Read Online The Return of the Gypsy by Philippa Carr - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Philippa Carr
Ads: Link
moment we met I wished you were a little older … not much … just a little.”
“Why?”
“Then I could have talked to you … You would have understood.”
“I can understand now.”
He smiled and kissed me lightly on the cheek. “I must tell you what happened. We were encamped in a forest near Nottingham. The local squire had a nephew staying with him. I killed the nephew.”
“Why?”
“Because I caught him assaulting one of the gypsy girls. He would have raped her. He thought the gypsy girls were fair game. Leah is fourteen. I know her father. He adores his daughter. He is a good man. You may be surprised but morals are very strict among the gypsies. Leah is a beautiful girl. The squire’s nephew had marked her out no doubt and he just lay in wait to catch her alone. What he did not know was that I was not far off. I heard Leah scream. I hurried to her. He had torn her blouse off her shoulders and had flung her to the ground. I just went for him. I caught him and we rolled over and over on the grass. I was mad with rage against him and all of those people who call themselves nobility and think that gives them a right to take any girl they fancy providing she is not one of their own class. When I had finished with him nothing could have saved him. I took Leah back to the camp. Her father wanted us to move on and we all saw that that was the best thing possible. But we were too late. The law caught up with us. I was arrested on a charge of murder.”
“But it was not an ordinary murder. You did it to save Leah. They would have to take that into consideration.”
“Do you think they would? The squire is a man of great influence in the neighbourhood. It was his nephew who was killed.”
“But it is against the law to commit rape.”
“Does that apply to squires and gypsy girls?”
“To all, surely,” I said. “The real criminal is that squire’s nephew.”
“Do you think you could get a court to believe that?”
“There will be Leah to give evidence.”
“That would carry no weight. No. I could see it was the hangman’s noose for me.” He touched his neck wryly as though he could feel the rope about it. “I have a strong desire to go on living.”
“What happened?”
“Before they took me away, Penfold, Leah’s father, swore the gypsies would never allow me to be hanged. They knew where I was in jail and they had a horse waiting nearby in case I could make my escape. They were aware that if I came up for trial it would be over for me. My chance came … a drunken guard, a little bribery … and I was out and there was the horse waiting for me … and I was away. I want to get out of the country. I’ll never be safe here. I was making my way to the coast. I came this way because I thought Dolly would help me. But I found the house empty …”
I was silent, then I said: “You will be safe here for tonight. Tomorrow the servants will come. How will you get out of England? There is a boat in the old boathouse. I’ve seen it fairly recently, but you would never get across the Channel in it, and how could you go to France?”
“I would attempt it.”
“The French will be watching the coasts. You know we are at war with them.”
“I’d have to take the risk.”
“If you could get to Belgium … but that is a longer crossing.”
“First it would be for me to get the boat.”
“The boat is there. You’d have to row yourself…”
“The case is desperate. I’ll try anything rather than fall into the hands of those who will condemn me before the trial starts.” He took my hands and looked steadily at me. “You will not betray me, little Jessica?”
“I never would,” I cried with fervour. “I’d always help you.”
He kissed me tenderly.
“You are a wonderful girl,” he said. “I never knew a girl like you before.”
He had a certain effect on me. I forgot Dolly and how he had seduced her. I forgot that he had killed a man. Soldiers killed in battles. The
“Why?”
“Then I could have talked to you … You would have understood.”
“I can understand now.”
He smiled and kissed me lightly on the cheek. “I must tell you what happened. We were encamped in a forest near Nottingham. The local squire had a nephew staying with him. I killed the nephew.”
“Why?”
“Because I caught him assaulting one of the gypsy girls. He would have raped her. He thought the gypsy girls were fair game. Leah is fourteen. I know her father. He adores his daughter. He is a good man. You may be surprised but morals are very strict among the gypsies. Leah is a beautiful girl. The squire’s nephew had marked her out no doubt and he just lay in wait to catch her alone. What he did not know was that I was not far off. I heard Leah scream. I hurried to her. He had torn her blouse off her shoulders and had flung her to the ground. I just went for him. I caught him and we rolled over and over on the grass. I was mad with rage against him and all of those people who call themselves nobility and think that gives them a right to take any girl they fancy providing she is not one of their own class. When I had finished with him nothing could have saved him. I took Leah back to the camp. Her father wanted us to move on and we all saw that that was the best thing possible. But we were too late. The law caught up with us. I was arrested on a charge of murder.”
“But it was not an ordinary murder. You did it to save Leah. They would have to take that into consideration.”
“Do you think they would? The squire is a man of great influence in the neighbourhood. It was his nephew who was killed.”
“But it is against the law to commit rape.”
“Does that apply to squires and gypsy girls?”
“To all, surely,” I said. “The real criminal is that squire’s nephew.”
“Do you think you could get a court to believe that?”
“There will be Leah to give evidence.”
“That would carry no weight. No. I could see it was the hangman’s noose for me.” He touched his neck wryly as though he could feel the rope about it. “I have a strong desire to go on living.”
“What happened?”
“Before they took me away, Penfold, Leah’s father, swore the gypsies would never allow me to be hanged. They knew where I was in jail and they had a horse waiting nearby in case I could make my escape. They were aware that if I came up for trial it would be over for me. My chance came … a drunken guard, a little bribery … and I was out and there was the horse waiting for me … and I was away. I want to get out of the country. I’ll never be safe here. I was making my way to the coast. I came this way because I thought Dolly would help me. But I found the house empty …”
I was silent, then I said: “You will be safe here for tonight. Tomorrow the servants will come. How will you get out of England? There is a boat in the old boathouse. I’ve seen it fairly recently, but you would never get across the Channel in it, and how could you go to France?”
“I would attempt it.”
“The French will be watching the coasts. You know we are at war with them.”
“I’d have to take the risk.”
“If you could get to Belgium … but that is a longer crossing.”
“First it would be for me to get the boat.”
“The boat is there. You’d have to row yourself…”
“The case is desperate. I’ll try anything rather than fall into the hands of those who will condemn me before the trial starts.” He took my hands and looked steadily at me. “You will not betray me, little Jessica?”
“I never would,” I cried with fervour. “I’d always help you.”
He kissed me tenderly.
“You are a wonderful girl,” he said. “I never knew a girl like you before.”
He had a certain effect on me. I forgot Dolly and how he had seduced her. I forgot that he had killed a man. Soldiers killed in battles. The
Similar Books
