Mamá’s eyes went as wide as full moons.
“What are you doing up and about at this early hour?”
“I was…”
“Sneaking off into your abuelo’s rooms,” Mamá finished.
Horror overtook Carolina. She shook her head. “No…I…”
Mamá placed her hand on Carolina’s cheek. “You do not need to be ashamed of hiding away among his things, mija. We all grieve in different ways.”
Carolina’s face burned with shame. Here she was, sneaking about and allying herself with a sediento. For what? A fool’s errand? Revenge? To spite her father? The lines were starting to blur. Besides Abuelo and Nena, Lalo was the only other person who believed in her abilities. That meant something to her.
Mamá gave her a little pat before starting to walk away. “Time to get ready. I’ve sent Luz Elena to your room to help you dress.”
“What? Why?” Carolina tried to sound calm but inside she was shaking. Luz Elena, her very nosy, very snobby nanny, was on her way to her room. To the place she’d stashed Fernanda last night after the duel.
Wanting to keep Lalo’s injuries a secret, Carolina told anyone who asked about the Montézes’ whereabouts that they’d gone home last night to check on their goats to ensure they were safe. Carolina was certain they had no such goats, but it was the cleverest story she could scramble up at the time. Luz Elena would surely spot Fernanda and tell Mamá there was someone else in Carolina’s bed. And that would lead to questions about why Carolina had lied, which would only force her to lie more.
“I’ll go to her now.” Carolina gave her mamá a peck on the cheek. She skidded to a halt and asked, “Why am I getting dressed up?”
Mamá put her hands on her hips. “We are going to meet your suitor, the one who so elegantly disrupted our entire fiesta by breaking the ice sculpture of your abuelito. Surely you remember the boy you were seen tucked away with in a darkened library.”
Something crashed in the room beside her. Lalo most likely tripped over a broom. But at least he knew what Mamá’s plans were. He could run to his home and be ready for them long before they arrived.
Mamá’s brow furrowed. She started toward the source of the noise.
“Yes, um, about last night,” Carolina said, moving in front of the door concealing the sediento in question. “We didn’t mean to cause such a commotion. We are just…we…we’re so in love.”
Carolina’s stomach pinched at the mere mention of the word. She hadn’t been in love before, but she imagined her impulsiveness would kick in. She was forever running headfirst into things. Being in love might make her recklessness worse.
Mamá smiled wistfully. “I was young once,” she said. “I know what it is to lose all sense at the sight of an attractive boy. When I first saw your papá, I knew he was the one for me. He was tall and strapping, even at seventeen.”
Carolina plastered on a fake smile. She didn’t need to hear about her parents’ love story. She had to get to her room before Luz Elena did.
“He rode west for seven weeks just to visit my hometown of Presidio with the intention of marrying Cecilia Ramírez. But he fell for me instead.”
There were so many Fuenteses in Del Oro. It was nearly impossible to find someone who was unrelated to Carolina’s family within el pueblo, so going to another to find a bride or groom was common.
“We were caught as well. Did you know that?” Mamá asked.
“You were?”
“My father wanted to kill Luis. Actually, he tried.” Mamá giggled like a schoolgirl. “A fact that I reminded your padre of this morning. Do not let your head hang low, mija. You are young and beautiful and full of life. Why shouldn’t you fall for a man who is the same?”
Lalo was as alive as Carolina’s leather boot. But nevertheless, if being betrothed to him meant not having to endure the presence of Rafa or any other arranged match, she would gladly cling to this falsehood.
She eyed the door. He was surely listening. But she had to continue with the charade. “Lalo is so handsome.”
“Indeed. Though, poor Rafael came all this way. We are so close with his family.”
“A pity.”
Del Oro’s mission bells clanged. “Go get ready, Carolina. We have a few stops to make in town, but after that, we will call on your admirer. We’ve already sent over correspondence to Lalo’s home to let him know that we’d like to have drinks together later today.”
“So soon?” Carolina asked.
“Do not fret. If you love this boy, I’m sure we will too. But we must know if his intentions are pure before we speak about this engagement.”
