The Cockney Sparrow by Dilly Court Page B

her.
    ‘Ta, mister, er …’
    ‘Ronnie, miss. Ronnie Briggs. Don’t be nervous, you can do it.’
    Clemency wished she were as certain about her ability as Ronnie. She stood there, gazing down at the expectant faces turned towards her, and her throat went dry. She licked her lips.
    ‘What’s the matter?’ Lucilla demanded, her pretty mouth disfigured by a spiteful sneer. ‘Cat got your tongue?’
    Last night it had been so easy to take up the tune where Lucilla had left off, and when she had jumped on the table in the Crown and Anchor, it had seemed the most natural thing in the world to open her mouth and sing. She cleared her throat again but her voice cracked on the first note. She couldn’t remember the words or the tune of ‘Come into the Garden Maud’ – she tried again, but the sound came out in a hoarse croak. Lucilla was laughing and Clemency could see Fancy leaning against the wall with her arms folded across her chest.
    ‘Call yourself a nightingale,’ Lucilla said, curling her lip. ‘I’ve heard sparrows sing better than what you can.’
    ‘Cor blimey,’ Fancy said, giggling. ‘A cockney sparrow.’
    Everyone laughed, although Clemency could see that some of the men looked uncomfortable. She tried again, but she had lost the tune. Then, without warning, she heard the clear silver tonesof Jack’s tin whistle as he played the introduction. They had often performed this song together. She looked across the room, and her heart missed a beat as she saw him sitting in the doorway. There was a stunned silence and all heads turned to stare at him.
    It was too late to stop him – now all the lodgers knew of Jack’s existence, even if they did not know who he was. He had appeared, as if by magic, and he played the introduction again.
    This time she hit the right note. Clasping her hands in front of her, Clemency threw back her head and sang to Jack’s accompaniment. When the song ended, she had the satisfaction of seeing Augustus wipe a tear from the corner of his eyes, and the sneer had left Lucilla’s face.
    ‘Encore!’ One of the dancers called out, clapping her hands.
    Soon everyone was clapping, everyone except Fancy. She was staring down at Jack with a rapt expression on her face. Clemency leapt down from the bench, ignoring the calls for a repeat performance. She ran to Jack’s side, ready to take on anyone who dared to laugh at him or call him names. With her hands fisted, she glared at Fancy, daring her to mock him.
    But Fancy was staring at Jack with open admiration transforming her features and a smile curving her lips. ‘That were lovely,’ she said softly. ‘But who the hell are you?’
    Before Clemency could speak, Jack had shaken Fancy’s hand. ‘How do, miss. I’m Jack Skinner, and this here is my little sister.’
    ‘You don’t say!’ Fancy cast a sideways glance at Clemency. ‘Who’d have guessed the cockney sparrow was related to a good-looking cove like you.’
    For a moment, Clemency thought that she was making fun of him, and she was ready to scratch the bitch’s eyes out, but even as she clawed her fingers, she realised that Fancy was in earnest. Her smile was genuine. She had looked at Jack and seen the man, not the cripple. She had heard his music and it had struck a chord in her, touching her deep down inside. Clemency sniffed and dashed her hand across her eyes.
    ‘That was indeed a virtuoso performance, Miss Clemency.’ Augustus had left the table and was standing by her side. She looked at him dumbly, too filled with emotion to speak. ‘I’d be proud to include you in my musical troupe,’ Augustus said, wiping the jam off his lips with a spotted handkerchief. ‘As to you young man,’ he looked down at Jack, ‘you have great talent. It’s a pity you have no legs.’
    Clemency punched Augustus on the arm. ‘Here, you can’t talk to me brother like that.’
    ‘No offence meant. I was stating a point. To be a wandering street musician, one must be