“I understand that you like to think of yourself as a soldier of sorts.”

“I suppose you could say that.”

“I am coming to you as one soldier to another, out of respect for what you did in Laguna. Please, when we encounter the Imperialists, do not fight in the battle.”

“Why?”

“I know the commander. He is a vicious man. He will seek you out and use you as bait for your husband.”

José approached us with a broad smile on his face. He stepped between the general and me, kissing me briefly as he moved toward the entrance of the tent. “Tesoro mio, you missed a wonderful story tonight. The men ate it up.” He paused, sensing the tension. “Anita,” he said slowly as he drove his sword into the ground. “Is there something I should be aware of?”

“General Terceira came here to ask me not to fight in the upcoming battle.” I turned to José, taking my eyes off the general for the first time. “I was considering his request.”

“Senhora Garibaldi, it was not a request.” He swallowed hard.

I pretended to be flattered. “Oh, it wasn’t? Well, how could a simple woman like myself refuse an order?” I batted my eyelashes and tried to look as sweet as possible. “You have my word, General, I will not fight in the battle.” I stood with my arms crossed, watching Terceira walk away.

“Since when do you take directions so politely?”

I looked over to José as he picked chicken from the spit.

I swatted him away from the still-cooking dinner. “There are other ways to kill a panther.”

José laughed as he let me shoo him into the tent. “I look forward to being a humble student under your tutelage.” He took my hand, pulling me inside with him.

A week later we arrived at the Imperial camp. Their forces had taken position in the valley below us. I rode out with our regiment, feeling like the Empress Leopoldina, the Queen Regent who helped lead Brazil to its independence.

General Terceira rode up to us. “Dona Anita, you do remember your promise, don’t you?”

“Sim, General Terceira, I shall not take part in the battle, but surely you cannot rob me of my traditions.” I smiled prettily. “I always ride out with my husband. It’s good for morale.”

General Terceira looked from me to José, who looked back at him with a cold regard. “Very well then,” the general said as he continued moving down the ranks.

“José, your wife’s smile always seems to feel like a threat,” Rossetti said with a sigh, studying me as if I were a message that he needed to decipher.

José smiled devilishly. “I know, it’s one my favorite features.”

* * *

I rode off to my own vantage point to watch as our men charged down the hill to the camp below us. The Imperialists were waking up, exiting their tents, stretching after their stiff night’s sleep. I wanted to laugh as I watched them jump and scurry to sound the alarm.