Conquistadora - Esmeralda Santiago [109]
After the turbulence of the Carlist war in Spain and the last five years in Puerto Rico, Eugenio longed for a tranquil existence alongside his beloved wife. After selling the shipping business, he planned to return to Spain, perhaps even to Villamartín, the ancestral village where he and Leonor grew up. They’d raise Miguel alongside his people with no pedigrees or dreams of glory beyond that due to queen and nation. He also planned to find a husband for Elena. She’d been in mourning with them for two years, had worn traje de luto for Inocente, and would continue to wear it for Ramón for another two. At twenty-one Elena should already be married and settled. She was like a daughter, he wanted to do the right thing for her, and he knew that Leonor would want her nearby. Eugenio was certain that his wife would agree to his plans. But he’d worried what to do about Ana. Technically, even though she had a mother and father, she now belonged in his household because she was the mother of the Argoso heir. Eugenio couldn’t envision her at his table for the rest of his, her, or especially Leonor’s life. Ana’s obsession with the hacienda solved the problem of what to do with her, and how to keep his wife happy.
Before supper that evening, Eugenio related to Leonor an edited version of his conversation with Ana.
Leonor was adamant. “Let her rot here if that’s what she wants, but I’m not leaving without Miguel.”
“The truth is that what she’s offering is not unreasonable. We already have a substantial investment, and she’s willing to continue the work while we raise the child. Luis will buy Los Gemelos any time we wish to sell.”
“I don’t care what sort of arrangement you reach with her, Eugenio, I don’t want that woman in my house.”
“I’ve not heard you speak so unkindly of anyone in all our years together.”
“I despise her. She’s mad. Our sons are dead because of her, and I won’t let her destroy Miguel, too. Give her whatever she wants, but let’s leave here as soon as possible.”
“And do you wish me to make an offer on Ciriaca?”
“I can use her and her daughter, too.”
“I’ll have Fuentes handle it.”
“Let’s go as soon as possible, Eugenio, before Ana changes her mind. That woman is a viper.”
At the finca a few days later, Eugenio met with Severo Fuentes and asked him to keep an eye on Ana.
“She’ll be communicating directly with Mr. Worthy, my lawyer,” he said, “who will expect a strict accounting. I trust she’ll be scrupulous in facts and figures, but I need to know if anything else is amiss. Don Luis is interested in Los Gemelos, but at the moment, I’m not ready to sell. I’m counting on you to ensure the value of the property doesn’t decrease.”
“Are you concerned, señor, that doña Ana is not capable of managing the plantation as well as don Ramón and don Inocente, may they rest in peace?”
“I’m aware that a great part of their success was due to your able management.”
“You’re very kind, señor, but—”
“You underestimate me, Fuentes. I may be a foolish old soldier but I’m not stupid.”
“I’d never think you were either of those things, señor.”
“We understand each other, then. It’s in my interest that Los Gemelos succeed, and that Ana believe she’s responsible for the triumph of man over nature or whatever she thinks she’s doing here.”
“She’s uncomfortable traveling too far from the batey since don Inocente’s death,” Severo said. “She refuses to go to Guares even for the Holy Days, but with don Ramón, may he rest in peace, also gone, she might change her mind