Page 43 of Midnight Rider

Lupe bristled. “Flowers are necessary for any wedding,” she said.

“Certainly they are, and Bernadette grows roses,” Eduardo said.

Bernadette could have added that she spent a lot of time avoiding them when her garden was in full bloom. Eduardo knew that, too. He didn’t want to admit that Lupe had gone out of her way to make it difficult for Bernadette at the altar.

“I was disappointed in the gown,” Lupe continued coolly. “I would have gotten one from Madrid, instead of Paris. But I suppose the designers—”

“My gownwasfrom Madrid,” Bernadette interposed sweetly, “though purchased in New York.”

Thecondessatugged at her own shawl. “I had wondered,” she said hesitantly. “The lace was very familiar.”

“It should have been,” Bernadette replied without meeting the other woman’s eyes. “I understand that the lace I chose was used for generations by Cortes brides.”

There was a faint intake of breath.

“You chose it for that reason?” Eduardo asked, surprised.

Bernadette averted her gaze to the darkness outside the swaying carriage. “It seemed appropriate to continue such a long-standing tradition.”

There was a painful silence from the other side of the carriage. Neither of the women spoke again until the carriage arrived at Rancho Escondido.

* * *

LUPESAIDGOOD-NIGHTWITHreluctance and obvious envy. Thecondessafollowed suit, but her eyes didn’t quite meet Bernadette’s.

Eduardo led the way up the staircase and to the left, where the suite reserved for the married couple was located.

Bernadette had already decided that she wasn’t going to share a room with him, when he opened a door that led into a bedroom done in a motif of white and pink with embroidered curtains and bedspread and canopy. It was so exquisitely feminine that she couldn’t have imagined a man sharing it.

He noted her expression and nodded. “This will be your room,” he said tightly, “for the duration of our marriage.”

She lifted both eyebrows. “You have no interest in sharing one with me?” she prodded, knowing full well his reasoning and enjoying his discomfort.

His chin elevated and she saw his teeth clench.

“You said that you wanted me,” she persisted. “Don’t you anymore?”

His face was as bland as a rock. He stared at her and narrowed his dark eyes. “Tell me how thevaquerosknew that we spent the night together in the desert.”

“I did tell you. Right after you arrived at my father’s ball, but I’ll be glad to remind you. Thevaquerosknew because one of them overheard us talking to my father about it, of course.”

“What if I say that I don’t believe it, that I think you spread the story to make it impossible to back out of this marriage?”

“I offered to back out of that part of it, and so did my father.”

He knew that, but what he’d heard from his family had warped his common sense. He glared at her. “Do you deny spreading the rumor?”

“I deny nothing,” she replied coolly. “You must decide for yourself if I make a habit of lying.”

He knew that she didn’t. But, on the other hand, why would Lupe lie to him on this matter when he was beyond her reach as a prospective husband?

“And until you do decide,” she continued, “I have no wish to sleep with you, so this arrangement suits me quite well.”

His gaze went over her carelessly. “I hope you rest well, Señora Ramirez. You will be called in time for breakfast.”

How nice to look forward to another verbal battle,she thought irritably. She glared at him as he walked back to the door. “How long are your relatives going to stay?”

“As long as they wish.”

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