prologue

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, Roux will take care of you "the answer discouraged me "Take the Tambourine.”

"Do you miss it? "I decided to change the subject "A normal life, I mean.”

My mother belonged to a respected Scottish family, she grew up in the luxury of high society. That is, until she met my father and got pregnant. She ran away, leaving everything behind.

"Miss it? "She looked away "Why would I miss it? I have everything I need here, my family is with me, we know beautiful places.”

"Is that why you helped me escape every marriage Kadir tried to arrange for me? "I prodded.

"You look beautiful "she evaded the subject "Roux and the girls are waiting for you.”

"Who else is going? "I stood up, smoothing out my long skirt.

I was wearing a white blouse with short, drooping sleeves that left my shoulders exposed, a long red skirt, matching my bandana adorned with many gold coins, and the countless pieces of jewelry that my mother had accustomed me to wearing since I was a child. The toned features I inherited from my father gave me an exotic appearance that attracted everyone's attention whenever I appeared, and the gang liked to take advantage of this.

And the dancing helped too.

"Lash and a few other guys "she stood up too "The rest will stay and help us get everything ready for our departure.”

"Will you ever dance again? "I teased, stepping out of the Vardo and feeling the grass under my feet. 

"My time has passed, Emma," she smiled, making me wonder if her time had even existed.

My mother learned to dance with Anouk, a woman who had been with my father for twenty years when my mother joined the group. She was a great dancer, but from the moment I learned everything she knew, she gave up dancing, content to look after the children.

"Do your best today "she smiled, saying goodbye as I headed towards the group. 

"When don't I? "I replied, watching her over my shoulder.

My good mood faded during the two-kilometer walk into town. Vienne, Aisha, Ruby and Violet were excitedly chatting to the boys. We were young, Aisha was barely eighteen, and Roux, who was the oldest of them all, was in his thirties.

I couldn't share the same enthusiasm as the others. Over the last few days, I had found myself observing my mother and how much she seemed to regret leaving the life she had led before meeting my father. I can't say that we weren't happy here, but what would it be like to live a normal life? 

To have a real home, a family, to put down roots in one place. It all seems so distant to me, especially when I see the looks we get whenever we arrive in a new city. The message is always very clear.

We are not welcome.

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¹ Gypsy carriage.

² Gypsy group that wandered around the United Kingdom in the 18th century.

³ in the 18th century Turkey was known as the Otanamo Empire.