Prince of my Panties (Royal Package) by Lili Valente

Author:Lili Valente [Valente, Lili]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Self Taught Ninja
Published: 2021-01-28T18:30:00+00:00

17

Jeffrey

Before I can ask questions—or remind Elizabeth that you can’t trust everything you read in a book, especially a book of fairytales—Dika emerges from behind the curtain with a pink square of paper stuck to her finger.

“My little sister, Fawnie, thinks she knows the woman you’re looking for,” she says as she crosses the room. “But she travels, and Fawnie isn’t sure if she has a cell phone. If she does, my sister doesn’t have the number. But they’re one of the caravans that gathers to celebrate The Day of the Three Maries in the Wettingfeld Forest. I’m not sure if they’re still there, but it would be a good place to start looking. I’ve written her name and my cell number for you here in case you need any guidance that I can provide.”

Dika stops beside the couch, and Elizabeth jumps to her feet, plucking the piece of paper from the woman’s finger. “Thank you s-so much. I appreciate your help. B-but could you tell me, before we g-go…” She takes a breath and holds it for a moment before asking, “Do you think it’s real? The curse?”

“I made a promise when I joined this collective,” Dika says, bracing a hand on a barrel full of dolls that watch her with flat black eyes. “I swore to cultivate tolerance and respect for our community. Our people have endured so much, all because our ways were different. Because we were different. We’ve been persecuted, and that persecution isn’t all a thing of the past.”

Elizabeth nods. “I know. I’m so s-sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize, princess.” Dika gives Lizzy’s hand a squeeze before adding gently, but firmly, “But don’t ask me to speak of things that might add to the prejudice against my people.”

“Of course,” Lizzy says. “I understand I…” She holds up the book. “I’ve n-never read anything like this story before. N-not in any of my research. Is there m-more? Somewhere I can look for further information?”

“I’m not sure. Ours is largely an oral tradition,” Dika says. “It was safest that way. There were times when our language was forbidden. You could be jailed or killed for speaking it, let alone sharing Romani stories in writing.” She motions toward the bookshelf. “That’s the only book I’ve ever seen that tells the tale that particular way. You could reach out to the author. She might have more information, or at least a record of her source materials.” She pulls her cell from a pocket hidden in the folds of her skirt. “I would help, but it’s almost time to close, and I promised my grandsons we’d make iced moon cookies this afternoon.”

“No w-worries,” Lizzy says, circling around me. “We can find it online. Thank you s-so much for your help.” She opens the purse slung across her chest, pulling out a hundred-dollar bill and pressing it into Dika’s hand. “For the book.”

“I’ll get your change,” the older woman says, but Lizzy shakes her head.

“No, keep it, please. You’ve b-been such a help.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.