A Dangerous Love. Brenda Joyce

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СКАЧАТЬ from Istanbul. It must have cost him a small fortune.

      He set her at arm’s length. “I am sorry I missed your birthday, but I explained in my note that we were becalmed. You look unhappy.”

      Ariella moved past him. She glimpsed her Aunt Lizzie, the Countess of Adare, in an adjacent room, chatting happily with Amanda. Her cousin, Margery, smiled at her and they hugged. “I am so happy to see you,” Margery said. Like her mother, she was a pretty, buxom strawberry blonde. “Even though it’s only been a few weeks, there is so much to catch up on.”

      Margery spent a great deal of the year in London, too. “How was your trip? You have arrived so early!” Ariella said.

      “We had an easy journey, thanks to the new rail,” she replied. “You do look a bit peaked, Ariella. Are you all right?”

      “I couldn’t sleep a wink last night,” Ariella said. She was afraid to look at Alexi. He was scrutinizing her far too closely.

      “The Gypsy music kept her awake,” Dianna said. “I had a bit of a problem falling asleep, as well.”

      Ariella felt her cheeks warm. She stole a glance at her brother, but he had strode to the terrace doors. He stared across the lawns toward the brightly painted wagons of the caravan.

      “A Gypsy woman came to the door at Harmon House a year or so ago,” Margery said. “I was the only one at home and I happened to notice how shabbily she was dressed before our doorman could send her away. She begged to tell my fortune. I only wanted to give her a meal, but she read my palm.”

      “And did her fortune come true?” Dianna asked.

      “Well, as she predicted a terribly handsome man as dark as the night riding in on a white charger, no.” Margery laughed. “How unfortunate.”

      Alexi turned. “She was hustling you, obviously.”

      “She was too proud to accept a meal without offering a service,” Ariella refuted. Her tone must have been strong, because everyone stared.

      Alexi’s interest had become intense. Ariella said, “I went to their camp with Father. I haven’t seen Romany people since I was a child. That was in Ireland, Alexi, do you recall?”

      “Yes, I do. Father’s stallion was stolen and he was furious for a week.”

      She crossed her arms and stiffened. “It was unfortunate,” she began.

      “It was a felony,” he said grimly.

      She walked over to him, her temper flaring dangerously. She knew she should control it—she never lost her temper and everyone would know something was afoot. But she couldn’t hold it at bay. “So all Gypsies are horse thieves, fortune-tellers, hustlers and criminals?”

      He towered over her. “I did not say any such thing. I have encountered Romany all over the world. They are great musicians —in Russia, the Crown has a Romany choir, as do many of the great nobles. In Hungary, Romany musicians are the rage and they play in the greatest homes, and on the stage. Many of them earn an honest living. They are tinkers, smiths, basket makers, chair menders. But,” he said very emphatically, “they are nomadic, and a disproportionate number prefer any activity other than one that brings in an honest wage.”

      She knew she must back down. “I cannot believe that there are more thieves amongst the Romany than amongst the English.”

      “That is not what I said.”

      “Their music is strange, but very enjoyable,” Dianna said swiftly, clearly wanting to intervene. She smiled anxiously at them both. “It is exotic but filled with passion, like an opera might be.”

      Ariella ignored her, as did Alexi. He said softly, “Since when have you become the defender of the Romany tribes?”

      Ariella debated several placating answers. “Since I went with Father to their camp and saw mothers caring for their children and preparing supper for their families, just as we do!”

      “Their culture is vastly different from ours.” He was firm. “I do not like them camping here.”

      “Why not?” she cried.

      His gaze shot to hers. “There will be trouble.”

      She could not believe he had become so bigoted. “Their leader swore that there would be no horse stealing or cattle rustling.”

      “Really? How odd. Theirs is more of a brotherhood than anything else. I doubt their vaida could speak honestly for his brothers. You have become enamored of the Romany!”

      Ariella’s heart had stopped. For one moment, she had thought he had been about to say she was enamored of their leader. She breathed, trembling. “Yes, I have. I want to study their ways and learn all I can about them.”

      “Last night you were going on and on about the Mongols,” Dianna exclaimed.

      She had the perfect excuse to seek Emilian out now, she realized, but her anxiety did not ease. “I have had enough of the Mongols. When I saw the Romany camp with Father, I became fascinated with them. I want to know what is folklore and what is fact.” She glanced at Alexi to see if he believed her.

      He groaned, but then he smiled. “I should have known! So it has been the Mongols…until now? Well, look at the bright side. You have a kumpa’nia right at Rose Hill. You can do research in the field.” He pulled her close and gave her a brief kiss on the cheek. “You, my dear, shall be well swindled before this day is done.” He laughed and walked out.

      Ariella felt her knees buckle. She moved to the closest chair and sat.

      “What did he mean?” Dianna asked.

      Ariella could barely believe her turn of good luck. Her family would now think her interest in Emilian no different from her recent passion for Genghis Khan.

      “He meant, dear, that your older sister is very naive, too much so her for age and intelligence, and she is about to be hustled.” Margery smiled. “Unless, of course, we can dissuade her from her newest obsession.”

      “That will never happen,” Dianna said, smiling, as well. “Ariella is not dissuadable, not when she is smitten with a new subject.”

      “I, for one, think their wagons are works of art. Do you want to take a stroll down to their camp? We can admire their craftsmanship and decoration firsthand.” Margery’s eyes twinkled.

      Ariella shot to her feet. “That is a wonderful idea.”

      “I thought you might like it.” Margery winked at Dianna. “Maybe we can save her from a dangerous Gypsy.”

      CHAPTER FIVE

      WHILE MARGERY AND DIANNA paused to exclaim over a wagon painted fantastically red, green and blue and decorated with a carved horse head in a wreatelh, Arila stood on tiptoe and searched the entire camp for Emilian.

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