La Gitana

by Carol Ann

  “I come here not to torment you. I come to take from the gadges. I will always survive, Carmen.”

  “We are alike in that respect. Why not borrow Louis and do not attempt to surplant Madame and me. We are family: let us not go to war. May I kiss my baby sister. You are my only relative and papa lingers between life and death. My two sons are dead. Let us be good to each other. You are what you are and I am what I am. Blood is thicker than water. You must see papa before he dies.” Tears sprang from her eyes and I held her in my arms. I had forgotten how thin and frail she was like a broken sparrow lying on the cold ground. She had that familiar scent of lilacs on her cool white skin. I loved her still. And the old feeling came back to shelter her and protect her from life. Then I remembered what I saw through the key hole and my anger resurfaced. Clementina was the only woman to make me jealous. How I hated my sister at that moment: she was composed of arsenic and sugar. They looked the same but one could kill you. I loved Louis a little less and worried if Clementina would have Him cast me out. I held her gently and stroked her hair. I knew when Clementina threw the fabric of her beauty over a man, he would never escape. He had to experience 301

  her treachery first hand. I doubt that her husband beat her: it was a ploy to get sympathy.

  In Louis, Clementina saw a better opportunity from hidalgo (noblemen) to world ruler.

  Just at that moment Louis entered her chambers. He inquired how we were getting on.

  I told him “splendid” and Clementina smiled in a mysterious way holding her thoughts deep in her pretty head.

  “Clementina, what are you thinking about,” Louis asked.

  “Í’m thinking we three can be a happy family if we try. Carmen has convinced me.”

  “It will be two and then one, Madame would behead you if she knew: Madame must never know. We cannot stress this too strongly. She is the mother of our four children. And she has never done anything but serve me all these years. I shall love her always. And the same for my fiery, little devil, Carmen. You know We hunt game but We also hunt beautiful ladies like you and We find We like you in my bed,. We warn you to stay away from the main castle in the villa Carmen used to reside in and We’ll visit you thrice each week. The rest of the time will be spent in our time with Carmen and Madame. Age has not sated my lust. This you shall believe quite earnestly for We do not lie and We will not permit any infighting and treachery as woman are wont to do.

  The instigator will be punished. We fight wars on the battlefield but home is where We find our peace. Right now it is our command that you two make love to me together. We have a kingly appetite for these things. He handed me a beautiful red silk gown cut open to my belly with red dyed ostrich feathers at the plunging neckline. First Clementina you will take Us with your mouth and wear this white cotton and lace night gown.

  Afterward, Carmen, you will sit on my cock and do those movements drive me wild with 302

  the walls of your vagina moving and squeezing my cock. Clementina you will bite and suck my tits. We like a minor bit of pain. Bite us like a goldfish not a shark. We shall pleasure you with our hands. We are quite experienced with it. We know the pleasure button on a woman. In time We will teach you to suck our cock without gagging. Go easy at first, do not take our whole cock in your mouth. This is to be gradual. Then We shall pleasure you with my mouth: beautiful nectarines for the plunder and We won’t stop until it swells and quivers. Carmen, We shall do the same for you afterwards but you will sit on my mouth and control the motion. We know you like to lead in love making and it is quite amusing. Most woman take it as an unpleasant duty: You take it as heaven on earth. My heart swelled with love for Louis and Clementina who lay there enjoying his expertise. Just as the first rose colored light filtered to the curtains on the window and the cock crowed, we fell into a restful sleep. Louis lost the careworn look he had when awake and looked like a prince in his prime. My warrior, my King, my love, and the spread of Clementina’s dark hair on the white lace pillow. It was so perfect I wished for it to never end. I could have dyed then and there.

  The next day I sailed to Spain telling Louis I had to see my ailing father once before he passed away. That was my mission but it was a dual mission. I also wished to speak to Clementina’s gadge husband to find out more about her. I in the year of 1710

  was forty-seven years old, and Louis was seventy-two. Madame would not reveal her age under any type of coercion. She said the Lord knew her age and no one else did.

  How I rested in the sun of Madame’s love. Like Louis, she was a part of me, family and unfailing love and comfort. Of course I didn’t deserve it and St. Sarah kept reminding me of this by creating disasters in my life.

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  I knew when Clementina threw her spidery web over a man he never escaped.

  Even with betrayals her husband stayed by her side even though he knew she was a lesbian. I doubt he beat her as she told Louis. It was just a ploy to gain sympathy. She also took the gypsy drugs to avoid pregnancy and then mourned for her barreness. She was quite the actress. I always found it hard to lie. A tangle results when one is devious, and manipulative. I never manipulated anyone I loved. I did coerce and manipulate my political enemies mainly the clerics I dismissed when I ended the Grand Inquisition.

  King Phillip himself met my ship at the dock. One would have thought I was a great Gadje Queen. He had his lords and ladies show up in mass holding white candles in the darkening sky. Musicians were plentiful and all were excellent. The only odd thing is he never stopped talking even after he asked me a barrage of questions. He was very animated and his eyes were wild. I noticed he had on his bedroom slippers and his blouse was on half tucked into his pants. Oh! The bad luck of Spain to have another fool at the helm.

  When we arrived at the foyer, King Phillip saw fit to take out his cock and pace back and forth. Even the Queen whom he feared could not control him. He came over to me and whispered in my ear, “Gitana, she plans to poison me and I will die a horrible death. Help me!”

  Phillip, I am sorry for your situation, I will help you offset the bad drugs with gypsy herbs and teach you to counteract any poison they might use. Phillip, do you consider me your friend?”

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  “You’re my only friend. Their smiles are false. They seek to overpower me. I am defeated by enemies and the Queen and the hidalgos rule.”

  Phillip since I am your friend, I ask you to put your dick back in your pants.”

  “Oh,, Gitana I never knew. Forgive me. Excuse me while I go to my Confessor.

  I suffer from excessive lust and must make a penance or I shall go to hell. Forgive me.” After the King left the Royals in their white wigs greeted me like I was their long lost daughter. It wasn’t necessarily because I was who I was. I represented France, and Louis XIV. And France was the only country which could save and protect Spain in the war. Important minister and army officials besieged me with their requests to convey to Louis. They wished to discuss war strategy as well as the lack of food throughout the land for journeyman and peasants and the like. There was widespread looting.

  Starvation and violence were all too common. They requested that France send them grains, coffee, cheeses, bread and meat and sundry other items like rifles and pistols.

  I assured them it would be done and France was the protector of Spain. A starving country cannot wage war. I knew Louis would act on my recommendations even though we did not sleep together as much. He still loved, respected, and trusted me and my judgments.

  After my discussions I happened to glance over and see the Duke of Osuna walking towards me. He was smiling and he embraced me as old friends often do. He greeted me and told me I had aged well. And I said, “You, as well, Jito. Has life been good to you?”

  “I make my life good for me, and you do the same. Are you still with King Louis XIV?

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  “Yes, and really in love. He turned seventy-two this year and is strong as a rock,” I said. “And you too, ,Jito, even th
ough your hair is completely white like Santa Claus,” I said

  “The resemblance is invalid as I am not fat. Always the lady jests,” and he stepped forth, and gave me a big hug, and I felt his erection through his pants. “I have fond memories of you, Gitana.”

  “So, I see. How is that cow of your wife? Still lying around?”

  “She lies still as she is quite dead. She died last spring. I think it was because of the weight. It overstrained her heart.”

  “I’m sorry, Jito. How do you feel?”

  “You know even though I remarried I still miss the old sow sometimes. Just sleeping next to her fat, warm body was soothing. A huge mountain of pink flesh, and a sharp tongue. There was nothing wrong with her mind and some of her observations about me were quite amusing in retrospect. She wasn’t worth a damn though. Eat, sleep, drink wine. That’s all she ever did. Her life could have been much more vibrant if she had the energy or will to live it. I am lucky though I hired a smart, charming nanny to raise my children. I have since married her and I have a happy life.”

  “I am here to find out about Rupa or Clementine as they call her now. I wish to speak to her gadge husband and I want to see my parents.”

  “I have bad news for you. Your mother died last spring. She went peacefully thanks to you for hiring that gypsy nurse. You father still lives and he married the young nurse. He must be in his eighties.”

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  I felt a knife turn inside my heart and the room went black. I knew already she was dead yet I hadn’t accepted it in my heart. I woke up in a nursing bed with Jito sitting next to me. When I dreamed I saw blood on white roses and I looked into Mama’s eyes and she was not dead.

  I will get you an interview with the Duc de Sauvignon, Rupa’s husband. He is quite a pleasant fellow and he loved her very much but from what I hear it was unrequited.

  That’s all it ever was with Rupa and she has not changed. She’s in France now: she Louis’ mistress.

  I thought that’s what you were,” said Jito.

  “A king may have more than one mistress, dear. At first I was upset. Now I’m used to it. Madame knows nothing about it. Do not discuss what I told you, Jito.

  The Duc, Clenentina’s hysband consented to my visit. He was very courtly and well mannered. He served me red wine in silver goblets and had prepared a fruit and cheese platter. He was an astounding, looking person with his red gold hair and bright indigo eyes. There was a kindness and humor in those eyes, and a great generosity in action and in mood. He knew of Rupa’s lesbianism and it aroused him though he did not join in. It made him feel all the more passionate as he imagined the tangle of two soft, ivory bodies. And though Rupa was quite cold toward him she never refused him sex.

  Rupa was smart. It was her excessive spending that nearly bankrupted him and when he told her to stop spending so much she disappeared. Rupa never denied herself if it was someone else’s money. He thought it was a sickness in her that drove her to crave wealth and endless riches. He was still in love with her and admitted he would take her back.

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  I told him of her situation with the King of France and his poor, hopeful face fell.

  I gave him this advice. I told him to refuse her if she came back and that she could not love anybody man or woman: She loved things. I told him to get some, fine robust woman who could really love him for himself.

  “Clementina, as you call her loves only her own reflection in the mirror. I implore you to find real love. I have the solution to your problem. There is a good, hearty, humorous woman in France with two young children, recently widowed, about thirty four who pines for a new husband. Her name is Lula and she’s blond and blue-eyed like you and plump and curvy. Lula loves men and children and can cook anything in France or Spain.”

  “Gitana, I think not. There’s no guarantee we would ever like each other.”

  “Trust me, I am a gypsy and have the power of divination or seeing the future. I know you would find true love with her. She is warm not cold like Clementina, You will have a real woman for a change and not a sketch of one. Clementina said to me that she could not fall in love because life was survival and that’s all.” In the end he consented to my plan but was not totally convinced. He told me to bring Lula to Spain when next we came and he would escort her around the countryside and show her his estate. This went well for all concerned and Lula found herself a good man and consented to marry him after he had his marriage to Clementina annulled. He found that he was a man again and not a trained poodle.

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  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  I got the news that papa was dying and Clementina made haste to go with me. It was the Christmas of 1712 and the snow fell heavy on my heart, I wanted Papa to die in the spring when the blades of grass push up through the hard, unforgiving earth, and the wind makes a symphony blowing through the fluttering leaves. To leave this earth when all is in bloom is a beautiful thing: snow portends death of this vibrant earth, then resurrection.

  We found the encampment and the meadow where they were settled as I knew the way. It was wonderful to see all the sly, dark, scheming gypsy faces. Papa was sleeping and his wife was roasting a rabbit over the fire. She stood up, embraced me and grasped Clementina’s hand.

  “You must be Rupa,” she said, “He will be so glad.”

  I handed her a bottle of the King’s brandy and directed her to pour it for us and Papa. I mentioned that it would warm him and thicken his blood. When Rupa woke him he said, “God has answered my prayers, my beautiful girl is with me. I am now ready to die. You are still as beautiful as a red rose lying in the snow.”

  “I love you, Papa, and I am sorry I hurt you,” said Rupa.

  Rupa handed him the cup of brandy and said, “You gave me a good life and your love made me strong.”

  “All is forgiven, my lovely girls who grew strong as any man.” And Rupa kissed him on the cheek. “Both of you come close and wife, give me your hand. I loved you as I loved no one else. You were a good woman.”

  “We’ve had a good life, Moishe, largely due to Tekla.”

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  “The difference in you two girls is one who can only take and one who can love.

  I wronged you, Tekla, by not getting a Kris, I regret it more than anything else in my life. I was too hard on you.”

  “Papa all is forgiven. I remember the joy I felt when you taught me to hunt. And I remember the smell of leather and horse sweat on your body. And how rough was your beard on the rare times you kissed me.”

  “And, Papa, I still think colored hair ribbons grow on trees. You gave me so much.”

  “Beauty is kind of sorcery and you used yours to advance yourself. And I say good for you. We all play the hand we are dealt. Tekla, consort to Kings and Queens, you have risen to great power and I’m so proud of you. Power surpasses beauty in the end.” Then he closed his eyes and never opened them again. We buried him on a hill under a wide oak tree and the sun rose behind that ancient tree.

  For two more years we lived in a happy triad, going our separate ways then colliding like balls of heated mercury. Clementina, for all her persuasive skills could not get Louis to abandon us and I was still royal concert. Love cannot be measured or defined for the heart is a mysterious thing. Louis was steady with his love and generous with his women and children. The war ended in victory for France in 1714 and a year later, Louis died September 1, 1715 at seventy-seven years old.

  It rained on that day and the trees looked like they were crying, bent over in pain.

  I felt like a gutted carp expiring on a cutting board. Madame looked worn and pale and leaned on my shoulder. Louis, quoting Machiavelli would often say that fear was better than love because love fades and fear does not. That was a silent epitaph to Louis. He 310

  was either loved or hated because of the brilliance of his soul. His presence pervaded every room in the palace. There were over four thousand portraits of him placed at strategic places in the palace. Tears and se
cret smiles hidden behind fans and scarves, and the churning of souls in the wet air. I can still imagine the ringing of the bells, and the singing of the choir through the howl of the wind. His love radiated through me even when he was in the grave. Few men could love as much as Louis, or as consistently. I saw the petty little tears Rupa cried as she stood next to the Lady Magdalena. Louis would have laughed and said “Did you prick your finger, darling.” As it turned out Louis was not so much a fool for love as she thought. He provided for Madame and me, all his children, and former mistresses but nothing for Clementina. To her credit she held up her head high and smiled a radiant smile and threw a dead rose into his burial plot.

  The Queen asked who the beautiful girl was at the reading of the will and I said she was one of the many courtesans we had and did not know her name. Madame said,

  “That girl shall be one of my ladies in waiting. I am tired of those old ogres who surround me. I want someone pretty to look at in my old age and there’s no danger now that Louis chasing after her now. Carmen inform her of my wishes.” I told Clementina and she laughed and laughed.

  I said, “Wouldn’t you say life is bizarre?”

  She replied, “More like comical. Is it a royal command?”

  “Yes, she expects you tomorrow. What will you do?” I said.

  “I’ll do it. I have never been commanded by a woman before. Besides if I don’t like it, I can run away. And find another fool.”

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  “Can you call Louis a fool?” I asked.

  “No, definitely not. And I actually liked him. The bastard.”

  “He saw through you,” I said.

  “He used to call me his Sugar Queen. What are your plans, Sister.”

  “I’m going back to Spain to live among the Rom, I have enough money to live the rest of my life in peace.”