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
Henry 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
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
Emma " You seem distracted " Lash walked beside me." I'm distracted " I watched him out of the corner of my eye.Lash was a boy a few years older than me. My father tried to marry us off a few months ago, but thanks to my mother, I managed to avoid that disaster. He was nice, but I didn't want to share my life with him. That, however, doesn't seem to be a problem for Ruby." What are you thinking, Emma? " He insisted " Aren't you excited? You usually enjoy presentations." I don't like this town, it emanates bad energy " I played with the tambourine in my hand." You haven't even visited the city, are you finally surrendering to the art of divination Emma? " He joked." I visited the city yesterday, I just didn't take part in the performance. And you know how I feel about these things." Yes, I do. It's the biggest load of crap you've ever heard " he laughed " Have you ever tried saying that in front of your father?" Do you want him to die of grief? " I laughed, spotting the entran
EmmaI focused on the road ahead of me as I followed Roux in silence through the streets, trying not to attract unnecessary attention. We found the others waiting for us among some trees outside the town. I shook my arm to get rid of the tightness before heading towards the group." Where do you think you're going? " He grabbed me again by the arm, squeezing it again." This is hurting! " I exclaimed in Romani¹, attracting everyone's attention." What were you talking about with that man? " He growled. " I wasn't talking at all " I tried to get free again " Let me go!" What do you want Emma? " He measured me " You always refuse all your father's marriage arrangements, and you always seem to reject our culture." What does that mean? " It means that your father will hear about it! " He pulled me close to his body, lowering his voice " You know how we feel about marriages with them.The way Roux pronounced "them" irritated me. " I don't know if you remember, but my father married on
HenryMy trip to Melrose lasted longer than the initial ten days. I was advising my friend George Thorpe on a farm he was thinking of buying. It was going to be a quick trip, but he insisted on seeing the town, delaying our return to Bibury, a small village in the county of Gloucestershire¹.I was looking in the window of a hat store, wondering if I should get my sister a present, when a commotion took over the town. I watched as a series of gypsies ran past me, starting a performance in the main square. I didn't care, it wasn't something that appealed to me. But George was enthralled by everything that was going on. I returned my attention to the store window when I felt a small body collide with mine.I stopped the young woman from falling, holding her by the arm. She was a magnificent creature, her well-drawn eyes showing an almost wild glint, her long black hair loose under a burgundy bandana and her tanned skin standing out, making all the others look pale and dull. After a bri
HenryWe couldn't get anything else out of Emma, she remained silent throughout the journey to Preston. We attracted a bit of attention when we arrived at the small inn where we would be spending the night.Emma seemed out of place as I guided her to a private room where we could talk in private. " Are you hungry? " I asked without getting an answer. Emma remained standing in the same spot, observing the place with a certain discomfort." We're going to spend the night here, Ms. Ferguson " I insisted " Why don't you sit down?She took a few uncertain steps, sitting down in a chair that was further away than I wanted. I went over to where she was, taking the seat next to her." I hope your quarters are to your liking," I said, trying to make conversation." I've never been in a room before " she looked into my eyes." Where did you sleep? " I took advantage of the little space she had given me." In my vardo " she smiled." What's a Vardo? " I was interested." A kind of carriage, I
EmmaI was just finishing getting ready after breakfast. The sun had already risen, and we would soon be leaving for Bibury, so I didn't want to delay my benefactors. They were extremely attentive to me, and their manners were so kind. I think gentlemen are all like that.They must consider me a savage."Why does this have to be so difficult? "I groaned as I tried to follow Mr. Thorpe's advice and fix my hair.The fact that my hand was burnt didn't help either, it was stinging badly, in some places it had blistered, in others it was raw flesh.I stared at the burn for a few moments, thinking about everything that had happened. In a matter of hours everything had been taken away from me, my home, my family, my whole life. The only thing I have left are a few changes of clothes and jewelry that I can't wear. A knock on the door brought me out of my reverie. I opened it, finding the maid who had helped me yesterday, I had never even dreamed of having a maid before. She was a few years o
Henry 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