Shine your light upon me

Chapter XIII: Waves and enigmas

Nieves was holding the bottle of perfume in her hand, looking at it carefully. The yellowish color of the liquid that gave off that sweet scent and which she wasn't entirely sure why she had bought it. Horace's name danced in her memory every time she remembered the embarrassing situation in front of Esther.

It was all Mrs. Gregoria's fault, putting those thoughts in her mind, as if she were a little girl in love with her husband. 'What nonsense', she thought, leaving the bottle of perfume on the comb.

Nieves sighed, trying to release the tension building up in her chest. Looking in the mirror gave her back the image of a woman caught in a whirlwind of emotions and uncertain situations. She was determined to keep her composure and not let the doubts undermine her peace of mind.

She decided to keep the perfume in the drawer, hiding it as if it were a shameful secret. She wanted to avoid at all costs letting Horace know of her impulse purchase. As she hid it, she heard a soft knock at the door.

"Good morning, Miss Pardillo. Breakfast is ready."

She thanked the maid and left the room, straightening her dress and hair. When she reached the dining room, she noticed that everyone was already at the table; after all, it was she who had woken up too late, and she felt her cheeks flush red at the discovery.

"Good morning," she said, taking a seat at the table.

"Good morning" they said in unison.

Horace smiled at her; Nieves averted her gaze.

The conversation over breakfast revolved around business and Aunt Isabel's projects. They talked about investments and strategic alliances that could strengthen the Pardillo family's position in the business world. Nieves, although she tried to follow the thread of the conversation, her mind wandered between tumultuous thoughts about her marriage and the growing suspicions towards Esther.

After breakfast, Aunt Isabel announced that she had planned a visit to the home of an important business partner. She seemed excited to introduce Horace and make new connections. As they rose from the table, Aunt Isabel approached Nieves with an apologetic expression.

"I'm sorry to have to ask this of you, Nieves, but the meeting might extend into the afternoon. Would you mind staying here in Esther's company?"

Nieves, feeling uncertainty creep over her, nodded with a forced smile.

"No problem, Aunt Isabel. I can stay."

Horace, unaware of the machinations that were afoot, also nodded and said goodbye to Nieves, wondering if he could kiss her cheek, but he held back with fidgety hands and said:

"I promise it won't be too late. See you later."

Esther, who had been watching the scene with a smile, approached Nieves.

"It'll be fun to spend time together, don't you think?"

Nieves, with a mixture of resignation and distrust, nodded.

"Yes, it will be interesting."

Horace and Aunt Isabel headed off to the business appointment, leaving Nieves and Esther at the mansion. As the afternoon wore on, Esther seemed intent on bonding with Nieves. She tried to liven up the situation with entertaining stories and proposals for activities together.

Both girls were in the garden. Nieves was watching Esther who was lying on the white garden bench in a rather undignified manner for a lady, she looked bored, and Nieves felt a little bad about it, after all Esther was a few years younger than her and it was obvious that she was used to receiving too much attention. A throat clearing brought her out of her thoughts.