Chapter 38
The de la Vega garden...
"You...you...clumsy oaf...How could you," Marisol sputtered as she attempted to wipe the punch off her expensive dress, "You did that on purpose!"
"I am just a common servant...I would not do such a thing. Let me wipe that off for you," the younger woman offered insincerely. It serves you right for trying to insult me...
"What is going on, here," Diego smirked...It was plainly evident and he was certain that it was no accident...
"It seems that Marisol had a little accident with her punch, Don Diego. I tried to wipe it off but I am afraid that her dress is ruined," Margarita responded insincerely. It could not have happened to a more deserving person...
A likely story, Victoria thought as she hid a slight smile behind her fan...She was no fan of Marisol's either...Choosing between the two of them was like choosing between the lesser of two evils...well, perhaps that is a bit too strong...
"It was deliberate and you know it...Of all the insolence! My dress is ruined!"
"Daughter, what have you done," Don Esteban responded as an amused Don Alejandro looked on.
It serves her right, the old caballero thought, Marisol probably had it coming to her...She is just as spoiled and willful as Margarita...
"Nothing, Father. Nothing at all. We were just talking and I...I accidentally spilled some punch on her dress."
"It was no accident and you know it! She...She...She spilled some punch like the common servant that she is...Everyone knows that she is working at the mission. Everyone knows that you practically disowned her! What respectable family would let their daughter work in a mission, for goodness sake!"
"Hold your tongue, Marisol," her mother implored, "Don Esteban, have you nothing to say! This is your daughter...Is it not?"
"Margarita is my daughter."
"Her behavior is disgraceful and totally unbecoming of a lady."
"I am sure that your daughter is not completely innocent in this matter, Senora de la Cruz. In fact, I am almost certain of it," he replied, "Margarita would not have done this unless she was provoked."
"My daughter's dress is ruined...Thanks to your daughter's thoughtless behavior!"
"My wife and I will pay for a new dress, Senora de la Cruz."
"Gracias, Papa." He does love me...It was almost worth it just to see the look on her face...
Don't get too self-satisfied, my dear. "My daughter will pay half the cost...to be taken from her wages at the mission. It is only fair."
"She started it, Papa! It is not fair," Margarita pouted but quieted at the look on her father's face.
The man felt sorry for his daughter. It serves Marisol right but I cannot endorse my child's behavior no matter how a part of me approves of what she did..."That is quite enough, gattita. Don Alejandro, I am sorry for the inconvenience my daughter has caused. Senorita de la Cruz, I apologize to you as well. My family and I will take our leave!"
Several minutes later...
"The party turned out to be a success despite that little incident with Margarita and Marisol even thought it could not have happened to a more deserving person," Victoria stated as she sat beside Diego in the de la Vega carriage.
"Are you talking about Margarita or Marisol? I know you are not particularly fond of either one," the caballero stated.
"Marisol should be glad that it was only a glass of punch," Victoria smirked, "if she had her way, she would be mistress of your hacienda. Could you imagine spending the rest of your life with Marisol de la Cruz or Margarita, for that matter."
"Thank goodness," he shuddered, "my father was not desperate enough for grandchildren to want me to marry that woman. I would rather remain single for the rest of my life!"
"Thank goodness that you have more sense and better taste in women!"
"I do have very good taste in women...Present company included. Knowing you...you would arrange for some sort of accident to befall Marisol and enjoy every minute of her distress!"
"Diego de la Vega, you are incorrigible," Victoria stating pretending to be affronted.
"I...I am incorrigible. You are familiar with accidents and how they happen," he laughed.
"I am not the one that spilled the lemonade down Margarita's dress."
"I know it was Pilar but you didn't seem to upset about it."
"She deserved it. Margarita probably stole the idea from Pilar. She is not clever enough to think of such a thing on her own."
"I am glad to have you on my side, Victoria Escalante. I would hate to have you as an enemy," he teased.
"The feeling is mutual, Diego de la Vega. We are great friends," she smiled.
"Only friends, Victoria," he said as he kissed her lips lightly.
"More than friends, Diego," she responded lifting her face for another kiss, "most definitely more than friends."
The Mission...
Margarita slammed the door to her room in frustration. It had not turned out to be a very good evening in her opinion. She had gotten a small measure of satisfaction from besting Marisol for once but she had to pay for that insolent woman's dress. The rag probably wasn't worth as much as she claimed, the younger woman thought, I would have thought that father would be on my side. Surely he must now how Marisol insulted our family. Why did I ever have to come to this pueblo? Things were so much better at home...I had Rafael...My parents loved me without question...How did things go so wrong?