The four girls were sitting in front of the fireplace in the common room.

Amelia and Arabella were bend over their embroidery while Emily was braiding Milena’s hair. “You have such beautiful hair, Leah,” Emily sighed, “mine is so plain.”

“Nonsense, my sweet,” Arabella looked up from her work and smiled at the girl, “your hair is very pretty. Don’t you agree, Leah?” She cast Milena a hesitant smile, still uncertain how to act in her presence.

Milena answered her smile and nodded. She would forgive them for their shallow actions. At least they had not turned their backs on her.
If this had happened to her at home, the men of the kumpania would have gone in search of Jackson. They might even have killed him. She was not sure.

Milena sighed. Would Ramiro have wanted her still?
That prospect seemed far away now.
Her mind wandered towards him. Had he chosen a wife yet?

“Daniel!” Amelia’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

Daniel was standing in the doorway, his leather riding gloves still in one hand and he was looking at Arabella with cold eyes. “What are you doing here, Ara?”

Arabella was not looking at him. “I came to see Leah,” she said in a soft voice.

“You have no right to visit her after what your brother has done to her,” Daniel hissed.

“Daniel!” Amelia said shocked.

“I did not know what he would do,” Arabella told him.

“It is not her fault!” Amelia aided her.

“Hold your tongue, Amelia,” Daniel warned. He turned to Arabella again. ”You are no longer welcome in this house.”

Arabella’s lip trembled, but she stood up quietly.

Both Amelia and Emily stared in disbelieve.

“But Ara is my friend.”

 “And this is my house.” 

“It’s alright, Amelia,” Arabella said quietly, “your brother is right.” She made her way towards the door when Milena stood up and stopped her.
She shook her head at Arabella, but the Caldwell girl smiled at her apologetic. “Thank you, Leah, but I have to respect Daniel’s decision.”

Milena shook her head again and looked at Daniel. Her eyes pleaded with him to reconsider.

Amelia bit her lip as she watched the stand off. Milena’s actions gave her courage and she joined the two women. “Daniel,” she aid calmly, “Ara is not to blame. I left Leah too. And you were otherwise engaged as well. We are all to blame.”

Daniel kept his eyes on Milena. How could a person be so forgiving and kind? Who was he to deny her? If she wanted Arabella to stay, he would accept it.
He sighed. “Very well. Stay then.”

“If you don’t want me here…”

“I shouldn’t have lashed out at you,” Daniel cut her off, “I know it was not your fault.”

“I hope that you can forgive me one day.”

Daniel nodded stiffly. “So do I.”

***

The road ahead was empty and quiet. Daria smiled blissfully as she leaned against Petsha’s shoulder.
He clacked his tongue to speed up the horse and gently took Daria’s hand into his free one. “We will make camp soon,” he said, “Milosh has been saying we will need to stop at the next village. There are things to be sold and supplies to be bought.”

“So soon already?” Daria asked, “do we not have enough? I do not like the thought of visiting another gadje village. Please say you will not go.”

“I will not go,” Petsha answered soothingly, “I have to spend time with my wife after all. Sergei will go. And Kristof. Aranka will join them.”

Daria sighed. “I wish we did not need to have dealings with the gadje.”

“Do not worry,” Petsha told her, “all will be well, but we need supplies before winter sets in.”

Daria nodded. “I know.” She focused on the other wagons in front of her and sighed. She would be glad for the day to end.

***

“Daniel,” Emily spoke quietly.

Daniel looked up surprised. It was a rare thing for Emily to use such a serious tone. “What is it?” he asked, “is something wrong?”

“No,” Emily said quietly, “I just… I wanted to ask you…”

“What? You know you can ask me anything.”

Emily bit her lip. “Do you think I can talk to Harun some more?”

“Emily!” Amelia gasped when she heard her sister’s request.

“Who?” Daniel looked confused

“The stable boy you hired, “Amelia clarified, “Emily, we talked about this.”

“When did you see that boy?” Daniel asked curiously.

“This morning at the stables,” Emily answered, “he was talking to Leah.” She looked at her sister. “We spoke to him then. Why can’t I talk to him again?”

“It was only to thank him. He works here.”

“But I can speak with him when he has finished with his work, can’t I Daniel?” she begged her brother.

Daniel thought for a moment. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the stable boy. He had proven to be honorable, but Emily had lived a sheltered life. And Harun was still a young and attractive man.

“Don’t you think, when Harun has finished his work, he’ll want to return home, to his family?”

Emily looked down. “Oh. Yes. Of course.”

Daniel sighed. He didn’t like disappointing Emily. “I’ll tell you what. I will speak with Harun and whenever Jonathan can spare him, he can come speak with you. How is that?”

Emily’s eyes lit up.

“Daniel!” Amelia said in shock.

He turned to her. “It might be a good thing. Harun is a gypsy too. Perhaps he can help us understand Leah better.”

“The traveling people,” Emily corrected.

“What?” Daniel asked confused.

“Not gypsies,” Emily explained, “Harun said they are the traveling people. Only non travelers call them gypsies.”

Daniel looked stunned. “I see,” he said.

“Do you really think  he’ll want to talk to me?” Emily asked uncertain.

Daniel patted her hair. “Why wouldn’t he?”

“I don’t know,” Emily answered, “what if he does not find me interesting? What would he want with someone like me, who can’t even move her legs?”

Daniel leaned forward and kissed her temple. “How can he not like you, little sister? I will talk to him, alright?”

Emily smiled and nodded. “Alright.”

***

Katherine Goodwin narrowed her eyes at her reflection. Her mind replayed the events of the night before. She had been so certain of Daniel when she had pointed him towards the gardens, so certain of what he would find.

And he had found it.

Only things hadn’t gone according to plan.

She couldn’t believe he had punched Jackson. She had known that Jackson would try to seduce the girl. His eyes had been following the gypsy girl’s movements from the moment she had arrived. He had lusted after her.
Everyone knew of the lose morals the gypsies held. It should have been so easy.
Now everything was ruined.

With a frustrated gesture, Katherine threw her brush on the dressier. She hated the girl who had stolen Daniel’s affection. It was not fair. Wasn’t she, Katherine, the one who had enjoyed a sophisticated education? She was a woman of statue. Her father had made his fortune as a merchant.
And now this girl, with no land of title, had wiggled her way into the Blackwood household.

It was ridiculous.

Katherine looked up in the mirror, determination in her eyes.
She was going to win him back. Katherine Goodwin always got what she wanted.

***

“How did it go? Did you make some good trade?” Milosh studied the two men in front of him.
Sergei and Kristof nodded.

“There was no trouble,” Sergei said, “the gadje were a bit wary, but there was no hostility. We were allowed to sell our goods and we made some fair coin, but the village elder advised us not to linger for too long.”

“We can stay the night in the field,” Kristof added, “but they want us gone by nightfall tomorrow.”

“Then we will leave,” Milosh sighed, “I do not wish any more trouble with gadje. The places that welcome us dwindle every year. I’d rather remain somewhere for one night than be chased away.”

“A wise decision,” Sergei nodded. It was better to keep traveling, but they needed to camp somewhere at night to rest themselves and to rest the horses.

“Go now,” Milosh said, “we need to be well rested for tomorrow’s journey. The weather will break soon enough. We need to be ready when that happens.” He watched both men leave and leaned back against the wall.
Another place where they were not welcome. How long would it be before they were banned completely from the soil they knew so well?
Milosh rubbed his eyes. He was tired. He had traveled the roads of this land for many years. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could go. Who would lead the kumpania when he was gone?
With his forty and some years he could be considered still a man in the prime of his life, by he didn’t feel that way.
The men in his kumpania were all capable men, good men, but it took more than that to lead a kumpania.
Petsha and Ramiro were both young, the men of Czibor’s familia were either too wild or too docile.
Cezar was a  hothead, Laszlo too old.
Milosh sighed. Perhaps he should make Sergei his successor. He was a levelheaded man. Yes, perhaps he would be the right choice. He would call in a meeting tomorrow and announce his decision, though in his heart he hoped he would still  see years to come.

***

“The working day is over, boy. What are you still doing here?”

Harun looked up at the stable master and bowed. “With your permission sir, will you please point me to a vacant space here in the stables? I do not need much room.”

Jonathan studied the boy surprised. “Do you not have a  home to turn to boy?”

Harun looked down. “My father lives many miles from here, sir. It is a fair day’s walk. At the Caldwell estate, I slept in the straw. Pleas sir, I won’t bother anyone.”

Jonathan shook his head in wonder. “Have you eaten at all, boy?”

Harun bit his lip and kept quiet.

Jonathan sighed. “I have no use for you if you don’t keep up your strength. Come let’s get some food into you.” He took Harun’s shoulder and steered him towards the mansion, towards he servants’ entrance.
“The kitchen is that way. Tell Agnes to scoop you a hot bowl of stew and after you’ve eaten come back to the stables and we’ll see if we can find you a place to stay.”

“Thank you for your kindness, sir,” Harun said gratefully.

Jonathan slapped his shoulder. “Anyone that can tame that hellion of a horse the young lord rides deserves my respect. Just make sure you are worthy of it.”

Harun nodded seriously. “I will not let you down.”

***

“And where have you been all day?” Jackson was leaning against the doorframe, a glass of brandy in his hand. His collar was open and his shirt only half tugged in.
He leered at his sister.

Arabella casually handed her coat to a waiting servant and ran a hand through her curls. “I was visiting a friend.”

“Really now?” Jackson scoffed, “and what friend would that be?”

“…Amelia…” Arabella answered and she walked further into the house.

Jackson followed her. “So you’re taking their side now?”

“I wasn’t aware there were any sides to take.”

“Dear sister,” Jackson walked closer towards her, “family needs to stick together.”

“You assaulted that girl,” Arabella said quietly.

Jackson narrowed his eyes. “Not you too. It was a gypsy. It’s not like she has any virtue to loose.”

“She is my friend,” Arabella whispered.

Jackson laughed. “How easily do you degrade yourself, sis.”

Arabella narrowed her eyes. “You’re drunk.”

“Very much so,” Jackson grinned darkly. He took another sip of his drink.

“Just apologize to Daniel,” Arabella said, “he’ll forgive you. I’m sure he will. You’ve been friends for so long.”

“Silly little  girl,” Jackson mocked, “I’ve done nothing that needs forgiveness. And it is clear that our friendship means nothing to him.” He scoffed. “Let him be happy with his gypsy whore. He’ll come to his senses soon enough and then he will beg me for forgiveness.”

Arabella shook her head sadly. She had never seen him act like this. She had always adored him and his antics.
Of course she knew of his escapades. He liked to flirt, but she hadn’t known he could be so coldhearted and indifferent. “I don’t know you anymore,” she whispered.

Jackson scoffed. “How adorably naïve you are,” he said and he walked away from her. “Tell the servants not to disturb me,” he told her, “I want to be alone with my company for the night.” He emptied his drink and left the glass on the railing of the staircase.

***

Milena sighed content and leaned her head back against the wall. She was seated on the sill of her bedroom window and stared out over the garden.
This had been a good day.

She had not forgotten, nor would she any time soon, the events of the previous night, but perhaps living here wouldn’t be a bad thing.
She loved Emily and maybe she and Amelia would become friends.

And Daniel…

Milena sighed. He was a good man and he truly tried to understand her. He respected her. She knew he was someone she could trust.

She still longed for her family, but in time she might come to accept this other life.

And now Harun was here, a little piece of home. Her life would be easier now.

There was a knock on the door and she looked up surprise. Who would visit her this late at night?
Curiously, she walked to the door to let her visitor in.

Daniel cleared his throat and inclined his head. “Evening, Leah.” He looked uncomfortable and took a deep breath. “I saw the light underneath your door. I was wondering if everything was well.”

Milena nodded and smiled at him. He made no effort to enter the room and she was relieved about that.
He truly was a gentleman.

Daniel nodded. “Good.” He sighed. “I was wondering if you would be interested… that is to say… will you join me on my morning ride? You can ride, can you?”

Milena bit her lip. Daniel was an honorable man. That didn’t mean she should go somewhere alone with him.

“Ah no,” Daniel hurried to say, reading her expression, “I do not mean alone. I would not…”

Milena offered him a careful smile and nodded.

“You will go?”  Daniel asked relieved

Milena smiled again and nodded.

“Good,” Daniel breathed, “I will see you then on the morrow.” He inclined his head. “I wish you a good night.” He slowly retreated and disappeared into his own room

Milena bit her lip and smiled.
Quietly she closed the door. She would enjoy riding again, to feel the wind in her hair.

To be free…