“Get my daughter changed and clean up this mess,” Valerianna ordered before hurrying out of the room.
Crista never favored lace dresses. The lace always scratched her skin and left it red and irritated so she was relieved to be rid of the dress. The servant girl went to the armoire in search of another dress.
“I know the dress I want,” Crista said and the servant stepped aside at her approach.
A local seamstress in Spain had received instructions from her mother for several dresses to be made just before Crista returned home. She had hated the time spent being measured and altered for each and every one of them. But there was one she had asked Lucia to help her alter. One dress she could call her own.
She smiled when she found it and slipped into it. It was a deep blue silk, the square neckline falling just above her breasts and the long sleeves fitted along her arms to her wrists. It was cinched at the waist, fitting snugly, and flowed out and down along her hips to be gathered up in intervals along the hem so she would not trip on it. She slipped on dark slipper-like shoes without the small heel so many women fancied. She had the servant remove the sapphire necklace but left the small sapphire, drop earrings.
After sending the servants on their way, she went to work on her hair, removing the white ribbon and combs. After a thorough brushing, she pulled her hair back away from her temples and brow, using several combs to keep it in place and allowed her natural curls to cascade freely down her back and over her shoulders.
She smiled when she looked at her image, pleased with her appearance, though was doubtful her mother would approve. But she felt confident and she needed that tonight.
A sudden thought had her eyes turning wide. The large cat hadn’t been in her dreams lately. Had she finally gained the strength and courage to go on?
A knock sounded at the door, a servant’s voice letting her know it was time for her to make her appearance.
Taking a deep breath and planting a smile on her face, Crista left the room.
Her mother and father waited in the foyer for her, the party being in the sizeable dining room and spilling out onto the large, brick patio. Dolores, the cook, and her helpers had been busy for days preparing the food and it smelled delicious. Music was mixed with the sounds of chatter. The party had commenced and all she had to do was join in.
Her father’s wide smile when he saw her was enough to let her know he approved of her appearance. Her mother’s eyes widened, then she shrugged, accepting there was nothing she could do about the dress her daughter wore and hurried over to Crista.
“We must hurry you in there. The guests grow restless since Don Navarro has yet to arrive. Some tongues wag, suggesting we lied and Don Navarro isn’t coming.” Valerianna turned to her husband. “He is coming isn’t he?”
“He told me he was looking forward to it,” Alejandro said, “but whether he attends or not this is Crista’s night.” He held out his arm to his daughter. “Come, Crista, I wish to show you off with pride.”
Crista took his arm, her smile as wide as his and her heart filled with joy that her father was eager to introduce her to everyone with pride. It meant the world to her.
It must have been a good entrance, since after a few introductions, she saw her mother smiling, looking more pleased than she had ever seen her.
It became obvious after only a short time that no young man was going to ask her to dance. It seemed they all believed that the devil had left his mark on her. Her reputation was ruined and she didn’t want to think what would happen when it became known she carried the devil’s child. She wouldn’t be surprised if her mother and father sent her back to Spain, and perhaps it would be for the best. There she would have a family who would love her and her child, and there she could forget about Diablo. Being here, she wondered every day where he was, what he was doing, was he safe? Would she ever see him again? Foolish thoughts, but she was discovering just how foolish one could be when in love. She tried over and over again to tell herself how absurd it all was—loving an infamous outlaw—she wasn’t able to comprehend it. Memories intruded and her heart seemed to swell with even more love for a man who hadn’t even bothered to say good-bye to her.
She told herself it was better that no one had requested a dance. With all that had happened, she hadn’t given her leg a thought lately. Something she should have paid attention to. Climbing up and down the trellis each morning and doing a lot of walking to be off on her own in the orchards had caught up with her. She had felt the first warning pang of pain when she descended the stairs. She needed to rest her leg or the pain would worsen and she couldn’t chance having her parents find out.
Crista had made certain to take a seat by Rosa and watched how Esteban’s eyes rarely left her from where he stood across the room with a group of older men.
“I’m ordered to remain seated for the entire night,” Rosa said with a laugh.
“It’s my fault, I’m sorry,” Crista whispered.
“No, it’s not and I don’t mind sitting. I am feeling more tired lately but if I tell Esteban he will lock me in our bedchamber until the baby is born.”
“He loves you,” Crista said, laughing softly.
“Too much,” Rosa chuckled.
“I thought Don Navarro was attending,” Ana Cabeza said, approaching Crista.
“So he said,” Crista confirmed.
Ana turned a smug smile on Crista. “Then where is—”
Her mouth suddenly dropped open and Crista noticed that talk seemed to still around the room and young women’s’ eyes lit with awe and young men’s brows drew tight with concern.
“Madre de dios! It isn’t just rumors, he’s gorgeous,” Ana whispered.
Rosa turned her head. “Good lord, she’s right.”
Crista turned, curious, and her heart slammed against her chest and her stomach roiled.
There standing in the open doorway and dressed in fine gentleman attire stood Diablo.
Chapter 20
Crista stared at him in shock as did most of the woman there, which saved her from drawing attention to herself. He didn’t look around the room in search of her. His eyes had gone to Crista’s father and he in turn went to greet—the devil.
Her heart didn’t stop hammering in her chest, though her roiling stomach had turned to flutters. She didn’t know what to think, to feel. She couldn’t deny being pleased to see him, but she couldn’t help being angry as well. Why hadn’t he confided his intentions? Why hadn’t he made their separation easier? Why hadn’t he trusted her? Most of all, though, what were his true intentions?
“His handsome features are enough to make any woman want him for a husband, but he may be more a devil than a good man,” Rosa whispered.
Ana had hurried to her mother’s side and chatter soon spread like wildfire around the room. Young men quickly requested dances from the young women who seemed hesitant to accept.
“They all wait to see who Don Navarro will dance with first, each—no doubt—hoping to be the one he chooses,” Rosa whispered.
“He seems to be too busy to dance with anyone,” Crista said with a touch of annoyance as she watched Diablo talk with her father and brother.
What had she expected? That he would come running to her? She was as pathetic as the young women waiting for him to pay attention to them. But then they hadn’t been intimate with the devil.
A nearby round of giggles and whispers caught her attention and she glanced over to see that several young women had gathered together. They cast several glances Don Navarro’s way as did many of their mothers, their minds probably already busy with plans to win him for one of their daughters.
With everyone’s glance turning toward Don Navarro, she allowed herself to do the same. He stood in the far corner of the room, a good head above the other men, except Esteban. They were near equal in height, Diablo being only slightly taller.
“He seems to be holding court, every man has his attention,” Rosa murmured. “It is difficult n
ot to stare at him when he has such striking features.”
Crista agreed though didn’t say so, realizing it wasn’t only his features that caught the eye. He held himself erect, like the aristocrats that she had seen in Spain, his chin slightly elevated as though he looked down on those around him. His broad shoulders were drawn back and his expression was one of disinterest.
“What have you heard about him?” Crista asked.
“Gossip mostly. He is a recent arrival to Los Angeles. He purchased the Edgardo hacienda after Dona Maria had passed, though there are rumors he inherited it. He has hired many people from the area, though he also brought many of his own people with him. When gossip spread about how handsome he was, all the mothers were eager to have him attend one of their parties. Your father’s was the first invitation he accepted.”
“Has Esteban said anything about him?” Crista asked.
“Your brother says that time will tell what type of man and neighbor he will be.”
Crista continued to look Diablo’s way, perhaps willing him to turn and look at her, but he didn’t. He remained engaged with the men around him. She saw that while Esteban remained engrossed in the conversation, he also cast glances to his wife.
Crista turned to Rosa, annoyed that she kept an eye on him when he hadn’t even cast an eye around the room for her. “I’m so pleased to see how happy you and my brother are together. He smiles much.”
“It was not like that at first,” Rosa confessed. “His past haunted him and sometimes it still does. It takes time for deep wounds to heal.” She gave Crista’s hand a squeeze.
“I wonder if they will ever heal,” Crista said softly, speaking her worry. “Or if anyone will ever forget or forgive me when the abduction was not my fault.” She placed her hand on her stomach, thinking of Diablo’s child nestled safely inside her. “I did nothing wrong and I don’t regret anything I did.”
“And so you shouldn’t.” Rosa kept her voice to a murmur. “But you need to consider the future and it’s a husband you need and quickly.”
Crista glanced Diablo’s way again. Did she tell him of the child? Or did she wait and see what his intentions were? But time wasn’t on her side. Regardless, news of the child would wait. First, she wanted to know why he hadn’t told her of his plans.
“Something I hadn’t planned on so soon,” Crista confessed.
“Yet something that is a necessity,” Rosa reminded.
“There is one good thing I have found on my arrival home,” — Crista smiled and squeezed Rosa’s hand— “a sister.”
“I am pleased as well. Now we must get busy and find you a suitable husband. With Don Navarro being new to the area, you may have a better chance with him than with anyone else here.”
Crista wanted to laugh if it didn’t hurt so much as she turned a glance on the father of her child.
Don Navarro turned his head then and their eyes clashed. Crista’s breath caught, her stomach fluttered outrageously, and it felt as if her heart stilled.
“Smile,” Rosa whispered out of the corner of her mouth and gave Crista a jab with her elbow. “He’s looking your way.”
Crista couldn’t force a smile. All she could think was that she wanted him to come to her, scoop her up, take her away, and love her.
“He’s coming this way,” Rosa mumbled beneath her breath. “Good Lord, smile.”
No smile came and she got annoyed at Rosa for moving away and leaving her alone with the devil.
“Senorita Crista,” he said with a slight bow of his head. “May I have this dance?” He held his hand out to her.
Crista wanted to grab hold of his hand and never let go, but something inside her rebelled and she couldn’t believe her own words. “No, thank you.”
She heard gasps nearby and realized she had spoken louder than she had intended to, and there was no denying the spark of annoyance her response had set off in Diablo.
He leaned down, a smile on his handsome face, and kept his response for her ears alone. “You don’t want to disobey me on this, Crista.”
His warning was clear and, with partial sanity returning, she took his hand.
His strong hand curled around hers, sending a shudder through her and it wasn’t until they were dancing on the brick patio that she realized how much her leg pained her. He said nothing to her or if he did, she didn’t hear him. She was too busy trying to deal with the pain.
Why? Why now did this have to happen?
“What’s wrong, Crista?” he whispered.
Why did her name have to roll with such intimacy off his tongue? And why was she so pleased to hear it?
She didn’t hesitate to whisper, “My leg.”
His arm went around her waist, not appropriate for him to do, which had Esteban by her side as they reached the edge of the patio.
Don Navarro spoke before Esteban could. “She isn’t feeling well. If you would get her a drink, I’ll see her seated.”
Crista was relieved that Esteban didn’t argue and even more relieved when Diablo took her to a bench away from the noise of the party and into the shadows. He had just helped her to sit when Esteban returned with not only a drink, but their mother as well.
“Are you all right, Crista?” her mother asked, though gave her no chance to respond. Instead, she turned her attention to the devil. “It was so gracious of you, Don Navarro, to see to my daughter.”
He reached out and took the glass from Esteban and handed it to Crista. “It was my pleasure, Dona Valerianna. “I wouldn’t be surprised that with all the excitement of the day, your daughter has forgotten to make sure she ate.”
“Crista, is that true?” her mother was quick to ask.
Crista seized the excuse. “I’m afraid Don Navarro is right, Mother.”
“If you permit,” Don Navarro said, “I will fetch a plate for Crista and myself and eat here where it is quiet and she can rest a bit.”
“How generous of you, Don Navarro. But you need not fetch them, I will have food brought to both of you. Come, Esteban.” When he didn’t move, his eyes intent on Don Navarro, Valerianna gave him a slight shove and said, “I heard Rosa say she was tired. You might want to see if the night has been too much for her.”
That got him moving, though before he rushed off, he issued a warning. “My sister is to remain here on the bench until she has eaten and feels beter, then you will escort her back to the festivities, Don Navarro.”
“As you say, Don Esteban,” Don Navarro said with a slight nod.
“I suppose you have many questions for me,” Diablo said when Esteban and Valerianna were no longer in sight.
“What makes you think that, Don Navarro?” Crista said with a forced smile.
“Chavez,” he corrected.
Her smile vanished. “Another name that will last how long this time?” She shook her head. “Don’t bother, I couldn’t trust your answer anyway.”
“Did you not listen when I told you that you would always be mine, mi amor?”
“And yet you sent me away without even a good-bye,” she said with a sadness that she felt in her heart and could be heard in her voice.
“You will come to understand—”
“Come to understand?” She jumped up off the bench and pain shot through her leg.
She was in his arms before she could collapse to the ground and the feeling of coming home, of belonging overwhelmed her and she fought to stop the tears that rushed to her eyes.
“You left me,” she whispered.
“Never,” he whispered and pressed his lips to her temple.
“Crista?”
“Put me down,” she whispered, hearing her father call out to her.
“Over here, Don Alejandro,” Chavez said, not letting Crista out of his arms.
Crista silently cursed the devil when she saw the astonished look on her father’s face.
“She almost fainted,” Chavez said in a way of an explanation. “I believe it would be wise if she retired for the evening
. Is there a way I may carry her inside to avoid passing through the party?”
“Si. Si, of course,” Don Alejandro said, waving for him to follow.
They entered through the back of the house and she could feel his reluctance to place her on her feet. He did so slowly, keeping his arm around her waist longer than appropriate. Thankfully her father didn’t notice.
She took a tentative step and while there was a slight pain, it wasn’t enough to stop her form climbing the stairs on her own.
“Thank you, Don Navarro,” she said politely as she took two steps up, her hand on the bannister.
“Are you sure you feel well enough to climb the stairs?” he asked.
“I can manage, thank you,” she said, though she wished for nothing else but to be in his arms again.
“Then good-night, Crista,” he said with a slight nod of his head.
She took the steps slowly so as not to cause her leg anymore discomfort and once at the top turned to go toward her room, but stopped. She turned and peered carefully past the edge of the wall to see that Chavez was speaking with her father.
Chavez spoke low, but it was her father’s voice who she heard clearly.
“Of course you may call on my daughter tomorrow to see how she’s doing. Now please come rejoin the party. There are many people for you to meet yet.”
Crista felt a pang of jealousy, thinking how all the young women would vie for his attention. But did it matter? Either he cared for her and her alone or he didn’t. And from their short conversation in the garden when he reminded her—you’ll always be mine—was he telling her that he’d never let her go?
But that was Diablo. This was now Chavez Navarro and she didn’t know him or his intentions.
“You rest and feel better,” her mother said, standing beside the bed. “Don Navarro will be here right after lunch tomorrow to see you and you want to be at your best to greet him.
“All I need is a good night’s rest and I’ll be fine, Madre.”
“I’m pleased to hear that. This is a good opportunity for you, my daughter. Don Navarro is a wealthy and respected man. It would be a chance for you—”
Diablo's Angel (Ranchero Trilogy Book 3) Page 17