Mistress Adelaide's Travelling Gimp Circus
Copyright© 2019 by Freddie Clegg
Chapter 11
Departure
It was the morning after the final show at Hasebury. The girls had taken the Gimps from their cages. They worked together to strike the performance tent and take down the ticket booth so that all could be put back into the trailers. Somehow it all came down much more quickly than it had gone up.
It was a cold morning but they were used to being exercised in just their harnesses and hoods and were happy to make the most of the chance to move freely before, as they knew they would be, being returned to their cages for the upcoming journey.
Adelaide took Henry to one side. This was not a conversation she was looking forward to but equally it was not one could ask any of the others to have, nor one that could be delayed. “These were good shows, Henry,” she began.
“Thank you Mistress,” he responded. “Although I made some errors, on the first night especially.”
He had always been modest and self-critical, Adelaide thought. In some ways that made this harder. “I am sure none were noticed. But what I have noticed is that you seem less comfortable with your time in the cage. Perhaps the shackles and straps are too much of an encumbrance?”
“I’ve known nothing else these last five years. It’s true I’m stiffer than I was but I expect no special treatment.”
Of course you don’t thought Adelaide. “Maybe not, but you deserve a quieter life. I have arranged a place for you with Lady Henderby. This show was your last. Perhaps your best, but certainly your last.” She wasn’t sure what to expect. She was certain that the best approach was to be quite clear and quite definite. He would accept what she said of course, but would he be angry for being rejected? Resistant to her decision? Uncomprehending?
Henry stood quietly for a moment, thinking. He nodded. “You’ve always been fair, Mistress,” he said. “I’d rather go on but if that is what you have decided then I will accept it. I shall miss the circus but I am sure that this is for the best, if you say so.”
“I’m sure it is. We shall all miss you too, Henry.” In an uncharacteristic display of emotion she reached out her arms and drew him into her, hugging him tightly. She sensed that he was uncomfortable with the show of affection. It hardly chimed with the normal Mistress-Gimp relationship. She released him and stood back. “So, I will ask Vesta to take you up to the Hall, I believe she has worked with you the most?”