Page 34 of Her Spanish Scandal

“What kind?” Lonzo asked.

“We’re not sure. She’s going in to see Dr. Gonzales in the morning for some tests and we’ll know more.”

“What are her symptoms?”

“She has had blinding headaches for the last three days and has been dizzy and tired, and that’s not your mama.”

“No it isn’t. What time will you be done at the doctor?”

“By the afternoon.”

“I’m going out of town tomorrow morning, Papa,” Lonzo said. “Flying to Paris with Bella for a function. Should I cancel and stay here?”

“No. It’s just a doctor appointment.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“That’s not necessary, Gui.”

“It is to me,” Gui said, glancing at Lonzo. His brother nodded. In this they were like one. They’d always take care of their family first. It was what they did. What their papa had done, and how they had been raised.

“Your mama insists this night be about you and your lovely Kara. So I haven’t said anything to your sisters.”

“Of course. We’ll have a toast and make this night a special one so Mama doesn’t worry,” Lonzo said. “But Bella will know something is wrong.”

Gui smiled to himself. Lonzo and Bella had one of those rare marriages where they truly were each other’s best friend. Gui wondered if that was why he’d never married—he’d never found a woman who suited him the way that Bella suited Lonzo.

In the back of his mind was a thought about Kara, but he brushed it aside. He didn’t want to think about her beyond sex and marriage.

There was a rap on the door and he glanced up to see Vincent standing there.

“Si, Vincent?”

“Anika has asked to see you for a moment when you are finished here. She said it’s about Miss Kara.”

“Thank you, Vincent. Where is she waiting?”

“In the hallway.”

Gui knew Kara was uncomfortable in large groups, but he’d left her in the capable hands of his sisters, sister-in-law and mother. No one else should have arrived yet.

“Excuse me, Papa, Lonzo.”

His father chuckled. “The throes of new love are very exciting.”

“Indeed, Papa.”

They set a time to check in on the results of his mother’s tests, and then Gui walked away from his brother and father, thinking how lucky he was to have them. His family had always been solid, filled with a kind of love that was unexplainable to outsiders.

Being with Kara brought him something close to the serenity he’d found in his family. Which concerned him. Despite his comments to Lonzo, he knew there was a reason he’d always moved on. And he wondered sometimes how he’d been lucky enough to make Kara his fiancée. Because at the end of the day, she really was too good for him.

Kara told herself that Elvira’s comments had absolutely no reflection on her. That being called feo wasn’t that bad. She knew she wasn’t beautiful like Gui, but being called ugly to her face…

Elvira probably didn’t realize she spoke Spanish fluently. Or maybe the other woman simply didn’t care that she’d insulted Kara to her face.

Arcelia had defended Kara, telling Elvira to back off or she’d be asked to leave. But Kara hadn’t stayed. She’d had enough of Elvira.

The other woman was truly one of the most gorgeous women that Kara had ever seen, but that beauty was only skin-deep. Before Elvira had approached Kara, she’d heard the countess make snide remarks around others in the room. Then, when Gui’s mother had entered the room, Elvira had suddenly turned all cooing and nice. She’d even stopped speaking Spanish and had addressed Kara in English.