Free The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding Page A

regret that, ’e will.’
    ‘I don’t want any trouble on my account,’ I said quickly. ‘He was after Pedro really.’
    ‘Was ’e now?’ Syd strode over to Pedro and gave him a long, searching stare, gauging his uses. ‘Well, you can tell Boil next time you see ’im that the prince’s in,’ said Syd.
    ‘He’s what?’ I asked.
    ‘Prince’s in the gang. One of us.’
    ‘What!’ I protested. ‘I’ve been asking to join formonths and months and you let him in not five minutes after meeting him. That’s not fair!’
    Nick and Joe began to laugh until Syd gave them a stern look.
    ‘I don’t ’ave girls in my gang, Cat, as I keep tellin’ you.’
    ‘But you have African violinists?’
    Pedro gave me a glare which implied I’d insulted his origins. I hadn’t meant it like that . . . it was the violinist bit that I’d really meant to draw Syd’s attention to.
    ‘Yeah, ’e’s a boy, in case you ain’t noticed.’
    ‘Of course I’ve noticed!’ I said stamping my foot with anger. ‘But I’m as good as any of you!’
    ‘No, you’re better, Cat,’ said Syd with a wink, ‘which is why I don’t want you in my gang.
    ‘Pedro, tell him! Tell him how I saw the Boil off for you!’
    Pedro shrugged. ‘You ran away quick enough, that’s true.’
    The rat! I’d done far more than that and he knew it! His words served to confirm Syd in his decision that I was not fit to number among hisboys. I was sure Nick and Joe were laughing at me. I felt hot with embarrassment and anger, but Syd had dismissed my request and turned his thoughts to other matters.
    ‘As for Billy Boil,’ he continued, perching on the block, swinging a cleaver absent-mindedly in his right hand, ‘’E’s planning a big fight for Monday night and now I’ve got a new reason for wanting to beat ’im to a pulp. The gang’s meeting at the Rose at ten. Will you be there?’ he looked at his newest gang member.
    ‘Of course,’ agreed Pedro at once.
    I moved quickly to dissuade him. ‘But Pedro, you’ll get in trouble again. You don’t know how nasty these fights can get!’
    ‘I’ll see ’e doesn’t come to grief,’ promised Syd. ‘’E’s our lucky mascot, ’e is. No other gang ’as the star of the stage in their ranks, do they now?’
    ‘No,’ I said shortly, ‘because all the other stars are too sensible to get involved.’
    Pedro gave me a dig in the ribs. ‘Don’t fret. I’m not afraid of a beating. And if you make sure everyone sees that you are safely tucked upin bed, then you’ll not be held to blame for whatever happens.’
    ‘Perhaps,’ I grumbled resentfully, ‘but I wouldn’t put it past Mrs Reid to find some way of making it my fault.’
    Syd chuckled. ‘Well, I’ll ’ave a word with ’er then.’ He swung the cleaver in a menacing fashion. ‘Make ’er see sense.’
    ‘Oh, you’re both hopeless!’ I exclaimed as Pedro, Nick and Joe fell about laughing.
    Syd, who I knew would be the last person to threaten a lady, threw the cleaver aside with a clatter and stood up. ‘I must go. I ’ave my trainin’ this afternoon. You’ll come and see me in my boxin’ match, won’t you, Cat?’
    I nodded, though feeling very reluctant. I was not eager to watch two grown boys beating each other up for money, particularly when one was my good friend. ‘Sunday morning, isn’t it?’
    ‘That’s right, in Marylebone Fields. You’ll ’ave to dress as a boy like last time.’
    ‘Can I come?’ asked Pedro eagerly.
    ‘Of course, Prince. all the gang’s goin’ tobe there. You can look after Cat for me.’
    As if I couldn’t look after myself!
    ‘Who are you fighting?’ I asked, trying not to show them how angry I still was. They’d only put it down to me being a moody girl if I did and laugh about it when I’d gone.
    A worried frown passed across Syd’s face for a moment. ‘The Camden Crusher.’
    ‘Is he good?’
    ‘Not as good as me,’ Syd said proudly, flexing his muscles and rolling