I looked at Albray who rolled his eyes and again requested to be dismissed.

I obliged my knight ahead of opening the door.

The sun was blinding. I had never known sunlight to be painful. I eventually focused on Cingar, and noted his dejected expression. 'Is something the matter, captain?'

'I am in love,' he announced, as if it were the end of the world.

'Jessenia?' I took a guess, which Cingar confirmed with a grave nod.

'What am I to do?' he appealed. 'You must help me.'

'But what can I do?' I raised a hand to support my throbbing head and shield my eyes from the light.

'You must help me convince my grandmother that she has brought me the wrong sister,' he said, knowing he had little chance of accomplishing the feat himself.

'How can you know that Chavi is wrong, when you are yet to meet your bride?' I attempted to reason with him.

'No! It is not possible that I could feel this way for another,' he insisted pa.s.sionately. 'I know you must think me fickle, but I swear to you, I have never felt such fire for a woman that I should wish to forsake all others for the honour of having her for the rest of my days!'

'Shhh!' I urged him to keep his voice down for the sake of his own cause and my sore head. 'Why do you think Chavi will listen to me?'

'She has listened to you before,' he said.

'Only because I had the backing of one of your ancestors,' I pointed out.

'Could we not seek her her advice?' Cingar suggested, rather excited by the prospect. advice?' Cingar suggested, rather excited by the prospect.

'Not as long as I have this headache,' I advised him.

'Sorry about that.' Cingar obviously felt responsible. 'I shall have one of the women fix you an infusion.'

'No alcohol,' I stipulated.

'I promise.' Cingar rushed off to see to my needs.

The remedy proved worse than the ailment. The infusion smelt very uninviting and had a gritty texture and fiery taste! As soon as the brew hit my stomach I ran into the nearby cl.u.s.ter of trees to empty its contents several times over.

'Oh, my,' I uttered, breathless, as I staggered back to my caravan to wash my face in the tub of cold water there. 'Well, that's one way of getting the impurities out of my body.'

Cingar handed me a cloth with which to wipe my face. 'Now you must drink this jug of water,' he prescribed, pouring me a goblet.

In England, the water would be more lethal than the alcohol, but the gypsies boiled their drinking water, claiming the heat killed any impurities. This had been my reasoning for a good part of my life. The theory explained why broth, herbal infusions and tea made for safe drinking.

After I had consumed all the water, some bread and fresh fruit I felt distinctly better, although still somewhat seedy.

I instructed Cingar to wait outside while I spoke to Chiara, as I didn't want to put her in an awkward position.

Upon my summons the old gypsy witch appeared and proceeded to thank me in several different languages for the deliverance of her menfolk from prison in Orleans. But when I asked her if she was aware why I had summoned her today, she just chuckled and nodded.

'Do you have any advice for the captain?'

Chavi is wise. Tell him to trust her judgement.

'But he claims to be in love with Jessenia,' I said on his behalf. 'Does his own judgement stand for nothing?'

It is the breeding that attracts him, the blood that runs in the veins of the family into which he is to marry.

'The genetic makeup of the sisters is bound to be similar.' I followed her reasoning. 'So, are you saying that Cingar is l.u.s.ting after Jessenia only because he recognises his future wife in her?'

Exactly!

Terrific! I thought. 'How am I going to explain that to the captain?' I thought. 'How am I going to explain that to the captain?'

I exited my caravan to find Cingar and Chavi fervently debating the issue in question.

'You nearly brought us all to ruin trying to avoid your responsibilities.' Chavi was waving a finger at her grandson. 'Time to grow up, Cingar, and stop seeking excuses-'

'Jessenia is not an excuse!' The captain dropped on one knee before his grandmother, so that she might see his sincerity. 'I love her.'

'Bah!' Chavi waved off his declaration. 'You have known her less than a day. By tonight, the woman I have chosen will hold your heart and none shall ever replace her. I have foreseen it.'

'I don't care what you have foreseen!' Cingar was on his feet again and fuming. 'This time, Chavi, you are wrong.' Cingar spotted me and sought to enlist my support. 'Tell her, Miss Winston.'

I really wanted to support his claim, but could not. 'Chiara agreed with Chavi, captain. I'm sorry.'

The look of betrayal on his face broke my heart. 'Are even the spirits against me?' Cingar stormed off into his caravan and slammed the door closed.

Chavi was chuckling at his reaction.

'Young people these days, no trust,' she uttered in an aside to me, then moved off to see how the wedding preparations were going in the camp next door to ours. 'Ah!' She noted the incoming caravan. 'This will be the bride now. Miss Winston, would you inform my brooding grandson that his presence is required?' Chavi joined the rest of her family who were eager to meet the new lady who was arriving in the camp next door.

When I knocked on the captain's door, he exited carrying a bundle. 'I'm going to leave,' he stated. 'I am tired of having a deluded old woman run my life.'

'Don't be childish.' I grabbed the bundle from him and cast it back into his caravan. 'Of course you're not! Too many people are depending on you.'

'Don't you start!' he protested.

'Look. I think that you owe it to Chavi to at least meet your bride. If you don't like her then...then you can run away.' The captain was very reluctant, and I could completely sympathise with his frustration and fear. 'If you still feel the same way after you meet your bride, then I shall do all within my power to help convince Chavi of her mistake.'

Cingar smiled as he resigned himself to the agreement. 'I would very much like to kiss you, Miss Winston.'

I shook my head. 'I refuse to allow you to land yourself in trouble at this late stage of the game.' I rose up onto my toes and kissed his cheek. 'I wish you peace, love, prosperity and happiness, Cingar, for it is surely what you deserve.'

'Stay by me, please,' he asked, casting his eyes past our deserted camp to the next.

'As long as need be,' I replied, accompanying the captain to meet his destiny.

Both clans were gathered around one of the caravans, and Cingar was cheered by the gathering as he made his appearance. He forced a smile of greeting and was courteous to all his well-wishers.

The captain went to stand next to Chavi, who introduced him to his prospective father-in-law and mother-in-law, Beval and Carmen, who had been closeted with Chavi all of the previous evening.

'Where is Jessenia?' Cingar wondered why she was not present.

'We did not think it appropriate that she attend,' her father replied sternly. Obviously, Jessenia had also protested to the marriage of Cingar to her sister and I felt for them both.

'Time to introduce you to your truly intended.' Beval directed Cingar's attention to the closed door of the bridal caravan, whereupon the gathering all began chanting for the bride's presence.

The caravan door was flung open and in the doorway stood a plump girl who bore no resemblance to Jessenia whatsoever. She waved at Cingar, smiling sweetly, while the captain looked at his grandmother, horrified. 'Please,' he muttered aside to her, 'you are joking?'

The bride's father caught the comment and his face went red in rage before he burst out laughing, as did all the new arrivals and Chavi. 'Yes, it is a joke.' Beval slapped his son-in-law's arm to rea.s.sure him, then turned the captain's head with his hand so that Cingar could note that Jessenia followed the first maiden from the bridal caravan.

'I don't understand?' Cingar was bemused. 'Are your daughters twins?'

'We have only one daughter, Cingar,' Beval placed a hand on the captain's shoulder to express his sincerity, 'and she has set her heart on you.'

When Cingar looked at Jessenia and her smile and nod allayed all his fears, my eyes flooded with tears of happiness for them both.

'What did I say?' Chavi posed to me, as Cingar kissed his intended.

'You are so cruel.' I voiced my view of her game.

'Not so,' she defended. 'I just know my grandson...he will never commit to anything that he does not feel was his own idea.'

'So,' Beval asked the young couple, 'shall there be a wedding here tomorrow?'

The confirmation of the event was unanimous!

FROM THE HONEYMOON JOURNAL OF LADY SUSAN DEVERE.

We befriended and bribed many officials between Orleans and Ma.r.s.eilles in order to finally track down the gypsy caravan that we suspected Ashlee was travelling with.

We had our carriage stop some way from the gypsy camp, behind a cl.u.s.ter of trees, where we contemplated our next move.

Lord Devere was all for riding straight up to the camp and confronting our dear sister with the truth.

'If she doesn't see us coming and run off again,' Mr Devere argued. 'It has taken so long to find her I don't want to scare her off before I get a chance to explain myself.'

'Could I make a suggestion?'

The Devere men had drawn pistols and taken aim before I had even spotted the gypsy fellow who stood peering in our carriage window.

'Please, gentlemen,' he smiled, warmly. 'I am to be wed tomorrow and have no desire to die.'

'Who are you?' I asked, rather well disposed toward the handsome vagabond.

'I am Cingar Choron, the captain of this band,' he announced.

'Then you know the whereabouts of Miss Ashlee Winston,' Mr Devere stated, without lowering his pistol.

'And you must be Devere.' Cingar kept his good humour.

'My wife has mentioned me?' Mr Devere was surprised.

'As the man who broke her heart,' Cingar said bluntly and Devere lowered the gun, hurt by the truth of it.

'So, she does despise me,' he concluded sadly.

'No, quite the contrary,' Cingar said cheerily and gave a big grin-he was an odd, but very likeable fellow.

Devere's spirits lifted and he exited the carriage quickly to speak with the gypsy. 'Would you take me to her?'

Cingar laughed at his proposal. 'Hardly. I am her friend, she is my saviour and you you have yet to convince me of your good intentions.' have yet to convince me of your good intentions.'

'Mr Choron.' I thought to speak up for my dear brother.

'Lovely lady,' he flattered as he awarded me his full attention.

I do declare I forgot what I was going to say for a moment. 'I have known Ashlee...Miss Winston, for ten years; there is no greater friend to her than I. Thus, I can a.s.sure you that there has been a terrible misunderstanding, and my dear friend could be in grave danger. She needs Mr Devere close to her, whether she realises it or not. Won't you help us? Please.'

'My lady, you you I believe.' Cingar pondered on my request. 'This morning I was subjected to a clever masquerade that worked out rather well for all involved...and it gives me an idea.' I believe.' Cingar pondered on my request. 'This morning I was subjected to a clever masquerade that worked out rather well for all involved...and it gives me an idea.'

A beautiful gypsy woman joined Cingar; they must have been out walking when they spotted our carriage. He introduced his intended to us and then asked Jessenia if she would mind inviting a mysterious long-lost friend to their wedding, and motioned to Devere.

'Mysterious?' Devere grinned as he protested, not too comfortable with the suggestion. 'How do you mean?'

Jessenia laughed at the prospect of disguising the English gentleman. 'Some new clothes, another language, a mask, pierce his ear...' She threw up her hands. 'I would not recognise him.'

'No,' Devere declined. 'My wife already feels I have deceived her, and she will see straight through a disguise.'

'Your wife's psychic skills are a little tainted today,' Cingar explained. 'Hangover.'

'Ashlee got drunk!' I could hardly believe it. 'She never drinks alcohol!'

'I am to blame,' Cingar confessed, 'but how fortunate for you...everything happens for a reason.' The gypsy captain looked back to Devere, who still appeared hesitant. 'Get close to her, get her alone, and then explain,' Cingar said. 'If I take you into camp as you are, Miss Winston will flee and never trust either of us again.'

Devere wrestled with the notion a bit longer and looked to me for advice.

'What have you got to lose?' I asked him.

'I know about the affairs of love,' Cingar boasted and I didn't doubt it. 'There is nothing like a wedding to soften a woman's heart.'