“You saw her earlier?”Her father sat at the head of the table, smiling.The malicious monster from just minutes ago was nowhere to be seen.As much as Lo hated to admit it, she had inherited her acting skills from him.
“We crossed paths this afternoon.”Juan Felipe helped Lo into the seat next to him.The servants came around, giving each of them a bowl of watery soup along with spiced rice.“Everyone sure is excited about Fortune’s Kiss.”
“Fortune’s Kiss?”Lo’s father raised an eyebrow.“You went to see it?”
Lo’s heart skipped a beat and a mouthful of rice got stuck in her throat.She managed to swallow it down, keeping her composure.If her father found out about her plan, he would never let her leave.“Yes, Mayté wanted to see it.Right?”She locked eyes with Juan Felipe.
“Yes!Yes, it’s no surprise someone like María Teresa would be interested in Fortune’s Kiss, hmm?”Juan Felipe spoke the part, probably expecting a reward, but Lo would be long gone before he would get one.
“It was so enchanting, but there were too many people to get a good look.”She pouted.“We saw a lot of nobles there.Everyone must be very curious.”
“I see,” her father simply said, between bites.She couldn’t tell if the growl in his voice was because he was on to her, or because he didn’t want to hear about Mayté.Maybe he just wanted to get on with the meal.Lo was beginning to sweat.She fought the urge to fan herself with a napkin.She glanced at her sisters.Sera was always the first to catch on, but she seemed toooccupied with shushing Sofía, who played with her soup, swirling her spoon around and around.
Soon, the servants brought in the main course, filete chemita, seared steak with mashed potatoes.The head of the table was always the first to taste the main dish.Everyone watched as Lo’s father cut into the steaming steak.The center was a lovely soft pink.A few of the servants lingered nervously.If her father didn’t like it, they would have to remake the dish.
He chewed for several moments, then sputtered into a coughing fit.
Would he choke, done in by a piece of expensive meat for all his sins?Or even better, what if one of the servants had poisoned him?
Lo wondered: Was it wrong that she hoped so?
She looked down before anyone could catch the anticipation written all over her face.
“Are you okay, señor?”Juan Felipe asked.
“Papá.”Sera rushed to him, holding her glass of water.“Drink this.”
Her father swatted her away, splashing the water both on the table and on Sera.“Now look what you’ve done.”He snatched the cup and took a big swig.A few coughs later and he was okay.Still breathing.Still alive.
Lo dabbed her mouth with a napkin to hide her disappointment.
Sera still stood at his side, gently patting his back.“Are you okay?”
“Enough,” her father growled.“Sit back down.”
Sera backed away, eyes watering.She put on a small smile before saying, “Yes, Papá.”How could she still love him?Logripped the sides of her chair and pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth to keep from saying anything.
The dinner continued as Lo’s father and Juan Felipe discussed dull topics like business and Las Cuatro.“I’m happy that you’re interested in my daughter, my boy,” her father said.“Not just anyone would be suitable for her.”
“Thank you, señor.”Juan Felipe set his hand on Lo’s thigh.She gripped her fork, for a moment pondering what would happen if she stabbed those wandering fingers of his.No, no, the blood would stain her new gown, which would be such a shame.“My father’s worried that the arrival of Fortune’s Kiss will turn Milagro upside down.We’ve already heard rumors of common families sending their eldest children so they too could become aristocrats.Isn’t it absurd?”
“Indeed.”Lo’s father tipped his glass.“I’m none too concerned.None of that riffraff have the smarts needed to win the game.”
Did they not believe the legends of how las grandes familias came to be?No, surely, they just did not want anyone else to benefit from Fortune Kiss’s miraculous power.People as vile and greedy as her father and Juan Felipe would want to decidewhocould be among them.But didn’t that make them just as bad as el orden antiguo?
Lo choked down the rest of her meal.Not soon enough, the meal ended and the servants cleared the table.Gracias a Dios, her father dismissed everyone before leaving.
“Shall we go for a stroll, Lorena?”The way Juan Felipe stared at Lo, eyes full of burning hunger, made her dinner threaten to come back up.He wanted to devour her like a second helping of flan de cajeta.
“I’m sorry.It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted.”Lo smiled sweetly.“Perhaps we can go a different day?”
Juan Felipe’s mouth hung open.He wasn’t used to being told no, especially not twice in one day.Still, they both knew he couldn’t make a scene.Not here.
“Fine.”His voice was cold.“I’ll see you later, Lorena.”
No, you won’t.Lo waved as he left.
As Carmen took Sofía upstairs for her bath, Sera rushed out of the room, face red and mouth downturned, still feeling the sting of their father’s dismissal.
