“Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well?”
“Not really, uncle. I had awful nightmares because of the abduction.”
“I am so sorry about all of that. I have already arranged for a lawyer to deal with the matter. In addition Monsieur Levanté will come to see you this morning. He is a doctor of excellent repute.”
A servant brought me my breakfast and we focussed upon eating for a while. I was forced to think of Ivo and of his betrayal. I could still hardly believe it, but could find no answer as to who else may have betrayed me. Everything pointed to the fact that it must have been my lover. From the description that I had been given I could not think of anyone else. It had to be someone that I knew because the scrawny man had said that my betrayer knew me very well. The visible description fitted exactly and he knew where I was living, which no one else apart from Mr Porter knew.
Damn it! I did not want to believe it. Was everything a lie? – All the passion, the tenderness, the promises and plans for the future – a future together.
“I’d like to show you a surprise after breakfast,” Uncle James interrupted my thoughts.
“A surprise?” I asked, doubtful.
“You will have to control your curiosity a little, my little dove. Eat first. You look a little thin.”
I was actually not at all hungry and I had barely touched my porridge – I had only managed to force down two small spoons full. With much effort I finally managed to eat half of the bowl, then I gave up and pushed the food away.
“I’m sorry, uncle, but I’m afraid that I can’t manage any more.”
“OK. I don’t want to torture you too much. But you must start to eat better again before you fall over with weakness.”
“Yes, uncle,” I said, in order to bring the tiresome topic to a close.
Uncle James wiped his mouth on his serviette, put it onto his plate and rubbed his hands.
“Well, then, let us look at the surprise!” he said with delight and got up.
He helped me out of the chair and opened the door for me. He suddenly appeared to be a model of good behaviour. Very strange. Sceptically I allowed him to lead me outside. He marched straight to the stable and I followed him into the only building that still felt like home for me. At least the horses were still the same ones and they greeted me with joyful neighing.
“They recognise you,” stated uncle. “Come along here.”
I followed him to the last box and although I really had not suddenly begun to like my uncle I still could not suppress a surprised cry of joy. In the box there was a beautiful black foal. Her mother, Cloe was standing in the corner of the box eating her hay. She had been impregnated by Dorian, my father’s stallion, that was still with the Sinti.
“He was born two weeks ago. He’s just like his father, isn’t he?”
“He’s beautiful,” I said, enraptured.
“By the way, where is his father, just out of interest? “
“We had an accident – he fell tragically.” I lied.
“Regrettable! But at least he’s left an heir, hasn’t he?”
“What’s he called?” I asked.
“He still has no name. I thought that you might like to give him a name.”
I looked at my uncle in amazement. The whole thing was very suspicious. I was sure that such a revolting person could not suddenly change into such a good person. He must he hatching a plan.
“Well? Can you think of a name?”
“Gypsy,” I said, suddenly inspired.
“Gypsy? Hm, an extraordinary name for an extraordinary horse. OK, so he shall be called Gypsy. I’ll get a halter made with his name on.”
“That is very – nice of you, Uncle James.”
“Just call me James. I don’t feel so much like an uncle to you. In fact I thought of this wonderful foal as a gift to you – a wedding gift!”
I turned round and glared at him, beside myself. I had known it! – Known that there was something up!
“A wedding gift? What wedding?”
“Isn’t that obvious?” asked my uncle unmoved.
I snorted.
“Oh, yes! All tooobvious!”
“I think it’s the best solution in your condition,” said Uncle James.
“What condition?”
“Well, you’re compromised. You may even be carrying a child in your womb. I would be prepared to marry you despite all that. After all you can’t raise a bastard on your own – think of the scandal. No other man would still want you after what has happened to you.”
Feeling dizzy I leant against the box. He was right. I really could be expecting a child. Ivo’s child. This thought had not struck me before, but I could not contest it. It was highly possible and I really could not offer my child a life as a bastard. That would be absolutely irresponsible. But marry my uncle? There had to be another solution.
“I understand that you need some time to think about everything in peace. But I fear that there will be no other acceptable alternative.”
I was not in a position to respond. It was amazing that I was still standing, as my knees felt so weak.
“With the greatest of respect – in an hour the doctor will arrive – it would be good if you could be in your room then.”
I nodded and Uncle James went away.
Trembling, I collapsed in front of the box and buried my head into my knees, sobbing. I was in an absolutely hopeless situation. My life no longer made any sense.
Chapter 35
James Atkins was more than happy with how things were going. He had his little niece exactly where he wanted her. The loss of her virginity did bother him a little and the prospect of a brat in her belly also did not please him, but one could always do something about that– in secret, of course.
With a glass of brandy in his hand Atkins went to the window. Liz was just leaving the stable. She did not look particularly happy. But that was not important. Only one thing mattered and that was her saying ‘I do’ before the priest. Once she was his wife then he would deal with her. If necessary there were also drugs that one could administer. He had a friend in London whose wife was continually on drugs and she was loveliness personified – gentle and extremely obliging. His trousers tightened at the very thought of making the little unruly Liz so obsequious. He could do whatever he wanted to her.
Atkins’ gaze followed Liz over the yard. How lovely she looked. Her figure was perfect. She had everything in the right place, she was not too voluptuous. Her hair shone in the sun and he imagined how it must feel to brush his fingers through her hair.
Soon – soon she would belong to him!
Chapter 36
In shock I threw open my eyes. A hand was pressing against my mouth and someone was bending over me. My heart beat madly. I could not see his face but I knew who it was.
“Quiet! It’s me!” he whispered.
My thoughts were racing. How had he got here? What was he doing here? Why was he here? Had he betrayed me?
He took his hand away and replaced it with his mouth. I wanted to push him away. Too many unanswered questions lay between us. But my body no longer seemed to listen to me as soon as this man was around. We kissed as if we were crazy. I could taste blood and did not know whether it was his or mine. It did not matter. It was not important. I needed him. I had to have him – once more – no matter what was to happen after that.
Ivo undressed quickly and slid between my open legs. With impatient hands he pushed my night dress up. I had no time for fore-play – I wanted to feel him inside me – now! Urgently I pushed his caressing hand aside and grasped it bravely to direct him. He understood and slid inside me.
He hushed my screaming with his hand.
“Shh!” he said. “If you carry on doing that you’ll wake up the whole household.”
He made love to me hard and fast but that was exactly what I needed and wanted right now. Afterwards we lay next to one another in silence.
“Has … has he touched you?�
� asked Ivo hoarsely.
“No!” I replied, a little too spikily. “Why does it bother you anyway?” “Why does it bother me?” he snapped angrily and rolled over me. “Damn it, Liz! What’s that supposed to mean? Why does it bother me? I’ve been imagining the worst possible things. I’ve been half crazed with fear. When I went back to your room, you’d gone and I waited there all day. Then I asked around and found out that there was a stage-coach in front of the house whist I was out getting you something to eat. Someone saw you leave the house with two men and my informant thought that it looked as if you were unconscious as your head was hanging to the side. I knew straight away that it had to be connected with your uncle and …”
I looked at him in disbelief.
“But youbetrayed me to him!”
Disbelief spread across his face, then pain.
“How can you think such a thing?” he asked, his voice broken.
“The … the man who brought me here told me! He described you exactly and said that with the two hundred pounds that you got for the betrayal you wanted to build a new life. And I know that you want to go to America. And …”
“Yes, I want to go to America to start a new life. With you! For goodness’ sake, do you not know how much I love you? How can you believe that I would betray you? I don’t know who did it but I do know one thing – it was notme!”
“But …” I uttered, confused. I felt completely wretched. “Only you and Mr Porter knew where I was living and the description does not fit Mr Porter at all. But it really does fit you. He said the betrayer has black hair with dark eyes and is a bold adventurer. All of that fitted you and as I said no one else knew my identity or where I was staying.”
“Liz. I swear on my life that I did not betray you. I searched the whole of London for you until I finally found your family’s jewellery shop and had spoken with this Mr Porter. At first he did not want to give me any information, thinking that I was working for your uncle and looking for you. I showed him your empty room to convince him that you were in danger. He told me where Blue Hall was and I set off immediately.”
“Oh my God!” I whispered, and tears ran down my cheeks. “I was in despair because I thought that you’d betrayed me. I couldn’t believe it but everything seemed to point to that.”
“Shhhh!” said Ivo, kissing away my tears. “I’m here now. Everything’s going to be fine.”
“What are we going to do now?” I asked a while later.
“We’ll see to it that we get away from here. When you’re of age you can sell everything and we can get the next ship to America. There we can buy land and build ourselves a new Blue Hall. In America no one asks for your titles. There we’ll simply be Mr and Mrs Cigala.
“Cigala. That’s your name? Ivo Cigala?”
“Yes. Maybe it doesn’t sound as elegant as Graham but in America …”
“Elizabeth Cigala. That’s sounds good, doesn’t it?”
Ivo grinned.
“I haven’t asked you yet!”
“What haven’t you asked me?” I asked.
“Whether you’ll even marry me,” he whispered. “Do you want to? Do you want to marry me?”
“Yes,” I whispered happily. “Yes, I do! Of course I do!”
*
My hands were trembling as I dressed myself. I was terribly nervous. I could not believe that I had doubted Ivo for even one moment. He had come to free me and soon I would finally be able to access my inheritance and Ivo and I could begin a new life in America. It was so exciting. I had never been on a ship and the idea of crossing the Atlantic seemed so romantic to me. I only hoped that I would not be seasick.
“Are you ready?” asked Ivo quietly.
I nodded.
Quietly we crept out of the room and along the hallway.
“Wait,” I said quietly. “I want to fetch the journal from the study. I think my uncle has been dealing in dodgy business. It would be good to have proof against him.”
“Where is the study?”
“In the other wing. Come on!”
I lit the candles on the desk and set about searching. I knew my way around my father’s study but Uncle James had moved some things around. It took a while for me to find the books.
“Here it is!” I declared with excitement, and threw open the journal.
“You can look at all that later. Let’s see to it that we get away from here.”
Suddenly the door flew open and Uncle James stood on the threshold. His face was red and his eyes were flashing. I screamed in shock and Ivo swore.
“What’s going on here, then, huh?” roared Uncle James and stormed into the room. Ivo and Uncle James wrestled with one another and I stood behind the desk, as if paralysed with horror, the journals still in my hands. Like a shield I was pressing the books to my chest, staring in horror at the fighting.
Ivo was strong and a good fighter but my uncle knew how to fight and he was of a more sturdy build. He was pushing away the punches that Ivo dealt him surprisingly well.
Uncle James dealt a blow that sent Ivo to the ground and I screamed in horror. With a nasty grin my uncle went to where Ivo was lying on the ground and was about to kick him in the side when Ivo kicked out with both legs and caught Uncle James in his genitals. Uncle James uttered a terrible scream and doubled up. Ivo leapt to his feet and dealt several powerful blows that made my uncle stagger backwards. Suddenly he fell onto the desk and pulled the candle holder over with him. The curtains went up in flames and in no time the room had transformed into an inferno. I screamed.
“Liz! Liz!” Ivo’s voice finally reached me.
I was still standing behind the desk and was incapable of moving an inch. In horror I stared at the sea of flames around me.
Ivo stepped towards me from out of nowhere and pulled me by the arm.
“We have to get away from here!”
I still could not move. I was slapped on the face and this jerked me out of my trance.
“Sorry! I had to do it!” murmured Ivo. “Come on, now!”
We ran out of the room. Servants were coming from everywhere. No one took any notice of us. They were all preoccupied with saving themselves. By the time we got outside the fire had already engulfed the whole of the wing in which the study was and I stared in horror at the burning house that had been a home to me.
“I’m sorry,” murmured Ivo into my ear and pulled me into his arms.
I was shaking – whether from the cold of the night or the shocking experiences I could not say.
“Uncle James!” I suddenly cried, as I realised that he must still be in the house. I tried to pull myself away but Ivo held me back.
“No!” he said urgently. “You can’t do anything more. He’s dead, Liz!”
I sobbed. I had hated him but I had never even wished such a horrible death on him. With him died my last relative. Now I was completely alone in the world. – No! I was not alone. I had Ivo. We would begin a new life. Together!
Epilogue
I was standing at the railing, looking into the blue sea. The waves fascinated me. This whole expanse of water around me was in constant movement. The wind blew a few strands of hair into my face that had come loose. I brushed them away and enjoyed the spray that was flying up and dampening my face like a fine mist.
Ivo stepped up to me and put his arms around my middle. I laid myself, sighing, against his chest and closed my eyes.
“You’re up early,” he murmured into my ear and breathed a kiss onto my neck that made me shudder.
“Hm.”
“The captain says that we will reach our destination within a week if the weather does not change course. Are you looking forward to it?”
“Yes. I’m very curious as to how it will be. Are there still wild people there?”
Ivo laughed.
“No wilder than me, I don’t think. No! That was only a joke. Well the captain says that there are still Indians but they’re on reservations and there are hardly any attacks any m
ore. Everything’s peaceful where we’re going – the right place to bring little Emil into the world.”
I smiled and put my hand on the gentle curve of my belly. We had somehow begun to call our unborn child Emil, which did not mean that we were necessarily hoping for a boy – both of us just found it unpleasant calling the child it.
“Are you sad to be leaving your home and Blue Hall behind?”
I sighed.
“I can’t say that I’m completely unbothered by it. But as Blue Hall burnt down and my uncle so badly ruined the businesses, there wasn’t much left of my inheritance anyway. We only have Mr Porter to thank for the fact that we still got such a good price for everything.”
“Yes, he’s a good man. I think it’s great that he’s accompanying us to America with his family. I think that, together, we can create something with the money from the proceeds that will have a future. I’m imagining us having a whole pack of children and that means we’ll need a big house with a lot of rooms and maids and a whole army of servants. And then we need enough space to house our stud-farm.”
I laughed.
“You’ve got a lot of plans – a pack of children – am I going to be asked about that, too?”
We had brought my father’s stallion, Dorian with us after we had bid farewell to Ivo’s family. Together with the mare, Cloe and the foal, Gypsy, we had the foundation of our stud-farm on board with us. We had sold Ivo’s stallion as there would have been too much commotion with two stallions on board.
Ivo and Sergio had made up and Sergio had married Jelonka. They both seemed to be happy which Ivo and I were happy about – we had both had a bad conscience.
We also suspected who could have been the betrayer. One of the men from the camp had also disappeared at the same time as Ivo went in search of me. He must have had a connection with the knife grinder who had contact with my uncle. No one had seen the Sinti from the camp nor the knife grinder again. They had probably disappeared with the money.
“I’m just thinking of how much I fought against accepting that Grandmother Aneta was right. I knew everything that she predicted was always right. But I simply could not imagine ever trusting a woman again, let alone loving her.”
The Untamable Rogue Page 15