Chapter 2: The Threat

"So how'd it go?" Barnum asked. He and Philip were at the bar having their traditional evening drinks.

"What go? The show?" Philip teased. Barnum gave him the 'really' look.

"You know what I mean," Barnum told him.

"Yeah I do," Philip said. "And she said yes."

"Great! So what are the plans for the wedding?" Barnum asked.

"Now hold up! I only asked her yesterday. We still have to announce it to the others," Philip told him. "Besides we're probably going to have it in late spring and it's September."

"I know but I'm telling you from experience that the earlier you start planning the better," P.T said. "Cause we ended up rushing to get there since almost forgot the time to get the church cause they changed it on us the day before. And Charity almost forgot her veil!"

"You sure you're not just pulling my leg?" Philip responded. Barnum shook his head and chuckled.

"Nope," Barnum told him. "She almost lost her veil and I actually lost my tie. Though it was kind of our fault for planning for a wedding to be so soon after our engagement."

"Leave it to Barnum to rush in and ask questions later," Philip said. "Even with his own wedding."

"Yeah, though I doubt that'll be you with yours," Barnum responded. "You're the guy with a plan."

"I try to be," Philip yawned. Barnum checked his watch.

"It's late," Barnum informed him. "I'll see you tomorrow night for drinks. Oh, by the way Caroline has a dance recital Friday…"

"I'll be there," Philip answered. "What time?"

"Four," Barnum told him.

"Great!" Philip said. "Night P.T."

"Goodnight Philip," Barnum replied. Both men parted ways at the door and headed home. When Philip arrived home and he saw another letter from his parents in the mail. He was too tired to deal with it right at that moment and he was tired of the letters in general. So he threw it away and went to bed.

The next morning it was Wednesday. Philip went to work as always and on his way he remembered all the things they had to go over. The troop had go over their new act for tonight, which would take up most of the day, he had to go over the numbers with O'Malley, and he had to announce his and Anne's engagement.

"So when were you gonna tell me that you and Anne are engaged?" Lettie asked once he had walked into the circus.

"I was going to tell everyone today, but if Anne's already done that…" Philip said.

"No she hasn't, she just told me because I asked her about her ring," Lettie told him. "You're still gonna have to announce it to everyone else."

"Great," Philip said sarcastically. "It's at times like this that I miss Barnum."

"Because he did all the announcements for you?" Lettie guessed.

"Yeah, partly," Philip admitted. "And sometimes…Oh! Caroline has a ballet recital on Friday at four."

"I'll be sure to be there," Lettie responded. "Oh! And would you look at that?! The troop's all here." And sure enough they were and had gathered around Lettie and Philip while he had been talking with Lettie.

"Anne said there's something that you need to tell us," Charles a.k.a Tom Thumb said. "So spill."

Two Days Later

"Hey! Over here!" P.T called out to W.D, Lettie, Anne, and Philip. The Barnums, except Caroline, were in their seats. When the circus bunch had heard P.T, they went over to where they were sitting and sat in seats close by.

The recital started and their eyes were all on Caroline. She was a graceful and talented ballerina and though one of her classmates had tried to trip her up it failed. Caroline's performance was flawless and perfect. Once they were done, they took their bows and the audience clapped for them. When the girls had left the stage, the Barnum and circus train proceeded backstage to pick up their little ballerina.

"Caroline!" P.T went up to eldest, picked her up, and swung her around before putting her back on the ground. "You were amazing!"

"Thanks Daddy!" Caroline said smiling. Philip then gave her a bouquet of flowers.

"For our little ballerina," he told her.

"Thanks Philip," Caroline responded.

"So what's the big news?" Helen asked Philip. "Dad said there was something that you and Anne wanted to tell us."

"I see," Philip replied. He faced Anne. "You want to tell them."

"We are engaged," Anne said. The female Barnums' faces lit up.

"Phin why didn't you tell me?!" Charity exclaimed cheerfully.

"I thought you'd rather like to hear it form them," P.T told her.

"Well congratulations," Charity told the couple. She gave Anne a hug and then Philip.

"Miss Anne can I be your flower girl?" Helen asked.

"You and your sister can both be my flower girls," Anne answered. They began walking through the lobby with Lettie, W.D, and the girl leading, Charity and Anne following, and P.T and Philip in the back.

"So how was announcing it to the troop?" P.T asked.

"Both exciting and terrifying all at the same time," Philip told him. "Then after I had I got a dozen "take care of her or else" speeches."

"Well, you had a reputation as a scandal," P.T reminded him.

"Yes HAD as in past tense," Philip said. "I'm not the man you met in the bar several months ago."

"True," P.T admitted.

"Philip is that you?" a familiar voice said. The two men turned around to see Philip's parents.

"I believe that's my cue to leave," P.T said. He turned to Philip. "I'll wait for you outside." He left and Philip walked towards his parents to close the gap between them.

"What do you want?" Philip asked.

"For you to come home," his mother said.

"And for you to leave the circus," his father added.

"We've talked about this," Philip said. "I'm not leaving."

"You don't have a choice," Mr. Carlyle stated.

"I believe I do," Philip responded. "And mine is no." Philip started to walk out on them.

"Philip, don't make this any harder than it needs to be," Mrs. Carlyle pleaded.

"If you don't co-operate, we will ruin and destroy the circus like how we ruined Harry's bakery," his father told him. That caught Philip's attention and made him swing around.

"First of all his name was Harold not Harry," Philip said. "Second of all on what charge do you think you can ruin the circus?"
"It's all in the letter we sent you two days ago," his mother informed him.

"Think about it," his father said. Philip walked out on them and met P.T at the door. P.T's smile disappeared when he saw the expression on his friend's face.

"You okay?" P.T asked. Philip shook his head. "What did they want?"

"Me. Home," Philip said. "Nothing new. I just need to get home, okay? I'll tell you later." He left a baffled P.T and headed home. When he got home he fished out the letter from two days ago out of the trash. He opened it and read the following.

Dear Philip,

Your mother and I demand that you leave the circus and return to us. If you do not do as we wish, we will ruin the circus. O'Malley is a pick-pocketer and be charged with thievery. If this does happen, it will look like the circus is harboring criminals and no one will come to your shows. Then you will be sued on these charges by someone in the upper class, most likely us. So your choices are either stay and ruin the circus or come home and no harm will come onto them by us.

So Philip are you willing to destroy everything they've built? To destroy your fiancee's life and not be able to provide for her? And what about the others? They won't be able to get jobs either. Think about.

Sincerely, Your Father,

Benjamin Carlyle

P.S Remember Harry's bakery.

"I should've known," Philip muttered. He looked back at the P.S. "And his name is Harold not Harry!"

He looked at the time and realized he had to get going or he'd be late for the performance. Though if he was being honest with himself, he really wasn't feeling up to it. But it was too late to ask P.T to fill in for him and they needed a ringmaster. So he did the show half-heartedly and he went home directly after. His heart felt and unsure of what to do next.

Note: I made-up Harold and I will explain what happened to him and how he relates to Philip in later chapters.