The Snow Gypsy(29)
When the sequence ended, there were shouts of adulation in a dozen different languages. But the performance was not over. With a flick of her wrist, Lola pulled off the fishtail part of her dress to reveal a second layer that hugged her slim body like a silken cocoon. She tossed it toward the straw bales, where Nieve leapt forward to retrieve it. At the same moment, Cristóbal sent a black lace shawl sailing through the air. Lola caught it in one hand, flourishing it like a bullfighter’s cape before wrapping it around her shoulders. She smiled at the audience for the first time, signaling that the next number was a happy one.
This time she induced a different kind of enchantment. People were twisting and swaying as if they had itching powder in their shoes. It was impossible not to be carried along by the sheer exuberance of Lola’s dancing.
It was not just flowers that showered the arena when the sequence ended. Coins flew through the air, too. Lola held her hand up to her heart as she bowed. Then she gestured to Cristóbal, who rose from his seat to rapturous applause. He, in turn, gestured to Nieve. The little girl was far too busy scooping up the fallen coins to notice—which brought peals of laughter from the crowd.
When eventually the hubbub subsided, Lola, Cristóbal, and Nieve disappeared to await the judges’ decision. Rose couldn’t have been more nervous if she’d been onstage herself. When the verdict was announced, she clapped her hand to her mouth.
There was no chance of fighting her way through the crowd to congratulate them. The Granada Gypsy men were already there, surrounding them like an honor guard. They hoisted all three onto their shoulders to parade them around the square with Lola at the front. It was like a reprise of the Saint Sara procession—this time with a flesh-and-blood woman instead of a wooden statue.
Rose decided to take Gunesh back to the tent and return when things had died down a bit. She got back to the square just in time to see Lola being crowned with a garland of lilies and Cristóbal taking proud possession of a fat envelope.
She pushed her way to the edge of the arena as they took a final bow. Nieve caught sight of her and gave a small, self-conscious wave. The ceremony at an end, she led her mother and uncle to the place where Rose was standing.
“?Felicidades, vosostros estuvísteis fantásticos!” Rose hugged each of them in turn.
Cristóbal wrapped his arms around her, pulling her extra close to whisper in her ear. “?Te veré después?” Will I see you later?
His lips brushed her skin, sending a fizz of desire all the way to her belly. She glanced sideways, aware of how it would look to Lola and Nieve. But they had disappeared into the sea of adoring fans.
Chapter 11
Lola hadn’t intended to stay for the wedding. Physically she was spent—but she knew that if she went back to the wagon and lay down, she wouldn’t be able to sleep. Euphoria coursed through her body like liquid fire. She’d swapped the gold flamenco costume for an anonymous combination of white blouse and dark-blue skirt. A shawl of the same blue shrouded her face.
“I didn’t recognize you,” Rose said when Lola touched her arm.
“Good!” Lola grunted a laugh. “I was followed all the way to the changing rooms. Suddenly I seem to be very popular—I suppose five thousand francs does that for a girl.”
“I shouldn’t think money had anything to do with it,” Rose said. “You looked stunning in that dress, and you’re the star of the show—no wonder you’ve got men trailing after you.”
“Well, I managed to shake them off, thank goodness.”
“Who, Mama?” Nieve piped up.
“No one, cari?o.” Lola stroked the child’s hair. “Let’s talk about something else, shall we?”
“Oh look!” Rose pointed to a girl of about seventeen who was coming out of the church on the arm of a boy who looked barely old enough to shave, followed by a gaggle of little girls in white dresses. “Is that the bride and groom?”
“It must be,” Lola replied. “They’re not Spanish. I think they’re from Greece. You can tell from her hairstyle.”
“How?”
“Can you see how it’s all woven with ribbons? They pin it up in a sort of hat shape, then drape a white veil over the top. Only the Greek girls do that. And they have those embroidered velvet jackets, cut off above the waist.”
“I can’t see!” Nieve was standing on tiptoe. Rose lifted her up and hoisted her onto her shoulders.
“Is that better?”
“Yes—I’m a giant now!”
Rose felt the child stroking her hair.
“I can see everything!” Nieve laughed. “There’s Uncle Cristóbal. He’s going into that place he went to last night.”
“Well, he’d better not spend any of the prize money,” Lola muttered.
“Has the wedding ceremony already happened?” Rose was peering out from under the frills of Nieve’s dress.
“The church part, yes.” Lola nodded. “But the celebrations don’t start until they’ve jumped over the broomstick. Over there.” She jerked her head toward the sea side of the village square. “They’re going to do it on the beach. They’ve built a huge bonfire, and they’ve been roasting an ox for hours—ever since the procession ended. Are you hungry?”