Chapter 80 Witness

  Shortly before sunset Thames arrived home from his daily wanderings.  A swishing of skirts and eager feet came to greet him.

  "Queen Yolanda, I didn't know ye were stopping by."

  "Ye know how we gypsies like to wander about.  I brought a few of us with me."

  "It's such a shame."

  Yolanda put her hands on her hips.  Thames grinned a little at this.

  "Now jest what do ye mean by that Thames Grafton?"
  "Only that I've already spent me energy.  A gypsy oft' comes home to the caravan to sleep."

  "Or to have a good time!  Now greet your queen good and proper before ye sleep the night away."

  "I thought Rosamunde was me queen now."

  Yolanda laughed tossing her arms about the old gypsy.

  "Ye can still greet a foreign gypsy queen good and proper."

  When Yolanda's hands began sliding off his back Thames slowly let go.  They walked into camp, comfortable in each others' company.

  Once in camp Yolanda flitted away, leaving Thames alone.

  Thames stood looking over the camp.  It was nice to see so many gypsies in camp at once.  His eyes finally settled on one.

  Frella.  There she sat, his little gypsy wife.  For a moment he simply stood, watching her write.  At last he sat on a stump beside her.

  "Are ye gettin' good learnin'?" he asked awkwardly.

  She lifted her eyes from the parchment, smiling at him.

  "When did ye wander in ter camp?"

  "Jest arrived.  With all our guests ye would rather spend time with yer quill?"

  She stopped smiling.

  "Is that wrong?"

  "No.  I told ye, get yer learnin'.  But if ye want to have a little fun, ye get that too."

  "I'm so tired Thames.  I was helpin' Patches in the garden near all day and I have so much left here to do."

  "Don't ye fret none Frella.  I'm heading inside meself."

  "Yer that tired?"

  "Well I am auld."

  "Not so auld," she said graciously.  "Don't wait up fer me.  I'm going to spend time with this quill fer quite awhile yet."

  She returned to her work.

  Thames passed a hand over her hair.

  On his way inside he spied Lucinda Zimboni.  Sensing his gaze she turned with lusty eyes.  She motioned for him to come over in a most flirtatious way.  Thames only smiled, then went inside.

  Thames and Lucinda had a little something going before his marriage was arranged.  They hadn't gone in a marital way, but there had been some passion there.

  He wasn't shocked by Lucinda's flirty ways.  A gypsy was free to be as a gypsy pleased.

  Thames untied the scarf that warmed his head and began setting his clothes aside when a knock came at the door.

  Ah Frella, sweet dear, still knocking on the door that she might not catch me without a shirt on.  This was the one thing he found lacking in his marriage.  Could not a married man gaze upon his wife's naked form?  Perhaps it was something she wished to keep to herself.

  Thames put a foot in his pants, then he stopped.

  Perhaps she only needs to see her husband without clothing to tempt the clothes off her back.

  Thames slid the pants back off.  He thought to take everything off, but decided against it.

  He eagerly went to the door.  He opened it quickly, but kept himself behind the door that he might not be seen by any gypsies passing by.  He let the door go and stood there with his eyes shut.  Cowardly he didn't dare to look at his wife.  He only hoped he had not upset her.

  Before he had a chance to speak he was pounced upon.

  This was better than he thought!  Frella pressed her lips against his.  She felt different.  What is different?

  Slowly he opened his eyes.

  Lucinda!  She must have thought - when I smiled - it wasn't supposed ter be an invitation.

  Lucinda let him go.  He pulled away, only to find they were not alone.

  Thames froze.  Had she seen?

  Frella's face crumpled.  She had seen.

  "Frella!"

  But he was too late, she had left their wagon.

  For a moment he stood there, stunned.  Then he rushed out into the night.

  Where hath she gone?

  He ran like a mad man through the woods.  He stood at the road, not seeing her in any direction.  He searched the gardens.  Had she gone in another wagon?  He couldn't bare to search them, to share with the other gypsies the heartbreak he'd inflicted on his little wife.  Just when he'd given up hope, he caught sight of Frella.

  She stood in the waterfall cleaning furiously.  It was as if she hoped to scrub off the filth that is him.

  When she turned to get her clothes he realized he'd been standing there staring.  Fearing catching her like this would make things worse, he hid.

  After she dressed she came almost to his hiding spot.  Thames nearly came out, wanting to apologize, to explain, or at least to comfort her.  He stopped himself just in time.  If he came out now she would know he'd been hiding, watching.  She would be even more distressed.  Instead he was a witness to her pain.