Gypsy - Lesley Pearse [79]
‘I used to dream of playing the piano in a smart hotel lounge,’ she admitted. ‘I certainly didn’t think I’d end up living in a stinking tenement, or working for a thug.’
Theo shook his head in amusement. ‘You’ll be moving on upwards soon. Sam told me last night of his plans to work in gambling houses. I believe he can do it too — he’s sharp, he’s got charm and he’s got you beside him. I’d bet on you two making a fortune.’
‘You need money to begin.’ Beth sighed.
‘Not always.’ Theo smiled and tickled her under the chin.
‘Charm and a good idea will always get backers. I have a disreputable uncle who it is said I take after. He told me once, never put your own money into a business venture. He has lived by that and amassed a fortune.’
‘What are your plans?’ she asked.
‘For now, to see how much money I can win in New York, while I keep my ears open for a whisper about the next boom town.’
‘Boom town?’ Beth exclaimed. ‘What do you mean?’
Theo sucked in his cheeks. ‘Like San Francisco in ’49, for instance. It was a small fishing village until gold was found nearby. Then tens of thousands stampeded to get there, and fortunes were made.’
‘Not many of them found gold,’ Beth said, remembering that from a history lesson.
‘The smart people don’t go for whatever has created the stampede, be that gold, diamonds or silver,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘It’s always very hard work, and only a few strike it rich. The really clever people, the ones like you and me, go there to offer services, shops, saloons, hotels, restaurants, dance and music halls.’
Beth giggled. ‘And I play the fiddle in one of these places and they toss gold nuggets at me?’
‘Exactly.’ He smiled. ‘It certainly wouldn’t be any fun for them being rich unless they can spend it wildly.’
‘But surely all the gold, diamonds and silver have been found now?’ Beth said.
‘Not necessarily. Parts of America are still virtual wilderness, and who knows what’s under the ground? But boom towns can spring up for other reasons too. The railway, for instance — wherever that goes people will want houses, shops and the rest.’
‘And gambling houses?’ she asked, raising one eyebrow quizzically.
He smiled, a hint of mischief in his dark eyes. ‘And gambling houses.’
‘Well, if you get word of one of these boom towns, you make sure you tell Sam and me. We’d be glad to tag along.’
Theo had been sitting with his arm along the back of the seat, and he suddenly moved it to her shoulders. ‘I can’t think of two people better suited to join me,’ he said. ‘Sam promises to be a force to reckon with because he’s so determined. As for you, with your fiddle, you’d be an asset anywhere.’
Beth thought he was going to kiss her, but he must’ve remembered it wasn’t done to embrace a young woman in public, for Theo suddenly said it was getting cold and it was time they found a coffee shop and got warmed up.
As they walked out of the park, Beth thought how perfect he was — handsome, a gentleman and so entertaining too.
Jack had been fun to be with, but in comparison to Theo he was just a boy, with no finesse or education. When he took her hand it was awkwardly, he lunged at her for a kiss, and he certainly didn’t have the ability to say or do things which would make a girl tremble and shiver.
When Theo took her hand his thumb would caress hers; if he put his hand on her waist he gave it a little squeeze. They found a little coffee shop just across the road from the park and once they had sat down he took her hand and lifted her fingers to his mouth, not just to kiss them, but to give each one a delicate lick with the tip of his tongue.
‘I want to kiss your mouth but this will have to do for now,’ he whispered.
It was the unexpectedness of his little touches and compliments which made them so thrilling.
He was talking about the plight of some immigrants who hadn’t been able to find anywhere to live and had been caught a few days earlier trying to camp out under the bushes in Central Park, but he suddenly broke off to smooth away a strand of hair escaping from