The Golden Gypsy (13 page)

'The mare has taken no hurt and is calmer now,' he said. 'Yasmin, bathe Sir Edward's face so we can see how badly he is hurt.'

She found Sir Edward had relaxed his grip on her hand, and she was able to bathe his face and wipe away the blood. When she had finished he opened his eyes and tried to sit up.

* * * *

'What happened?' he asked, ignoring her protests that he should remain lying down. 'I can remember the mare falling, and I sailed over her head, but as I was starting to get up I felt a blow and passed out.'

'You were hit on the head,' Leon said briefly. 'I was too far away to prevent it. As you hit the ground some fellow with a club came out from behind a tree and started to hit you about the head. I was able to drive him off. I've a fancy he did not wish to be seen, for he did not put up much of a fight.'

'Then I must thank you most heartily. Did you see why the mare fell? She is normally very sure footed.'

Leon felt in his pockets and brought something out slowly, bending to hand it to Sir Edward. Yasmin looked at it and gasped. A length of thin but very strong wire was coiled up in Leon's hand.

'This was stretched across the path,' he said briefly, 'about half a yard above the ground.'

Sir Edward nodded thoughtfully, but Yasmin could not remain silent.

'Someone is trying to kill you,' she whispered, horrified. 'First the man with the gun, and then the boat, and now this! Oh, do take care!P

'What man with a gun? And what's this about a boat?' Leon asked, puzzled.

'I did not tell you about the gun, for you were still ill, and later I forgot it, thinking it could have been a mistake,' Yasmin explained, and quietly told him the story. 'As for the boat, I told you about that when Charlotte took it out. Whoever did it must have expected you to be in it, Sir Edward, and they holed it. But that did not suffice, and they try another direct attack. You must take care!'

He looked at her unsmilingly. 'I will, do not be afraid. You had no glimpse of him, I suppose?' he asked Leon.

'No. He seemed tall, and broad, but that is all I saw. It was almost dark and I only saw his outline amongst the other shadows under the trees.'

'Who can it be, and why?' Yasmin asked.

'It will do no good to speculate. I shall have to be doubly on my guard, and catch whoever it is in the act.'

'Oh, not again!' Yasmin exclaimed, horrified.

'There is no alternative. It was foolish of me to ride in the dusk, but I return to London tomorrow. I shall take care never to ride alone again. Will that content you?'

Yasmin blushed and he laughed, then rose rather unsteadily from the mattress.

She put out her hand and he smiled and took it.

'Thank you. I would prefer to sit by the table. I came to talk with you both.'

Yasmin helped him as he crossed the room, and he leant on her shoulder, moving slowly. They all sat down about the table and he spoke to Leon.

'Did you know the tribe was in the district?'

Leon looked astonished. 'They are not due here for another three months.'

'That was what I thought. It is most unusual for them to break their routine, is it not?'

'Unusual, but not impossible. Is there some extra fair in the area? They could be on their way to some such.'

'None that I know of. I thought it was odd, and might possibly bode ill for you. Could it be anything to do with you? Would they wish to find you, or punish you in some way for leaving them?'

Leon shook his head. 'It is improbable. They are not likely to know where we are, in any event. They could not know of my broken leg, and would expect us to have moved on long ago. It is rare for a Romany to stay in one place for long.'

'But they could have heard,' Yasmin suggested. 'Gossip about us in the village might have reached them in some way. You should know how fast news travels amongst the Romanies!'

'It is possible, but we have been very isolated here, and I have heard nothing about any other Romanies in the district who might have passed on the news.'

'I will attempt to discover how long they mean to stay, and until they move on both of you take care you do not meet with Pedro. He sounds a most unpleasant fellow from all you have told me. However, as well as coming to give you warning, I have some more money for you, Leon. I have here an account from the merchant who is selling your carvings.'

They bent over the table as Sir Edward explained the details, and Yasmin sat back, worried over this further evidence there was someone wanting to kill Sir Edward. Who could it be? She had to admit she knew so little of him and his life she could not begin to know whether he had any enemies, or why, and the reflection made her gloomy. She was watching him morosely when he suddenly turned to her.

'Can you not smile?' he said, seeing Yasmin's expression. 'Maria sent her love, and I dare not go back and tell her how out of sorts you look!'

Yasmin tried to smile. 'How is she? I do miss her!'

'She is enjoying herself vastly, though she bade me tell you she has not forgotten you, or what she plans for next year. She would not explain what she meant,' he went on, eyeing Yasmin quizzically as she blushed.

She saw Leon suddenly jerk his head to look at her.

'It was but a silly jest,' she said hurriedly. 'Who knows what will have happened to us by then?'

'I can hazard a good guess where Maria is concerned,' he said dryly. 'There have already been two hopefuls applying to me for her hand, and I fancy she favours one of them a very great deal.'

'Oh, but I thought –' Yasmin began, remembering what Richard had said, but then she stopped, realising that what Richard had said he hoped, and what might be the situation were two very different things. 'I hope she will be happy,' she amended. 'Please give her my best wishes.'

'I will do that. And now I must be riding home.'

'Not alone!' Yasmin protested.

'I will come with you,' Leon offered, but Sir Edward would not hear of it.

'No, it would be too much strain on your leg. I am thankful you do not appear to have damaged it in coming to my assistance earlier. I can get Barber and Joey to accompany me. My very grateful thanks for what you have done. Farewell to you both.'

* * * *

Leon went with him to the door, while Yasmin sat bemused. He had not said he would be coming again, and he would be returning to London on the following day. The meeting had been so unexpected and frightening at first, that she had not savoured it as much as she had expected to do in her dreams. Leon turned back to her and seemed about to speak, but then passed her silently as he walked back into the kitchen, and sat down at the table. For a few moments they sat there, unspeaking, and then Leon rose to his feet again.

'It is late, Yasmin. To bed.'

To bed, where Yasmin dreamed hopeless dreams of her love, remembering how he had held her hand, although she could not pretend he had been aware of what he was doing. Her dreams were mingled with nightmares as she imagined the dangers that lay in wait for him, and she rose heavy eyed the following morning, and went listlessly about her work. Even the news about Maria added to her despondency. She was happy her friend appeared to have met a man she could love, but that would take Maria away from the Hall, and be another loss for Yasmin, who had a vague notion she might persuade Leon to remain at the cottage. The future looked bleak indeed.

Chapter 8

Two days later Yasmin saw Pedro. She had made some excuse for going to the lodge to see Joan, but in reality she wanted to discover whether Sir Edward had left the Hall, for although he had said he meant to ride for London, she thought he might have remained until he recovered fully from the attack made on him. She was worried as well as longing for him, and casually she led Joan on to talk of him, learning he had left the Hall on the previous day. That put Yasmin's mind at rest so far as his safety was concerned, but she was downcast at the thought she might not see him again for weeks. Leon had not again asked her to marry him, or mentioned their future, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he would approach her again, and she could not give him the answer he wanted. She was despondent when she left Joan, and did not wish to return immediately to the cottage. Instead she turned the other way and wandered, deep in thought, towards the Hall.

Pedro was moving through the trees in front of her, and it was pure good fortune he had not already seen Yasmin. He was keeping away from the path, and it was soon obvious he was heading towards the far side of the lake. This puzzled Yasmin immensely. Was the tribe camped in this area? Sir Edward had not said much about where they were, but Yasmin had gained the impression they were somewhere in the opposite direction. It was possible, however, they might have moved in the last few days, and if so this was an opportunity to discover it. She set off to follow Pedro without a thought of the possible danger to herself if she were discovered.

After she had walked along for some time, keeping as far behind Pedro as possible, it did occur to her to wonder what would happen if Pedro detected her. Yasmin had some skill in walking quietly through the woods, but it was naturally not nearly so great as that of a full Romany. She had the slight advantage Pedro would not be expecting to be followed, even though he must have known he was trespassing on private land, and be on the alert for keepers. Unlike most Romanies, Pedro did not usually take a dog with him, so Yasmin could not be betrayed in that fashion. She firmly dismissed her fears, refusing to think of the possibility of what might happen if she were caught, and concentrated on following Pedro.

He walked swiftly, and it was clear he knew where he was going. Unhesitatingly he went straight to the area below the grotto, and as he approached Yasmin heard him give a low whistle. She hid behind the gnarled trunk of an ancient oak as another man appeared from the grotto entrance, thankful she was wearing a muslin dress of mossy green that would blend in with the background. Then as the second man turned towards Pedro, Yasmin suppressed an exclamation of surprise. It was Richard Curtis.

How did he come to be here, she puzzled. Undoubtedly the meeting had been prearranged, but how in the world could a man like Richard know Pedro? What had they to do with each other?

Knowing it was impossible to learn the answers to these questions simply by sitting there, and by now intensely curious, Yasmin began to wonder how she could come closer to the men. After exchanging greetings they had sat down on one of the seats before the grotto, and there was little cover round about. But there was one way, as Yasmin soon discovered. The trees where she was hiding continued above the grotto far enough for Yasmin to remain in their shelter until the rise in the ground hid her from the two men, and then she could creep forward until she was above the entrance, and with luck she might be able to overhear what they were saying. There was only a slight risk of discovery, for no path led upwards past the grotto and when they parted, she could lie still, hidden by the ground, until they were out of sight.

* * * *

No sooner had Yasmin devised the plan than she was putting it into operation. It took her several minutes to work her way round into position above the grotto entrance, and she was anxious they might have completed whatever it was that had brought them there and gone their ways before she reached it, but they obviously had much to say to each other.

'Can you not come to London?' Yasmin heard Richard asking as she crept forward, and she risked peering through a clump of grass on the edge at them.

'Not unless it is imperative. It is far better I stay here and you come to me. Your movements will give rise to no suspicions.'

'It is a plaguey waste of time!' Richard complained.

'Time when you could be gambling or whoring, no doubt,' Pedro returned in tones of disgust, and Yasmin marvelled he should speak so to Richard, who was a gentleman. However, Richard did not seem to take offence.

'If I can restore my fortunes by gambling, I will do so, and until I find an heiress to marry, what would you have me do?' he asked lightly.

Pedro snorted. 'You have at least two other cards up your sleeve, that I know of,' he said scornfully.

'If one path is closed, there is usually another one open, though it may prove more difficult.'

'Or dangerous.'

'I thought you did not care for danger?'

'I can estimate it for myself. I am at the mercy of what others may do to bring danger on me.'

Richard laughed. 'If that is a hit at me, it does not score,' he retorted.

'Enough! When will you have news?'

'I cannot say. There is none yet, though everyone is poised, awaiting it.'

'It grows late! We have little time to spare!'

'I am aware of that as much as you, but if I have to be coming here all the time, I could well miss what comes.'

'This is the safest place for us to meet, where no one suspects, and since it is directly on the route I must take, whether you or I ride it does not greatly matter.'

'If time is so important, how can I find you immediately? Shall I come to the camp?'

'No, for the others move on tomorrow, though I shall make some excuse to remain behind. They will not suspect aught amiss. I can camp here in the grotto where none will find me. Then at whatever time you come, day or night, you will be able to pass on your news. I will be here from this time tomorrow, and will only move a few hundred yards away to catch rabbits or such.'

'Be careful of fires. They could be seen from the house, for the one opening overlooks it.'

'I am no sapskull to advertise my presence like that!' Pedro snapped, and Richard laughed.

'I have a deal at stake in this gamble,' he retorted. 'Where is the gold you promised? And the powder? Have you brought that as well?'

There was a clink of coins, and Yasmin saw Pedro handing a purse to Richard. Her mind was in a whirl, wondering what it was all about, and why Pedro should be dealing so with Richard. Where did he obtain gold, and how did it happen he was passing it to Richard? If there was money involved, it would have seemed more appropriate for Pedro to have been receiving it. And what was this powder Richard had mentioned?