"I don't know if I'd want to experience what someone else wrote in a book."said Lance.

"That's probably because you've never read one."

"I guess...anyway, where would we go? I'm sure that your family, and the captain would look for us everywhere. They'd find us, hasta abajo de las piedras."

"We'd have to come up with a place they would never think to look us! The Capital is full of people! They'd never find us among so many people! Or, no, that might be the first place they'd look."said Fernanda

"Who said we're going anywhere?"he asked, confused.

"Only if you want to! I just know I'm not staying!"

Lance tried to talk her out of this, but achieved nothing.

"I can't let you go alone!"he said.

"Why can't I go alone?"she demanded.

"Well, because...what would happen to you?"

"Nothing worse than what would happen if I stayed here!"

"I could tell someone about this."he warned.

"No you can't. If you do, I shall simply have to say that you are lying, and they will believe me."she said confidentally.

"And you'd end up married to someone you don't want to marry!"

"No, I wouldn't! I'd still do it!"

"Where would you go?"

"I don't care!"

"I said I wouldn't let you go alone. I'll come with you. It's the least I can do."

"Would you?"she asked.

"Well, if I stay...I really don't want to find out what would happen, or if they'd suspect it was me."he told her.

"You can't just decide to just go anywhere, you know. If you do, what are you going to do next?"Javier told her when she told him what she was going to do.

"And so what? I stay here?"

"You always were fond of Fernando Ortiz. You used to tell me he looked so elegant on his horse, and was so...courteous to you."

"That was before."she told him. "Besides, I have convinced him to come with me."

"Then you have someone else. And you still don't know where you'd go."

"Well..."she frowned.

"Maybe you could...maybe a friend of mine could help you. You'd have to hide, almost out in the middle of nowhere, but...well, Julio Diaz y Montemayor?"

"A little."she said.

"Well, I remember him, all right, not that much, but still, very well."

He got up, went to get some paper and ink, and started to write.

"If you will take this note with you,"he told her. "He might agree to let you hide at his hacienda."Javier told him. "You know, as a favor for me. I don't know if he'd be willing, I mean, they will be looking for you."

"That is so far away!"she exclaimed.

"I know, but isn't that what you wanted. It'd take time for them to think to look for you there."

"You're right!"she said.

Later, they were called to the estudio, where the Count, his sister, and his aunt were waiting for them.

"You obviously know Fernando Ortiz."el Conde said to Fernanda.

"Yes, of course. I've always known him."

"And you obviously know how pleased Prisco is with him."

"I've always thought he would be. He speaks so highly of him."

"Of course. Well, Prisco has always thought that he would be the perfect husband for you. He has talked to us about it, and has put quite a bit of time and effort to sway the captain's opinion, and it turns out that he has finally been able to achieve a positive result."

Fernanda remained silent. She had found out by overhearing the maids, while they were scrubbing the floors.

"So,"her uncle continued. "Now, Fernando has come to ask me for your hand in marriage."

Fernanda tried not to look up, and kept her eyes firmly on her lap.

"I have agreed."

"I would have thought the only way to get that done was for my tio Prisco to offer the captain my cousin to him as a reward, or something. Not being able to refuse the general's niece, belonging to this family, besides, I thought that was the only way that would ever be arragned."Javier said.

"You must learn to be more respectful."Tia Petra told him.

"I'm only a bit surprised, Tiita."he said. "So, uh, is there a date for the wedding, or anything?"

"Why, as soon as possible!"exclaimed his aunt. "After all, we do want Fernanda to be married to a good gentleman."

Javier nodded, and glanced sideways at Fernanda, who remained silent.

"He shall come to formally ask for your hand tomorrow night. The engagement shall be announced a week after that."said Tia Petra.

"I was half hoping what you heard were only rumors."Javier said.

"Now we know they aren't. It's true. And I still plan on escaping."

"When?"

"Why, when would it be better than the night before the engagement is announced?"

"Why not just now?"he asked.

"No, it would be more exciting!"she said.