ‘And Barney and Benjy too. But Lady Muck doesn’t like to mix with the “hoi polloi”; in other words, you and me.’ She grinned suddenly. ‘Forget I said that, will you, please?’
‘Of course,’ said Susannah with a knowing wink. And Maddy smiled. It seemed she was not alone in her summing-up of the Colman couple.
Maddy and Susannah boarded a tramcar later that morning, travelling north-east out of the city centre to the fringes of Roundhay Park. They soon decided that the park was, indeed, well worth a visit, as they strolled along the avenue of elm trees, their buds just beginning to show green, past beds of crocuses and early daffodils. They found an empty bench beside the lakeside and sat down. There were very few visitors to the park apart from themselves, it being a midweek morning. No doubt they would be there in their droves come Saturday and Sunday.
Maddy was glad she had put on her winter coat and a more serviceable felt hat than the one she had worn the night before. The sunshine was deceptive and there was a chilly wind on this mid-March day.
‘You’ve gone a bit broody again,’ said Susannah, looking at her keenly. They had not talked much on the journey out, both of them staring out of the tram window at the suburbs of Leeds – Sheepscar, Harehills, then on to Roundhay – that they hadnever visited before. Maddy, at that moment, was thinking how to broach the subject about which she wanted to question her friend. She was somewhat startled therefore when Susannah went on to say, ‘Tell me, Maddy – please forgive me, but I’ve got to ask – you’re not pregnant, are you?’
‘What?’ exclaimed Maddy. ‘Of course I’m not!’ She could feel herself turning bright pink. ‘Why ever should you think that? I’m not…although I probably wouldn’t know if I was…’ she added, her voice fading away unsurely.
‘Oh dear! I’ve gone and upset you
‘Yes; he wanted top billing, didn’t he?’
‘So he did, and when Henry told him he couldn’t have it he took umbrage and left. We can’t do with folks like that. We’re all equal here, in Henry’s eyes at least, and Percy’s. Though I can think of one or two who might consider themselves superior.’
Susannah didn’t enlarge upon her statement, and neither did Maddy enquire any further. She didn’t like to tittle-tattle about other members of the troupe. Letty had told her it was a most unprofessional thing to do and something theydid not encourage in their company.
Maddy assumed that Susannah was referring to the Colmans. Carlo was all right, very much under his wife’s thumb though, and as for Queenie, she didn’t half fancy herself…
Maddy was surprised to realise that she hadn’t thought about Samuel for at least ten minutes.
‘My turn for a wash now,’ she said. ‘Wait for me; I won’t be long, then we can go down for breakfast together.’
Mrs Howard served them with porridge, followed by bacon, egg, sausage and fried bread. Nancy, who had already taken her dogs for a walk – they were now sitting obediently at her side – was halfway through her breakfast.
‘Carlo and Queenie haven’t put in an appearance yet,’ she told them. ‘I gather she is a habitually late riser.’
Mrs Howard overheard her. ‘I serve breakfast until ten o’clock,’ she said. ‘I think that’s late enough for anybody and I’m not prepared to extend it any further. They’ve just managed to scrape in so far, with five minutes to spare. Of course I know you professional people keep odd hours, but I do have to draw the line somewhere.’
‘And quite right too,’ agreed Nancy as the landlady took her plate away. ‘Queenie and Carlo insisted on a double room,’ she commented as Mrs Howard went into the kitchen. ‘Pete and me, we’ll always fit in where we can if we can’t get a roomtogether. Pete’s sharing with Henry this week, and your Frank.’ She nodded towards Susannah. ‘And Barney and Benjy too. But Lady Muck doesn’t like to mix with the “hoi polloi”; in other words, you and me.’ She grinned suddenly. ‘Forget I said that, will you, please?’
‘Of course,’ said Susannah with a knowing wink. And Maddy smiled. It seemed she was not alone in her summing-up of the Colman couple.
Maddy and Susannah boarded a tramcar later that morning, travelling north-east out of the city centre to the fringes of Roundhay Park. They soon decided that the park was, indeed, well worth a visit, as they strolled along the avenue of elm trees, their buds just beginning to show green, past beds of crocuses and early daffodils. They found an empty bench beside the lakeside and sat down. There were very few visitors to the park apart from themselves, it being a midweek morning. No doubt they would be there in their droves come Saturday and Sunday.
Maddy was glad she had put on her winter coat and a more serviceable felt hat than the one she had worn the night before. The sunshine was deceptive and there was a chilly wind on this mid-March day.
‘You’ve gone a bit broody again,’ said Susannah, looking at her keenly. They had not talked much on the journey out, both of them staring out of the tram window at the suburbs of Leeds – Sheepscar, Harehills, then on to Roundhay – that they hadnever visited before. Maddy, at that moment, was thinking how to broach the subject about which she wanted to question her friend. She was somewhat startled therefore when Susannah went on to say, ‘Tell me, Maddy – please forgive me, but I’ve got to ask – you’re not pregnant, are you?’
‘What?’ exclaimed Maddy. ‘Of course I’m not!’ She could feel herself turning bright pink. ‘Why ever should you think that? I’m not…although I probably wouldn’t know if I was…’ she added, her voice fading away unsurely.
‘Oh dear! I’ve gone and upset you
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