As Nicolae had told me, the preparation of the unguent could not be done while Syeira was in the gypsy camp. She was too astute, and would realise what the girl was doing.
The entire band had known I was Nicolae’s, so I couldn’t pretend to be enamoured of Paloma, and interested in a liaison with her, even if they would permit her to be courted by a gadje.
I arranged to have a message delivered to the camp requesting Syeira’s immediate aid by another band of gypsies elsewhere in the county. The headman escorted her, leaving a less experienced young man to guard the vista.
I watched from the shade of a big oak until the dust that marked the passing of their caravan settled. With as much patience as I could summon, I waited for the gypsy girl to gather the ingredients, and then summon me t
