Unspoken

Chapter 12 Pearls and roses

She had never met anyone like Arabella Caldwell. He woman was confident, self-posed and incredibly elegant. Her voice rang like silver bells and Milena was sure she made every head turn upon entering a room.
As it would seem, Milena wasn’t the only one that was intrigued by Arabella.
Rebecca Clarke was a shy girl, seventeen years of age. Her dark brown hair hung straight down and stopped right above her shoulders. She hung on Arabella’s every word.
“It brings out the green in your eyes, Becky,” Arabella smiled, “and if you put up your hair like this, no man will be able to resist you.”
“Are you sure?” Rebecca whispered. A heat was spreading across her cheeks.
“Trust me,” Arabella winked. She focused her attention on Milena now. “You my dear, are a different story. You don’t need any adornments. You are a rare beauty.” She combed her fingers through Milena’s hair. “Ah,” she sighed, “if I didn’t have Nate, I’d be worried.”
She withdrew and held a puzzled look. “Blue I think,. A dark shade. Don’t you have such a gown, Amelia?”
Amelia bit her lip. She had to already share her dresses with the gypsy girl, but now her best gown as well? “I… was planning on wearing the one myself,” she said.
“Nonsense, my dear,” Arabella said, “blue is not your color. Lavender I think.” She stared Amelia up and down. “Yes. Positively.” She clasped her hands. “No worries. I have a blue one that will suit just fine.” She patted Milena’s hair again and turned her eyes to the doorway. “Emily dear. Come join us.” 

Emily rolled her wheelchair into the room. She gave a shy smile. “Hello.”
“We were just discussing what color gown to lend your new friend for the banquet.”
“Are you and Jackson hosting another party?” Emily asked with a dreamy look in her eyes. “I wish I could go.”
“Ah, but you’re still too young my sweet,” Arabella said, “there will be many more parties to come for you to attend.”
A sad expression crossed the younger girl’s face. “You’re very kind Ara, but you know as well as I that I’m never going to attend a fete.”
She lowered her eyes and bit her lip. No own would ever ask her for a dance. No man would ever look at her with interest. No one ever did, aside from the family. They only saw the chair.

Milena looked at the girls sadly. Gently she placed her hand over Emily’s.
Emily gave a watery smile. “Don’t feel sorry for me, Leah. I’m glad you get to go. You’re going to be beautiful.”
‘You are beautiful,’ Milena thought.
“Don’t be sad, Emi,” Amelia said to her sister, “I’ll tell you all about it when we get back.”
“I know,” Emily said. Still, she’d rather attend one herself. “I’m sure it will be lovely.”

***

Grim faces sat around the fire of Oszkar’s kumpania, after hearing the news brought by Nikolai and Imrich.
“I warned them I did ,” Oszkar said, running a hand across his face.
“This was no fault of theirs, Oszkar,” Andrei said, “the gadje hate us. They will always find an excuse to cause us harm.”
Nikolai stared into the fire and threw in some random twigs. He held a thoughtful expression. Ramiro had waited too long. He shouldn’t make the same mistake. He took a deep breath. “Oszkar, may we sit and speak?”
Oszkar turned to him and studied the young man for a while. He nodded. “We may.” He stood up and motioned for Nikolai to follow him into the wagon. “Sit,” he said, “and we will talk.”
Nikolai took a deep breath. “It’s about your daughter…”

***

“It’s a magnificent animal,” Daniel said appreciative while patting the bay horse’s neck.
His friend Jacob nodded and smiled. “I bought it from the traveling folk.”
Daniel cocked an eyebrow. “Gypsies?”
“Everyone knows they have the best horses,” Jacob defended.
“Yes,” Daniel said, “and the don’t usually sell them to non gypsies. How did you get by it?”
Jacob nodded. “I understand your worries, Daniel, but I am no fool. I know a good horse when I see it. It has no flaws.”
“I can see that,” Daniel said, still admiring the horse.
“They were going to sell it a the horse market, but they changed their minds and sold it to me instead.”
“How fortunate.”
“Do you want to give him a try? Feel how it moves?”
“Are you sure?”
Jacob laughed. “I know you want to.” He handed Daniel the reins. “Go on.” He watched as his friend mounted the animal. It had been a lucky coincidence indeed to have come across the gypsies.