I’m so excited to share another story in my Romany Gypsy Regency romance collection, a sweet inspirational novella.
Seeking Charity is currently in the boxed set, Timeless: (A Collection of Historical and Regency Romance) and will be released separately on KU soon.
Here’s a sneak peek at Seeking Charity, Chapter One:
Wales, 1812
“Let’s drink to a long and happy life for the bride and groom!”
Charity Weston stood at the edge of a smoky campfire with her Romany Gypsy tribe and raised her tankard of ale. Luca, the leader of their tribe, offered the toast in celebration for a pliashka, a betrothal agreement.
Miriah, the attractive bride-to-be, smiled radiantly at her intended groom, who grinned proudly at her. Both sets of future in-laws stood beside them. Miriah’s dark brows and eyes dominated her features, accentuated by glossy ebony hair tied back with a vivid red headdress.
So unlike her own copper-colored hair, Charity thought, fingering her unmanageable ringlets.
As the tribesmen hooted and cheered, Charity joined in the chants of sastimos, good health, even as her cheeks flushed at the bawdy remarks laughingly called out to the couple.
In the glow of the firelight, she studied the Gypsy men and women assembled in a circle around the couple—the laugh lines etched in the corners of their mouths and the granite determination in their jaws, announcing their decision to live unrestrained from the constraints of ‘civilized life’.
Several men with greying beards loudly shared opinions about where they should travel next and that they should leave within a fortnight. They’d stayed in one place long enough. In the meantime, Luca didn’t respond as he bent to retrieve a bottle of brandy for the groom’s father. The father then wrapped a handkerchief around the bottle as part of the pliashka.
These were the people Charity had grown to love. Their kindness, their traditions, their joy for life. They brought nothing with them when they traveled and simply adopted the traditions of wherever they made camp.
A clap of thunder reverberated, and the heavy wooden wagons, packed with garments and jewelries, creaked in response.
However, weather changes didn’t deter the revelers. Besnik, one of the elders, took up a pipe whistle and began playing, whilst another grabbed his fiddle. Kezia, an elderly woman who was considered the phuri dai, someone who resolved conflicts with honor, clapped to the music and sang off-key. The melody was spirited yet emotional. Since the tribe had settled in Wales, their music had taken on a decidedly Welsh, Celtic quality.
Charity finished her ale. Intrigued, she watched as Miriah’s future father-in-law secured a necklace around Miriah’s throat. Made of a satin ribbon with gold coins, the necklace was a symbol of the matrimony bond.
“Remember.” Kezia stepped forward and focused on Miriah, “Ajsi bori lachi: xal bilondo, phenel londo.”
Charity grinned as she silently translated: “Such a daughter-in-law is good who eats unsalted food and says ’tis salted.”
“Good advice!” A boisterous shout of approval came from the men and Charity gave her head a shake. Despite living with Gypsies for six years, the good-natured commotion and dust and brightly-colored gowns sometimes evoked a dreamlike blur of confusion.
And lately, it also brought a sense of detachment. The setting was so different from the proper English background of her childhood—high-waisted white muslin dresses, formals planned months in advance, country dances with their processional marches and ballet-style movements.
But that was all in the past.
Seeking Charity can be found in the Timeless Boxed set collection and is available now for only $.99!
