Raised in her father's gang, the young gypsy Emma Ferguson was persecuted all her life by the puritanical society of the 19th century, yet she never felt completely part of the Romani group. Vivacious and intelligent, the beautiful Emma only wished to find her true self and live the experiences she had been denied over the 20 years of her life, when an unsuccessful performance made her worst nightmares come true in that cursed Scottish town. Emma only survives all this with the help of the handsome British gentleman, Henry Dashwood, whom she met during the fateful performance, and when he rescues her from the roadside, she begins a new and dangerous journey. In a society where gypsy origin is considered worthy of capital punishment, Henry has decided to help Emma get back on her feet, and hatches a plan that could be the salvation or ruin of them both.
View MoreHenry I was trying to concentrate on the letter I was answering while I waited for Mr. Martin, one of the local farmers who had arranged a meeting with me, but my mind kept returning to Emma. I should have insisted on accompanying her, even if I had to take Christopher and Kitty with us.I gave up what I was doing and started pacing back and forth in my living room. Why am I so bothered by this? Emma's right, Dyrham Park isn't far away, she must be with Georgiana by now.Perhaps I should go there, just to make sure everything is all right. Mr. Martin arrived for our meeting, forcing me to take my mind off Emma and devote my attention to the man in front of me. I tried my best to listen to his plans for expanding his farm, but I couldn't concentrate.As soon as he leaves here, I'll go to Dyrham Park, I won't let you go back to Casterly Park alone. I don't understand what's going on, but I feel something is wrong.A knock on the door echoed through the room, before Christopher opened
EmmaI took a few shaky steps back.He was dead, what's going on?" Emma " He held my arms, assessing me " It's really you!" No... You're dead! " I exclaimed, trying to get free." I'm not dead. I managed to escape " he gasped " I wasn't the only one." What? " I repeated, blinking dazedly " Others survived?" What happened to you? " “We've been following you since Melrose. Lash saw you get into a carriage, but it took us a while to find out where you ended up.I couldn't answer. I continued to stare at him in confusion and disbelief. Was Lash alive too? How many survived?" Why are you dressed like that? " He grimaced." I live here now " I recovered my voice " Two gentlemen helped me escape and sheltered me." Sheltered you? " He growled " Are you living among the Gadjikanes¹?" I'm alive,” I retorted." “Good, then you can come with me,” he replied in a dangerous tone.Go away? Go back to being a gypsy, he meant? Could I do that? And Henry, would I leave him behind?" I can't " I
EmmaWe left the house, walking through the gardens until we reached a secluded spot at the back of the property. When she saw that we were indeed alone, she sat down on a bench, urging me to do the same.I waited for her to say something, feeling a little anxious." Ms. Ferguson, we need..." I'm sorry " I interrupted her." “Wait for me to say what I want before you apologize, Emma.” She held back a smile." Yes, ma'am. " I bit my lip." You must have realized by now that Henry told me everything. " She took a deep breath " What you did was very serious and irresponsible!" Yes, I know..." You could have lost everything, Mrs. Ferguson " she continued, causing me to laugh nervously. Lost everything? As if I had much to lose. " Did I say something funny?" I have nothing left to lose, Mrs. Dashwood " I looked away " I have no family, no fortune, and that's the least damage to my reputation if they find out where I came from. " “I'm aware of your situation, Emma,” she assured me, “bu
EmmaI did what Henry asked and managed to get to my room without attracting anyone's attention, despite my pounding heart. It had been like this since Henry woke me up, and I was sure he had used me and was kicking me out of his life for good, but after his brief explanation, I calmed down a bit, as much as possible.I carefully cleaned up all that blood, then got dressed. A feeling of guilt began to consume me. How will I face everyone knowing what I did? What will my conversation with Henry be like? What is he thinking about all this?I hope he was telling the truth when he said he loved me, because I certainly was sincere.I was considering whether or not to leave the room when a knock on the door startled me. Who could it be? Henry? I don't think the conversation would happen in my room. Did he ask someone to call me?I went to the door nervously, finding Katherine Dashwood standing there, holding what looked like some sheets."Mrs. Dashwood, what...""I don't have time right now
HenryI woke up feeling a little bewildered a few hours later, the room was dark because the candles had been extinguished and the curtains were closed. I sat up in bed, feeling a little cold because I wasn't dressed, before observing Emma asleep next to me.Emma!No, no, no... What have I done?Emma shifted on the bed, turning her face, which displayed a peaceful expression, towards me.How could I have done this to her! The details of the night before began to hit me as I watched her lying on her stomach with part of the skin on her back exposed. I should have waited, we were going to get married, I should have waited! It was my duty!What would happen to her fragile reputation if someone found out what happened here last night? Emma has already had so many problems adjusting. I've ruined everything!I realized that a servant would show up at any moment, she needs to get out of here, no one can know that she spent the night in my room." Emma, wake up " I shook her gently " Come o
HenryEmma left me standing there in the library bewildered, I couldn't think of anything but her, nothing else existed in my mind. But she was right to walk away like that, what I was about to do was unacceptable.I took a deep breath and went to my room, I had to marry her. I need to marry her as soon as possible, it's more than clear that my plan for a long engagement is unfeasible for both of us.I took off my boot and started to undress, trying to extinguish the excitement that had taken over my body, but all the time my mind wandered to Emma, she was only a few meters away, I could easily go to her, no one would know.No one would know.No! What am I thinking? I couldn't do that to Emma. She's the most incredible, strong and dedicated woman I know. I can't disgrace myself with her like that.On the other hand, I want to make her my wife! It's clear that I'm not having fun with her! I'd marry her tomorrow if it were possible!That's it. I gave up thinking, opened the bedroom doo
EmmaAs much as Henry says my essence hasn't changed, that's not how I see it. This dance was proof of that, I had fun! I had fun when I shouldn't have, that tambourine was a part of me that I had been ignoring for a long time, suffocating it day by day.I moved it gently, listening to the sound it made. I missed it, I really did. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, letting my mind wander to the song my mother always sang to me. It wasn't a gypsy song, but I loved the rhythm and even my father learned to play it so we could dance."I hear your voice on the wind. And I hear you call out my nameI began to chant in a tone that resembled a whisper; if I concentrated hard enough, I would hear the melody and my mother's voice soothing me."Listen, my child!' you say to me, I am the Voice of your history, Be not afraid "come follow me, Answer my call and I'll set you free.'I started to move according to my imaginary rhythm, shaking the tambourine with my body, that dress was getting in
As soon as we separated at the end of the melody, I noticed Henry standing watching me from a distance. Didn't he dance with anyone?I planned to go to him, but Georgie intercepted me on the way."Did you really dance with Mr. Kinghley?" She whispered."Unfortunately," I sighed, watching him approach the young woman from earlier."You did well, you're attracting attention," she teased."I don't want to attract attention," I groaned."Has Mr. Dashwood asked you to dance yet?" Georgie prodded."No," I sighed, debating whether or not to tell Georgie about our kisses, giving up the idea immediately. No one could even dream about it. "Mr. Kinghley was quicker.""Do you think he'll ask you?" She smiled."I don't know..."I fell silent when I noticed a red-haired boy approaching, coming directly to us."Miss Crawford," he greeted her, "It's a pleasure to see you again.""Mr. McGregor," Georgie smiled openly as the young man cast an eager look in my direction. "I didn't see you at the ball."
EmmaI was about to respond to that teasing when Henry appeared at the edge of the stairs. I couldn't help but admire his beauty as he patiently waited for us to finish descending the steps."The carriage is waiting for us," he announced with a slight bow."Henry, you must praise us immediately," Kitty scolded."You two don't need my praise to know that you look beautiful," he assured. "Although I...""Miss Ferguson," Christopher interrupted as he emerged from one of the rooms, taking my hand in a swift motion and bringing it to his lips. "You look divinely charming.""It's very kind of you, Mr. Kingsley," I returned, trying not to ignore the young man in front of me, while Henry gave his cousin a stern look."You should learn how it's done, brother," I heard Kitty tease him."Allow me to escort you to the carriage," Christopher offered his arm, leaving me unsure how to react.I couldn't refuse and expect Henry to take his place.Kitty linked her brother's free arm while I accepted Mr
Emma"Emma, are you ready? "Elinor, my mother, asked while I was putting on my earrings. "Right now? "I turned towards her "I thought we'd be longer.”She was standing outside my Vardo¹ watching me as I got ready and sat on the bed."Your father thought we'd better get on with it "she approached the bed "He'd been told that the town wasn't happy about our arrival. He intends to give the last performance today and leave in the morning with the money we've raised.”My father was the leader of our group, which made me a kind of princess among the Romnichal², or at least I liked to think so."I don't like this place," I admitted as I tied my scarf around my head."Wear more gold," Elinor smiled, offering me some bracelets."I don't want to attract attention in this place," I sighed, "can you send Ruby?”"She went yesterday and didn't get much "My mother concentrated on painting my eyes "You know they love to see you dance.”"Will Kadir accompany us? "I sighed in defeat."Not this time, R
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