Chapter 8
1028 Words
Vicente
I arrived at my place around dawn, the only thing that could be heard was the crashing of the waves, crickets chirping and the light that I saw came from the moon.
Enrique’s carriage had brought me straight to my door, even though I insisted that I could find my own way back home.
But of course, how could I argue with a Viscount?
“We’ll have your horse cleaned up and brought to you Mr. Hernández!” Paulo, the Cortez family driver, said.
I nodded. “Thank you. And make sure Enrique doesn’t send the horse back with golden hooves.”
Paulo only laughed and rode away to the nearest inn.
If Enrique had it his way he’d trade my horse with an award winning one from the races in Scotland.
Perks of being a Viscount.
I loved my dear friend but I could never want his life. The title he had was a heavy one, and while the wealth and connections he had were a grand perk, I preferred to work.
I was proud of everything I had accomplished with my family.
We were starting a legacy on our own.
I walked into my home, lit a candle and locked the door before taking off my boots. I made my way through the small hall from the entrance and into the kitchen at the end of the house.
I found some cold meats and slices of bread I forgot I had and decided it was the best I’d muster at the moment for a very, very late dinner.
It would be easy for me to just go down to the town and get dinner at a pub, or even ask Paulo to fetch me something but I didn’t want to.
I didn’t feel like risking bumping into Dolores or bothering the tired Paulo.
I was a grown man.
I could take care of myself.
I finished my “dinner” and headed upstairs. There were only two rooms; my bedroom and an office. I had a small home but I didn’t need much. It was bigger than those around me because I had a larger kitchen, dining room and tea room but that was it.
I only used it for business and sleep; I didn’t need much.
But in the past couple of days I realized I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life here; I wanted more.
I just didn’t know exactly what it was I wanted.
I began to change for bed after splashing water on my face. I opened the windows just a bit so I could hear the crashing of the waves and feel the ocean breeze; that always put me to sleep.
I’d be heading out to Portugal soon and I needed to rest and enjoy my own bed. God knew that sleeping on a ship wasn’t the most comfortable experience a man could have.
***
“I need you to do something.” Mother said as I carried the 10th box of wine from her cellar to a cart outside.
Enrique had bought a lot of wine from me and some of his rich friends had asked for a couple of boxes too.
An entire shipment of 35 boxes was going back to the city.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I need you to go help Ines.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Yes.”
My stomach dropped.
What could have happened in the time I was away? Why hadn’t mother told me as soon as she had seen me?
Was the Diaz family in danger?
“What happened?” I asked, dropping the box on the cart and turning to face her.
“She needs help with her garden. It’s in a terrible state” Mother said sighing.
For a moment I glared at her.
I had thought something had happened to Ines, that she had been harmed. Her kind face had flashed across my mind and the thought of her in danger had made my palms sweat.
“Why are you looking at me that way?” Mother asked.
“You scared me, I thought something serious had happened!”
“It is serious!”
“No it’s not.”
“When you see her garden I’m sure you’ll change your mind.”
I sighed, “ok I’ll stop by tomorrow.”
“No.”
“No?”
“Today Vicente.”
“Today?!”
Mother gave me a scowl. “Yes today. Actually, head up there right now.”
Before I could argue she asked one of the workers to bring me a horse. She grabbed some gloves, a small pot and a pouch with seeds and shoved them into my hands.
“Did you have all of this ready?”
“Yes.”
She stood proudly with her hands on her hips and something shining her eyes.
I eyed her closely. “What are you doing Mother?”
“What do you mean?” She asked, tilting her head to the side trying to look innocent.
“You know what I mean.”
“Actually I do not.”
“What do you really want me to do? Why are you sending me to the Diaz family?”
“Because I want you to help Ines with her garden.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“That’s fine.”
She smiled at me as the horse was brought around. I eyed her suspiciously as I got on. “Will you require anything else mother?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“No.”
“Mother!” I exclaimed. No wonder father had to take walks at the end of the day.
He loved her but she could be exhausting when she wanted to.
But she laughed and patted my leg. “Have fun my boy.”
“With what?”
She shrugged and said something under her breath but I didn’t question it.
Instead I started to gallop away, heading to help Ines in whatever garden emergency she was in and hoping that it would put a rest to whatever my mother was up to.
- Writer
