Chapter 6 - The Bride Price
Sidi was a frequent visitor to the Sparrow house. James and Courtney grew very fond of her and in no time they considered her their daughter. She explained to them the gypsy courting and marriage customs and traditions. They agreed to anything that would make her comfortable and happy. She agreed to be discreet in dress as to not draw attention to her self as it could cost her life.
"Mum and Dad" promised to build a house in the woods by the river as a gift to the newlyweds. (as well as the wagon insisted upon by Jonathan.)"The most fertile soil in England" James laughed. Courtney silenced him with a cold stare. The house would be built on the condition that it could only be occupied after a big church wedding. Sidi allowed her Mother-in-law to handle the preparations. She had no idea how to prepare a wedding.
The Solicitor who came to represent the Sparrow family impressed Mr. Beno Ross and his lovely wife Rupa. Beno was suspicious of why this rich gadjo wanted to marry a Romany girl well past marrying age and why his parents would encourage it. After all Sidi was twenty years old. His other six daughters had been married before they had reached the age of fifteen. He knew she was a wonderful girl but why would they? Could this be a good thing? Would it be so bad to marry his daughter into a good Gadjikane family who wanted and respected her? Jack obviously loved her and the family was apparently respectful of Romany ways. Jack had asked him for his daughter in marriage. They knew about the darro. The solicitor mentioned it. "Mr., Sparrow would come to discuss a fair price." Beno knew there was no chance Sidi would find a Romany husband so a rich gadjo was no heartbreak. He loved his daughter deeply. She was a sweet thing and so loving. She was a fine woman, a good cook and could give her husband many children. They would be Gadjikane children but he wouldbe a very happy man indeed. He would find out on his own about the visions and other "gifts" his seventh daughter possessed. The same "gifts" that caused her own people to fear her. "What is a fair price for a bride who speaks with authority to the dead and can open the gates of Hell I wonder?" Beno murmured to himself.
James had no idea what to expect as he rode to meet the Ross family the next morning. He had no idea why he had actually agreed to waste his time like this. The overseer should have thrown them off his property long ago. How could an entire gypsy caravan set up on his property and his overseer not notice it? He was watching naked gypsy girls splashing around in his creeks and rivers no doubt. What else was this man not doing? It irritated him to be invited to a home set up on his property without his permission. Damn Gypsies. He caught himself. He was going to have to watch that. It was surprising but he liked his daughter-in-law. She was the first girl any of his sons brought home that wasn't a money grubbing, social climbing tease. He had no desire to offend her. Jonathan had finally started shown signs that he was actually a man since meeting the girl.
James rode through the area his son described to him as the place he first met Sidi. She was naked and bathing in the waterfall. No wonder she's pregnant. It made him laugh aloud to think of Jonathan hiding behind trees drinking in a woman's body like thirsty sailor with a mug of rum. He probably had nailed her that same afternoon. It was a relief though to find out his son liked girls. Sometimes that boy really made him wonder. When Jonathan had first started sneaking away James had him followed half expecting them to find his son in a molly house. Given a choice the pregnant gypsy won hands down.
He could see the camp ahead. Courtney would be disappointed. It didn't look exotic at all. There were tents, a cooking area, horses and wagons. No music or half dressed gypsy vixens with bells on their ankles. He had to admit he was just a bit disappointed himself. Beno and Rupa Ross greeted Jack's father and invited him in. They offered him food and coffee. He accepted the coffee. They exchanged pleasantries and small talk. "Sidi is a lovely girl" James cut to the chase. "My son loves her. My wife and I would be honored to have her as our daughter." James chose his words carefully. He had no idea how to talk to these people. He just wanted the whole drama to end. Everyone was making a bigger deal out of this than it was. Women get pregnant everyday. The girl didn't invent it.He looked at the eager parents knowing they knew nothing about the grandchild they would soon have. This could just be the way to get Jonathan to grow up. No one had to know the girl was a Gypsy. Wanting to hurry the charade along he placed the satchel of gold coins he had been carrying on the table. Beno opened the bag and dumped the coins onto the table. His eyes went from the coins to Sparrow's face and back to the coins again. " Mr. Sparrow" Beno stood and thrust his hand forward. James shook it. It was the most expensive damn woman he'd ever bought and all he got was a handshake from a man. James chuckled to himself. Beno had never had so much money. He knew his daughter was his treasure. He just never realized anyone else would think the same.
Next - Naked Gypsy Pirate King
Sidi was a frequent visitor to the Sparrow house. James and Courtney grew very fond of her and in no time they considered her their daughter. She explained to them the gypsy courting and marriage customs and traditions. They agreed to anything that would make her comfortable and happy. She agreed to be discreet in dress as to not draw attention to her self as it could cost her life.
"Mum and Dad" promised to build a house in the woods by the river as a gift to the newlyweds. (as well as the wagon insisted upon by Jonathan.)"The most fertile soil in England" James laughed. Courtney silenced him with a cold stare. The house would be built on the condition that it could only be occupied after a big church wedding. Sidi allowed her Mother-in-law to handle the preparations. She had no idea how to prepare a wedding.
The Solicitor who came to represent the Sparrow family impressed Mr. Beno Ross and his lovely wife Rupa. Beno was suspicious of why this rich gadjo wanted to marry a Romany girl well past marrying age and why his parents would encourage it. After all Sidi was twenty years old. His other six daughters had been married before they had reached the age of fifteen. He knew she was a wonderful girl but why would they? Could this be a good thing? Would it be so bad to marry his daughter into a good Gadjikane family who wanted and respected her? Jack obviously loved her and the family was apparently respectful of Romany ways. Jack had asked him for his daughter in marriage. They knew about the darro. The solicitor mentioned it. "Mr., Sparrow would come to discuss a fair price." Beno knew there was no chance Sidi would find a Romany husband so a rich gadjo was no heartbreak. He loved his daughter deeply. She was a sweet thing and so loving. She was a fine woman, a good cook and could give her husband many children. They would be Gadjikane children but he wouldbe a very happy man indeed. He would find out on his own about the visions and other "gifts" his seventh daughter possessed. The same "gifts" that caused her own people to fear her. "What is a fair price for a bride who speaks with authority to the dead and can open the gates of Hell I wonder?" Beno murmured to himself.
James had no idea what to expect as he rode to meet the Ross family the next morning. He had no idea why he had actually agreed to waste his time like this. The overseer should have thrown them off his property long ago. How could an entire gypsy caravan set up on his property and his overseer not notice it? He was watching naked gypsy girls splashing around in his creeks and rivers no doubt. What else was this man not doing? It irritated him to be invited to a home set up on his property without his permission. Damn Gypsies. He caught himself. He was going to have to watch that. It was surprising but he liked his daughter-in-law. She was the first girl any of his sons brought home that wasn't a money grubbing, social climbing tease. He had no desire to offend her. Jonathan had finally started shown signs that he was actually a man since meeting the girl.
James rode through the area his son described to him as the place he first met Sidi. She was naked and bathing in the waterfall. No wonder she's pregnant. It made him laugh aloud to think of Jonathan hiding behind trees drinking in a woman's body like thirsty sailor with a mug of rum. He probably had nailed her that same afternoon. It was a relief though to find out his son liked girls. Sometimes that boy really made him wonder. When Jonathan had first started sneaking away James had him followed half expecting them to find his son in a molly house. Given a choice the pregnant gypsy won hands down.
He could see the camp ahead. Courtney would be disappointed. It didn't look exotic at all. There were tents, a cooking area, horses and wagons. No music or half dressed gypsy vixens with bells on their ankles. He had to admit he was just a bit disappointed himself. Beno and Rupa Ross greeted Jack's father and invited him in. They offered him food and coffee. He accepted the coffee. They exchanged pleasantries and small talk. "Sidi is a lovely girl" James cut to the chase. "My son loves her. My wife and I would be honored to have her as our daughter." James chose his words carefully. He had no idea how to talk to these people. He just wanted the whole drama to end. Everyone was making a bigger deal out of this than it was. Women get pregnant everyday. The girl didn't invent it.He looked at the eager parents knowing they knew nothing about the grandchild they would soon have. This could just be the way to get Jonathan to grow up. No one had to know the girl was a Gypsy. Wanting to hurry the charade along he placed the satchel of gold coins he had been carrying on the table. Beno opened the bag and dumped the coins onto the table. His eyes went from the coins to Sparrow's face and back to the coins again. " Mr. Sparrow" Beno stood and thrust his hand forward. James shook it. It was the most expensive damn woman he'd ever bought and all he got was a handshake from a man. James chuckled to himself. Beno had never had so much money. He knew his daughter was his treasure. He just never realized anyone else would think the same.
Next - Naked Gypsy Pirate King