The Master Of Monterey: A Novel

Capítulo IV

Capitulo IV In the aftermath of the invasion, Arcadia had retired to her room with thin barred windows and declared her decision never to marry. The invasion, she claimed, had been a sign from Santa Teresa that she should not marry Don Ignacio, but rather become a beata and devote her life to good works. She began by taking up her embroidery as soon as she returned home. Her aunt and uncle, outraged at her refusal to help Don Ignacio bring more Castros into the world and despairing over the lack of heirs their family had produced and fearful that her eleven leagues would remain without a possessor and therefore return to the control of the devil, locked the door to her room from the outside, which suited Arcadia just fine, as she had already thrown the bolt inside. Duenna Recta felt herself blamed for Arcadia's change of heart, as though she had been too successful in teaching her virtue. When both sides agreed, she was installed in the room to try to convince Arcadia to change her mind. However, it was impossible for the Duenna to speak in positive terms about anything, much less the state of marriage, which she had so steadfastly avoided. Instead, she only spoke of cautions and prohibitions, and she succeeded in making marriage sound like +~ 113 -+ a minefield to be avoided completely, while the two of them finished a black lace curtain that would hang over the barred window and cut off most of the little light that could enter. Only Magda knew that Arcadia had decided to take advantage of the invasion to find a way to avoid marriage with a man old enough to be her grandfather. Magda was allowed into the room three times a day to bring food and remove the speckled hacinilla in which Arcadia did her necessities. During one of these brief meetings, while the Duenna was absent, Magda told Arcadia that she would have to go to Monterey from time to time to have any chance of success. She could baffie Don Ignacio by staying within her room, but she would never find love. Arcadia asked her how, when she had employed all the tricks she knew just to be able to stay in the room. Surely she would never be allowed to dance again without being forced to marry Don Ignacio. Magda thought for a moment, then smiled knowingly. - You must go to church once a day, no? To hear mass. I don't know how it will occur. But surely, as many secret looks have been exchanged at church as have ever been exchanged at a fandango. Arcadia soon had a chance to plead her case, as her aunt and uncle had sent for Fray Echevarria to convince her to marry. The Friar was a faithful follower of the old Franciscan ways, and so he eschewed riding a horse, instead walking out on his bare, leathery feet, rejoicing especially when the sharp stones cut his flesh. He was thin as a wraith, his shaven head barely more than a skin-covered skull poking out of his robes, and his hands and fingers were long and bony. The only parts of him +~ 114 -+ that seemed alive were his eyes, which flashed like bloody black marbles when the spirit took him, and his nose, which despite his ascetic diet of atole for breakfast, pinole at noon, and pozole for dinner, hung huge and fleshy from the center of his face. Don Ignacio had visited the Friar as soon as Arcadia announced her decision to relinquish man and devote herself to a state of blessedness. He told the Friar that an invasion by heretics should not be taken as a sign that a marriage should be called off. In fact, that invasion called for more weddings, more children, more Castros to hold the land for the santa fe cat6lica. - What would happen, he asked, if we let our women interpret signs for themselves? Fray Echevarria's nose quivered at the thought. He had already prayed that the fruit ofArcadia's womb be blessed with glory and power, be the defender and preserver of California's faith, be someday Master of Monterey. He set out on foot, accompanied by Don Ignacio's eldest son, Ignacio Jovencito, on horseback. When he arrived, he was conducted into the black-draped room after both Arcadia and her aunt and...