“Good day, Nona,” she said softly, trying not to allow her voice to break. “How are you today?”
Nona smiled briefly at her. “I am as well as a dying person can be. No,” she interrupted when Tina would have said something, “do not deny it. I have lived long enough—more than eighty years upon this land—and I have seen many things. Fate has smiled upon me many times. Not many live long enough to see their great-grandchildren wed and while I will not be able to witness your marriage, I will not breathe my last until after ’tis done. It is enough.”
Tina’s eyes widened at Nona words. “But, how…?”
“How do I know this?”
Tina nodded, unable to speak.
“I have seen it in the cards and the cards do not lie.”
Tina was silent at this pronouncement. She would not gainsay Nona, but she wondered if Nona knew of the betrothal agreement. Perhaps her mother had said something. “I will miss you,” was all she finally said.
“Yes, but you will be happy.” Nona smiled at that. “That is what is important. Now, help me to sit up, so that we can talk. I have much to tell you.”
Tina did as she was bid, using the cushions from the bench to help prop up her great-grandmother. When Nona was settled, she asked Tina to open the chest beside the bed and retrieve a small casket. Moving a small cup of water, Tina opened the chest and found the casket, setting it in Nona’s lap. Nona opened it and searched the contents. Eventually, she removed a gold chain, on which hung a gold and diamond starburst pendant approximately the size of a pocket watch, with a star-shaped opening in the center. She held it out to Tina.
“I have waited to give this to you because you have not needed it until now, and I worried you might lose it. But now it is time. Wear it with pride and do not remove it until you have found its mate.”
“Its mate?” Tina asked. “But how…?”
“You will know and recognize it when the time is right. The wearer of the mate is your destiny. You must not accept any other.”
Tina stared in amazement. Unable to find words for a moment, she slipped the pendant on to cover her confusion.
“But how am I to find him?”
“He will find you.”
Tina sighed. It just didn’t seem right to base her future on finding a matching pendant. There was still the betrothal agreement to be dealt with. What was she supposed to do about that?
“You need not worry so, little one.” Nona said, as if reading her thoughts. “All will be well. You will see. My Shana did not think so, but all was well. Her Felicia worried, but all was well, and you, too, will see.” She closed her eyes, but continued to speak. “I will tell you a story.”
Nona settled back against the pillows and Tina picked up her hand again. It was little more than skin and bone. The skin was soft, the pads of the fingers calloused, but Tina held it lovingly.
“I was sixteen when I met Richard. He was strong and handsome, with a laugh that caused my heart to stop. He was also already married. I was infatuated as only a sixteen-year-old could be. I disregarded the cards and pursued him all the same. It was the only time I have ever ignored the cards.” She was silent for a few moments, then continued. “I soon realized the error of my ways, but not before I was with child. But Fate was kind to me and I bore a girl. I had twelve years with her before Richard learned of my Shana’s existence.”
Nona shifted against the pillows. “Shana was a kind and trusting soul, but longed for something different. Despite having been born into our way of life, she did not fit in. When Richard offered her the chance to live with him, she took it. By then the cards had warned me her destiny no longer lay with our people so I did not protest. I did not see her again until after her marriage to a baronet. And it was many years after that before I learned she had married the baronet because her half-brother cast her out after their father’s death. Although he was much older than she, the baronet doted on her and when your mother was born, his delight knew no bounds.”
Tina helped her to sip from the small cup of water before Nona continued. “Your grandfather was very tolerant of us. He allowed us to camp on his land—and allowed your mother to spend months at a time with us. It was good for her and she learned much. At one time, I thought she would marry one of us but, once again, the cards said it was not to be. Before she went off to London for her debut, I knew she would not return for many years. Not long after your parents sailed for India, my Shana and her husband perished in a fire. We have not journeyed to that area since.”
Nona closed the casket and set it aside as Tina spoke. “I do not know what we would have done without you, Nona. Perhaps Felicia is destined to join Mira and Carlo, and the others.”
“Certainly she is spirited enough, but it is not to be. You, JoJo, and little Caro will fare well, the cards have said so. That is enough. But there will be no more contact between you and our people. It is as it should be. You are members of the nobility and none will cast slurs upon you.”
“But Nona, our own grandmother despises us—Jon and I—for our blood. It does not matter to her we are two generations removed.”
“She does not matter.” Nona waived away her objections. “The cards have not said whether she will ever come around, but it is clear she will not matter.”
Tina considered her words. She knew better than to question Nona’s belief in her cards. They had directed her great-grandmother’s entire life, but Tina found her unquestionable reliance on them unnerving. She, frankly, did not believe consulting the cards or a crystal ball, or anything else could take the place of reasoned logic. The cards might be helpful when wrestling with a matter requiring some thought, but they should not be relied upon to the exclusion of all else, and when it came to action, reason and practicality often won out.
Practicality was the reason the old marquis taught her to shoot and Jon, in turn, taught Felicia. It was the reason she and Felicia could not live under the same roof as Mr. Milton. And, she was forced to admit, it was probably the reason she would marry the current marquis if he asked—regardless of Nona’s edict.
“Do not do anything rash,” Nona said as if sensing her thoughts. “I know you do not always believe the cards, but do not jump without making sure you will land softly.”
Tina regarded her fondly. “I won’t, Nona. I will not make a move without thinking about it first.”
Nona regarded her patiently. “You will go your own way whether I wish it or no, but things will eventually make themselves right, so I am content. Now where is my wild little Caro today?”
Tina laughed. “Felicia is outside with Mira and Carlo. She is trying very hard to become a demure young lady, so I do not think she would be very pleased to hear you call her that today.”
Nona nodded. “As she should be. She has a good heart and a pure soul. She will also do well. Call her. I am beginning to tire and would speak to her before I rest.”
Tina took a moment to study her great-grandmother one last time, wondering if she was in pain or discomfort. Before she could ask, however, Nona reached up and stroked her cheek with a gnarled finger.
“Remember what I have said and all will be well.”
Tears sprang to Tina’s eyes and she blinked to hold them back. She leaned over and kissed the weathered cheek, then stood. “Good bye, Nona.”
“Good bye, little Tia. We will not meet again, but you will remember?”
Tina held back the tears, but her voice nearly broke as she replied. “Yes, Nona. I will remember.” Then she fled before she disgraced herself.
Felicia looked up as Tina emerged from Nona’s vardo. Her smile of greeting disappeared at Tina’s expression and Tina managed to summon a weak smile of her own.
“It’s your turn. Nona wishes to speak to you now.”
Tina could feel Felicia’s eyes on her, but she said nothing before continuing into the vardo.
Tina sat down on the log vacated by Felicia and faced Mira and Carlo. “Nona said we would not meet again.�
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“I know,” Mira answered. “Once Nona is buried, we will go further north to meet up with our children. We will probably not return this far south again.”
“I see. I will miss all of you, but I wish you well.” Pulling her handkerchief from her pocket, she wiped her eyes. “You will send word when…?”
“Yes,” Mira answered. Leaning over, she squeezed one of Tina’s hands. “We will send word.”
They were quiet for a few moments, then Mira noticed the medallion. Reaching over, she picked it up from where it lay against the front of Tina’s habit. “Nona gave you this?”
“Yes. She said I should find its mate.” Tina was silent while Mira examined the pendant. “But I have no idea where to look. You know Nona, she merely said it would come to me. I do not even know what I am looking for.”
Mira smiled and picked up a stick. Scratching in the dirt for a few moments, she turned to Tina. “You do not recognize this?”
Tina looked down. Mira had scratched a design consisting of a circle with a star in the middle.
“But of course, I recognize it. It is Nona’s sign. Because she never learned to write, she has always sent the sign to let us know when she was near. But what does it…?” Suddenly Tina slipped the pendant off and held it up to see it better. A ray of sunlight caught the diamonds and brilliant fire burst from it.
Mira nodded as understanding dawned in Tina’s eyes. “The mate to it, if I remember well enough, is a solid disc, with a small raised diamond star in the center. The star fits into the center space of your pendant. Nona showed it to me once when I was small. She told me that once the two pieces were locked together, it would be difficult to separate them again. It has been many years since I have seen the other piece.”
“Many years?” Tina asked incredulously. “How many years?”
“I do not know,” Mira answered. “I was not much older than Caro the last time I remember seeing it, but she could have given it away any time.”
“Given it away?” Tina said in dismay. “But you have been all over England. She said the person with the mate was my destiny. How am I supposed to find him? For all I know, whoever she gave it to sold it years ago.”
“Do not alarm yourself unnecessarily,” Carlo consoled her. “Knowing Nona, she told whomever she gave it to never to part with it. That it would bring them good fortune or something like that. She would have been insistent enough that, whoever has it, probably has never let it out of their sight.”
Tina didn’t believe it for a moment. The pendant Nona had given her was worth a small fortune. If she gave something comparable to someone who needed money, they would have sold it as soon as possible. But what if the person she gave it to didn’t need money? a voice asked. And, what if she told them the same thing she told you?
Tina didn’t have time to continue to ruminate on these thoughts, for Felicia came out of Nona’s vardo visibly upset. She managed to get to her feet just as Felicia threw herself into her arms, bursting into noisy tears. Tina looked over at Carlo in dismay as Mira went in to check on Nona.
“Nona says she is dying. She says we won’t see her again,” Felicia cried.
“I know,” was all Tina could manage. First, her oldest brother, then her father, then her mother, and now Nona. All within six years. How much death could a young person take? Knowing there was nothing she could do, Tina waited until Mira returned to say their farewells, then she and Felicia took their leave. It was painful, knowing this was a final goodbye but Tina knew she needed to help Felicia cope with the loss by staying calm. Even Carlo was not unaffected, Tina noting a hint of moisture in his eyes as he embraced the two of them for the last time.
They did not look back until they reached the top of the hill, turning to gaze one last time at the tiny plume of smoke rising up through the trees to disappear into the clear summer sky.
*
The next morning Tina entered the breakfast room to find Felicia already at the table, her face a study in despair. She did not have to ask why—taking in the riding habit Felicia wore, she knew Felicia had already been out to see if the campsite was still there.
“They’re gone,” Felicia announced.
“You knew they would be,” she reminded her gently, “but I don’t blame you for checking all the same.”
Felicia waited until Tina helped herself from the sideboard and sat down. A footman entered carrying a fresh pot of tea and set it down beside Tina. He turned to leave the room, only pausing to nod when Tina asked him to close the door.
“They must have left last evening. The fire was completely out—everything was cold.”
Tina nodded. “Nona may have wanted to head north as soon as possible. I know you will miss her—and I will too—but it is what she wanted and we must accept it.”
“Why?”
Tina looked up as she picked up the teapot. “Why?” She poured herself a cup, then returned the pot to its place. She could feel Felicia’s distress, but remained silent.
“Yes, why? Why must we accept it? Why do you always just accept it? Don’t you ever want to say ‘no’?” Her voice rose in agitation. “Don’t you ever want to scream in frustration?”
Astonished at Felicia’s outburst, Tina merely gazed at her for a moment, a fork full of eggs temporarily suspended between her mouth and plate. Slowly she put the fork down and straightened in her chair.
“Sometimes,” she answered carefully. “But screaming won’t help.”
“How do you know?”
Tina blinked, unable to come up with a single reply.
“How do you know?” Felicia repeated with more force. “Have you ever said ‘no’? Have you ever screamed and kicked when something didn’t work out? Haven’t you ever just wanted to rage when it seemed that life was unfair?”
Tina started to say something, but was cut off.
“It’s not fair!” she cried again. “And, you don’t even care!” she accused. “Why can’t we do something to help? Why couldn’t we have brought Nona here? We could have helped or done something. Instead we just let them go. She won’t even get to see Jon again. It’s just not fair! Why do we…?”
Tina was not unsympathetic. At an age not much younger than Felicia, she might have indeed raged against fate, destiny, and anything else that didn’t go her way. But she’d learned her lesson. A marchioness did not throw tantrums.
“Throwing a tantrum is not the way to handle problems. Life is not fair, Felicia!” Tina finally interrupted her tirade. “If it was, you wouldn’t exist and we wouldn’t be having this conversation!”
Felicia’s eyes widened. Tina was aware she’d wanted to provoke a reaction from her usually calm, unruffled older sister, but she hadn’t expected a direct attack. Tina’s temper abated as quickly as it had arisen at the hurt look on Felicia’s face. What had she done now?
“I’m sorry, Felicia. I didn’t mean to say I didn’t wish you were here, or didn’t want you around. It’s just that, I too, spent last night thinking about Nona and dwelling too much on the past.”
“Why?”
“Why, what?”
“Why wouldn’t I be here?”
Tina paused again, this time her teacup halfway to her mouth. Taking a sip to give herself time, she put the cup down and looked at Felicia.
“Because, if life was fair, from my point of view that is, my father would still be alive.” She sighed. “Not that I didn’t love yours—truly, he was the only father I have ever known, but I would have preferred my own,” she finished with a small smile.
“Oh.”
They finished breakfast in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, the atmosphere subdued. Felicia excused herself shortly, and Tina watched her go, rising not much later and retreating into the study to check her list of repairs.
Roderick Milton had apparently done very little during his tenure as steward except live off the estate. Since there were no ledgers to determine what expenses had been made, Tina was left to ask the tena
nts and piece together the state of things. Of one thing she was sure, the estate was not in good shape. Too many things had been allowed to fall into disrepair and Tina dared not authorize large expenditures until the marquis returned. She wasn’t sure of their financial footing.
The marquis would understand she’d had no choice. There was no reason to believe he would blame her for the steward’s dealings but she worried nevertheless. She hadn’t been allowed to have a hand in the running of the estate. She hadn’t even realized she was being cheated when it came to her stipend. Perhaps she was too naïve, too trusting. She had allowed Mr. Milton to do as he pleased, without any questioning from her. She should have known better, but once the period of mourning ended, all the supposed accidents began to happen after she inquired about a tenant or visited one. In that situation, it became increasingly difficult to keep track of what was going on around the estate. It might have been simpler if Mr. Milton had gone to Collingswood or London, but he hadn’t. And he had deliberately ensured she and Felicia were isolated from the rest of the area.
Despite it all, they had survived.
Unfortunately, now she was left to try and reconstruct and rebuild. There was so much to do to put the estate back together. And, looking at the state of Thane Park caused her to worry even more for Collingswood and the other holdings. There was no telling what condition they were in.
Her mind drifted back to her interview with Felicia’s brother. He had been furious, but not at her—at Aaron. She could still see him clearly as he paced the drawing room in the dower house, frustration and anger flowing from him like a tangible force. What surprised her was that those emotions had not disturbed her as Mr. Milton’s anger always had. It was as if she knew the marquis’ anger would never be directed toward her in a negative way.
Nona would have said it was a good sign that her future husband’s moods did not disturb her, however Nona also would have said it wasn’t enough—she was to wait until she found the other half of the pendant. But Thane Park needed her now and Felicia did too. Being honest with herself, she knew she was attracted to the marquis and, therefore, not adverse to getting to know him better before deciding whether she would consider honoring the betrothal contract. It would have been a much easier decision if Nona hadn’t complicated it by giving her the pendant.
The Gypsy Legacy: Marquis Page 8
