Page 24 of The Sicilian's Secret Son
“Hablás español,”she said. It was a statement. She knew that Bernadette spoke Spanish, had to speak it, or she could never have understood what was said in Eduardo’s room just after the wedding.
“As well as you speak English,” Bernadette conceded.
Thecondessawas less sure of herself now. She studied the other woman with open curiosity. “Why did you say nothing?”
“I would not for worlds attempt to gain my husband’s respect now by admitting that I understand his language. He has accepted as fact that I went out of my way to antagonize you and Lupe, that I lied and spread gossip. He admitted to you,” she added painfully, because it hurt to remember, “that he has no love for me.” She lifted her face proudly. “Well, the marriage is an accomplished fact and divorce is impossible. We must all make the best of it.” She sipped her coffee and put the cup back down. “I am not what you wished for in a granddaughter-in-law, but I have more humanity than did your precious Consuela, who treated Eduardo like a monster.”
The intake of the old woman’s breath was audible.
“You didn’t know?” Bernadette asked coldly. “Oh, I see, you only manipulate other people, you don’t bother with learning the consequences of your meddling. You never saw Eduardo after the loss of his wife and son, but I did.”
Thecondessaput a hand to her throat.
“He never would have told you all he went through with Consuela, the loss of the child,” Bernadette said bitterly. “He loves you too much to burden you with it.”
Thecondessalowered her eyes to the table and touched, gently, the handle of the china cup. “You did not believe him a murderer.”
“No,” she replied coldly.
“Why?”
“Because I love him!” Bernadette said with barely concealed anguish. She met the old woman’s shocked eyes evenly. “I love him more than my own life,” she said in a rough whisper. “Enough to bear any gossip, any censure, to be near him. He asked me to marry him, and even though I knew it was only because he needed my father’s money, I couldn’t agree quickly enough. I hoped...” Her eyes closed as she fought for self-control. “I hoped so desperately that he might one day come to care for me, just a little. But I see now, for myself, what a forlorn, desperate hope it was.” Her eyes opened, misty with pain. “I was a fool. I should have refused to marry him the day I met you and Lupe. I should have known that I couldn’t fight the two of you. Eduardo owes you loyalty and love. He would never disbelieve anything you told him.” She put down her napkin and got to her feet. “And of course, you would never lie to him, because you love him and wish only for his happiness,” she added with faint sarcasm, pleased when the old woman actually flushed. “That’s what he said to me last night. That I had no honor because I accused you of telling a lie and backing up Lupe’s lie.” She pushed her chair back under the table with hands that trembled. “But it is not I who lack honor, Señora Condessa. It is you. I curse the day I met you.”
She turned and started toward the door.
“You are a brazen woman!” thecondessasaid in a shaky tone. “My grandson would be well rid of you, as his father would have been well rid of his mother!”
Bernadette had had quite enough of that holier-than-thou attitude. She walked back to the table, lifted the cream pitcher and poured its contents right over the old woman’s immaculate hair.
“Cream for kitty cat,” Bernadette said haughtily, and left the sputtering old woman sitting there in the mess.
* * *
SHEDIDN’TKNOWWHEREEDUARDOwas, and she didn’t care. She was furious enough to pack her bags and leave. Which is exactly what she did. She took the suitcase to the front porch herself, shocking the servants and outraging Lupe, who came out into the hall and saw what she was up to.
“What are you doing?” Lupe exclaimed.
“Leaving,” Bernadette said through her teeth. “You and thecondessaare welcome to my husband, who obviously has more feeling for you than he can manage to pretend for me.”
“But it is the day after the wedding!” Lupe cried. “You will disgrace him!”
“Do you think so?” Bernadette asked with mock delight. “Imagine how the servants will gossip when they change the sheets in my bedroom!” she added for good measure, smiling when Lupe almost swooned at the crude remark. “They’ll think that he wasn’t up to my expectations,” she added wickedly.
Lupe looked as if she might faint. Bernadette walked right around her and back to her room to get her shawl and purse. She cast one last look at the rumpled bed and laughed coldly to herself. So much for her brief taste of married life. She would never be tricked into a man’s clutches again.
She walked back to the front porch, where the servant she’d charged to hitch up the buggy was waiting with a pained expression. Lupe had obviously tried to forbid him to leave the ranch.
“Never you mind,” Bernadette told him in perfect Spanish. “No one will blame you for this. It is my order, which you cannot disobey. All right?”
“Sí, señora,”he replied gratefully.
Bernadette allowed him to help her into the buggy after he’d loaded her case. “I’ll send for the rest of my things,” she told Lupe. “You can tell Eduardo whatever lie you like, I’m sure he’ll swallow anything now. Goodbye.”
She nodded to him and he flicked the whip above the horse’s head, putting the buggy in motion.
* * *
ALLTHEWAYHOME, BERNADETTEgrieved for what might have been. She no longer cared what Eduardo thought or did. She was going to put him right out of her mind and go visit her brother, as she’d threatened. Eduardo could do what he liked.