7. Chapter 7
Chapter seven
A Heaping Bowl of Envy
“Do you remember Julian?” Ana slipped into an empty chair beside her sister Lucia.
Julian tipped his head in a friendly gesture to Ana’s sister and Juan. Lucia gaped at Ana and shifted her eyes back and forth between Ana and Julian. An obvious grin overtook her features that bespoke her matchmaking between the two.
Ana gestured to her companions. “This is Senor Ponce, Lucia’s husband, Senorita Ponce—his sister, and our dear friend Senor Vega.” Ana gripped her sister’s hand and leaned close to her ear. “Don’t be so obvious.”
“He is exceedingly handsome.” Lucia craned her neck around to peek at said potential suitor.
The fellow pulled up a chair and sat between Federico and Ana in what could only be a providential arrangement. Natalia took the opportunity to loop her arm through Federico’s elbow crook, claiming him. Federico gripped his playing cards in such a way that the cards bent.
What if he was jealous of Julian? Hadn’t he almost kissed her before Natalia had intervened? Then again, he had said she couldn’t keep a promise and had insulted her in every way possible just before then. She sighed at her own wayward thoughts.
Ana took her seat, trying not to be too obvious in her observations.
Julian crinkled his eyes in his happy appraisal of Natalia and Federico. “It’s nice to meet you again dear cousin, Senor Ponce, Senorita Ponce, and Senor Vito.”
“Vega,” Federico corrected.
“I’m sorry, Senor Vega.” Julian tipped his head and pressed his palm to his heart. “I’m terrible with names.”
Though Ana resisted the twist of a smile, it couldn’t be helped. Either Federico would need to be nicer, or she would play the part of entertaining the possibility of a match with Julian—in which her whole family would approve. She could test Federico’s response like he toyed with her emotions.
Upon arriving at the port of Quenepas, Julian asked, “Where will your party be staying?”
Ana turned toward her brother-in-law who stretched a practiced grin in place.
“This trip was all so sudden, we didn’t have a chance to make the arrangements.” Juan wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. In his defense, the evening humidity at port swallowed the city with its ferocity.
“No worries, Senor Ponce.” Julian offered to carry Ana’s luggage with the gesture of his hand. “I’ve made this trek many times. The Quenepas Inn on Main Street offers the best lodging. It would be nice to stay in the same location. I can show you around.”
“That would be lovely,” Lucia answered for Ana in a much too eager tone. Despite Ana’s reprimanding stare, her sister pushed Ana’s luggage toward Julian.
Federico cut in between the sisters and Julian, collecting Ana’s tidy brown case without a word.
Julian chuckled with a confused furrow of his brow. “I suppose that leaves my arm free. Will you do me the honor?”
Ana glanced over at Federico, who carried three cases and watched the party from up the pier, expectant.
Natalia raced to catch up. “He’s such a gentleman.”
Federico’s lackluster expression was almost amusing from a distance.
Whenever he’d done that exact face as a child, she’d thrown mud at him or ruffled his hair, which always brought him out of his bad mood.
Natalia arrived at his side, and he fell in step beside her.
Ana would no longer be the one to draw out the carefree boy from his moody stupor.
Juan lifted Lucia’s flower-embroidered luggage. “Let’s stay at the Quenepas Inn. Surely, Senor Montenegro knows the best establishments to visit.” He and Lucia marched off together.
Though hesitant, Ana looped her arm through Julian’s, catching Federico as he tossed back his head with a tight-lipped frown.
She’d need to clarify the past with him at some point, but the prospect of mentioning their brief betrothal had caterpillars crawling through her stomach.
How does one even start a conversation like that?
Mister Vega, I’d like to set the record straight.
Padre and my sisters deemed you unworthy, and Maria wrote the dreaded letter for me while I sat back and watched.
That surely wouldn’t go over well. Then again, he did approach me on the ferry, which proved he wanted something from me. Of course, he could be kinder.
She forced the edges of her mouth to curl upward while Julian escorted her to the inn.
On the quaint road made for tourists to appreciate its best angles, men lit the streetlamps along the main cobblestone road.
The sun set quickly, leaving behind a silver crescent of moonlight overhead.
It reflected off the pink, blue, mint, and yellow edifices of the buildings.
She’d lived on the isle just south of this port all her life but had never stopped in Quenepas.
A shadow passed overhead, blocking the moonlight.
A glint of black-and-purple scales glittered.
Celestia would be waiting to the north of the town like they had planned.
“What was that?” Julian asked.
Ana lifted her eyebrow and opened her mouth to speak. Should she invite Julian to meet Celestia or leave him behind at the inn? She might not be able to shoo him away, so she found herself saying, “Let’s take a detour. I’ll show you.”
“I’m intrigued.”
When they passed in front of the inn, Federico, Natalia, Juan, and Lucia waited outside the arched entrance for them.
Julian pulled out a coin bag and pressed it into Juan’s palm. “Tell the innkeeper that Senor Montenegro would like the usual quarters and the two rooms around it.”
Juan’s deep-set eyes furrowed in confusion. “Are you not entering with us?”
“The lady would like to explore Quenepas before settling in for the night.” Julian patted Ana’s fingers on his forearm.
Lucia squealed. “Enjoy your walk.” She dragged her husband through the inn door. “We’ll catch up soon.”
Natalia did the same to Federico, though he twisted his neck around like an owl.
Federico managed to say, “But the two shouldn’t be left alone. It’s not proper.”
Julian’s smile faltered but for a moment. “Perhaps Senor Vitalio is right.”
“Vega!” Federico corrected. Hot embers burned in his swarthy gaze at Ana, promising her that he hadn’t forgotten the affections he had once possessed.
Ana’s cheeks flared with heat. She’d meant to make Federico jealous, but she couldn’t decide if he was jealous or out for vengeance.
Federico placed all the luggage at Juan’s feet while Natalia propped open the inn door with her body.
How was she going to secretly escape to visit Celestia with so many prying eyes?