The Butterfly in Amber Read Online Free PDF Page B

exclaimed, then whistled in astonishment. ‘He briefed the bench, I heard, that tried the king. Might even have put his name to the execution order. He married your daughter?’
    â€˜Doesn’t know she’s a gypsy,’ Mala said. ‘Fancy got herself all dressed up like a fine lady, pretending to be a blue-nose too. She hasn’t been to see me for close on fifteen years.’
    â€˜But she took the charm from you, the butterfly in amber? You’re sure?’ Emilia asked.
    Mala nodded. ‘Aye, she took it, when she was not much older than you. I hope it brought herluck, is all I can say. I certainly haven’t had any since it was gone.’
    Emilia sighed and looked at Luka questioningly.
    â€˜I guess we should try to find her, if we can,’ he said. ‘We have only one day left before we need to head back to Kingston.’
    â€˜I know where Henry Purefoyle lives,’ Hallelujah said unexpectedly. ‘He lives near Gray’s Inn, not so very far from here. It’s just off High Holborn Street, which leads from the crossroads where you found me. All the lawyers live round there, near the Inns of Court. You could be there in less than half an hour, if you walked swiftly.’
    â€˜I’m so tired I don’t think I can walk another step,’ Emilia said, almost groaning at the thought.
    â€˜It’s either walk out of this place, or spend the night sleeping on these disgusting stones,’ Luka said, getting up with fresh energy. ‘I say we get out of here, and make camp in a field somewhere.Then we can go and find this Henry in the morning. What do you say?’
    Emilia’s words were swallowed by an enormous yawn. When it was finally over, she said, ‘Sounds good! As long as we find a field soon. All I want to do is sleep.’
    â€˜And sleep and sleep and sleep,’ Luka said. ‘But not here! In a field under the stars. One with a stream so we can scrub away all this filth.’ He looked back at Mala, rolled once more in her stinking blanket. ‘I just can’t understand it,’ he said in a low voice.
    â€˜She’s forgotten her roads,’ Emilia answered sombrely.

Obedience
    G RAY’S I NN R OAD , L ONDON , E NGLAND
    30th August 1658

    L uka and Emilia lay under a weeping elm tree in a small square abutted on all four sides by a road lined with large, gracious houses that all looked exactly the same.
    It was a fresh and clear morning, with the promise of heat to come. Luka felt much better after a good night’s sleep in a haystack, a wash in a stream, and some bread and cheese. Emilia, however, was still drooping with miseryover the loss of her charm bracelet.
    â€˜At least we’ve found the lawyer’s place,’ Luka said. ‘Maybe he’d come and talk to the judges for us, and then we won’t need any good luck.’
    â€˜It’s not just that, Baba trusted me! And the others too. How can I tell them I lost their lucky charms?’
    â€˜Well, it can’t be helped,’ Luka said impatiently. ‘Stop sniffling and help me think what to do next. Should we just go up and knock on the door?’
    Emilia looked across at the house doubtfully. ‘It’s very grand.’
    â€˜Look, the door’s opening!’ Luka flattened himself in the grass.
    Out came an elderly woman, sharp and upright as a fence post. Her dress and hood and folded hands were black, and under her stiff white face spread a stiff white collar. Her sharp grey eyes were set so close together, she had to peer down her long, bony nose to see her way. She walked as if her shoes hurt her.
    Behind her, in descending size, came three girls, all dressed identically in severe black gowns with white collars and black hoods. The four of them turned one by one to the right and promenaded around the outskirts of the square, in single file, each one exactly three paces behind the other. Their skirts rustled, and their