In the afternoon they took the dogs for a long walk armed with large bowls for blackberry picking. The hedgerows were brimming with fruit and the trees in the orchard were heavy with apples and plums. The air was warm and sunshine bathed the hills in a golden autumn light reminding them all of summer and how beautiful England looked when the weather was fine. Audrey thought of Colonel Blythe and how wrong he was. It didn’t always rain in England. She watched Alicia run with the dogs while Leonora hung behind with her arm linked through hers, as if she wanted to hold on to her mother for as long as possible before they were parted once again. They walked back through the field where the gypsies camped to find Panazel and Masha lying out on the grass with their two children. Alicia rushed up to Leonora and tugged at her sleeve. ‘Don’t mention the chicken, whatever you do,’ she hissed.
‘Of course not,’ Leonora replied. ‘But be kind,’ she added. Alicia scrunched up her nose. Kind was a word like nice, it was dull and in her opinion should be erased from the English language. Audrey noticed that the dogs, usually keen to bark at the horses, now kept their distance, sitting in an uneasy pack a few hundred yards away.
‘Hello, Florien,’ Alicia shouted at the sullen boy who was now scrambling to his feet along with the rest of his family.
‘Oh, goodness me, please don’t all get up,’ Cicely insisted, waving her arms about as if she were instructing the pack of dogs to sit. ‘There are so many blackberries in the woods, I hope you’re exploiting the crop, Panazel.’
‘We’ve helped ourselves to all the land can offer, thank you, Mrs Weatherby,’ he replied, putting his cap back on.
‘Ah, Ravena, you haven’t met Alicia and Leonora, my nieces. They’re living with me now and will be helping Panazel and Florien in the garden during the holidays. There’s so much to be done.’
‘I’ll enjoy telling their fortunes,’ she replied, exhibiting a crooked set of teeth.
‘Yes please,’ Alicia cried enthusiastically. ‘Am I to marry someone very rich?’
‘Alicia!’ Audrey rebuked, ashamed at her daughter’s bad manners.
‘Oh, why not,’ Cicely said and laughed. ‘She read mine once, it’s great fun. Here, let me pay you for it.’ She thrust her hand into the pocket of her trousers and pulled out two half crowns. ‘I’ll cross your palm with silver.’
‘Goodie!’ Alicia squeaked excitedly. ‘Why don’t you have a go too, Leo?’ But Leonora shook her head and looked up at her mother.
‘Leonora’s like me. We’re a bit nervous of fortune tellers,’ Audrey said, squeezing her daughter’s hand as she threaded her fingers through hers.
Alicia followed Ravena up the steps into the caravan. She was tall and slim and her hair fell out of her headscarf and reached down to her waist. If it wasn’t for her teeth and the sallow quality of her skin she would have been a beauty. She indicated a small round table with two chairs and Alicia wasted no time, but pulled one out and sat blinking up at the gypsy with enthusiasm. ‘Do you have a crystal ball?’
Ravena shook her head. ‘No, I can’t afford one,’ she stated. ‘I read palms. Besides, my grandmother taught me and she didn’t need a crystal ball.’
‘Well, here it is,’ she said, thrusting her hand onto the table. ‘What can you see? Am I going to be rich and happy?’ Ravena picked up the child’s hand and studied it carefully. Alicia watched her face as she ran her eyes over every line and crease. She breathed deeply and Alicia noticed her eyelids glistening with sweat. It was hot. Hotter in the small caravan than outside where the air was warm but fresh. The caravan was quite airless and the gypsy’s silence caused Alicia to sweat too, but with impatience. Finally, Ravena sighed heavily and placed her hand over the child’s palm. ‘Well?’ Alicia asked. ‘You must see something.’
‘You are very blessed,’ she said at last. ‘You not only have great beauty but talent as well. It is up to you how you use those gifts. You will either be rich and happy or . . .’ she hesitated. Alicia encouraged her by leaning forward.
‘Or?’
Ravena pulled a resigned smile and shook her head. ‘No, you shall be rich and happy. You’ll marry a very wealthy man who you’ll love very deeply. You’ll live in this country and your children will be English. You’ll have four children and they will all be as beautiful and gifted as you.’
‘Really?’ Alicia gasped happily. ‘I must tell Mummy.
‘I’m going to be rich and happy and have four children!’ Alicia cried, clambering down the steps. ‘You should have a go, Leo. She’s really good.’ But Leonora still hung back reluctant to know her future in case it wasn’t what she wished for. As they all walked off towards the gate, the dogs leapt up and trotted after them, sniffing the ground and cocking their legs.