‘See?’ she said triumphantly. ‘Empty. Oh—’ Her fingers touched something small and rectangular and then suddenly she was holding a small velvet-covered rectangular box.
‘What’s this?’
Frowning, Laszlo stood up. He paused and then swore softly under his breath. ‘Damn it!’ He shook his head and then smiled ruefully. ‘That was—is actually for you.’
She stared at him, too shocked to speak. ‘For me?’ she said finally. ‘What is it?’
His eyes met hers and he laughed quietly. ‘Open it and see!’
Heart pounding, she felt her mind dance forward as she lifted the lid—and then she gasped. ‘Oh, Laszlo. It’s beautiful.’
He nodded. ‘It’s to match your eyes.’
She stared at the luminous grey pearl necklace in silence, shivers running up and down her spine. ‘It’s truly lovely. But I didn’t get you anything,’ she said, looking up at him anxiously.
A dark flush coloured his cheeks. There was a pause, and then he shook his head slowly. ‘It’s not from me.’ He cleared his throat. ‘It’s from my grandfather. He would have given it to you himself, but he got tied up on the phone and he wanted you to have it before the party.’
Prudence blinked ‘Your grandfather?’ She swallowed. Her skin felt hot and raw; his gaze was blistering her skin. She felt stupid and naive. Keeping her gaze averted, she breathed in deeply. ‘That’s so sweet of him. But I can’t possibly accept it.’
Laszlo frowned. ‘You must. Please. He chose them himself as a thank-you for all your hard work.’
She bit her lip. ‘He didn’t need to thank me. Not with something as beautiful as this. Shall I wear it tonight?’ she said shakily.
Nodding, he reached out and took the necklace gently from her hand. ‘It’s not as beautiful as you. Now, stand up and turn round!’
She turned away, feeling her skin tingle as his warm fingers slid over her.
‘There! Let me see...’
She turned back towards him slowly and lifted her head. Their eyes met and her pupils shrank beneath the intensity of his gaze.
‘You don’t need any jewellery. Your eyes and lips are your jewels,’ he said roughly.
Breathing deeply, he stepped away, his eyes narrowing.
‘And now I’d like to give you my gift. I’m sorry it doesn’t quite match up to my grandfather’s.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘If he’d been any other man I would have punched him on the nose. But what could I do? He’s my grandfather!’
‘Your gift?’
He reached down and pulled a small embellished leather bag from beneath his shirt. ‘It’s a putsi. It means “little pocket”. It’s traditional for Romany women to carry one.’ He looped the cord over his hand and held it out to her.
‘It’s beautiful,’ she croaked.
Her heart was racing, and she knew that her feelings were all over her face, but she was too happy to care. Her whole body felt as though it were filling with light.
With hands that shook slightly, she turned the bag over. It rattled softly. ‘Is there something inside it?’
He nodded. ‘Amulets. Magic charms.’ He shrugged. ‘They’re supposed to bring good luck. Ward off evil. If you believe in that sort of thing.’
She nodded, unable to speak.
‘Just don’t open the bag,’ he said, deepening his voice dramatically. ‘Or the magic will fail.’
Shivering, she looked up with wide, uncertain eyes.
He pulled her towards him, laughing softly. ‘I’m kidding. You can open it if you want.’
She began to pull clumsily at the drawstring and then, looking up, saw him watching her. Her fingers faltered.
‘I think I’ll wait,’ she said slowly. ‘Save my luck for later.’
Gently, he reached up and stroked her cheek. ‘You don’t need luck.’ He glanced at the soft curve of her waist beneath the clinging silk and frowned. ‘But if we don’t go right now there’s no amulet on earth that’s going to stop me ripping that dress off you!’
‘I’m ready!’ she said hastily.
Reaching down, she picked up her small beaded evening bag, opened it and put the putsi inside. Then, looking up, she smiled at him shyly.
‘Thank you, Laszlo. I’ll keep it close to me always. And I love it just as much as the pearls.’
He watched her coolly, back to his old inscrutable self.
‘It’s my pleasure. And I’m pleased.’ He grinned. ‘Utterly unconvinced, but pleased.’
He turned towards the door but she put her hand on his arm. ‘Wait!’ Their eyes met and then she blushed and pointed to his neck. ‘What about your bow tie?’
Glancing down, he frowned. ‘Oh... I gave up,’ he said simply. ‘Papi can do them in his sleep, but he was busy on the phone, and every time I tried to talk to him he shooed me away,’ he grumbled.
Their eyes met and she burst out laughing. ‘You are such a spoilt baby.’ She reached out and did up his top button. ‘Your grandfather was probably talking to the caterers. Now, lift your chin!’ Deftly, Prudence twisted the black silk between her fingers. ‘Turn around!’ Stepping backwards, she stared at him assessingly. ‘Perfect!’ she said softly.
He grinned slowly. ‘Me? Or the bow tie?’
Rolling her eyes, she picked up the pashmina she’d had the foresight to buy at the airport and slid it over her shoulders. She let out a breath.
Laszlo looked at her enquiringly. ‘Ready?’
‘No. But do I have a choice?’
He kissed her lightly on the lips. ‘Not any more. Come on! Let’s go!’ He gave Prudence his arm and, opening the front door, stepped into the night air.
She gave a gasp of surprise, for, leading away as far as the eye could see, hundreds of tiny flickering flares edged the path up to the castle. ‘That’s so pretty!’
Shaking his head, Laszlo laughed. ‘They’re supposed to stop us breaking our necks. But I suppose they do look a bit like fireflies.’ His golden eyes gently mocked her excitement. ‘It all adds to the magic of the occasion. For the women and children!’
Prudence laughed. ‘Don’t make me use my putsi,’ she said teasingly.
‘There’s nothing wrong with a bit of magic.’ Laszlo grinned. ‘I’ll remind you of that later, when my Uncle Lajos starts doing conjuring tricks.’
The noise of laughter and music greeted them as they walked along the gravel path towards the barn and Prudence squeezed Laszlo’s arm nervously.
She had enjoyed the christening more than she’d expected. The tiny church had been bright with sunlight and filled with flowers. And seeing Laszlo hold Pavel in his arms, his unguarded face still with pride, she could have wept with love and envy. Laszlo’s family had been polite and friendly. But now the darkness felt intimidating, and she suddenly wished that she was walking in as his wife.
Shivering, she pushed the thought away. ‘It sounds like the party’s already started,’ she said quickly. ‘How many people are coming?’
Laszlo shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Probably a hundred—maybe more.’
Prudence felt her feet stutter to a halt. ‘A—a hundred?’ she stammered. ‘A hundred people?’ She stopped and stared at him incredulously. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
He gazed at her with a maddening lack of concern. ‘I thought you knew? Did you think it was just the guests from the christening?’ He laughed softly. ‘No. This is everyone.’ Frowning, he took her hand in his. ‘Does it matter? I mean, they’re all family...’
Swallowing, she smiled weakly. ‘Is that why there were more women than men at the church?’
He grinned. ‘They didn’t all come to the church. A lot of the men think that priests take away your manhood. Mine seems fine, though!’ His eyes gleamed in the darkness.
She knew he was teasing her, trying to make her relax, but she couldn’t. Feeling suddenly queasy with panic, Prudence clutched his arm more tightly.
Laszlo gave her hand a comforting squeeze. ‘You did the hard part this morn
ing. It’ll be fine. They’re going to love you. Trust me.’
Trust: how could so much be wrapped up in that one little word? ‘Okay.’ Heart pounding, she nodded. ‘Okay. But you have to trust me too, Laszlo. That’s how trust works.’
In the darkness, she couldn’t tell if he’d taken in her words or not. She opened her mouth to speak again, and then, behind them, the door to the barn opened and light and noise and colour hit her like a physical blow.
‘Laszlo! Laszlo!’
Prudence stared in astonishment round the barn. All around her, hands were reaching across and patting Laszlo on the back, pulling him by the arm, calling out his name. Turning towards her, he grinned and shouted back something in Hungarian, or maybe Romany. But the noise in the barn made it impossible for her to do anything but smile and nod.
Children were running around, darting through the crowds of smartly dressed adults, laughing and shouting. Some men dressed in dark suits and waistcoats were singing, stamping in time to guitars, and men and women, old and young, were dancing in a mass of people that seemed to fill one end of the vast barn.
Laszlo guided her into a part of the barn that had been screened off as a cloakroom. He turned to her and grinned. ‘Now, this is a party. A Romany party!’ he whispered in her ear.
She nodded. ‘A hundred people?’ She glared at him accusingly as he led her back into the main barn. ‘There must be well over two hundred!’
He glanced round the room. ‘Nearer three, I’d guess.’ His eyes were light and teasing.
She shook her head. ‘You’re incorrigible, Laszlo Cziffra! You knew exactly how many people were coming—and I bet you were always going to wear a dinner jacket, weren’t you?’
‘No.’
His smile sent shivers up and down her spine.
‘I was always going to wear a suit. But then I thought tonight was special—’
He turned as a dancing couple barged into him and apologised. She blinked in confusion. What did he mean by ‘special’? She felt his hand tighten on hers and looking up, found him watching her, his gaze fierce and glittering.
‘We need to talk.’
Wordlessly, she nodded—and then, glancing over his shoulder, she noticed a middle-aged couple watching them curiously.
‘Not here,’ she murmured, flinching as another couple skimmed past Laszlo’s back.
Frowning, he put his arm round her protectively. ‘Shall we go outside? It’s quieter there...less chance of injury.’
‘Yes.’ She paused. ‘But could we find your grandfather first? I want to thank him for the necklace.’
Laszlo studied her face and then nodded slowly. Scanning over the heads of the dancers, he pointed across the barn. ‘He’s over there! And there’s Mihaly too.’ He gripped her hand tightly. ‘Don’t let go. I don’t want to lose you.’
He turned and began to push his way through the crush of people, pulling her behind him. Every few metres he was stopped by guests and Prudence found herself being introduced to a baffling array of people. Finally they reached the other side of the barn, where tables and chairs had been set up and trestles of food and drink lined the walls.
‘Laszlo!’ Mihaly reached out and yanked his cousin into a crushing embrace. He took a step back and, glancing down at Laszlo’s suit, grinned wickedly. ‘What’s this? They’ve got you being a waiter at your own party?’
Pushing Laszlo under his arm, he sidestepped in front of Prudence and bowed.
‘Miss Elliot! You look beautiful! I wonder, may I have this dance with you?’
He gave a yelp that turned into a laugh as Laszlo grabbed him from behind and punched him on the arm.
‘No. You may not!’
Still laughing, Mihaly held out his hand to Prudence. ‘Don’t listen to him, Miss Elliot.’ He gestured towards an elderly woman sitting by the dance floor, a walking frame by her side. ‘That’s my great-aunt. Laszlo danced with her once! Just once!’
He and Laszlo both burst into laughter, but there was no mistaking the possessive note in his voice as Laszlo pulled her against him. ‘Prudence won’t be dancing with anyone but me. And you’re going to need a walking frame too, cousin, if you don’t back off!’
Trying to ignore the warm rush of pleasure at his words, she glanced anxiously over to where Janos was talking to another elderly man. ‘I must just speak to your grandfather,’ she said quietly.
Janos broke off his conversation as she approached him. He smiled warmly. ‘You look quite lovely, my dear.’
Prudence blushed. ‘Thank you so much, Janos. It’s such a beautiful necklace.’ Standing on tiptoe, she reached up and kissed Janos gently on the cheek.
Smiling, he patted her on the hand. ‘It’s my pleasure.’ He glanced over Prudence’s shoulder to where Laszlo and Mihaly were still fooling around with each other. Sighing, he shook his head. ‘They act like children when they get together, but it’s nice for me to see Laszlo having fun.’
His face clouded.
‘I know it must appear to you that he’s had a charmed life, living here in a castle surrounded by priceless works of art. But he’s known a great deal of unhappiness,’ he said quietly. ‘He’s seen so much sickness and death and grief.’ He smiled sadly. ‘Of course I love having my grandson live with me, but he’s spent far too much of his life cooped up in the castle with me.’
He hesitated.
‘We’re too shut off here. It’s made him push away the world. Turn away from life itself. But you coming here has changed that. He seems so much happier.’
Prudence blushed. ‘I don’t think I can really take the credit for that.’ She swallowed. ‘But I’m glad he’s happy. He deserves to be. Even though he’s so incredibly annoying and stubborn...’ Her mouth twisted. ‘I don’t think I know anyone quite like him!’
Janos burst out laughing. ‘Nothing you can’t handle, I imagine?’
She laughed. ‘No. I think we’ve pretty much worked out our differences.’ Biting her lip, she hesitated. ‘But I think it’s not just Laszlo who’s changed. You’ve changed too.’
Janos nodded. ‘Yes. I have.’ His eyes flickered with excitement. ‘And there may be more changes to come. But none of it would have happened without your hard work and patience.’
Prudence glanced down to the necklace gleaming at her throat. ‘Hmm... Pearls for patience? I think I should quit while I’m ahead.’
Janos smiled. ‘It’s a fair exchange! And happily Laszlo actually remembered to give you the necklace.’ He frowned. ‘I wasn’t entirely sure he would. He can be a little forgetful.’
‘Jakob’s not forgetful!’ Laszlo slid between his grandfather and Prudence. ‘What are you talking about, Papi? He’s got an excellent memory. Or were you casting aspersions on me?’ He smiled mischievously at Janos, who shook his head and began to speak in Hungarian.
For a long moment Laszlo said nothing. His expression didn’t change, but something in his gaze seemed to reach out to her—she could almost feel his hands on her skin, even though they were standing apart.
Finally both men nodded and then, his face softening, Laszlo held out his hand. ‘Dance with me?’
Prudence felt the air squeeze from her lungs and for a moment time seemed to stop—and then slowly she smiled.
The rest of the party passed with unconscionable speed. Later, Prudence would try to piece the evening together. She had danced and eaten, and talked until her voice was hoarse from trying to compete with the music. And then finally the music had slowed and the lights had dimmed and Laszlo had held her tightly against him. They’d danced until suddenly Janos had been there, telling them that he was tired and was going to go home to bed.
‘I’ll walk you home, Papi. I could do with some fresh air,’ Laszlo said, pulling his dinner jacket from the back of a chair. He turned to Prudence, his eyes locking onto hers. ‘Shall I come back for you?’ he asked quietly.
She shook her head. ‘No. I’ll come now.’
Smiling, he slipped his
jacket over her shoulders, and together the three of them walked up to the castle.
Inside the hall, Janos turned and frowned.
‘Are you all right, Papi?’ Laszlo stared at his grandfather.
‘Oh, I’m fine. The fresh air’s just woken me up.’ Janos hesitated. ‘I wonder... Do either of you feel up to a nightcap?’
Glancing at one another, they both nodded simultaneously.
Janos beamed. ‘Wonderful. Let’s go and warm up.’
In the study, a fire was flickering in the grate. Laszlo leant over and banged the glowing logs with a poker, and flames leapt up as though defending themselves.
‘Sit down by the fire, Papi. Prudence—come here,’ he ordered.
Janos sat down and glanced apologetically around the room. ‘I’m afraid I may have been a little disingenuous.’ He smoothed an imaginary crease from his trouser leg. ‘You see, I have something I want to discuss with you both. I was going to wait until tomorrow...’ Lifting his head, he frowned. ‘But it’s been playing on my mind.’
Prudence looked down at her hands in her lap, feeling Laszlo’s gaze on the side of her face.
‘So? What is it, Papi?’
Janos paused. He looked alert and animated, the vigour in his eyes belying his age. ‘I’m thinking about making some changes. And I’d be quite interested in hearing what you think.’
Laszlo raised his eyebrows. ‘Not the moat again, Papi?’ he said slowly.
Janos shook his head and gave a reluctant smile. ‘No. Not the moat. Although it does have something to do with the castle.’ Pausing, he glanced across at Prudence. ‘It was you, my dear girl, who gave me the idea.’
Prudence gaped at him. ‘I did?’ she said incredulously.
There was a moment’s silence, and then Laszlo cleared his throat. ‘So. Don’t keep us in suspense, then, Papi. What’s the big idea?’
Smiling, Janos shook his head. ‘You’re just like your mother. Always so impatient.’ He looked up at his grandson, his expression tender and hopeful. ‘All my life I’ve been surrounded by beauty. Now I’d like to share my good fortune with other people.’ He paused again, his eyes bright, almost feverish with excitement. ‘And that’s why I want to turn the castle into a museum.’
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