Free The Gypsy Moon by Gilbert Morris Page B

was bothering her. Liza had noticed it first, and when she had called Dalton’s attention to it, hehad watched her closely as well. They had not spoken to her but had prayed much about whatever trouble she was going through.
    “You’ve probably noticed that I’ve been . . . rather quiet lately.”
    “Yes, we have noticed,” Liza said. “Is something wrong, dear?”
    “Not wrong exactly, but I’ve made a decision.” Gabby lifted her head and met the eyes of her aunt and then her uncle. “I’ve decided not to marry Lang.” As she watched, she saw relief wash through both of them and knew that this pleased them both. She considered explaining why she had made this decision, but that seemed unnecessary. She was not sure they would understand her respect and affection for Madame Jana, and she felt a moment’s pang at the woman’s death. Earlier in the week Duke had sent Maria to the orphanage to give her the message that Madame Jana had died and he hoped she would attend the funeral.
    Gabby thought back to the funeral at the camp outside the city. It had been unlike any she had ever attended. No minister was there to lead the small group in a service. An old man had spoken a eulogy, and then several people had explained what Madame Jana had meant to them. Gabby had felt like an outsider at first, but as the people told of their relationships with Madame Jana, she felt a kinship with them. She was surprised when Duke Zanko asked her to speak, but she willingly and fervently told the gathering of her great respect and love for the old woman.
    Now her thoughts returned to the present, and she said simply, “Lang and I are not suited for each other. I believe you’ve known that for a long time.”
    “Are you certain, Gabby?” Dalton said gently.
    “Yes, I’m very certain.”
    Dalton Burke glanced at his wife, and Gabby saw something pass between them. She was curious and asked, “What is it, Uncle Dalton?”
    “We’ve known that you’ve been troubled, dear, so we didn’t want to add to your difficulties. But I must say that we are relieved. We did not feel Lang was the man for you. But something else has come up that we must talk to you about.”
    “Oh?”
    “I’ve been offered a post, a very important position, and Liza and I have decided we cannot pass it up.”
    “A position with another university?”
    “Yes, at the University of Berlin.”
    Gabby stared at her uncle, and then her eyes went to her aunt. “You’re moving to Germany?”
    “It’s been a hard decision, but they have offered me such wonderful conditions. I’ll be free to continue my research, and all of the financial burdens will be gone.”
    Gabby listened as her uncle spoke eagerly of this opportunity, his eyes shining. She knew he was an impulsive man, and though he was a scientific genius of international repute, he sometimes made decisions rashly. She studied her aunt and saw that Liza Burke was not as happy about this decision as Dalton was. When her uncle finished explaining his new position, she said, “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”
    “Yes. Oh, I know there are some things about the new Germany that will have to be rectified, but it will happen in time. Germany was nearly destroyed after the war, but now new things are happening. It’s going to be a new world.”
    “So much has changed in the last couple of years,” Liza said. “It wasn’t all that long ago that Germany had a chancellor, a president, and a parliament. Now one man fills all those functions.”
    “I’m still not convinced that’s a good idea,” Gabby said. Adolf Hitler now had more power than Stalin or Mussolini, and a story in the newspaper a few weeks ago said that he was more powerful than Genghis Khan had been when his career was at its peak.
    “I know you’re worried about Hitler,” Dalton said, “butninety percent of the voters approved his presidency back in 1934.”
    “Still, ten percent of the voters dared to vote no,”