“But how would a dowry change the fact that men, as you say, are intimidated by me?”

She stood. “Well, it would just motivate them to pursue you. They’ll see that you’re interested in having a family, a house of your own. Right now, people in town think you’re perfectly content praying all day and communicating with the Virgin. They don’t know there’s a side of you who longs to be loved and have children.” She squeezed my shoulder. “Don’t let your life be just about that. You can have so much more, Catalina. You deserve more.”

How could I explain the effect my sister’s words had on me? I knew Angélica was slick as a cat—I’d always known—and yet, I couldn’t resist her. I was simply one more pawn in the long list of people who couldn’t deny Angélica any of her wishes.

CHAPTER 10 - Puri

CHAPTER 10

Puri

April 1920

The cedar floors creaked with every one of my steps down the staircase. I followed the voices coming from one of the rooms and opened the door. The entire family was seated around an oval table, a fine Italian Gobelin tapestry displayed across the wall. Martin was also there and a new face, a young priest (my brother?), at one end of the table. Even the cockatoo had a spot on the back of Angélica’s chair.

“Don Cristóbal, I’m glad you could make it,” said Angélica from the other end. She’d changed into a black sequin dress and a matching hat with a long feather, which held the bird’s attention.

“Good evening,” I said to all. I was getting better at lowering the range of my voice without having to clear my throat every two minutes.

It was a warm night, with mosquitoes being shooed away from a tray of crab legs and boiled shrimp. My sisters’ fans followed the motions of their tireless wrists. I could already tell I wouldn’t be able to sleep under this heat. The air was so dense I could almost touch it and Cristóbal’s shirt was glued to my back. Good thing I’d cut my hair so short.

“Don Cristóbal,” Angélica said. “This is my brother, Padre Alberto.”

“Delighted,” he said, setting his glass of water down.

I nodded in return. He stared at me. Too intently. He was a lean man with lengthy arms, like mine, and sunken hazel eyes. He gave an aura of ease that contrasted with Angélica’s constant fidgeting.