Follow Your Heart

CHAPTER ONE – 1878-1

CHAPTER ONE

–

1878Riding back through the woods, Della was thinking just how lucky she was.

She adored the countryside and the woods in spring held a fascination that was irresistible.

She found there was for her a special magic, which seemed more intense than anything that happened in the everyday world outside.

She could not explain it to herself.

As she was an only child she had never had anyone to share her thoughts with.

Her parents, who were now both dead, had been so content with each other that although they adored their daughter, she could not enter into their world of love.

After her father was killed fighting in the Sudan, Della and her mother had kept house for his brother in London. He was Lord Lainden, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the British Government.

He therefore spent a great deal of time abroad and was delighted to have his sister–in–law and her small daughter keep, as he said, his ‘house warm’.

A year ago Della’s mother had died of pneumonia during a very cold winter. She had been happy to go, as she wanted to be at peace with her husband.

Della had felt very lonely without her. However, there had already been even more changes during the year.

Her uncle decided it was time for him to retire as he found continually making journeys across the Continent very exhausting. Thereafter he had been made a Peer so that he could join the House of Lords, which he attended occasionally, but he was really content just to move to the country.

It was where he had always felt he belonged and to Della, who accompanied him, it was a joy beyond words because she could ride.

She had inherited a passion for horses from her father, and been allowed to ride in Rotten Row, but it was not the same as being able to gallop over the countryside where they were living now.

Lord Lainden had, in fact, been very lucky, as he had shared a great friendship whilst he was Secretary of State with the Duke of Marchwood. They had been at the same school together but had drifted apart.

The Duke had come into his title and a certain amount of land in France and he therefore found his old friend very useful.

When Lord Lainden wished to retire the Duke had offered him a house on his estate in Hampshire and with the house went a hundred acres of land.

As the Duke had made the price very low, in fact almost a gift, Lord Lainden was extremely grateful.

Della found life in the country was marvellous! The Duke told her uncle that she could help exercise his horses and ride over his estate which extended for several thousand acres.

At just over eighteen years old Della should have been making her curtsy to Queen Victoria at the Royal Court in Windsor.

She should also be attending the balls and other entertainments arranged for debutantes in Society.

She had, however, refused her uncle’s suggestion to go back to London.

“I could easily find you a chaperone, Della,” he had persisted. “There are always Society women who are hard-up and therefore prepared to chaperone debutantes.

Della did not speak and he continued,

“They are usually either orphaned, as you are, or their parents for some reason or another cannot look after them.”

“I want to stay in the country, Uncle Edward,” Della had replied. “I have never been so happy as I am now, riding all the wonderful horses His Grace keeps in his stables.”

She gave a little laugh before adding,

“I can assure you that they are far more amusing than any of the young men who ask me to dance!”

Lord Lainden chuckled, as he too wanted to remain in the country with Della.

He was determined to make his garden the most outstanding in the County, and there was a stream running through his estate where he could fish for trout.

It was certainly a change after the hurly–burly of diplomacy and the endless travelling which had occupied his life as Secretary of State.

He found it a joy to take life leisurely and not to have a dozen appointments waiting for him every day.

He also enjoyed the company of his niece as he realised she was exceptionally intelligent. Because they had been in London she had been well educated at one of the fashionable Seminaries for young gentlewomen.

On his clear insistence she had been taught a large number of languages and because he was in politics, Della took a real interest in what was happening both at home and abroad.

She enjoyed all their discussions enormously and actually when Lord Lainden was talking to his niece he often thought he might have been discussing the same subject with a Cabinet Minister.

This morning after breakfast the grooms from the Duke’s house – Wood Hall – had brought her three horses.

She was to choose which one she preferred for her morning ride. They were all new stallions in the Duke’s stables and the Head Groom was anxious to try them out with a sidesaddle.

Della had a long conversation with him about the three horses and finally she chose a bay, which seemed more spirited than the other two.

“I knows you can ’andle ’im, Miss Della,” said the Head Groom. “At the same time I thinks it’d be a mistake for you to jump ’im till you be more acquainted, so to speak.”

Della laughed.

“I am sure I shall soon be. But of course you are right, Grayer, and I will not take him over any jumps until you tell me I can do so.”

Grayer, who had been with the Duke for many years, smiled at her.

He knew she was an exceptional rider and yet she always had the courtesy to consult him and listen to his opinion. As he had said to his wife,

“Be more than I can say for them stuck–up ladies what comes to the ’all and thinks they knows better than them as lives in the country.”

As this was an old grievance his wife had merely laughed. Yet she was well aware that Miss Della had ‘a way with her’ that pleased all the servants with whom she came into contact.

Della galloped her chosen stallion, called Samson, until he had settled down to a comfortable trot.

Then, as time was moving on, she had taken him into the woods. Now he obeyed her by trotting slowly and she enjoyed seeing the small rabbits scuttling ahead on the mossy paths, and the red squirrels climbing up the trees.

The birds were singing overhead and she thought the leaves on the trees were swaying gently to the songs they sang.

‘How could anything be lovelier?’ she asked herself. Then as she was passing through an opening in the wood she saw something unexpected.

It was the top of a gypsy caravan.

It told her that the Romany gypsies, who came to visit them every year, had arrived.

She had to ride a little further on to find a path that led her into the field where they were camped. She had known these particular gypsies for five years as before her uncle had rented the house on the Duke’s estate she had often stayed with him and her parents at Wood Hall.

Della had always been fascinated by the gypsies; they were so different to other people she knew.

She had always talked to the gypsies and tried to learn to speak their language.

Now she had forgotten that it was time for them to be visiting Hampshire again. Actually, it was a little earlier than they usually came.

The Lee’s, as these particular gypsies were called, were Romanies. They had lived in England for most of their lives, but still spoke Romani amongst themselves and had never lost their foreign accent.

They had black flashing eyes and very dark hair and were much more cultivated than many of the gypsies Della passed on the roads, or saw selling clothes pegs to the cottagers.

When she emerged from the wood into the field there were, as she expected, five caravans.

She thought they looked prettier every time she saw them. They were drawn up almost in a circle and in the centre a fire had been lit on which they would cook rabbit stew, or whatever else they were planning for their evening meal.

As Della rode towards them their Chief, Piramus Lee, was waiting for her.

He was a tall man with jet black hair and a fine figure, even though he was going on for sixty.

He ruled his family with a rod of iron. Other gypsies who appeared in the neighbourhood, who had no connection with the Lee family, also treated him with respect.

When Della reached him he bowed and greeted her,

“Welcome, Lady. We were hoping we’d see you after we arrived yester night.”

“I am delighted you are back,” Della told him. “How is everyone? Of course I am longing to hear what adventures you have had since this time last year.”

As she was speaking the other gypsies became aware that she was present and they came hurrying out of their caravans.

There was a very pretty girl called Silvaina, who was Piramus’s granddaughter. She was about the same age as Della and she ran eagerly up to her saying,

“It’s fine to see you, Lady. We was talkin’ of you when us was comin’ here and hoping you’d visit us.”

“Of course I would visit you as soon as I knew you had arrived,” replied Della. “As I was riding in the woods I saw your caravans. How are you all?”

By this time there was quite a crowd assembling.

There was Piramus’s son Luke and his nephew called Abram. They were two years older than Silvaina and as they talked, their mothers and fathers emerged from their caravans.

They came towards Della slowly and when she thought they were all present, she looked round and asked,

“Where is Lendi?”

She was the oldest member of the family, the mother of Piramus, and noted for being a very famous fortune–teller.

Piramus shook his head.

“Mother not well,” he exclaimed. “She cannot leave caravan. I sure she be very honoured if Lady visit her.”

“Of course I will visit her.”

Della asked Abram to hold her horse and slipped to the ground.

“I am so sorry your mother is not well,” she said to Piramus. “The villagers will be terribly upset if she is not able to tell their fortunes.”

“Able to do one or two,” answered Piramus. “Mireli take lessons from her. In time she be very good fortune–teller.”

“That is marvellous news. Everyone wants to know the future and who could predict it better than a Romany?”

“Who indeed?” Piramus replied with a note of satisfaction.

They reached the beautifully decorated caravan, which Della remembered belonged to Lendi.

She climbed up the steps and as the door was open bent her head to enter the caravan.

Lendi was lying in a bed propped up with pillows. Her white hair made the darkness of her eyes look even more mysterious than ever. When she saw Della she put out her hand.

“Lady, come see me!” she cried. “That kind.”

“I am upset to hear that you have to stay in bed, dear Lendi. What are we all going to do if you cannot tell us about the future?”

Lendi gave a laugh.

“I tell your future, Lady, no need cards.”

“What is my future?”

“You find – happiness.”

Lendi closed her eyes for a moment and then she spoke in the voice that she always used when she was predicting.

“Lady find – what she seek – but she go search for it. When Lady – find surprise.”

She spoke the words very slowly and reaching out her hand covered Della’s.

“The moon protect you,” she continued. “You be afraid – no reason. You have – magic which cannot be – take away.”

Her hand on Della’s was very cold.

When she opened her eyes there was a glint in them that told Della there was still life in her body and she was certain that Lendi would not die yet.

“Thank you” she said aloud. “I ought to cross your palm with silver, but I have no money with me.

The old gypsy cackled.

“No money necessary ’tween friends. You, Lady befriends us. We do anything – help you.”

“I know,” said Della quietly, “and I am very grateful. But you must take care of yourself, Lendi, because the family of Lee would not be the same without you.”