Page 18 of Beaux and Dragons

“What does that mean?” Ana tugged on Federico’s sleeve.

“She’s accepted.” Federico patted Chispas’s side as the yellow dragon marched back into his cave.

“You know that Celestia is still mine until I get my own cave.” Ana tipped her head to the side to force Federico to look at her and gather the full meaning of her statement.

His expression sobered. “I’m not the untrustworthy one here.”

Though Ana would never admit it, he had struck a blow to her heart she couldn’t quite shake off. She’d beenthe one to promise a betrothal and then been persuaded to retract those same words.

The entire flight back to Quenepas, Federico and Ana remained silent. All of Federico’s kindness seemed to have disappeared, though he still acted as any gentleman should. Why couldn’t she simply tell him what had happened and how much she missed her friend?

When Celestia landed in the field north of Quenepas, Ana took a steadying breath, certain she could speak her mind or even ask Federico for advice about racing Celestia. He had offered his help with Celestia in spite of his harsh sentiments toward her.

Federico assisted Ana from her mount in silence. The afternoon sun beat over their heads with ferocity, exacerbating Ana’s nervous energy. He walked off without offering his arm to Ana this time, which spiked her heart rate. This was the time to ask, yet her mouth dried into sand.

“Federico?” Ana stood there, feeling the insult, and hurt burning a hole in her chest. She had to say something. “I miss our time together.”

He stopped fleeing and pivoted to meet her eye. A question lifted on his eyebrow, giving him a boyishappearance. When her tongue would not move, he shifted his jaw and filled the gap between them.

“Why didn’t you continue writing as before?” Federico’s voice pleaded with an earnestness that tore at her insides. “I knew your family had a lot of influence over your decisions.”

“Are you saying that I haven’t a mind of my own?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Isn’t that what you proclaimed to my entire family when you said you wanted a lady who knew her own mind?” Ana clenched her teeth to keep her chin from quivering.

He lifted his palms and stepped back. “There is but one thing I ask of you.”

“What is it?” She whispered the words, hoping he’d repeat his sentiments from the previous night.

“Promise me you won’t join the races.”

A mess of thoughts escaped her mouth, and she heard them at the same time as Federico. “What does it matter to you?” Tears burned behind her eyes as she stepped farther away from him. “You’re just like my father, but at least he has the decency of sticking around.”

Chapter eleven

The Incident

No matter how many times Ana thought about apologizing to Federico, she could not, especially with Julian in the seat before her and Lucia nudging her side in the carriage. During the long ride north to Guanjunco, Ana looked over at Federico, and he proceeded to chat with an overeager Natalia.

Ana didn’t need Federico’s approval for her next course of action. And she wouldn’t marry for a comfortable existence, so she kept to herself despite Julian’s failed attempts to start a conversation.

The carriage rolled up to another inn with a blue façade and a giant arched doorway, welcoming in itsappearance, but tragic in how it would force the whole party to be together for another day.

Julian exited first, too exuberant in his jovial manner to assist Ana in every detail of her walk through the entrance. For such a small town, the establishment had the luxury of a fountain in the patio and several floors lined with wooden doors representing all the rented rooms.

“This is lovely!” Lucia grabbed Ana’s arm, parting her from Julian’s attentions. “All the ladies will share a room, and all the men will share another.” She spun her head around. “Natalia, come along.”

Natalia stood in front of Federico, giggling as if he had just told the most amusing joke. He turned his attention to Lucia and Ana and bowed his head slightly. His jovial demeanor grew stern in the snap of a finger. His brown eyes focused in on Ana for the first time since that morning. Her cruel judgment of his person echoed into her mind:You’re just like my father, but at least he has the decency of sticking around.

“Ladies, I hope we can meet in the ballroom later tonight.” He bowed and spun in the opposite direction, toward the other two men at the innkeeper’s counter.

A young maid with bouncy brunette curls raced in their direction from behind the stout innkeeper. She wavedto the footmen with their trunks, gesturing for them to follow her. “Ladies, your rooms are right this way. You’ll be happy with the view.”

The maid was not mistaken. The pink-tinted skies reflected off the seawater in a thousand different hues, hidden between the hovering clouds and their likenesses in the sea waves.

Lucia cut off Ana’s view of the window. “Ladies, we are going to secure your futures tonight.”