Читать книгу Treasure of the Romarins - Ronda Williams - Страница 9

Kieran refilled wineglasses and lay a plate of truffles before them. “I knew you were an ancient family, Julien, but I had no idea just how ancient, or how totally Bohemian.”

“What do you mean we’re leaders?” Calvin asked, interrupting. “Gypsies don’t have leaders, do they? They aren’t a traditional sort of tribe by any means. Even I know that.”

“Indeed you are absolutely right,” Julien explained. “The Roma have no masters, and I’m not trying to say that our family makes any attempt to rule over them. We are simply their figureheads. Our purpose is to occasionally intervene, and sometimes to guide our people. We make no laws, nor do we require anything from them. The Roma have survived by their own adaptability. As head of the tribe, it is our family’s duty to be accessible to them, and to advocate for their cause when required. I hate to say it, but it’s a thankless job at times.”

“Why have we never been told we were the head of some kind of gypsy dynasty?” Calvin asked, completely astounded. “It seems like Uncle Richard might have mentioned it.”

“We both agreed that we wanted you to be raised without that knowledge because we wanted your dreams and personalities to form naturally. We wanted to see what you would become, without being influenced by what you are. In fact, we had agreed that the time was right to inform you of your heritage and your responsibilities. We were waiting till you were both well out of college, and had set your own paths.” Uncle Julien shook his head sadly. “I wish we could have told you together, as we planned. Richard would have explained everything so much better than I.”

“No, Uncle, I get why you didn’t tell us,” Natalie reassured him. “I’m glad we didn’t have the burden of that knowledge while we were growing up. But what are our responsibilities now?” she asked.

He smiled, relieved that she understood. “Luckily for us, the demands on our time are small. My duties in recent years usually have included nothing more than blessing marriages or settling minor disputes between different parties. The Roma are a superstitious lot, and are disposed to consider our family as their good luck charm. It’s quite funny sometimes. I was asked to attend the birth of twins recently because the mother was convinced that if I wasn’t there, the babies would come out backwards, both literally and figuratively, it turns out.”

His tone turned serious. “It isn’t always so frivolous, though. During World War II, our family had much to do. We organized the exodus of hundreds of families. Hitler hated our people almost as much as he hated the Jews. Many Roma were lost in those years.”

Natalie looked thoughtful. “And our parents … what did they do? Uncle Richard said they were diplomats, and I vaguely remember traveling with them when I was very young.”

“They were diplomats, in a sense,” he replied. “They went wherever they were required, in order to advocate for our people. Thomas and Minnie were dedicated to the Roma, as well as to their two little children,” he added, smiling.

It became quiet in the dining room for a few moments, as everyone digested what Julien had just told them. Finally Janette said, “I never knew this tapestry was infused with so much of your family’s history. Now I feel guilty for keeping it all these years. I think it’s high time you reclaimed it.”

“Nonsense,” said Julien. “It was given to your parents for two reasons: first, to keep it from the Nazis, and more importantly, as a gift to your family for all you did in helping our people. Many Roma crossed the English Channel into safety because of the Beaulieu family.”

When it was time to leave, Kieran insisted that his visitors consider staying overnight.”You’ll be more comfortable here, and we can get an early start tomorrow,” he argued.

Natalie and Calvin borrowed his car early the next morning to retrieve their belongings and check out of the hotel. “What do you think about all this Tribe of Roma stuff?” Calvin asked his sister as they drove back to the Beaulieu’s home.

“I don’t know what to think yet. I’ve always thought of our family as a little eccentric, but gypsies?”

“It explains Uncle Richard’s passion for their music … I mean, our music,” he amended. “He was always playing something of the kind.”

“It explains a lot,” Natalie added, “including some vague memories from when I was little. I always thought some of the things I remembered were dreams, but now I realize I lived them.”

“Like what?” Calvin’s curiosity kicked into high gear. He always wanted to learn as much as possible about his parents and memorized any little facts and details he discovered. Each memory was precious to him, because they were so few.

Natalie had a faraway look on her face. “I remember one thing very well, because it’s been a recurring dream all my life. It seemed too strange to have really happened, but in light of what we’ve just found out about our family, I suppose it could very well be true.”

“What is it?” he eagerly asked.

“Well, all that I remember was that we were in a big empty room.” She looked at Calvin. “You were there too, and I was holding your hand. A couple of people were holding candlesticks, and our parents were there.”

“Go on,” Calvin encouraged.

“What made it so strange was that it felt like we were watching a ritual or something. I remember a wooden chest, which I am pretty certain was painted with symbols, and it was handed from some woman to our mum. Everyone looked serious.” Natalie shook her head. “But that’s really all I can recall.”

Calvin bit his lip thoughtfully. “It doesn’t seem like a particularly normal thing to do, I suppose. I wonder what was in the chest, and who the other people were.”

“We could ask Uncle Julien. Maybe he knows.”

When they got back to the Beaulieu’s, Janette informed them that their uncle was closeted in the study with Kieran, so they made themselves useful by helping her load crates into the back of her truck. She was leaving soon to take a shipment of antiques to a client in Le Havre.

“I wish I could go with you,” she told them, “but I have to take these sculptures to the client myself. She’s one of my high-maintenance customers, I’m afraid.”

“We wish you could come, too,” Natalie told her. “We really appreciate all you and your husband have done, and for letting us stay here.”

“Not at all! We love to entertain,” Janette assured them. “I miss being in the middle of things in Paris at times, but Kieran has always had one foot in England and one in France. Calais seemed like a good compromise, and we do so love it here.”

They finished packing the truck and headed back inside just as Julien and Kieran emerged from the study, looking grave.

“Is everything all right?” Janette asked her husband.

“Oui, my love. Julien was just explaining some things to me about our trip.” He gave her a kiss. “I’ll be back in three or four days. I want you to have a lovely time in Le Havre.”

She smiled. “Next time I’m coming with you!”

Kieran stowed the duffle-bag he’d packed for the trip in the Mercedes, and kissed his wife one last time.