Roots of Indifferences

by Terri Ragsdale

  Victoria's Grandmother Hinojosa, her mother Doña Francisca, and the servant, Juana, had made sure that every detail of her clothing and hair had been arranged perfectly for her debut with the Del Calderónes. Victoria had asked Felicia to accompany her to the Del Calderóne estate, but Aunt Emma had intervened, saying that Felicia was going to be busy being fitted for several dresses she wanted to be made from the new patterns and materials and that it was no business of Felicia's anyway. Victoria felt that Emma was almost jealous of her staying with the Del Calderóne family, and she wished that Felicia could be so lucky.

  On the opposite side of the enormous sitting room sat Señora Del Calderóne with El General beside her, and on the other end of the white sofa sat Ricardo, striking in his dark Italian silk suit and white shirt. Although he appeared very handsomely aristocratic, he was nervously fumbling with his short-brimmed derby hat. His dark, piercing eyes would light up every time he exchanged glances with Victoria. They had all greeted each other formally, elegantly, and gracefully, and had been given some of the estate's famous wine, while they all relaxed and talked about the old days.

  La Señora Del Calderóne sat stiff-laced in a dark printed dress up to her neck and a gemstone brooch at her throat. Her salt-and-pepper hair was piled on her head and held in place with a fan-shaped gold comb. Layers of jewelry hung from her neck, and on each finger were several rings with precious stones. Señora Del Calderóne stared at Victoria over her dark glasses, surveying her from head to toe, making sure that she would be acceptable as the perfect daughter-in-law.

  "Did you like the opal necklace and earrings I sent you for your birthday, Victoria?" she asked, displaying no emotion. Behind her dark glasses was a person who had suffered greatly by being controlled and manipulated throughout her married life as La Señora, for she had been a victim of great deception, being totally submissive to her corrupt, womanizing husband. Her disposition was reserved, yet she showed some charm, with a fierce protective instinct about her children. She seemed wiser than her years and could display a cherubic smile at will.

  "Why, yes," responded Victoria very cheerfully. "They matched my dress perfectly. As a matter of fact, I brought them with me, along with my birthday dress. I will wear them tonight for the evening meal so you can see them. Thank you very much."

  "How nice, I'm so glad you liked them," Señora Del Calderóne replied. "They are very expensive stones. I had the jewelry made from the finest gold from my own jeweler, who does only special requests, one of its kind and custom made."

  "With your beautiful eyes, the opals must have been exquisite," said Ricardo, now speaking up. "I can't wait to see you wearing them this evening. I am sorry I couldn't attend your birthday. We heard from your Aunt Emma that it was an outstanding fiesta. I hope you had a good time."

  "It was wonderful," answered Victoria, unsure of just how much they knew about her coquettish actions with Juan. Aunt Emma, the self-proclaimed newscaster, had probably written to them relating every detail of what had occurred.

  "You turned sixteen already and are going to the convent," commented Ricardo, turning on the charm. "I can't believe my eyes! You have changed so much since I last saw you. It must have been over two years since I visited Spanish Acres with the hunting party of my friends."

  "Yes," Victoria answered softly. She felt like a piece of merchandise being inspected before purchase. Or like a precious gem under a microscopic, revealing that one of her facets was cracked. Her father and El General Calderóne had disappeared out into the courtyard, discussing Mexico's current political crisis. As they strolled outside, she overheard El General laughing at Madero and how foolish he was, trying to control the government of the powerful Díaz.

  "Victoria," said Ricardo, getting up from the white sofa, extending his hand to her, hoping to break the icy atmosphere. "Would you like to stroll outside into our lovely courtyards? After much rain, the sun is out, and it has become a lovely day."

  Victoria reached out her hand, and together they moved outdoors among the white gardenia bushes that were in full bloom. She felt more comfortable outside, leaving behind the piercing, haunting eyes of Señora Del Calderóne. Feeling romantic, Ricardo picked one of the large gardenias and placed it on the left side of her hair. "Have I told you how beautiful you look this afternoon? How lovely the color of green accents your hazel eyes, and how much you have changed? You have grown into an exquisite Chérie," commented Ricardo sincerely. "I can't get over how grown up you look with your hair partly up and shining in the light. I have thought of you ever since I came back from Paris. I have counted the minutes. The women in Paris do not hold a candle to you—you would make them all green with envy."

  "How kind of you to say that!" replied Victoria, who was overtaken by his flowery charm and polished manners. His handsome smile was edged by a thin, manicured, dark mustache. "Tell me about your education in Paris," she asked, duly impressed.

  "Paris! Ah! Merci, Paris is wonderful. We must go there for our honeymoon," he said, sounding so full of promises, so excited, and so sure of himself. "I swear, you will enjoy seeing all of its beautiful sites. It's so different from Mexico. They have magnificent palaces, especially King Louis XIV, the Versailles, and the Louvre, their art museum. It has many lovely churches of historical interest, including the Madeleine, the St. Vincent de Paul, and other beautiful buildings. The educational institutions of Paris rank very high among those in modern Europe. The Cathedral of Notre Dame contains the burial place of Napoleon. I was very interested in Napoleon while growing up. I admired him in the way he controlled his armies. He was a very clever man indeed."

  He talked as if he was there, with so much enthusiasm and intense feeling, wanting to go back, and his conversation was mixed with half Spanish and half French words. He suddenly realized he was relating too much of his adventures, and said abruptly, "Ah! Perdón. Here I am talking about myself, and I have forgotten to take you to your quarters. You'll be staying in one of the guest cottages. It's charming and you'll like it, it's very comfortable. The servants have already taken your luggage there. It's only a few yards away, and I'll escort you there." Holding her left arm, he walked her down a cobblestone path embraced by flowering vines. "We'll have plenty to talk about since you're spending the rest of the week with us. Maybe we'll ride out into the surrounding fields, out into the countryside, so I can show you how delightful our place is."

  "It's exquisite," she said. "Everything here is beautiful. Everything seems so perfect and in place. It's a dream come true, a colorful picture of Van Gogh's delight." She whirled around with her hands in the air, then smiled at Ricardo and gave him a quick hug.

  They stopped at the entrance to the guest cottage, which was made of stucco with black, wrought-iron designs on the windows and the doorway. Colorful tiles lined the steps and flowering clay pots sat on each side of the entrance. The sun was starting to go down behind an array of cirrus clouds that were transformed into a soft mauve as they caught the last splendor of the heavenly rays.

  "I'll see you tonight for the evening meal," said Ricardo, smiling and letting go of her arm.

  She hugged him again before he disappeared into the courtyards. She was let inside the cottage to find an enchanting place. Servant men in their white cotton shirts and trousers were already waiting for her as they scurried in and out with plates of bananas and oranges. A crystal pitcher of fresh, cold water was placed on the colored tile counter next to the fruit platters. A sizeable porcelain vase was full of fresh-cut flowers. Fresh linens and colored towels were at her disposal next to an oversized porcelain bathtub, which sat two steps down, next to a large, open window. A huge walnut, four-poster bed with hand-embroidered quilts of white satin and lace embraced the enormous featherbed. At the foot of the bed was a plush oriental rug. Two Indian-looking ladies, with long, black braids down to their waist, had already taken command of the situation and had removed Victoria's clothes from her trunks. Other Indian servants were busy bringing in large wo
oden tubs of boiling water, preparing her for a hot, relaxing bath before the evening gala.

  *****

  That evening was full of surprises. In Mexico, people had their siestas from twelve to four, followed by a light snack. The evening meal was always served late and was the heaviest.

  Victoria's father had proudly escorted her to the eighteen-seat dining room with arched windows at every corner. A huge fireplace burned intensely, while the servants, dressed in white cotton, scurried around the room at full attention. Lit candelabras and chandeliers brightened the room, displaying the China plates with gold edging next to a variety of gold silverware, European cut crystal goblets, and embroidered napkins. A bouquet of fresh-cut flowers sat on top of the enormous dining table. Wines of different flavors and colors were waiting for them as they stepped into the room. A large corsage of lavender orchids was pinned on Victoria's dress by a peón girl, before she sat down, with Ricardo on her right and her father on the left. Audible murmurs and whispers circled the room, as people stared at Victoria with admiration.

  El General Del Calderóne was wearing a handsome white uniform embroidered with gold edging, and stiff with a plethora of medals. He was of medium build, but stocky, with salt and pepper hair, dark eyes, and a mustache that was always waxed. Occasionally he would glance at his shiny black boots that one of his guests had brought to him as a gift from Germany. "Fine quality!" he would say.

  He was seated at the head of the largest dining room table Victoria had ever seen. All eyes, ears, bodies, and souls were directed to El General, who spoke loudly and boastfully. His eyes were always watchful and sharp, like a hawk. He was a man who studied each individual carefully, with much keenness, discerning their strongest and weakest points. He knew the intricacies of war and was a brilliant authority on military games. His was always the last word.

  Two Doberman pinschers lay at the side of El General, guarding him like a demigod. "They will not hurt you unless you try to strike them," El General remarked to Don Federico, who was startled by the dogs' presence in the dining area. "We keep them around for protection against the Indian workers that work the sugar cane fields. We simply cannot trust them. Never know what they will try next! Those that try to run away don't get very far," El General said, feeling proud of himself and his accomplishments. "Where would they have it any better? And if they do run away, the dogs will hunt them down." He took a sip of wine and continued, "This one is the mother of one of the dogs I gave you." He took another sip and said, "I'll bet that dog must be getting big. They are good hunting dogs, and you could sure use him at your hacienda."

  "Yes," remarked Don Federico. "He's become a wonderful dog. Thank you!"

  The general had business guests who had been staying at the castle for several days. Seated next to the general was a German by the name of Von Schmidt. He was tall, with blond hair, blue eyes, and dressed in an impressive navy-blue uniform. His white captain's cap was lying on top of the table next to his silverware. On the opposite side of Von Schmidt was a tall, thin, dark-skinned Frenchman introduced by the name of Bruno Pue, also wearing a dark navy, Italian silk suit. All the men stood up with a glass of wine when Victoria was introduced by Ricardo as his novia, his wife-to-be.

  "Where did you find such an extraordinary beauty?" exclaimed Von Schmidt to Ricardo, holding up his wine glass as though in a toast. "My goodness," he said, in his broken English, "all of the ladies here are so beautiful!" He turned his attention to Ricardo's sister, Magdalena, who was petite, fair-skinned, and an exquisite beauty. She sat next to her mother, Señora Del Calderóne, on the opposite side of the table from Von Schmidt. Magdalena was three years younger than Ricardo and had just returned from attending the Colegio de San Blas, where she had received a formal education and catechism from the nuns there.

  Victoria raised her wine glass with boldness and said, "Thank you for your compliment," to Von Schmidt, who was stealing curious glances at Ricardo's sister. Magdalena, in her sequined, low-cut, black lace gown, turned crimson as she looked down at her plate.

  "Lucky, my dear man, I'm just plain lucky," Ricardo addressed Von Schmidt with his wine glass held high. He was taunting the German across the table, flaunting his fiancée in his face. There were loud laughter and the conversation continued with the men only because the women rarely said a word, only whispered among themselves as the first course of dinner was served.

  At one point, La Señora Del Calderóne studied Victoria and commented on her beautiful dress, and how appropriate the diamond and opal earrings and necklace were. She then fell silent and nothing more was heard from her during the rest of the meal. Magdalena would cautiously glance at Victoria but acted cold and indifferent. Perhaps the gloom and doom atmosphere from the women was because of Luis, Ricardo's brother, who had joined the revolt against his father's regime and was considered an outcast to the prideful and egotistical El General. His name was never mentioned and everyone acted as if he had never existed. Instructed by El General never to say the name of Luis in his presence, La Señora was heartbroken. Luis was her youngest and the most beloved by her.

  The conversation was sprinkled with jokes about the unsightly blue and purple bruise on Don Federico's head until he explained to the group about the events that had happened at the gold mine, and how close he had come to dying. The conversation switched to lighter topics, and there were many comments and laughter as the evening progressed and dinner was served.

  First on the menu was shrimp cocktail, which was placed in a beautiful cut glass dish and accentuated with a delicate tomato sauce. Each of the guests had his or her own waiter, who kept filling their cut-crystal glasses with water and had towels draped over their arms. The shrimp was followed by a delightful soup of mixed vegetables and rice, and then a large salad. The main entrée was lobster, crab, squid, and snails—called escargot.

  "My friend Bruno Pue was kind enough to bring us this delicacy from the wonderful country of France," exclaimed El General boisterously, happy about his gallant military career and the prosperity that had brought him, such good friends. He motioned with his wine glass toward his French visitor, who was smiling at him. "Enjoy!" he exclaimed, standing up and turning to acknowledge everyone at the table. El General was the type of individual who had acquired so much wealth, one couldn't help but bask in his glow.

  Don Federico took one look at the food they were being served and whispered into Victoria's ear, "How am I supposed to eat these hard-shelled critters? Especially the lobster, with its hard shell? I didn't bring a hammer with me! And I don't know if I can stomach the snails!"

  Victoria began laughing. Ricardo overheard him. "You use these," he remarked, pointing to the instrument looking like a surgical tool lying on the table in front of him. He picked it up and began showing Don Federico how to crack open the shell. "Yes, you can use your hands, pull the meat out, and dip it in the rich butter. You'll love it! But, first of all, you better put your napkin on your lap and the other one on your chest, because it will be messy, and you wouldn’t want to get it all over your suit." They all laughed. The conversation quieted down as they all began eating, and the servants brought in large plates of sliced papaya and mango on ice.

  The scrumptious meal was followed by serenading musicians entertaining around the dining table with a guitar and a violin. The guests drank hot coffee and ate their dessert pastries made by a French chef that Ricardo had hired and brought back to teach the Calderóne kitchen staff French and European cuisine. He wanted to impress his family, creating a wider range of menu items utilizing French and Italian dishes—different foods, besides the masa for tortillas, black beans, and arroz.

  Victoria noticed that from time to time, El General would cautiously glance at a young peasant girl serving the food. Her hair was in braids, and she had a red hibiscus flower in her hair. When she noticed El General staring at her, she would blush and cast her eyes to the floor in embarrassment.

  "Mexico," said the arrogant Bruno Pue, "is my kind
of country. Here, with money, you can buy anything. Look at our friend, El General. Here, he has everything. This is a paradise, with all the food and all the women you could want—all the pleasures!" He then toasted with his glass of wine and made a salute to the General.

  Von Schmidt laughed loudly, saying, "That's why we must proceed with our plans. The General is very generous with his gifts and our stay at his villa. We will have to provide more guns and ammunition from Germany to help him in his cause."

  "I'll be leaving in a couple of days," commented El General, and he smiled, then took a sip from his wine glass. "Díaz is getting a little concerned about the border incidents, but nothing is too big for me to handle. Huerta will go with me to the border. It seems that several bandits have risen against our government. We will take care of those who want to start a revolution. We have had peace for over thirty years in this country with Díaz, and now Francisco Madero, with the help of other bandits, has started to stir ideas in the peasants' heads. I hear he is a real weirdo." The rest of the guests and Ricardo laughed, while Don Federico flinched at those remarks.

  As they retired to the grand sala, the musicians followed. Don Federico smoked his cigar and took a seat with the rest of the foreign guests, while Victoria and Ricardo sat together on a white loveseat, holding hands. Champagne was served after each became comfortably seated.

  Then, the finale: a beautiful young lady with long, black hair wearing a white mantilla draped over a high tortoise comb, with a red rose in her hair, appeared and began singing songs from Spain. She was dressed in the Spanish traditional peasant fiesta costume of colorful embroideries, laces, and jewelry, with a bright red, fringed shawl, and she was playing castanets. Victoria noticed that La Señora Del Calderóne had not joined them but had retired to her quarters. Victoria found it very strange. She found it even stranger that the singer had not joined them at dinner. She also noticed that Magdalena had also disappeared and was not with the guests.