PART FOUR: IN THE WRONG PLACE
AT THE WRONG TIME
Since Doña Carmen had developed a headache, she gladly drank the water that Don Diego’s servant had brought her. Don Alejandro and his son Diego stood behind her discussing some kind of problem that had arisen during the fiesta.
“Now is the time to approach her about her behavior,” she heard Don Alejandro say. Don Diego sighed audibly. “Sí, I must reluctantly agree! I will escort Doña Carmen to the garden and I will meet you there shortly, father.”
Her back stiffened. ‘Whatever did I do? Oh my, here come both gentlemen!’ Bewildered by the conversation she had inadvertently overheard, Doña Carmen wished that she could leave her fiesta as soon as possible.
She was so preoccupied with analyzing how she could have offended her hosts, that she realized too late that the rat-faced Capitan Guiterrez, Commandante of the La Reina de Los Angeles, had just joined the party. (The local peons nicknamed Capitan Gabriel Guiterrez “El Raton” shortly after he had arrived in their pueblo. They swore that his face resembled a rat!). To her intense regret, he headed straight to where she was sitting.
The Capitan had arrived where she was resting a split second before Dons Diego and Alejandro did. She noted the scornful gaze of both men that promised trouble for her later.
“Ah, Señora Carmen Alcazar Sanchez Roberto y Rodriguez! How happy I am to see you tonight! “Before she could place her right hand behind her back, the captain had grabbed it --hard - and kissed it. She flinched involuntarily. ‘Dios! I think that I shall---’
Something told her to turn her head away from the obnoxious captain and look toward Diego. He also was frowning, but then his expression abruptly changed when he saw Doña Carmen doing the same thing.
Startled by his reaction, Carmen grinned broadly beneath her strategically placed fan. 'Perhaps we both agree about something - Capitan Guiterrez is the brazen epitome of a social climber!’ Dona Carmen thought.
“Señora, you will dance with me, sí?”
He then dragged her out onto the patio floor before she could open he mouth to protest. The Capitan proceeded to twirl her around like some mad, demon-possessed man.
Soon, Doña Carmen was left breathless by his vigorous style of dancing. “Ah, your pardon, Capitan, you must permit me to rest. I am still trying to recover from my long voyage.”
"Of course, Doña Carmen, forgive my eagerness, I must admit that your beauty intimidates me.”
Carmen cringed at his assumption of informality by his use of her first name. ’The unsightly toad!’ She acidly thought. 'Capitan Guiterrez could have taught the late Señor Luis Roberto y Rodriguez a trick or two in impropriety!’
Diego sighed audibly. “Bernardo, I know that I am going to hate myself later, but no one deserves the pain inflicted on someone by the Capitan’s crassness! Besides my father and I want to speak with her privately.” He strode over to Doña Carmen’s side, and spoke to Commandante Guiterrez.
"Ah, Capitan Guiterrez, welcome. I see you were able to attend after all. I believe, Señora Rodriguez, that you promised this next dance to me.”
“Sí! So I did, Don Diego! Gracias for reminding me! The young caballero took Doña Carmen into his arms and expertly guided her through the dance steps.
“Don Diego?"
“Sí?” He replied in the most boring tones Carmen had ever heard anyone use.
“I want.... to thank you for rescuing me from that.... person...”
He nodded and said in a neutral voice, “The Capitan can be a little trying at times.”
Only a little trying? Don Diego please be truthful with me. Does Mexico City think so little of us that our government is forced to use men such as that ...imbecile to command a garrison in one of her presidios?”
“Señora Rodriguez. I would suggest that you remember he represents the Mexican Government here in La Reina de Los Angeles.” His voice was teasing, but the look he gave her was serious.
He saw Don Alejandro waving to him from across the patio. “Señora Rodriguez, my father and I need to speak with you privately - now!”
"Of course, Don Diego.” She managed to blurt as the patio had begun to spin before her eyes. “Por favor, may I please have some refreshment? My headache is much worse!”
“Come, Doña Carmen, perhaps a little fresh air is what you need.” Don Diego whispered into her ear. He and his father each grasped one of her arms and began walking her toward the de la Vegas’ garden.
They practically cataulpulted her from the patio to a bench in the garden. “Señora Rodriguez ...I do not know what kind of game you are playing, as a number of our guests have complained to my father regarding your behavior. You are not conducting yourself properly, as a recently bereaved widow should.” Diego told her between clenched teeth.
“Señores, I apologize ... I became dizzy ... after ‘dancing’ with that poor excuse of a soldier, Capitan Guiterrez ---”
Don Alejandro icily cut her off in mid-sentence. “Señora Rodriguez, may I remind you, that although I gave this fiesta in your honor, I would appreciate it if you would refrain from criticizing my guests, even if it is” -- he looked at Diego --”Capitan Guiterrez!”
“Now I have to return to the party, Señora, and make up some pitiful excuse for your absence from your own fiesta!” Don Alejandro said as spun on his heels to take care off his other guests.
Don Diego lightly touched her arm and turned Senora Rodriguez around so that he could see directly into her violet eyes. The younger de la Vega led her deeper into the rear of the garden. “Now, Senora, hear me well. As long as you are our guest in our home, we will tolerate no rude and unladylike behavior toward our friends.”
Carmen tried to speak, but Diego held up his right hand.
“Señora Renaldo told me that you made some sarcastic comments regarding our pueblo. You then continued to disparage our community’s‘ ‘country ways.’ Surely, Señora Rodriguez, you realize that all Californiados do not live in mud huts and that we actually use silverware to eat our food!”
“But Señor de la Vega, I honestly do not know what you are talking about!“
Don Diego decided to tell Doña Carmen precisely how he felt about her. “Many times I have heard stories regarding your crude behavior at the Spanish court from my uncle’s cousin, the Contessa Maria Savor del Mar y Ramirez. And believe me, she was not prone to exaggeration.”
He saw how pale she had become, but he was determined that she would listen to everything he had to say to her! “Why, Señora Rodriguez,” he injected even more sarcasm into his tone, you even refused to attend His Majesty’s annual Royal Birthday celebration! Perhaps I should not even mention how your late husband was forced to confine you to his estate in Madrid for failing to---”
She finally burst into tears. “Señor de la Vega, please stop! Por Dios!”
He grasped her by her shoulders. “That gown, for example. It is hardly suitable for a young widow whose husband was madly in love with her.”
Carmen shuddered and Diego mistook her motion as fear. But this time she wriggled herself away from him,
She was livid. “MADLY IN LOVE? WHY HE HATED------”
“Senora!” If you fail to lower your voice, I will not be held responsible for my actions.” He pushed her down again on a granite garden bench and then sat next to her. Carmen was now stunned speechless.
“Good. You must conduct yourself as the proud hidalgo that you are! If you have finished with your little display of temper, we shall return to the fiesta and we shall behave, won’t we?”
She nodded in agreement and tried to stop shaking.
Diego released her arm. “Excellent! And here some people in our beloved pueblo who believe you to be so... uncooperative.”
He got up and retrieved her handkerchief from the grass. “Dry your tears NOW. I am going to count to ten, and when I reach that number, I want to see you smiling as much as you can while I escort you back to your fiesta.”
Before he reached the number eight, Doña Carmen had recomposed herself. Diego grudgingly admitted he was impressed by her sangfroid.
She forced a tight smile. “You have no cause to worry Señor De La Vega. I shall never reveal the contents of our...discussion to anyone. In fact, all of your friends and guests will have my handwritten notes of apology hand delivered to them tomorrow as quickly as possible.“
Her eyes reflected her shock --they seemed to have faded to gray. “So, Señor de la Vega, may I trouble you for your elbow?”
Diego crooked his left arm. “Bueno. Then we understand one another.”
True to her word, Doña Carmen took extra pains to shyly approach the dons and their wives with Diego‘s guidance. However, the only guest who spoke to her was that obnoxious Capitan Guiterrez.
Chapter Five
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