Happy Sunday, all!
I have to admit that the idea for the ending of this chapter is not my own. It came to me after reading "The Marriage of Three Hearts" by OhioOwl, which is a fantastic fic and if you haven't read it, I suggest that you do.
I also want to thank everyone who has been reading and commenting. I didn't expect this to blow up so much and I am enjoying reading all of your reviews and comments.
But, that's enough babbling from me.
Enjoy!
Linny
Chapter Twelve
Upon pulling up to Don Tomas's rancho the next morning, Diego was pleased to see the horse, Rosita, up on her feet and munching on her morning oats. "Well, it seems you were correct, Olivia," he said as he halted the horses and set the brake.
"Did you doubt me, Diego?" she countered teasingly as she climbed down from the carriage with the assistance of the Indian servant, Pascal. She murmured her thanks to the man before approaching the horse.
"How could I be so foolish?" he jokingly asked himself loud enough for her to hear. Her tinkling laugh in response was music to his ears. He was by her side a moment later once he told the servant to inform Don Tomas that they had arrived. Reaching up, he patted the animal behind the ears. Clearly, her appetite had recovered and the muscle spasms had ceased. "She seems to be in good health this morning."
"Yes, she does," Olivia agreed as she ran her hands along the flanks of the filly. "How was she through the night?" she questioned a stable hand that Diego recognized as one of the men from the day before; Juan, if he was to be certain.
"It was not easy, señorita," the servant informed her as he patted the creature's backside. "The spasms continued long into the night, only stopping in the early morning."
"And her..." she trailed off as she tried to discern a delicate way to phrase her question, "...movements?"
Luckily, the man understood her meaning and she wouldn't have to clarify. "Regular, señorita." He blushed. Olivia made him feel uncomfortable while talking about such things with a gentlewoman, Diego noted.
"Fantastic," she responded with a grin.
Diego shouldn't have been surprised, but he was. Even when it came to the messier aspects of a horse, she was knowledgeable and didn't shirk away. He could count on one hand how many Spanish señoritas would be willing to even think about such things, let alone speak about it. And that number was zero. She was constantly surprising him.
"And I can see her appetite has returned with vigor."
"Oh, sí, señorita," Juan replied, thankful to be on a more secure topic.
"I would recommend she continue to get as much water as you can give her. It will help flush out the last remnants of the toxins."
Juan didn't question her advice; she had more than proved that she knew what she was talking about. He nodded in acknowledgment that he'd understood. "Sí, señorita."
"Diego, my boy. Señorita Walker," Don Tomas greeted them warmly with open arms. "I heard you had arrived and I see you have noticed our girl is up and about."
"Buenos días, Don Tomas," Olivia greeted with her usual warm smile. "I am quite pleased by her recovery."
"As am I, I assure you. And I thank you again for your quick thinking. I am in your debt, truly."
She waved the sentiment away with a wave of her hand. "Please, it was nothing."
"No, señorita. I understand that you are a stranger to our customs, but allow me to press upon you my sincerity. Rosita is very important to my daughter and, therefore, to me as well. I owe you a great deal."
Olivia clearly hadn't understood the sincerity of his words until this very moment. She seemed taken aback by what she had just been told. "Of course, señor. I understand."
"Bueno. Now, if you do not have any other plans for this morning, would you join me for a bit of refreshment in the sala?"
She nodded in agreement as she glanced toward Diego.
"We would both enjoy something cool on such a warm morning, Don Tomas. Gracias."
"Your servants can enjoy something in the kitchens as well if they would like," he informed them as he led them toward the main house.
"That is very kind of you," Olivia seemed to have found her voice again and signed to Emily about what their host had said.
The deaf woman smiled and nodded, glancing toward Bernardo. She motioned with her head for him to follow as they were shown to the kitchen.
"Your servant is deaf as well, señorita?" Don Tomas asked, realizing. "I hadn't noticed yesterday."
"There were other things of more importance," she reminded him. "But, yes, she was born deaf. She joined my aunt's employ when I was a girl. Aunt Josie traveled a great deal through England and France when I was younger, so she felt that I would need a companion."
"Quite strange to employ a deaf servant for a young girl," he stated as he led them into the sala. A servant had already laid out a tray with a pitcher of cool lemonade, along with a few glasses. There was a plate with a few canapes there as well.
Olivia took a seat on the sofa, Diego settling down beside her. "My aunt cared greatly for her privacy. And I wasn't exactly what she was hoping for in a niece. I suppose she'd figured that if I had a silent companion that there would be less gossip about me that would reach her ears. I can't say that it truly worked," she joked, making both men chuckle.
"So, then, you were raised by your aunt?" Don Tomas asked, handing her a glass of the cool, sweet drink before settling into his own seat beside the empty fireplace. There was no need for it to be lit on such a warm morning.
"Yes. My parents died when I was young and I was sent to live with her. Although I was more interested in the goings-on at the stables than my studies, I'll admit."
"From what I have seen of you, señorita, I can believe that. And I am sorry for your loss."
Olivia smiled her thanks for the sentiment and glanced down into her cup. "It was a long time ago."
But that didn't mean the memories still didn't linger, Diego thought to himself.
As if sensing the solemn fog that had flooded the room, the door from the front patio opened and Don Tomas's daughter came rushing in. Her dark hair was windswept and flying about her head in all directions while her cheeks were dusted with a rosy hue. "Oh, Papa! Did you see? Rosita is all better, now!" she danced around excitedly, bringing joy to the three adults who'd lost themselves in a sad silence.
Grateful for the interruption, the adults all grinned at the small whirlwind of energy. "Sí, I have seen," Don Tomas replied. "Come here, mija," he urged her to his side. "You remember Señorita Walker from yesterday, do you not?"
She nodded eagerly. "Sí, Papa."
"Isn't there something you would like to say to her?" The father perched her on top of his knee, wrapping an arm around her and hugging her close.
His love for his daughter was palpable and it almost made Diego a little jealous. A longing for something as pure and wonderful as that was boring its way deep into his heart.
"Oh, sí!" Clearing her throat, Marisol hopped from her father's lap and apprehensively approached Olivia, the folds of her skirt clutched anxiously in her small hands. "Gracias for saving Rosita, señorita."
Olivia smiled warmly at the girl, setting aside her glass for the moment. She took hold of the girl's hands and squeezed them tight. "You are most welcome, Marisol. Now, I want you to make certain to take care of Rosita. I have learned that if you take care of your horse, then she will take care of you. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Sí, señorita," Marisol agreed, nodding. "Papa, can we go riding?"
"Perhaps later, chiquita. The señorita and I still have some business to conclude. Why not go find your Mama until I am free?"
"Sí, Papa. Adiós señorita, Don Diego," she remembered her manners before rushing out of the room as quickly as she had rushed in.
"Forgive my daughter. She is as wild as the wind, I am afraid."
Olivia grinned fondly after the small retreating figure. "She reminds me a great deal of myself at that age," she informed them.
"You don't seem so bad," Diego chimed in. "Do you consider yourself to be just as untamed?"
She shrugged offhandedly at his teasing grin. "More or less. I suppose it could be whichever way you look at it."
"If my daughter grows up to be half of the woman you are, I will consider myself lucky," Don Tomas praised, genuinely.
Olivia's cheeks bloomed with color with his kind words. "I am pleased you think so highly of me."
"How could I not?" He bowed his head reverently in her direction. "Now, about our business from yesterday. I have drawn up some paperwork that I would like for you to look over and if we can agree on a price, we can conclude things rather simply. Juan!" he called out.
The majordomo of the house, the man that had greeted them the day before, entered the room. "Sí, Patrón?"
"The papers on my desk, please fetch them."
"Right away, señor." The man disappeared on light feet, reappearing only a moment later to hand the requested documents over to his master.
Don Tomas gave the parchment one final glance before handing them over to Olivia. "I feel as though my offer shall benefit us both. I have taken into account what I think he is worth and how well I feel he will breed as well."
Diego peered over Olivia's shoulder as inconspicuously as he could manage. Don Toms was an honest man, but Diego would be lying if he said he wasn't just a little bit curious of how profitable of a deal this was between both parties.
He, unfortunately, hadn't been able to read much, because she had finished reading quite quickly.
Olivia's gaze leveled on the older man. She seemed almost insulted. "Don Tomas, you are asking far too little for the horse. From what I can tell, he would be worth a great deal more."
Don Tomas shrugged as if it didn't matter. "Perhaps, but what you did yesterday has probably saved my entire herd of cattle along with every horse I own. That alone is well worth the drop in price."
She shook her head vehemently at him. "I can't allow you to do that. I will only pay double what you're asking.
It was his turn to look insulted that she was unwilling to accept his generosity. "Miss Walker, while I hope he would be worth the investment, I cannot justify such a gain on my part."
"Because I am a woman?"
"Not at all."
Diego's head swiveled from one to the other as they continued their negotiation; for that's what this was. There were no hard feelings or harsh words being passed around, but this was an intense battle where he was certain that neither of them would turn out to be the victor if he didn't intervene.
"What if the two of you meet in the middle? Instead of doubling your offer, Olivia, why don't you cut that in half? That way it is a more generous offer, yet not exorbitant?"
She seemed to silently weigh the pros and cons of his suggestion in her mind for a moment before turning her gaze to Don Tomas once she'd come upon a conclusion. His expression matched hers. "That seems more than fair, don't you agree?"
He nodded, "Yes, I believe that would be acceptable." The corner of his mouth curled up in a look that Diego recognized as admiration.
Her smile turned warm and became friendly once again. "Then, I accept your offer."
"Magnifico, señorita," Don Tomas's grin was jovial. "Come, let us make things official and toast to our business with a glass of wine." Olivia nodded in agreement as they all moved into Don Tomas's office, which was across the hall.
Diego wasn't certain what he had just witnessed occurring between them. Had it all been a test that Don Tomas had been conducting on her character or had he seriously been considering being so generous? Seeing as though her discovery of the deadly oleander had prevented the eventuality of his entire herd being wiped out—had they cultivated that pasture without properly inspecting it—he could see it as being the latter. And yet, it did seem as though Don Tomas was taking quite the shine to her as well. Diego supposed he would never truly know.
Across the hall, Don Tomas quickly redrafted the paperwork with the proper price and handed it over to Olivia to read over once again. She scanned it just as quickly as she had the original and nodded in approval. "Everything looks to be in order, but before I sign, I wonder if she shouldn't discuss how quickly you would like to be paid. Although, I do assure you, I do have the funds with me if you wish it to be immediately."
Don Tomas shook his head. "That is not necessary. This is business between a gentleman and a gentlewoman. As long as the original document is signed and I write up a copy of sale for myself, we shall discuss that then."
A slight smile playfully quirked up on side of her mouth. "You seem to be putting a great deal of trust in a stranger."
He laughed gently at her teasing. "But, we are strangers no more, Olivia—if you don't mind me calling you that." Her only response was a simple nod. "I consider us friends. Or at least I will once you sign." He held out a quill pen for her to take a pushed the inkwell over the desktop toward her.
She chuckled at his own joke and plucked the pen from his fingers. Dipping the nib into the black ink, she quickly signed her name with a flourish and handed the pen back to him. "Friends it is then. Tomas." She met his gaze as she spoke his name, the two of them coming to an agreement.
Diego was beginning to feel like he was the fifth wheel in the room. He was present but not really useful. He'd been a part of numerous negotiations over the years alongside his father, but during those he had been of some use. He had come to assist Olivia in her negotiation as a mediator, but except for a moment or two, Don Tomas and Olivia had mostly handled it themselves. He should have known that she would be able to hold her own.
Don Tomas stood up from his chair and walked to the corner of the room where a short table sat with what looked to be a collection of crystal decanters. One was short and round filled with an amber-colored liquid—brandy; another was short and square with a square stopper with golden liquid—tequila; the last was tall and thin and held a dark, crimson liquid—that would be the wine.
The older man picked it up and poured out three glasses. He maid certain to serve his guests before picking up the last one for himself and held it up between them. "A toast," he declared. "To new friends," he nodded to Olivia.
"And good business, as well," she added with a grin.
"I'll drink to that," Diego agreed as they all toasted to a successful business transaction. "This is delicious, Don Tomas." The flavor was bold on his tongue, yet it carried a bit of sweetness as well.
"Gracias. It is our own vintage, though our vines are still a bit young. With time, I believe it
would rival your own wines, Diego."
"That it could," the younger man agreed with a grin as he sipped from his glass again.
"It has been a pleasure doing business with you, Don Tomas. I hope the other Dons of Los Angeles are as scrupulous as you." Her words were completely sincere, Diego realized. He wanted to question it but decided against it.
"The pleasure has been all mine. Perhaps I can introduce you to a few friends of mine tonight at the de la Vega's fiesta? You are going to attend, yes?"
"Erm... well..." she stammered.
Don Tomas frowned at her hesitation, his gaze shooting to the young man in question. "Diego, you have invited the señorita, correct?"
"Diego was kind enough to extend an invitation, yes," she replied, but clearly Don Tomas was expecting more of a response.
The elder Don glanced to Diego. "And?"
The younger man shrugged with the slightest shake of his head. "She has not yet accepted."
"Well, this must certainly be remedied. Please, say you will attend."
She glanced between the two men, caught in a trap she wasn't prepared for. Diego noted the hint of a rosy hue when her gaze landed on him. "I did promise you an answer, didn't I?"
He nodded. "Yes, you did." Perhaps he was enjoying her discomfort a little too much, but she had promised to give him an answer after checking on Rosita. Her time was up.
She set her glass down upon the desktop and edged herself away from their probing gazes. "Very well, then. I believe I owe you an explanation as to why I have been hesitating." Her blush deepened and she had to divert her gaze from the both of them. "I fear that I do not have the proper attire. The only suitable dress I brought with me was badly damaged during my travels due to my clumsiness. And, while Emily is excellent with a sewing needle, I fear even her skilled hands were unable to repair the damage."
"So, that has been your reason for not accepting my invitation?" Diego asked, fighting back a chuckle.
The shells of her ears were now bright red in response. "Yes. I have tried looking for a replacement, but unfortunately, I was unable to find something suitable in the pueblo."
Don Tomas couldn't keep his humor at bay any longer. He collapsed backward against his desk, his shoulders shaking as an uproarious laugh escaped him.
Diego was quick to follow him.
"I am pleased you find my plight so humorous, señores," Olivia feigned indignance, but it was difficult to keep her grin at bay.
"Forgive me, my dear. I apologize."
"As do I Olivia," Diego bowed his head respectfully after wiping away a tear from his eye. "Unfortunately, we are quite isolated here in California. And we cannot receive all of the supplies we require from our mother country, so our shop owners are not as well-equipped as you might be accustomed to."
"So, I've discovered."
"But, you are in luck," Don Tomas chimed back in. "I believe I may have a solution to your problem."
"You do?"
"Sí. My wife was away visiting her sister in San Francisco and only just returned last night, which is why you have not been given the chance to meet her." He called once again for the Majordomo. The man must always be within earshot because he was at the door almost instantly. "Fetch my wife, please."
"Sí, Patrón."
"She is probably as skilled with a needle as your girl, if not better. I am certain that the three of you will work out a solution if you put your heads together."
"You called for me, my love?" Doña Dorotea de Velasquez entered the room on soft feet. She was in her early fifties with raven black hair speckled with strands of gray. She wore the curves of a mother with wide hips and a hint of softness around the middle, but there was little doubt she had been a beauty in her youth.
"Mi amor, may I introduce the young lady I was telling you about, last evening? Señorita Olivia Walker."
The older woman's eyes were kind as they focused on Olivia. "It is a pleasure, my dear. Both my husband and my daughter have spoken of little else since my return. They regaled me with your exploits of yesterday. We are very grateful to you."
"I assure you, it was nothing. I am only pleased things were not worse and that Rosita will recover."
"She is being modest, Dona Dorotea. She was very quick to find a solution," Diego chimed in.
"So I understand. Hello, Diego. It is a pleasure to see you again. I understand I have arrived in time to attend your party tonight."
"Your presence will make every señorita in the district envious of your loveliness, señora." Diego took hold of her hand and bent low over it.
"You are such a flatterer," she rolled her eyes at him and waved him off.
"It is about the party that I have asked for you, querida," Don Tomas interjected. "It seems our visitor is without the proper attire. I felt that your skills with a needle would be useful."
She nodded in agreement. "Perhaps. Though, what kind of señorita doesn't travel without a proper party dress?" The older woman looked almost offended at the thought.
"I did bring one with me, señora. It, unfortunately, became a small casualty of my travels when it was attacked by a falling candle. The bodice is practically ruined."
Diego inwardly chuckled at the hue of embarrassment that dusted her cheeks. She wasn't joking when she'd spoken of her bumbling.
"How unfortunate. I should be able to help you repair it, but not without some effort and certainly not before tonight. Now, you shall borrow one of mine. I have a few that are out of the current fashion from when I was younger but can be embellished."
"Oh, I couldn't ask you to do that."
"Nonsense! I enjoy these sorts of things. My mother was a seamstress before she married my father and she taught me everything I know. Now, if you would indulge me for a moment," she motioned for Olivia to stand up and waited patiently for the younger woman to do what was asked of her. She began to circle Olivia, taking in her stance and posture. "Stand up straight, please."
Olivia did as she was instructed, sending a pleading gaze toward Diego to save her from whatever torture the señora had in store for her. He was no help though as his shoulders shook his silent laughter.
"Yes, I feel as though this shall be an easy task. You brought your servant along with you, I am guessing?"
Olivia looked absolutely uncomfortable. "Yes. She is in the kitchens."
"Good. Juan, send for the señorita's servant and have her meet us upstairs. We have a lot of work to do."
"Sí, señora," Juan complied with a bowed head and hurried off to do her bidding.
She then turned back to her husband and Diego who were still grinning at Olivia's unease. "Gentlemen, if you wouldn't mind getting comfortable, we shouldn't be very long."