Read Online Mary Ann and Miss Mozart by Ann Turnbull - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ann Turnbull
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arm-in-arm.
When she was not singing, Mary Ann listened to snatches of conversation. She heard women talk of a lighted gondola on the canal, and of a row of little shops selling fans and other finery; and she could hear, from a distance, sounds of an orchestra playing dance music. She turned wistfully in its direction. She was glad her singing was appreciated, and that Nick was pleased with her, and especially glad to see the money dropping into the hat, but it seemed that much more was happening in the main part of the gardens, nearer the Rotunda, and she wished that they could go there. She wanted to see the Chinese bridge all lit up, and the gondola, and the dancers in their elaborate masks. But Jenny said no, they must stay here, and Mary Ann guessed it was because they had broken in and must keep away from any stewards. It was so different from her last visit, and she felt disappointed.
Despite the cool weather the crowds did not lessen, and the revellers were becoming noisier and more drunken. Gangs of men lurched by, and Mary Ann felt afraid when they stared at Jenny in her red dress and shouted coarse remarks. She was sure that only the presence of Nick kept them safe. A fight broke out just ahead of them on the path, and a man, supported by his friends, was left with blood running down his face onto his shirt. Farther off, where the lamps petered out and little winding paths led in amongst dark trees, they heard occasional shrieks and scuffles, and once a young woman burst out and rushed past them, sobbing.
“We should go now,” said Jenny, and Nick agreed. He bent to pick up the violin case – and at that moment two men sprang out of the darkness. Mary Ann saw one of them leap on Nick, and then the other pushed her to the ground. She landed hard, the breath knocked from her body, and hit her hand on something sharp. When she looked up, she saw Jenny grappling with the man, screeching, “Thief!” But he flung her down and scooped up the contents of the hat and was gone, in amongst the trees.
Jenny and Mary Ann both stood up. Nick’s attacker had punched him to the ground and fled. He struggled up, cursing.
“Oh, Mary Ann – Miss! Are you hurt?” Jenny looked panic-stricken at the sight of her.
“No…only my hand – I may have cut it…” Mary Ann was trembling, on the brink of tears. “The money?” she said.
“Gone. But don’t fret. It wasn’t much. Most of it’s here –” She patted her hidden pocket.
She turned to Nick, who had a split lip but seemed otherwise unhurt. “Let’s get out of here,” she said, “before there’s any more trouble.”
They hurried back along the path towards the place where they had come in. Mary Ann was crying now, from shock and fear. They passed several groups of people, but although Jenny looked dishevelled and Nick had a bloody face, no one asked if they needed help. The gardens had become a frightening place. Nick and Jenny hurried her along, and when Nick found the right spot they bundled her quickly through the hedge with its sharp thorns and then out through the gap in the fence onto the towpath.
It was raining harder now, and Mary Ann was cold; her hand hurt and her face and arms smarted from scratches. The few people they passed on the towpath looked either drunk or threatening, and she was glad when they reached the landing stage and found boatmen still plying for hire. What time was it? she wondered. Surely it must be the middle of the night? People were leaving Ranelagh, parties of them coming through the gate, but there were still many more inside.
They climbed into a boat. The boatman looked them over suspiciously and said, “Bit of a scrap, eh?” And Mary Ann saw, in the light of his lantern, that her dress was muddied all down the front and her hands were dirty and one was bleeding. She whispered to Jenny, “How will I get clean? I can’t go to my bed like this…”
Jenny looked at her and frowned, biting her lip. “No. We need
When she was not singing, Mary Ann listened to snatches of conversation. She heard women talk of a lighted gondola on the canal, and of a row of little shops selling fans and other finery; and she could hear, from a distance, sounds of an orchestra playing dance music. She turned wistfully in its direction. She was glad her singing was appreciated, and that Nick was pleased with her, and especially glad to see the money dropping into the hat, but it seemed that much more was happening in the main part of the gardens, nearer the Rotunda, and she wished that they could go there. She wanted to see the Chinese bridge all lit up, and the gondola, and the dancers in their elaborate masks. But Jenny said no, they must stay here, and Mary Ann guessed it was because they had broken in and must keep away from any stewards. It was so different from her last visit, and she felt disappointed.
Despite the cool weather the crowds did not lessen, and the revellers were becoming noisier and more drunken. Gangs of men lurched by, and Mary Ann felt afraid when they stared at Jenny in her red dress and shouted coarse remarks. She was sure that only the presence of Nick kept them safe. A fight broke out just ahead of them on the path, and a man, supported by his friends, was left with blood running down his face onto his shirt. Farther off, where the lamps petered out and little winding paths led in amongst dark trees, they heard occasional shrieks and scuffles, and once a young woman burst out and rushed past them, sobbing.
“We should go now,” said Jenny, and Nick agreed. He bent to pick up the violin case – and at that moment two men sprang out of the darkness. Mary Ann saw one of them leap on Nick, and then the other pushed her to the ground. She landed hard, the breath knocked from her body, and hit her hand on something sharp. When she looked up, she saw Jenny grappling with the man, screeching, “Thief!” But he flung her down and scooped up the contents of the hat and was gone, in amongst the trees.
Jenny and Mary Ann both stood up. Nick’s attacker had punched him to the ground and fled. He struggled up, cursing.
“Oh, Mary Ann – Miss! Are you hurt?” Jenny looked panic-stricken at the sight of her.
“No…only my hand – I may have cut it…” Mary Ann was trembling, on the brink of tears. “The money?” she said.
“Gone. But don’t fret. It wasn’t much. Most of it’s here –” She patted her hidden pocket.
She turned to Nick, who had a split lip but seemed otherwise unhurt. “Let’s get out of here,” she said, “before there’s any more trouble.”
They hurried back along the path towards the place where they had come in. Mary Ann was crying now, from shock and fear. They passed several groups of people, but although Jenny looked dishevelled and Nick had a bloody face, no one asked if they needed help. The gardens had become a frightening place. Nick and Jenny hurried her along, and when Nick found the right spot they bundled her quickly through the hedge with its sharp thorns and then out through the gap in the fence onto the towpath.
It was raining harder now, and Mary Ann was cold; her hand hurt and her face and arms smarted from scratches. The few people they passed on the towpath looked either drunk or threatening, and she was glad when they reached the landing stage and found boatmen still plying for hire. What time was it? she wondered. Surely it must be the middle of the night? People were leaving Ranelagh, parties of them coming through the gate, but there were still many more inside.
They climbed into a boat. The boatman looked them over suspiciously and said, “Bit of a scrap, eh?” And Mary Ann saw, in the light of his lantern, that her dress was muddied all down the front and her hands were dirty and one was bleeding. She whispered to Jenny, “How will I get clean? I can’t go to my bed like this…”
Jenny looked at her and frowned, biting her lip. “No. We need
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