Emily Blackwood laughed delighted and clapped her hands. "I did not know you could dance like that, Leah," she gasped.

Milena smiled at her and straightened out her skirts. The crowd had dispatched and only the four of them remained. She didn't even know how she had ended up dancing, but she was happy for it. She had missed it, like she had missed everything in the kumpania. And Emily's next words, no matter how innocent, only made it hurt more.

"I wish I could see how your people celebrate one day. It must be wonderful."

Milena averted her eyes and tried to ignore the way her chest tightened.

Harun noticed the sudden change in atmosphere and looked at Milena with sad eyes. He had heard her story bit by bit from the other servants at the Blackwood household and he could only imagine how alone she must feel. His own mother had cried many times over the loss of her family and they had been alive. She had chosen it herself.

This was much worse.

Emily too seemed to realize the effect of her words and bit her lip. "I am sorry, Leah. I did not think. I did not mean to make you cry. Please forgive me."

Her voice sounded so fragile and small that Milena felt her heart breaking. She turned to the girl and hugged her tightly.

Behind them, Henry cleared his throat. "Miss Emily, perhaps it is best if you two return to the mansion and the feast."

Emily looked at her lap. "Yes, of course," she replied. Henry was right. They should not have stayed out here this long. She looked back at her friend to ask her to wheel her back, but the girl's attention was somewhere else at the moment.

Milena slowly walked up to the saddled horse a few feet away. She knew that horse, she had seen it before in the courtyard at Blackwood Manor and she had thought she'd recognized it then. Now, seeing it once more, and up close, she was certain. It was Carmen's horse. The one that pulled her wagon. Why was it here? With gadje? The kumpania would never sell the horse to gadje. Unless...

Her hands started to shake and she slowly raised them to touch the horse, as if making sure it was truly there. Tears were forming in her eyes. Who else would be gone? Who else had she lost to gadje cruelty?

"What are you doing with my master's horse?" A young man, probably a few years older that Milena, narrowed his eyes at her.

Milena only stared at him, only half comprehending his angry question and unable to answer.

"Well?" the boy demanded.

"Leah?" Emily looked at her concerned. Harun had pushed her chair towards the girl. She looked at the young man. "Is there a problem?"

"She's touching my master's horse, that's the problem!" the young man snapped at her.

Harun narrowed his eyes at him. "Show some more respect for Miss Blackwood," he said in a warning tone.

The man looked at him and then at Emily. He gritted his teeth and a deep crimson spread from his neck to his cheeks. "Forgiveness Miss," he muttered.

But Emily was not so easily swayed. This man had been rude to her friend. "I had asked you a question."

"'Tis my master's horse, Miss," the man answered much more humble now, "he's very fond of the beast. I can't allow strangers to touch his possessions."

"She's not doing anything wrong though," Emily pointed out.

"And she seems to know the horse," Harun added.

The man blinked. "Know the horse? It's just an animal."

Harun narrowed his eyes. "Judging from your earlier words, it's not 'just an animal' to your master."

"I would defend all my master's possessions if someone touched them," the man spat.

"Who is your master?" Emily demanded.

He looked at her. "My master is his lordship Jacob Kirkland."

"Well then," Emily said, "Jacob is a friend of my brother's so I am sure he won't mind Leah touching his horse." She looked at Milena now. "Is it true, Leah? What Harun said? You know the horse?"

Milena didn't respond. She merely patted the animal's head. The horse snorted and nudged her. A watery smile appeared on her face.

"Where did your master get the horse?" Harun informed.

The man narrowed his eyes. "That's none of your business, boy."

Emily's head sapped up and her eyes went cold. "You will answer to me then. Or should I ask your master himself?"

"I believe the Miss asked you a question," Henry had approached the group and looked at the young man.

The young man gritted his teeth. In truth, he did not know where the horse had come from. His master did not share such details with him and he himself did not care. One more horse only meant more work. And after standing here the entire day, holding he wretched animal, he was not very fond of the beast either. He'd rather been doing something else with his time, like a quick tumble with Maria who worked in the kitchens.

"Well?" Henry demanded. He'd had enough of the milksop.

The young man looked down. "I don't know," he said through his teeth.

Henry nodded, like he had expected nothing else. "Perhaps next time you will be more careful with your words."

The man didn't reply, but his eyes clearly showed contempt.

"Come Leah, Emily said, "let us go back inside. I will ask Jacob about the horse for you." She completely ignored the rude youngster and smiled at Harun. "Thank you, Harun, for everything. We'll speak some more once we've returned home."

"Enjoy your evening Miss Emily," Harun made a slight bow.

"Thank you Henry."

Henry inclined his head. "Miss."

Milena was still rattled about the sight of Carmen's horse, but she wanted to know what this Jacob would have to say and she could not leave Emily unattended, so she pushed the wheel chair back towards the house with a heavy heart.

***

"There you are my dear." Theodore Goodwin smiled at his daughter and took her arm to bring her closer. "Katherine, I'd like to introduce you to a good fried of mine, lord William Hemsworth. Lord Hemsworth, my daughter Katherine."

"Miss Katherine," lord Hemsworth stiffly nodded at her.

Katherine eyed the man suspiciously. He was much older, almost her father's age, and she could tell the word 'friend' was not amongst the words he would use to describe her father. The way he looked at her told her he was not impressed by what he saw.

It made her angry. Who did he think he was?

Her father cleared his throat and Katherine curtsied stiffly. "Lord Hemsworth, well met."

His eyes slid over her again before returning to her father. "I should take my leave." He nodded at Theodore and vanished in the crowd.

Theodore Goodwin turned to his daughter. "You offended him," he reprimanded.

"He was examining me as if I were a horse on the market," Katherine bristled.

"Watch your tongue, young lady. Lord Hemsworth is a wealthy man with various estates. You would be very lucky if he'd consider you. He is a widower. His money would be most welcome."

"You were selling me," Katherine hissed, "I am your daughter, not some piece of furniture."

"We will be lucky to even have furniture if things continue like this," her father said through his teeth, "be a little more behaved next time."

"Next time?!" Katherine said incredulously.

"I have invited him for dinner, one week from now," her father informed her.

"Then I wish you the joy of him," Katherine spat, "I will not be there."

"You will do as I say," Theodore warned his daughter.

Katherine narrowed her eyes and grabbed another drink, but before she could take a sip, the glass was pulled from her hand by her father.

"I think you've had quite enough," he told her.

"Yes," Katherine said haughtily, "I have." She turned her back on her father and stomped out of the room.

***

"My horse?" Jacob blinked at Emily confused, "I bought it from the traveling folk. Why do you ask?"

Emily bit her lip. "Leah knows the horse. Perhaps it belonged to her family."

Daniels's eyes flicked to Milena briefly and then to his friend again. He could clearly see the panic on the girl's face. "Did they say anything when they sold you the horse?" he asked his friend.

Jacob frowned in thought. "No, I don't think so. They just seemed eager to sell it." He looked at Milena. "Sorry little one, I can't help you."

Emily bit her lip and looked at Milena. "Daniel," she pleaded with her brother.

Daniel sighed, taking in the distraught expression of the gypsy girl and turned to his friend again. "I'll buy the horse from you."

"What?" Jacob let out a confused laugh.

"I said I'll buy..." He looked at Milena surprised when the girl vividly started to shake her head. "What is it, Leah?"

Milena shook her head again. She couldn't let Daniel buy the horse. It might bring bad luck. She looked at Jacob. He had bought the horse from the travelers. So some of the kumpania had managed to escape. It didn't fully reassure her.

Daniel studied her uncertain. "Well... if you are certain."

Milena nodded.

"Alright," Daniel said quietly. He held a puzzled expression on his face.

Jacob shook his head amused and slapped Daniel's shoulder. "I'll be seeing you, my friend.

He nodded at Emily and Milena. "Miss Emily. Miss."

"Bye, Jacob," Emily greeted. She looked at Milena. "Did you not want Daniel to buy you the horse, Leah? It was really no expense."

Milena shook her head. She wished she could explain it was not about the money.

Emily looked at Daniel confused.

He brother shook his head at her, silently telling her not to ask questions. He didn't want to upset Leah any further. "Just let me know if you change your mind," he said kindly.

***

The wine she had consumed was making her feel lightheaded. Katherine lightly swayed on her feet and almost tripped.

Someone gripped her arm to steady her. "Are you alright, Miss?"

"Let go of me!" Katherine pulled her arm free from the servant and glared at him. How dare he touch her?

The servant backed away and continued with his duties. It would do him no good to get on the bad side of some highborn.

Katherine huffed and brushed her skirt as if to remove some dirt that may have gotten on it. A chuckle to her left made her turn and she stared into the mocking face of Jackson Caldwell. "Why are you here?" Katherine asked haughtily.

Jackson snorted. "This is my dear sister's wedding, remember? My presence here is mandatory."

"I don't mean at the party. I mean here." Katherine narrowed her eyes. "Are you following me, Jackson?"

"Tch," Jackson scoffed, "don't flatter yourself, Katherine. You're not that much of a catch or your daddy would have found you a suitable husband long ago."

"You!" Katherine hissed, "you're insufferable!"

Jackson raised his glass at her. "No one is forcing you to stay here and chat with me. Go back to the party and find more favorable company."

Katherine glanced back towards the hall where the party was still going. Going back in there meant facing her father. That would be humiliating. Jackson let out a mocking laugh and she glared at him. "And why are you not in there?"

Jackson's smirk turned into a scowl. "I'm not exactly wanted at this little get-together, but my dear sister could hardly scratch me off the guest list lest society gets wind of... disturbance in the family. I'm merely dong my duty, like a good son, of pretending nothing's wrong." He took a sip of his brandy. "They want me to marry."

Katherine let out a snort. "Marry? You? I pity the unlucky girl." She grinned like cat. "So your father really is keeping you short. Or did he develop a soft spot for gypsies as well?"

"Tch," Jackson snorted, "my father only cares about the Caldwell name."

"Like mine only cares about getting a good price for his only child."

A dry chuckle escaped Jackson's lips and he poured another glass of brandy and shoved it towards her. "Share a drink with me, Kat. This a party after all. Let's at least pretend we are having fun."

Katherine stepped forward and downed the drink. It hid hard on her already intoxicated mind. She swayed on her feet and let herself fall in a chair across from Jackson.

He laughed at her and she tried to glare at him, but frowning hurt her head. "Ugh," Katherine scowled, "how can you drink that poison?"

Jackson chuckled. "Can't handle the bite?" "There's noting I can't handle," Katherine answered haughtily.

Jackson quirked an eyebrow. "Really? Well then." He poured another glass. "Let's see if you can keep up."

***

"Nathan, Ara," Daniel walked up to the couple.

"Daniel," Nathaniel smiled, "did you enjoy the feast?" His eyes moved towards the girls behind his friend.

"Very much so," Daniel nodded, "we bid you a good evening."

"Are you leaving already?" Arabella said disappointed.

"It's time for Emily to go to bed," Daniel answered. His sister wasn't used to staying up this long and he knew the day had worn her out. The same went for Leah. He could see the fatigue on her face and she was still upset from earlier.

"Alright then," Arabella nodded.

Amelia stepped forward and pressed her friend's hands. "Thank you for a lovely day, Ara. I wish you joy." Se kissed her friend's cheek.

"Thank you, my sweet," Arabella winked at her and went to say goodbye to the other girls. Ruth and Cecily had already left earlier that night.

"Come," Daniel told the girls, "let us go home." He turned Emily's wheelchair and headed towards the exit.

Amelia and Milena followed closely behind and Amelia took Milena's arm. "Did you enjoy today?" Amelia asked.

Milena offered a faint smile and nodded. Despite her worries about her family, she had fun today.

Amelia sighed dreamily. "I hope my wedding will be just as beautiful. And you, of course, will be my bridesmaid." She smiled brightly. "It will be a summer wedding and I'll have flowers in my hair. And everything will be perfect."

Milena smiled at her friend's childish dreams. She reminded her of Daria in that regard. A head filled with dreams.

She bit her lip. Had Daria made it back to the kumpania? Milena climbed into the carriage distracted and stared out of the window at the passing landscape. The darkness made it hard to distinguish anything, but her eyes were not on the trees. They were watching something only she could see, scenes from happier days.

Would she ever feel that way again?

She leaned her head against the frame and closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep. For now, she did not want to listen to Amelia and Emily's chatter. She didn't want the looks of concern Daniel kept casting in her direction. For now she wanted to be left alone. If she pretended hard enough, perhaps she could hear the bells on the wagons of the kumpania and the laughter around the fire. Perhaps she would hear Daria's laughter and Sergei's songs.

And someone calling her name in the wind.