Estancio had already left for the Anderson ranch to escort Mammaw and Victoria to Rio del Lobo. Edward looked at the clock on the mantel and wondered why they had not yet arrived. He wondered why he was behaving so strangely.
What was it about Victoria that had made her so important to him? She was beautiful, but he had known many beautiful women. He was used to older, more sophisticated women. She was barely out of the schoolroom; yet there was something about her that set her apart from the other women he had known. He was excited at the thought of seeing her again.
Edward heard the carriage in the driveway, and hurried to the front door to greet Mammaw and Victoria on the steps. He helped Mammaw from the carriage and kissed her on the cheek. "It has been too long since you have been to Rio del Lobo," he told her.
"It has been even longer since I have attended a fiesta here," Mammaw said. "I am glad Victoria has the chance to observe one of my favorite Spanish customs."
Edward looked past Mammaw to where Victoria was standing beside Estancio. She was dressed in a yellow organdy, off-the-shoulder gown. The skirt was made up of wide ruffles. Her hair was pulled back from her face and fell down her shoulders in back. She had fresh yellow roses in her hair.
"Welcome to Rio del Lobo," Edward told her. "Mi casa es su casa."
Victoria walked toward him and smiled. "I have been admiring your lovely home, Mr. Hanover. It is very beautiful."
"I am gratified that you should think so," he said, taking her hand. Victoria thought he looked so handsome as he smiled down at her. "Come, let us go inside." Edward escorted Victoria and her grandmother up the steps.
Victoria looked about the spacious entryway. The floor was red tile. The ceilings were so high that they rose up to the second story, and they were decorated with highly varnished beams. Massive Spanish chairs, covered in red velvet sat against the white walls. A dark-red carpet covered the wide staircase that led to the second floor. The whole appearance was one of elegance and grace.
Edward led them through the entryway and into the sitting room. It was so lovely, that Victoria stared about her in amazement. A carpet the color of sandalwood covered the floor. Brown and lime-green velvet chairs and couches made up the furniture.
"This is a lovely room," Victoria told Edward.
"It was my mother's favorite room," he replied.
"I have spent many pleasant afternoons in this room," Mammaw said. "Sometimes I still cannot believe your mother is gone."
"Yes," Edward said, "it is hard for me at times also."
He opened the wide double doors and waited for Mammaw and Victoria to pass through. Victoria stepped outside and looked about her. There was a red brick patio that ran the length of the house. There were brightly colored streamers hung from long poles. A group of Mexican musicians, who Edward said were called mariachis, were tuning their instruments.
The evening was warm, causing the soft aroma of the flowers that filled the garden to dominate the night air. It was a huge garden. There seemed to be flowers of every description; some of them, Victoria had never seen before.
It was as though she had stepped into another world. There were brightly colored animals made of paper, hanging from tall poles, at different intervals. "What are those?" Victoria asked Edward.
"They are piñatas. They are filled with candies and toys. The children will be blindfolded and try to break them open with sticks, so the contents will spill out."
"What a shame one must destroy them to extract the prizes," Victoria said regretfully.
There were many people walking about. The men were dressed much as Edward was. Most of the women wore white peasant blouses with brightly colored skirts.
"This is wonderful," Victoria said, looking at Edward, her eyes sparkling with delight.
He returned her smile, then held up his hand and spoke to the people. "Amigos," he said, "may I have your attention?" The crowd gathered about him, waiting for him to continue. "You all know my honored guest, Alice Anderson. I would like you to meet her granddaughter, Miss Victoria Lee Farraday. Please make her feel welcome. This is her first fiesta, and I want her to enjoy herself."
A shout went up from one of the vaqueros, "Bienvenida, Senorita Farraday!" he cried in welcome. Victoria looked into many friendly faces. Their dark eyes smiled at her, and she could not help but warm to them.
"Let the music begin," Edward said. The musicians began playing, and many couples started dancing. Victoria looked around for her grandmother and saw that she was deep in conversation with one of the Mexican women.
Edward took Victoria around and introduced her to many of the people who were gathered about. She was struck with the graciousness of the Mexicans.
"Are these all employees of yours?" Victoria asked.
"Not all of them could come," Edward told her. "Come, they are about to dance the flamenco. I want you to see this." He led her to a marble bench, and sat down beside her. A woman in a dark red dress, with a big red comb in her hair, started to move gracefully with the music. She was joined by a man, dressed in the traditional Spanish style.
Victoria watched, spellbound. The woman's red shoes tapped out the rhythm of the music. It was the most beautiful dancing that Victoria had ever seen.
The dancer held something in her fingers that made a clicking sound. Edward leaned over to Victoria. "Those are called castanets," he said. He watched her face. At the moment she reminded him of a child who was delighted with what she was witnessing. His eyes went to her creamy shoulders that were revealed by her off-the-shoulder dress. He had not been mistaken; she was perfect for Rio del Lobo.
The couple had ended their dance and Victoria was clapping excitedly. The crowd was shouting "Ole! Ole!" Victoria looked at Edward questioningly. "They are saying the equivalent of hurrah, hurrah," he said.
A man came forward and placed a large hat on the ground, and began dancing about it. "This is the Mexican hat dance," Edward told Victoria.
"I know the Spanish word for hat; Consuelo taught me. It is sombrero."
"That is correct." Edward laughed. "How are your Spanish lessons progressing?"
"Very well." She laughed. "I can ask you for a drink of water or milk. I know many words, but cannot yet make sentences." Victoria wrinkled her nose. "Consuelo says my accent is not very good."
"That will come in time," Edward encouraged her.
Victoria turned back to the man who was dancing. When he had finished, she applauded him and cried: "Ole! Ole!" with the other voices. Edward watched her enthusiasm and smiled. He could tell his people were trying to please Victoria and was gratified by it. "Come, let us eat," he said. "There will be much more entertainment later." He led Victoria to the table where she found her grandmother already seated. "I am having such a wonderful time," Victoria told her. Then she smiled up at Edward. "Thank you for inviting me, Mr. Hanover."
"I am pleased that you are enjoying yourself. Miss Farraday, I would like you to meet Juanita, my housekeeper. She is the real power behind Rio del Lobo."
Victoria smiled at the Mexican woman, and told her she was glad to meet her. "I am also glad to meet you, Senorita Farraday," the friendly Mexican woman told her. Juanita watched Edward with Victoria. There will soon be a mistress at Rio del Lobo, she thought happily.
Victoria found the food different from any she had tasted before. It was spicy and rich, but very good. She took a bite into a green pepper. It burned her mouth so badly that her eyes watered.
"I should have warned you," Edward said, apologizing; "some of the food is very hot." He got a glass of milk and told Victoria it was the only thing that would help. She drank it down, but even that did not help much.
"How can anyone eat something that burns so painfully?" she asked.
"I will show you," Edward answered. He called to a child who stood nearby. "Colita, come here." He picked up one of the green peppers and offered it to the child.
"No, you must not let her eat that," Victoria protested.
T
he child popped the green pepper into her mouth and reached for another, glad to be the center of attention.
"That is amazing," Victoria said, shaking her head in disbelief.
After they had eaten, the children were ushered off to bed, and the entertainment started up again. The women gathered on the patio, tapping their feet rapidly as they waved colorful scarves about them.
"This is a dance where the women choose their partners," Edward told Victoria. They were interrupted by a pretty Mexican woman who placed her scarf about Edward's shoulder.
"Oh, no," he told her, shaking his head.
"Patron, dance!" the crowd chanted.
He shrugged his shoulders, and looked at Victoria. "I guess I am persuaded, if you will excuse me, Miss Farraday."
Edward joined the woman. Victoria watched as he danced beside his partner. His hands were clasped behind his back and his boots tapped out the rhythm of the music. Victoria's heart seemed to be keeping time with the music as Edward danced. He was magnificent! She was unable to tear her eyes away. She felt her own body begin to sway in time to the music.
Victoria clasped her hands tightly in her lap. What was happening to her? She felt excitement stir within her body. She had such a yearning to feel that beautiful, graceful body pressed close to hers. Victoria blushed at her daring thoughts.
The music seemed to grow louder; her eyes locked with Edward's.
His dark eyes seemed to probe the very depths of her soul. Did he know what she was feeling? Did he feel it, too?
When she thought she could stand it no longer, the music stopped.
The crowd went wild. "Ole! Ole! Patron," they shouted.
Edward bowed to his partner and returned to Victoria who was trying desperately to recover her composure. She hoped he would not notice how wildly her heart was beating. She avoided his eyes. "You dance very well, Mr. Hanover."
He smiled. "It has been some time since I have attempted it. Would you like me to teach you the dance?"
"Oh, no," she said rising quickly to her feet. "I am perfectly content to watch."
Mammaw and Juanita joined them. "Victoria, are you having a good time?" her grandmother asked.
"Yes, I am," Victoria told her enthusiastically.
"Mammaw, would you mind if I showed your granddaughter about the gardens?" Edward asked. Mammaw's eyes locked with Edward's, and she sent him a silent message. "You are welcome to come, too," he told her, smiling.
"No, you two run along," she said. "Make sure you show Victoria the fountain."
The mariachis noticed their patron walk away with the beautiful senorita, and started singing a Mexican love song.
"What are these flowers?" Victoria asked as she paused beside a tree with big red flowers. "The blooms are gigantic, and they smell lovely."
"I do not know the name," Edward said, "though I am sure they are catalogued. I will have my bookkeeper look it up and will let you know." He reached over her head, pulled one of the blooms, and held it out to her. His arm brushed her cheek, and Victoria caught her breath. She took the flower from him and breathed in the pleasant fragrance.
"I notice that your vaqueros call you patron. What does it mean?" Victoria asked as they continued down the path.
He lifted a tree branch so she could pass under it. "It is difficult to translate into English," Edward told her. "It means father, protector, chief. They are my responsibility. I look after and protect them, and in return, they work for me and give me their loyalty."
"If one of them wanted to leave, would he be allowed to?"
"Of course," Edward told her. "They are not bound to me."
Victoria felt his hand about her waist as he guided her across a small bridge. She stopped in the middle of it and looked down at the water below. "I have been doing a lot of soul-searching lately."
Edward smiled down at her. "Such a serious condition for one so young."
She did not reply for a moment, and then she said: "I was once in a Yankee camp and I saw many slaves who had been freed. They were elated. One old man with tears in his eyes was praising God for sending him a deliverer. He kept repeating over and over, 'We have been freed from bondage.' It somehow made me think of Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. I was very disturbed by it."
Edward looked at her quickly. He was more certain than ever that Victoria and Ray Courtney's mystery lady were one and the same. He waited for her to continue.
"I never have given much thought to slavery," she said. "I grew up accepting it as a way of life. But lately, I have begun to question many things."
"You are very wise for one so young, Miss Farraday."
"Why do you keep insisting that I am so young?" Victoria asked, irritated.
"You do not like me to remind you of your tender years?”
She gave him a defiant look. "If it had not been for the war, I would have been a wife and perhaps even a mother by now. Many of my friends already have a family."
Edward smiled. "Perhaps I was mistaken."
Victoria had the feeling he was teasing her.
"Tell me more about the Yankee camp," Edward urged her, as he leaned against the guardrail of the bridge.
"One thing that amused me at first was the fact that the Yankees would be responsible for the care and feeding of so many camp followers, until Bodine reminded me later, that the only means of food had to come from the Georgia countryside."
"Bodine was with you in the camp?"
"No, I was alone," Victoria said.
Edward thought it would not be wise to press her further. "Tell me about your soul-searching, Miss Farraday."
Victoria turned to him. "Well, take for instance, the loyalty given you by your vaqueros. I never saw any of my father's salves show him that kind of respect."
"Maybe you are turning into a Yankee, Miss Farraday," Edward told her lightly.
Victoria turned to him fiercely. "Do not even think that!" Then she changed the subject. "What is the source of the water that runs under the bridge?"
"Come," he said, "I will show you."
They passed over the bridge and walked up a pathway paved with red bricks. There were torches burning at different intervals, giving the garden a warm glow. "How extensive are your gardens?" Victoria asked.
"Two acres, I believe," Edward told her.
She heard the sound of running water. They rounded a tall hedge, and Victoria saw a fountain. It was in the form of a Greek goddess, which stood about eight feet tall. The source of water came from a pitcher which she held in her hand. Victoria stood and stared up at the lovely statue. "I have run out of adjectives to describe your lovely home, Mr. Hanover," she said breathlessly. He drew in his breath as he stared down at her. The glow of the torches gave her bare shoulders a transparent look.
"Who laid out the gardens?" Victoria wanted to know.
"My father," Edward told her. "It is a replica of the garden of his boyhood home in England."
Victoria nodded. "I have seen such gardens in England."
"You have been to England?" Edward asked.
"Yes, my father took me one summer. So," she said, "your father was English, and your mother was Spanish."
"That is correct," Edward answered. "It is quite a baffling combination, Miss Farraday. The part of me that is my father is cool and logical, while my mother's Spanish blood is wild and unpredictable."
Victoria looked at him with a serious frown on her face. "I believe your mother's side has the upper hand most of the time, Mr. Hanover."
Edward laughed deeply. "I suspect you may be right." He reached out his hand and touched her face softly. "At the moment my Spanish blood is telling me how beautiful you are, and my English side is in agreement."
"Another compliment, Mr. Hanover?"
"A most sincere compliment, Miss Farraday."
Victoria closed her eyes trying to bring her wayward heart under control. When she opened her eyes Edward was smiling down at her.
"Thank you for showing m
e your lovely garden."
He bowed to her gallantly. "It was my pleasure. Shall we rejoin the others, Miss Farraday?"
They walked down the pathway toward the fiesta.
Edward had intended to tell her about serving with the Union Army, but it did not seem to be the right time. He would tell her at a later date. He was sure he could make her understand.
He paused beside the tree, where earlier he had given her the flower. "I wonder if you would allow me to call you Victoria?"
She looked at him for a moment. "Since we are neighbors I suppose it will be all right."
"And you will call me Edward?"
"Yes, if you like."
"I would like it very much, Victoria."
His nearness was very disturbing to her. She wished she were safely back with her grandmother.
"Victoria, we got off on the wrong foot, so to speak, when we first met. Let us forget the past and start fresh."
She smiled. "You did have the wrong impression about me on our first meeting. I do not mind telling you I did not like you very well at first."
He looked deeply into her eyes. "And now? What do you feel for me now?"
Victoria felt a tightening in her throat. "I feel ... I may have misjudged you. My grandmother thinks very highly of you, and I trust her judgment."
He laughed. "You have a way of deflating a man, but you do it with such style, one can hardly find fault."
"It was not my intention to offend you. If I have, please accept my apology."
"Thus speaks the gently bred southern lady; but no, I was not offended by you—rather I am enchanted with you, Victoria." He frowned. "Say my name, Victoria. Let me hear my name on your lips."
She looked away from him. She could feel her body start to tremble. He grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to face him.
"Say it, Victoria," he demanded.
Her knees felt weak, and her voice seemed to have deserted her for the moment.
Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) Page 14
