Claiming the Forbidden Bride

‘A concern for which you’ve had reason to be grateful in the past. And may again.’ Stephano suffered debilitating headaches, which with her herbs she had been able to mitigate to some small extent. ‘Who is this Keddinton?’

‘Someone influential in the capital. More influential than the title he holds would indicate. Your gaujo has powerful connections, jel’enedra. Which makes me wonder why he’s content to recuperate in a cramped vardo under the care of a Gypsy healer. I wonder if that could that have anything to do with you, my dear?’

That very English appellation jarred, especially coming so closely on the heels of his usual name for her. Almost from the moment her father had brought Stephano back to them, he had referred to her as jel’enedra. His little sister.

‘I imagine this is not so different from what he’s accustomed to. I told you: he’s a soldier.’

‘Whose godfather is one of the most powerful men in England.’

‘What can that possibly matter to you?’ She was beginning to fear that her half-brother was considering how he might benefit from Rhys’s connections.

‘I’m not sure it does,’ Stephano said with a shrug. ‘It’s simply something I find interesting. And potentially useful.’

‘How could that possibly—’

‘I said potentially useful, jel’enedra. Do you think it would come amiss if I inform Lord Keddinton of your kind services to his godson?’ He held up the note for emphasis before he pushed it into the pocket of his vest.’Maybe he’ll even see fit to reward you for them.’

‘I don’t consider caring for the man who saved my daughter’s life deserving of a reward.’

‘Then it’s just as well you’re content with your lot. Those who are never use the tools fate hands them to achieve a better one.

‘As you have done, I suppose.’

‘A lesson I learned early. And too well. But then I had sterner masters than you. You should be grateful for that.’

‘You didn’t used to be this way, Stephano. Bitter and vindictive.’

‘Or perhaps you didn’t know me so well as you thought.’

‘I know you’ve changed. Something or someone has changed you.’

Stephano laughed.’Ask Magda if you want to know why I’ve changed.’

‘Magda?’

‘Who sees and knows all. Have you ever asked what future she sees for you?’

‘You don’t believe in her drabbering. No more than do I.’

‘I believe in destiny. Someone has tampered with mine.’

‘Did Magda tell you that?’ Nadya’s tone was derisive. Leave it to the old woman to try and stir up his ambitions.

‘Magda tells me things because I pay attention. Do you?’

‘To Magda’s prophecies?’ Nadya laughed. ‘Did you remember to cross her palm with silver, Stephano? Be warned. If it wasn’t enough, she may weave you a bad fortune. Maybe she’ll even put a curse on you.’

‘Someone’s already done that, my dear. Magda is simply trying to help me find a way to remove it.’

With that, her half-brother made a sweeping bow, as if they were in some London ballroom and the cotillion had just ended. Before Nadya could think of a suitable rejoinder, he had walked away.

As she watched, he joined a group of men smoking beside one of the tents. Their heartfelt welcome made her realize anew how adept Stephano was at playing the chameleon.

Someone’s already done that, my dear. Magda is simply trying to help me find a way to remove it.

Clearly Stephano preferred to remain cryptic about his intentions. Nadya knew the old woman well enough to know that she would, no doubt, relish the telling of how the two of them were scheming to get back at the gadje who’d ruined Stephano’s life.

Nadya glanced back at her vardo. It seemed that her half-brother might be content to leave Rhys alone until he had considered every possible way in which he might use the Englishman and his connections.

That meant that, for now at least, her patient was safe. And she would have a chance to find out what poison their grandmother had been feeding Stephano.

‘I thought you didn’t have any use for the past. That’s what you always tell me. “None of your old stories, Mami. What’s done is done.”’

Her grandmother wasn’t as forthcoming as Nadya had anticipated. Still, she had years of experience in dealing with the old woman. Making a mystery of things was part of Magda’s stock in trade.

‘People change,’ Nadya said. ‘Look at Stephano, for example.’

‘You think he’s changed? Maybe you’ve simply become more aware of the difficulties your brother faces because of his birth.’

‘What difficulties? Stephano does exactly what he wants. He’s successful both here and in the gadje world. He comes and goes between them as he pleases. If anyone is master of his fate, it’s Stephano.’

‘And you envy him that.’

Nadya shrugged, but she couldn’t deny her grandmother’s perception. Nadya knew that she was very lucky not to live under some man’s thumb. Neither a husband nor a father.

The influence Stephano exerted as head of their kumpania was the closest thing to control she was subject to. Given their blood ties, his rule over her had always been remarkably loose. Now, distracted with whatever was going on in the other world her halfbrother inhabited, he had been even less concerned with her affairs.

If it hadn’t been for Stephano’s increasingly obvious unhappiness, she would have been content to leave matters as they were. But because she loved him, she wanted to know what was driving his self-destructive behaviour.

‘Why shouldn’t I envy it?’

‘Your brother had suffered in ways you can’t begin to imagine, chavi. As a child, Stephano was assured of everything a man could desire. Money, position, power. With his father’s murder, all those promises disappeared. Whatever Stephano has now, he stole from the hands of fate. Nothing was given him.’

The English lord who was Stephano’s father had been stabbed by a friend. After his death, his widow’s family had quickly seen to it that the half-breed bastard he’d foisted on her was sent away to a foundling home. It didn’t bother them in the least that they were throwing a seven-year-old child out of the only home he’d ever known.

‘What more can he want than what he has now?’

‘Justice,’ Magda said simply. ‘For his father. And for himself.’

‘When has the Rom ever had justice? Especially at the hands of the gadje.’

‘Ah, but that’s the difference between the two of you. You don’t expect the world to do right by you, so you’ll do right by yourself. Stephano, on the other hand.’ Magda’s shrug was expressive.

‘Stephano expects the gadje to treat him fairly? He isn’t that naïve.’

‘Not expects, chavi. Demands. There’s a difference. Stephano believes justice is his birthright.’

‘Stephano is half Rom. That half, if nothing else, precludes justice at the hands of the gadje. As for his English half, the courts hanged the man responsible for his father’s death. Isn’t that justice enough?’