The Infamous Miss Rodriguez: A Ciudad Real Novella Read Online Free PDF Page B

exaggerated,” Graciela said with what dignity she could muster. “Not that it’s done me any good. Not a single member of the Board has heard a word of it, not even Mrs. Ferrer—she must have taken up residence under a rock. I might have to make an appointment to see her and tell her of it myself.”
    “I doubt she’d care,” Beatriz said, reaching for the pincushion on the small round table beside her. She snipped off the thread that connected the needle to a depiction of a dismembered body and stabbed the needle into the cheerful felt tomato. “Mama says she makes sport of haranguing the help in every store she goes to.”
    “How very aristocratic,” Graciela said, and even she could hear the bleakness in her voice.
    The amusement in Beatriz’s face softened into sympathy. “Surely there’s no need to go to such lengths just to break an engagement. Have you tried talking to Alvaro?”
    “It’s no use,” Graciela said. “He doesn’t take me seriously. I doubt he ever will.”
    “If you do marry him, it would mean freedom from your aunt. Just think of all the things you can do as a married woman that you wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.”
    Graciela shook her head. “It would mean exchanging one kind of captivity for another.”
    Beatriz leaned forward as far as her corset allowed her. “Graciela…I don’t mean to sound harsh but I have to know if you’ve thought about the consequences of what you’re doing. If you’re successful—if you manage to do something so scandalous that Alvaro’s forced to cancel your engagement—it won’t only be his family who will snub you. Your name would be on everyone’s lips and if I know Montsant society, not a kind word will be spoken on your behalf. There’ll be no invitations to dances or garden parties. You’ll be alone. Forever.”
    “I know,” Graciela said in a low voice.
    “And you don’t care?”
    The touch of incredulity in Beatriz’s voice made Graciela look up and say, almost grimly, “I do care. You’ve no idea how much I care. It’s not only my place in society I’ll lose. I won’t have a hope of making any sort of match—not even with the butcher’s brother,” she added, hoping to tease a smile out of Beatriz.
    It didn’t work. Her friend was fixing her with a gaze so piercing, it almost seemed as if her brown eyes could see right into Graciela. “And you’re willing to lose it all just to rid yourself of Alvaro.”
    “That and much else besides.”
    She might come to regret it, but Graciela knew she would regret marrying Alvaro even more.
    Graciela felt a soft touch on her arm and looked down to see Beatriz’s small hand curling around her own.
    She would lose plenty, it was true—but maybe not all.
    “Then I’ll help you,” Beatriz said, giving Graciela’s hand a squeeze. She sat back in her chair, asking briskly as she began to thread a fresh needle with a deep violet, presumably to fill in the penciled-in viscera scattered among the human remains, “Well, let’s have it—what will you do next?”
    Some of the men in Alvaro’s set were planning a high-stakes game of cards for the end of the week— Graciela had overheard them making plans at Mrs. Gonzalez’s supper. No women had been invited—no respectable woman would want to be—but Graciela planned on attending anyway. It would be the perfect opportunity to embarrass Alvaro, and to lose some of Aunt Elba’s money besides.
    The Board would certainly frown on their Chairman marrying a gambling woman, especially one who lost vast amounts of money in a single night. All Graciela had to do was make sure they heard about it.
    “Oh, I don’t know.” Graciela gave her friend a smile. It was not altogether steady, but something in it eased some of the worry in Beatriz’s expression. “But I’m sure I’ll manage to work something out. I don’t know if you heard, but I’ve quite a knack for getting into trouble.”

Chapter 5
    S ave for her stint at the