Lesaro: living in spite of Part 9
The only weekend turned out to be surprisingly pleasant - warm weather, calm sea, seagulls, a silent walk with Ana on my arm. All this amused his soul, tired of the continuous drill of the soldiers of the garrison. No matter what anyone said, raising young people was not an interesting or exciting activity, because these guys could have been sent far and for a long time if not for subordination and banal respect. It was also surprising that today his wife did not try to talk to him, only occasionally asked simple everyday questions, now she just looked around and enjoyed the combination of the sea, the sun and the humid air, which carried the characteristic smell of autumn.
The British woman's taciturnity allowed him to immerse himself in thought. Despite the pleasant time on land, he felt melancholy, although he was well aware that he would begin to experience this pulling-sucking feeling when he asked for a transfer. He also had a lot of worries about his family, and if guys could get out of any of their scrapes simply because they were men, then his daughter's life bothered him a lot, despite her status as a married woman. No letters had arrived from the Mute Maria yet, and the conditions on board and the passage of time made me tense. Of course, the imperfection of eighteenth-century medicine could only be reconciled, as well as with a large number of dying people of all ages, but the fact of the child's death still put pressure on the parents and the lieutenant was well aware of this. Over the past thirty years, he had not been able to erase from his memory the infant faces of his daughters lying in small coffins among diapers, and he did not want anyone to experience this. Despite the abundance of children and grandchildren, both living and dead, he did not want to hear this terrible story from his daughter. The very possibility caused a feeling of dread.
Schmidt saw her husband's face darken, so she squeezed his forearm a little harder, drawing attention to herself and distracting her from sad thoughts.
One-eye nodded at her in agreement.
Fears and worries were dispelled only in the second week of November, when the Mute Maria and the Faithful Rose docked in the port of Cadiz. At sunset, Carlos conducted a formation - the captain of the fortress talked about meeting important guests. Horses were already pounding on the bridge at the gate, and sentries opened the gates to let vehicles into the square courtyard. A black carriage with a coat of arms stopped at the soldiers lined up in two rows facing each other. The lieutenant gave the order "attention" and himself stood to the left of the door, next to the first Moss standing. The soldier was trembling slightly, and he saw it as he passed closer. The officer whispered to him:
-They're not looking at you.- Take a deep breath and don't shake.
The poor guy was almost constantly nervous, which caused the officer to feel fatherly tenderness and a desire to help, which he did, sometimes turning out such soothing "maneuvers". The admiral, who had just arrived in the city, got out of the carriage, nodded to Lesaro and stood next to him, receiving a greeting from him.
- ood evening, Lieutenant. I'm glad to see you.
Carlos was looking into Perez's face, which towered over him by half a head, so he couldn't see the commotion going on to his right. At this time, he was mentally cursing at the stray bullet that had taken his eye, because he guessed how nervous the soldier standing next to him was. He was right in his guesses-the guy was almost panicking.
-The captain is expecting you, and I've been ordered to escort you.
-Thank you.- Oscar smiled almost predationally, -Let me congratulate you. Alvaro is adorable.
The last statement surprised and confused him, and following the admiral's outstretched hand, he saw Salazar standing by the carriage, holding a large package in one hand and helping the medic out of the transport with the other. Carlos came closer when she was on the ground.
Forgetting himself with joy, he hugged his daughter, but the hug was short, as the father pulled himself together, turning his attention to the joyful Armando, shaking his free hand. All this time, the admiral was standing behind him, smiling all over his mouth.
The happy scene ended and the officers retreated towards the small dining room, where the captain of the fortress and the head of the city garrison were waiting for them in one person. After they left, Octavio Moss loosened his grip, which he tried to hold back the ringing of the moving elements of the weapon caused by his nervous shaking.
Ramon Diaz rose from his chair in greeting as Lesaro opened the door for the guests and extended his hand to the admiral.
-Welcome, Admiral, Captain, senora.
The door closed and Salazar handed a bundle to Carlos, in which the chubby face of a sleeping baby stood out among the blankets and diapers. The admiral did not lie about the beauty of the baby, which made the grandfather smile. Something stirred in Lesaro's soul, tickling from the inside and awakening playfulness.
-Hello, my love. Everyone was waiting for you. - the lieutenant said it softly over the baby's face.
After handing over his son, Armando hurried to greet the commander of the fortress by the hand and help his wife, pulling a massive chair behind her and sitting down opposite. Diaz opened the door a crack, addressing the soldiers standing on the other side, who later brought one of the high-arm chairs into the dining room. It was decided to use him as a cradle, and the lieutenant, who freed his hands, sat on the left hand of the captain, next to his daughter.
-Congratulations, Captain Salazar, it is a great joy to have children in these difficult times. Thank you.
Ramon nodded at him, turning his attention to the admiral.
-I hope the trip was pleasant, Admiral.
-I would not say that it was different from those that came before him, but the news of Alvaro's birth and the offer to become his godfather brought great pleasure.
A few women who served in the fortress, acting as cooks, laundresses and seamstresses, entered the dining room. They left the prepared dishes on the table and carefully filled the plates of the gentlemen. The meal itself took place in silence, followed by conversations between the men about tactics, new weapons supplied by the Lesaro family factory, and an exchange of news concerning the city and the entire empire. Bored and silent, Dorothea was rescued by her awakened son and escorted by one of the maids to a separate room.
The blonde took one of the chairs, leaning back against it and loosened the ties of the corset with a familiar movement, freeing the humming glands from its pressure. The child quickly sucked on the offered breast, pulling out the nutrient fluid. Fortunately for the doctor, the most terrible and unpleasant moments in this case were left behind. Alvaro's bright blue eyes looked at his mother and his own hands, one of which squeezed one of her fingers, and the other gently patted the woman's skin. Soon the baby fell asleep and, after tidying himself up, the doctor returned to the company of men.
Returning to the house that had become almost like home was a joy, even if the time was late. Placed in the prepared cradle, Alvaro reflexively smacked his lips, causing the captain to have a fit of silent laughter. For the umpteenth time in the past three months, Armando watched the boy with emotion. Despite the time well past midnight, he was busy signing some documents, but most of his attention was still focused on his son. Soft footsteps could be heard behind the man, slowly approaching him, and a woman's hands rested on his shoulders over a thin shirt, one of which intertwined with slightly damp hair, forcing him to put down his pen and tilt his head back, accepting kisses. His beloved wife intercepted the vector of his gaze, tearing him away from the sleeping baby and pulling him towards her.
-I don't think I'm going to finish the job. - his quiet bass finally failed, his voice began to hoarse - I couldn't tear myself away from Alvaro, and now I can't tear myself away from you.
-I think Oscar will wait a couple of hours for his papers. He already has too many of them.- The whisper tickled his ear with exhaled air. The lips captured the earlobe, sucking and immediately releasing it, passing to the skin of the neck. - Forgive my whims, but I don't want to wait.
-Of course, my lady. Your wishes are my law.
His fingers gripped the fabric of his shirt, pulling it up, forcing him to get up from the chair, his hands lay on the thin linen of his fitted nightgown, stroking it along the waistline. The sounds of kisses, skin slaps and restrained moans mixed with the crackle of wood burning in the fireplace, the heat of feelings filled their nature, disappearing with the arrival of fatigue and sleep. The room plunged into the predawn darkness, the hearth fire went out and rekindled after the baby's screams. The awakened parents moved wearily around the room, trying to prolong their rest time in a semi-sleepy state.
Already at lunchtime, the number of people in the old house increased several times, and while the more or less adult part was communicating on socially accepted topics, the children were partially running around the entrance, chasing each other, playing outdoor games. Carlos, who returned to his beloved home, talked with undisguised pleasure with the assembled children. The last time a family with a similar composition gathered at the celebration of Armando and Dorothea's wedding was just over a year ago. There was a pleasant atmosphere in the living room, and the young people laughed at the story Marcos was telling, wiping away their tears.
Sitting on one of the sofas next to his young wife, the lieutenant sipped sangria from a glass and watched the young people having fun with one eye, sometimes turning his attention to the grandchildren running up, he was especially touched by the picture of how teenagers coddled the younger ones. All this merriment subsided during the discussion of the upcoming christening on the news that the admiral was once again taking part in the life of the family, and while all this was being discussed, he felt Schmidt's fingers slide over his hand. Carlos turned his head slightly to see her staring thoughtfully at nothing. The British woman was still trying to integrate into the life of the family with its huge number of noisy children, whom she was trying to get used to in the company of the silent Constance who lived in this house.
The little Salazar that was brought by the butler was given into the hands of his father, from whom he passed into the hands of Carlos. The kid pouted, looking at the people around him, whom he did not see well, and reacting to the voices around him with a response hum. Salomon got down on one knee on the floor on the right, gently trying to put his finger in a small fist, which made the baby's face look surprised. Alvaro's blue eyes tried to focus on the man who was touching his limb, and a little later he took it out of his grandfather's hands altogether. While the second eldest son was carrying the baby away, into the hallway where the children were running, the lieutenant briefly examined his wife. Lately, Ana had been snapping more and more often and behaving irritably, almost maliciously, but now he saw only thoughtful indecision. Schmidt said that at first she was incredibly happy about his constant stay near home for the last month and a half, she was out of sorts, but now she just sat next to him, smiling tightly when laughter sounded and shuddered as soon as he clenched his fist on the hand that she covered with her own. Lesaro decided to postpone all clarification for later, while the British woman herself only calmly watched everyone around her, focusing her attention on the doctor.
Over the past year, Ana has repeatedly tried to establish relations with her family, but despite all her efforts, the Spaniards continued to be wary and slightly aloof towards her. Carlos's sons did not arouse much interest in her and did not seek communication themselves, like their wives, Dorothea had already indicated her position at the wedding and tried in every possible way to avoid her company, although she aroused British interest. Of all the women in the Lesaro family, Constance, who sat to the left of the lieutenant, was the only one who freely communicated with her. A little later, Salomon returned, still holding the baby in his arms, blowing bubbles and causing an attack of emotion among adults who continued their conversations about pressing matters. Schmidt took a closer look at the baby, who passed through the hands of all the relatives and returned to his parents, stopping in the arms of his father. No, he was completely different from the captain, bearing more resemblance to Carlos and Marcos, and at the same time somewhat resembled his mother. Her gaze swept over Dorothea again, who seemed like a black sheep among the other women present.
During dinner and conversations, the time came to sunset and the house was empty. Carlos and Armando continued to sit in the living room, while Ana wandered aimlessly around the house, once again examining the rooms and not intentionally looking into the one where the young family lived. She saw Dorothea, with her back to her, handing the baby to her aunt and quickly disappearing from sight, while Constance, who was hard of hearing, turned her gaze to Schmidt, swaying with him and nodding for him to come over.
- They're so good when they're little, but when they grow up, they give you no peace. Of the three of us, Carlos was the one who felt it in full, Marcos and I got a lot less, but still we are grateful to him for giving us the opportunity to live with them. - the woman was always happy to tell some stories, even if it was difficult for her because of her health.
She silently handed the child to the girl and disappeared through the door with her slow step, leaving the startled Ana alone with him. She had never had to deal with such small people before, and she was completely confused, not knowing what to do next. The baby definitely had a good appetite, which is why his weight made unaccustomed hands get tired quickly, and therefore he was carefully placed in the cradle, which was a small wooden trough with carved rounded walls that hung on a special heavy stand. She heard men enter the room, talking to each other in half a voice, discussing official matters. Armando sat on the ottoman, Carlos stood next to his wife, taking her hand and arranging her hand on his bent elbow. It's time to go home.
A little later, they were driving along the paved roads of Cadiz. The carriage was shaking slightly from the uneven masonry and the peculiarities of the track. The ambassador's daughter's hand was squeezed by her husband, who looked less thoughtful and more relaxed than before, but this time he drew attention to himself.
-You've been particularly silent lately. - the soldier's stinginess, even for dry words, was replaced by sudden attentiveness and some concern - Over the past few days you have not said a word about what you previously could not keep silent about.
What kind of flame of love and desire could one talk about when anxiety, fear and jealousy were brewing in the soul? Schmidt understood perfectly well what Carlos was doing in the service, but unnecessary thoughts still came out at the most inappropriate moment, even when there was no reason for them. These burning feelings were especially evident in the company of his children. She didn't answer, just turned away and stared out the window into the darkness of the city, receiving a kiss from the back of her hand and adjusting the fabric of her new dress with the fingers of the other.
With the return of his daughter, son-in-law and grandson, Carlos felt better and this pleased the girl, but it also made her jealous and it was hard for Anya to watch him give a smile not to her. From the very beginning of their life together, the lieutenant was restrained and collected, almost tense to the point of tension, while in the company of family or friends he was the opposite calm and relaxed. Now he was behaving differently from usual and was breaking her usual worldview.
-Ana?- For the first time, he wanted contact himself, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close. Yes, this should have caused her joy and glee, but instead of them, the British woman felt irritation and a desire to push away the man who was literally fawning over her. -Do you remember when you told me about your fantasies?
Schmidt irritably tore off the ring of his hands, showing her displeasure with her whole appearance.
-You're drunk, it's disgusting.
-I would say that I've been drinking, but I'm not drunk.
-Ana, calm down. - his ardor and desire subsided in one moment and the daily tension partially returned, manifested in the notes of his voice - Okay, I won't insist.
That night, for the first time in his life, he slept separately from his wife in the northern guest room on the second floor of the new house, which did not cause the officer any problems, but caused inconvenience to the British woman, who felt disgusting. She didn't sleep until sunrise, seething with the desire to find a whipping bag and vent her feelings on it.
On the first day of December, Catherine, the wife of Admiral Perez, came to the city to attend the christening of little Salazar, and Anya happened to try on the role of hostess of a small celebration that was held in the lieutenant's house. There weren't many people, so the celebration was quiet. After the sacrament, the guests settled down in the living room of their small house and the conversations of the Spaniards flowed like a river, sometimes pausing for treats and allowing Schmidt to notice many things - the French marquise was silent most of the time, sometimes smiling in response to jokes or briefly answering questions, Marcos was at ease and just chatted, sometimes falling silent and giving to answer the interlocutors, Carlos occasionally corrected or teased his brother or brother-in-law, which was a little tense. Armando saw and clearly didn't like the way the admiral was looking at Dorothea, who was holding the baby in her arms, and Constance, who was silent, was listening to all this nonsense being played by her older brother. All of this was suggestive. The only person who was aloof from all this was the hero of the occasion himself - most of the time Alvaro slept among the blankets, completely oblivious to the fun of the party. The baby moved from his parents' arms a couple of times, but he woke up from a dream lying on his godfather's lap, starting to cry and trying to get out of the warmth of his cocoon, grabbing the first thing that came to hand. The admiral called his name several times, tickling his cheek with his finger and playing with his hands, trying to get them out of his long curly hair.
By evening, the company had dispersed and the house had returned to its usual silence. After lying in bed for a while, Ana got up and went downstairs to the second floor of the house, where there were two guest bedrooms. The two weeks spent apart from Carlos left their mark in the form of longing, which gained strength and became unbearable. She opened the door, looking into a dark room where an officer was sleeping on a bed, covered with a heavy tapestry cloth, his face faintly illuminated by the fire burning in the fireplace. The door quietly closed behind her and Schmidt walked across the room, sitting on the edge of the bed, running her fingertips through her short curls. The man sighed noisily and mumbled something through half-sleep, reluctantly opening his good eye and turning on his back. He glanced briefly at his wife, pulling both hands out from under the covers, holding them out to her, inviting her into his arms with this gesture, which she gladly accepted lying down on a man's chest. It didn't take long to enjoy his warmth, the girl raised her head asking a question:
Carlos sighed, answering in a sleep-raspy voice.
-I don't want to get out, the floor is warmer under the blanket than in the hallway.
The British woman stood up, tearing herself away from her husband. Cold fingers ran over his cheekbones, one of which stroked his stitched eyelid.
-Then can I stay with you?
Carlos smiled warmly, crawling away from the previously occupied edge, giving his wife a heated place and saving her from the cold with a ring of hands, along with a cloth draped over her body.
Over the past year, he had been finding himself less and less annoyed by his imposed wife. It was humility that had become a habit. There was no reason to doubt that the officer was simply used to the girl, and this doubt was refuted by banal logic. People get used to everything, even situations like this.
In the morning, the lieutenant got out of bed before dawn, putting on his uniform, wig, headband and hat, leaving Ana to fall asleep alone in the guest bedroom bed. Arriving at the fortress was the beginning of a tedious activity. The day began with the usual registration of a large number of pieces of paper, meetings, formations and began with this endless circle. It also became customary that life in the garrison required some ingenuity when it came to soldiers. It was necessary to keep the teams busy, which were not involved in security and city patrols.
Having finished writing, the lieutenant got up from his chair, stretching and looking around at the clerk, who was busy copying documents, fiddling with papers and magazines. It was approaching four o'clock in the afternoon and there was a shift shift going on, which needed to be controlled at least a little, which was the task of the junior officers, but his presence was not superfluous. Lesaro left the room, walking through the corridors towards the armory, where the guys were receiving weapons at the moment. The squad on duty stood in a crowd in the narrow aisles in insulated raincoats, because no one canceled out the cold of the December nights. Carlos spent the following time until eight o'clock in the evening in the company of the captain and a couple of other officers, who, unlike them, remained on night duty. Already on his way home, the man was ready to stop at the embankment in order to get out and dip his boiling head into the cold salty waters of the surf, but changed his mind and still endured until he arrived home.
At the entrance, he was met by Lucy, who lives permanently in the house, who took his outer clothes and began the story with a list of household chores, ending with the fact that Ana went to the old house and stayed there in the company of Constance, who felt unwell. So she wanted to help Aunt Dorothea, who was taking care of Aunt Dorothea, so she sent Armando and his son here. The lieutenant had no complaints about this - if his daughter felt it necessary to send them to another place, then everything was really serious. The young captain was sent by the housekeeper to the second, southern, bedroom, where the door was open and the light was on, he continued his work with the onboard documentation, reading it aloud despite the fact that Alvaro had obviously been asleep for a long time. Salazar only noticed Carlos standing in the doorway when he spoke up.
-Armando, he's asleep. - the captain jumped up in surprise and sighed heavily, loudly slapping his chest with the palm of his hand - Do not litter the child's mind, no succession of generations is worth it.
With these words, he entered a small room, stopping next to his son-in-law, who got up from his chair.
-Dorothea sent us away as soon as Dona Constance became ill. I am immensely grateful to Lucy, she quickly found a wet nurse for Alvaro for a short time.
-Did she say anything about Constance's condition?
Lesaro sighed heavily, rubbing his face with his hands. He realized that he wouldn't be able to sleep because of the excitement, so he nodded at the stack that was on the floor next to Armando.
Leaving the child in the care of the housekeeper, the men took the documents and went down to the living room. At dawn, Ana returned to the house. Schmidt looked tired and exhausted, she could barely stand on her feet when she informed them of the woman's death.
The captain, sitting on the sofa, closed his eyes in amazement and turned his face towards Carlos with some concern, opening his eyes and looking at him with excitement. Upon learning of his sister's death, the lieutenant fell to his knees, covering his face with his hands. He understood that because of her poor health, a woman could die at any moment, but this did not change the fact of the loss of a loved one. Sobs came out of his chest, wheezing and moaning. Now that his beloved sister had died, he and Marcos were alone. The officer began to fear for his brother's life, because he did not want to be alone in his generation. Ana, through tears on shaky legs, came closer, lifting and pressing her husband's head to the bottom of her stomach, trying to calm the man down a little with this action, on whose shoulder Salazar's hand rested.
A few days after Constance's funeral, two carriages were speeding along the road to Madrid, one of which was carrying a young family. Lesaro and Salazar, who were in mourning, were silent, only little Alvaro was agitating and gurgling, walking on the hands of his parents and sometimes passing into the hands of Marcos. The road was tiring and cold, which caused the baby to catch a cold on his first day in the capital, which caused his parents a lot of trouble and worry.
A day later, Lesaro breathed a sigh of relief as she sat down in an armchair and gently rocked the cradle with her fingers - the antipyretic decoction worked and Alvaro felt relieved. Her head was bursting with the screams of a loud-voiced child and a little receding fear. Because of her worries, she did not notice how evening had come, paying attention to it only when Sebastian entered the room, carrying a candelabrum with burning candles in his hand.
-Senora, the captain has returned and is waiting for you in the office. I'll be here for a while and I can keep an eye on him.
The major got up and handed over her post to the butler, left the nursery, walking briskly along the corridor towards her husband's office.
The heavy doors opened, letting in a young lady in a cherry dress, whom the officer noticed, who had been irritably twirling the silver head of a cane in his hand, thoughtfully glaring at the portrait of his parents. Lesaro quickly closed the heavy door behind her, coming closer and sinking into her husband's arms.
-Hello, my love. The deep voice was quiet, twisting my stomach into a pleasant knot.
She mumbled a greeting, burying her nose in a wide shoulder, after a few moments the ring of hands loosened slightly and Dorothea was able to tear herself away from him, examining the face of her beloved man, which in the light of the fireplace and candles acquired deeper shadows, which made him seem older.
-He's been crying most of the day, but he's sleeping peacefully now. I'm glad I was able to help him.
Armando breathed a soft sigh of relief, pulling her hands to his lips. It was not the first time in all seven years of their acquaintance that his wife had aroused in him an incredible feeling of admiration. This woman had her own kind of strength, which was not visible outwardly and was charming in her own way, but she was clearly exhausted from physical and emotional fatigue.
-OK. I've found a babysitter, and you can get to know each other tomorrow. I haven't been able to find a wet nurse yet.
-It's okay, we can easily get through this week without her services, but I still have to return to work.
It would have been impossible to take care of a child under working conditions, and Armando understood this perfectly well, especially since he understood the danger that a hospital posed to a weak infant's body.
Salazar hugged his wife closer, enjoying the warmth and feel of her body, while Dorothea's gaze fell on the portrait on the floor.
-I still haven't figured out where to put him.
The captain looked around, fixing his gaze on his father's face, looking at him with warning and tension.
-It's not that important. - he took half a step back, throwing the cane to the floor, turning his head back and looking into his wife's bright blue eyes - I've missed you, the last few days have been disturbing for both of us.
They gently rubbed the tips of their noses, pressing against each other again and enjoying it. The doctor's lips stretched into a smile when, through the numerous layers of clothing, she felt his growing arousal, which promised a pleasant time of companionship.
Towards noon the next day, another woman appeared at the Salazar mansion, twenty-five-year-old Elvira Gilles, who could become a nanny for Alvaro on the advice of several of the officers. The owners of the estate met her at the place of her future work, or rather in the nursery, where Sebastian took her, trying not to blush in the presence of a pretty young lady who was inspecting the decoration of the house. The butler opened the door for her, letting her into a warm room where Dorothea was sitting on a chair with her back to the door, holding a baby in her arms.
-Senora Elvira Gilles has arrived, sir.
The butler bowed slightly and quickly left, leaving them in each other's company. Salazar got up from the floor, because he had previously knelt in front of his wife, thus hiding from those who entered. Elvira's eyes twinkled when she saw the captain.
-"Welcome to our home, Senora Gilles. Salazar smiled a restrained greeting at the woman, quickly examining her from head to toe, assessing her appearance.
Dark-haired, skinny, with a pretty face, but unpleasant on first impression and moral feelings. This is how Elvira appeared before the officer, arousing some interest with such a combination of pleasant and not so pleasant.
Lesaro rose from her seat, nodding in greeting, in response to this, the brunette curtsied, a second later sitting down on the chair that the man was pointing at. After two hours of talking, Dorothea was mentally exhausted by the way her husband looked at the girl sitting in front of them. Unfortunately, the memories of a previous betrayal did not want to leave her, despite the forgiveness of her lover, there was a fear of a repeat of this event.
After Elvira left the house of the officer's estate, Dorothea, having fed and put her son in bed, went out into the courtyard. Despite the cold, she did not think about the consequences for her own health, the doctor was only worried about the possibility that her dear husband would abruptly spit on everything and decide to go for a walk. His fingers touched the sharp leaves of a red flower growing in a flower bed, pricking against its blunt thorns. The doors leading to the courtyard slammed, and a cane rattled on the flat stone slabs. The major didn't need to look around, she was already aware of her husband's approach, who stood next to her and shifted his heavy coat onto her shoulders with a sigh.
-It's too cold to walk without outerwear, don't you think?
-Maybe. - quietly and thoughtfully, as if to nowhere, she replied, - I'm not thinking about it now.
-I see it. - Armando took her right hand, - But I remember those terrible stories about pneumonia that you told me and I don't wish you such a fate.
The gaze of the blue eyes finally broke away from the strange-looking flowers, moving to his face. The captain put his left hand on her waist, pulling her into a long hug, which was interrupted by his question.
-I'll get your coat and we can go for a walk.-What do you say?
A positive response in the form of a head nod was received. Salazar reluctantly released his wife from his arms, went into the house and returned a few minutes later, taking back his coat and covering the women's shoulders with her fur cape. During the walk, Lesaro did not leave her former reverie, which alarmed him.
This question made the resentment sleeping inside her wake up and feebly manifest itself.
-To be honest, she didn't make a proper impression on me. She may be a great babysitter, but I'm not sure about her... honesty and the honesty of her intentions.
Escorting his beloved along the cypress alley, Armando thought about it. The man saw no significant obstacles to hiring Elvira, because her services were in their favor. The captains who recommended this girl were pleased with her, and his suspicious worm was silent, hiding somewhere in its deep burrows.
-Do you think she was sent?
They stopped in the middle of the alley, and Dorothea stared into his eyes in disbelief for a few moments, sighed, but said nothing. After this short stop, the couple continued their walk, slowly getting closer to the new building - the falcon tower. Lesaro was overcome with questions, indignation and sinful jealousy, but she stubbornly continued to keep her mouth shut all the way.
When she got into bed a few hours later, she restlessly snuggled against his side, running her fingertips over the skin of his chest. Despite her doubts about choosing a babysitter, he nevertheless sent Elvira a letter with the news that she had been assigned a probation period, and was probably happy about it. Lesaro raised her head slightly, looking at the scar on her cheek and smiling faintly at the memories that came, mentally horrified at how quickly time flew by and everything changed. During their time together, they got so used to each other, talked so much about certain things that the mental anguish became sharper and more painful from the realization of the possibility of his betrayal, with these disturbing thoughts her jealousy and excitement intensified. Despite the warm tenderness, love and affection that the doctor felt for Salazar, she could not be sure that her husband would not start playing tricks behind her back. The bitter thought that her husband was bored with her was already causing panic, even if it was still quiet and sitting inside.
I couldn't sleep at night, because I had to leave the bed several times in order to feed the baby, and with each return to bed, the panic increased. By ten in the morning, Elvira crossed the threshold of their house again, and by evening Lesaro's bad mood began to come out. After a calm discussion with her husband and discussing her differences, she gave up, falling silent and leaving his field of vision in order not to anger him with her presence. They went to bed in silence, and the captain's attempts at petting were thwarted by the medic's departure to the nursery. It turned out to be the right decision for her - after shedding tears and hugging her son, Dorothea was still able to sleep for the past two sleepless days, partially covered with a small baby blanket.
Such decadent moods did not please the father of the young family, but he realized the reason for them only three days later. On the fourth day, another woman entered the nursery, accompanied by Sebastian. Dorothea, who was sitting in an armchair, hurriedly covered the exposed part of her body and the feeding child with a mantilla that lay on her shoulders.
-Senora, the captain has sent a new nanny to meet you.
A fifty-year-old woman in a dark dress came out from behind Sebastian, quickly curtsiing in front of her.
-Good afternoon, madam, my name is Rita Massip, my services as a nanny were recommended to your husband by Captain Garcia, I worked as his nephews. - she took out a small piece of paper from her pocket, which was hidden among the folds of her skirt - I spoke with Senor Salazar some time ago, he asked me to give you a note.
The girl nodded to her, taking from her hands a piece of paper on which the well-known handwriting described the merits of the woman and the promise of a conversation in the evening. Alvaro, who had fallen asleep, let his chest out of his mouth with a soft peck.
-Thank you, Rita. His name is Alvaro. - holding the baby with one hand, she removed the woolen cloth from his chubby face, the nurse came closer, taking the baby from his mother.
Sitting in bed in the evening, Dorothea thought about her conversation with this woman who was born in a village near the capital, and spent forty years of her life caring for other people's children. Rita has never been married, never had any offspring of her own, and received some kind of education by sitting in class next to little aristocrats. Lesaro both admired and sympathized with the peasant woman.
These sympathetic thoughts were interrupted by Salazar returning late, who irritably slammed the door, thereby closing it. The results of the last meeting were clearly not encouraging. The man unbuttoned and jerkily took off the entire upper part of the suit, remaining only in trousers and shoes, and in this form walking to the bed, after which he got rid of them. Diving naked under a heavy blanket, he closed his eyes, trying to get rid of the aching pain that tore these sensitive organs. A woman's hand landed on her hair, still gathered in the usual bun, which gently removed a few hairpins from their midst, as soon as the pieces of iron clanked against each other, he rolled over, settling between his wife's legs. Her long shirt was pulled up, warm limbs wrapped around her body and her fingers stroked the skin on her broad shoulders, rhythmically pressing and squeezing, causing a little pain and great relief for her stiff neck.
Dorothea didn't ask any questions. It wasn't necessary, because she knew this condition without any unnecessary reminders - mental fatigue was superimposed on physical fatigue, which was caused by sitting in place for a long time and mental work. Armando rested his head in her groin, hugging the thigh of his left leg and using her lower abdomen as a pillow. This position of their bodies made him feel more relaxed, he couldn't think of anything when he took this pose among his beloved warm skin that surrounded his waist and shoulders. A few minutes of silence was enough for the previously burdened mind to get rid of thoughts and rest a little. The kisses began their journey from the skin at the navel, slowly rising up and giving pleasure, as well as the actions that followed them.
The morning at the estate had a certain working atmosphere, because it began with officers talking about the future of the campaign and rewriting wills.
Carlos was once again sitting in the captain's office. Tomorrow would be his last day of work as a lieutenant of the fortress, so he had to finish all the remaining tasks today, even if he had to sleep on the worn old sofa in the officers' room. He couldn't wait to get back on board the Maria, so he wrote the formally necessary transfer request quickly and almost illegibly. After finishing writing and drying the ink, the paper lay on the chief's desk, and he left the room, putting on his outerwear and heading towards the courtyard.
The sky was already illuminated by the rising sun, the transparent air carried coolness and the smell of spring, nature waking up from winter sleep was pleasing to the eye. Soldiers were walking around the perimeter of the square courtyard, falling asleep, struggling to keep watch and counting the last minutes of their shift. Among them were two subordinates with whom the lieutenant was most often in contact. Moss tried to stifle yawns, and Cortez openly used his gift of sleeping with his eyes open and woke up when one of the relievers slammed the door behind the lieutenant, leaving the duty station. The guy squeezed his eyes shut and sighed heavily. The shift shift went without any problems, so the young men took advantage of their free time before lights out to guard the door of the officer's office in order to catch Lesaro there. Terrible fatigue did not prevent them from reviving a little, so as not to sway on their feet when talking to the approaching one-eyed man. The two of them stood along the wall in their usual manner.
-Mr. Lieutenant, may I address you?
Moss's unusually loud and firm voice, which was constantly agitated, was a rare visitor to the walls of the fortress, and the officer who nodded to the soldier had his ears slightly blocked. But instead of Octavio, Daniel Cortez spoke up.
-Senor, there is talk about your transfer in the garrison.
-It's true, I'm going back to Mute Maria soon.
-There are several soldiers who would like to leave with you. We are among them, but we have one problem - we do not know the necessary procedures.
Carlos rubbed his forehead with his fingers, thinking for a few moments.
-I will talk to the captain about this and tomorrow at the formation I will explain how to apply.
The soldiers nodded at him, thanked him, and, having received the command, "at ease," left for the barracks, leaving the officer to continue working. The next day was loaded with various work nuances, mainly it was the transfer and signing of various documents. Most of them were handed over before sunset, the cases were completed, and this allowed the lieutenant to leave home in time.
Over the past almost two years, the new house has acquired a kind of comfort and liveability, which Schmidt has been working on, and during his service in the garrison, Carlos began to have a warm feeling for him, a desire to return. Lesaro crossed the threshold, behind which he was greeted by a wave of warmth and Lucy, who had already habitually taken away his outerwear, the house was quiet. Ana found herself in the living room with one of the books, and the girl shuddered when his hands landed on her shoulders. The book with historical novels was taken away and put on the table, the man took his place on the sofa next to her, kissing the backs of the women's hands. These attentions were incredibly pleasant to her, especially against the background of the fact that in the coming months her beloved man would leave their little nest more often.
The order for the departure of the "Mute Mary" to Istanbul came two weeks ago and said that in June the crew would have an important mission - to ransom prisoners captured by the Ottomans and send them home. They were mostly rich Spanish merchants and townspeople who were captured during boarding or captured by robbers, brought to this ancient city and handed over to the sultanate as slaves. Turks and Spaniards were often reluctant to make any deals because of their different religious beliefs, but it was also impossible to leave noble people in captivity, no matter how well they were treated there.
The next day passed in a long, endless calm. Carlos was not bothered, and therefore he did what he had been doing for the past year - he supervised the training and household chores performed by the soldiers entrusted to him. His thoughts increasingly drifted towards the near future - in four months they would sail again and during that time they would have to do a lot, including an early meeting of the officers. Before finishing his last shift, he walked leisurely through the corridors of the stone building, intending to finish the last thing.
In the narrow space by the door of the captain's office stood twelve young men from among those who had expressed their desire to transfer to the Mute Maria during the day's formation. Now they were waiting for petitions to be written by their other comrades and were talking about something in a half-whisper with each other. They were about the same age and wanted to serve their country not only by carrying out various duties and exercises on the parade ground, which additionally united them. Seeing a suitable officer, the guys lined up along the corridor wall.
-Did you write everything? Carlos asked them casually.
-Only six so far. Daniel replied, -Two people are writing in the office right now.
-I will meet with the captain of the board soon and give him the lists. You will most likely be called at the end of May, so take your time to leave Cadiz.
The lieutenant looked at their faces and disappeared through the door.
The next day, on the other side of the country, on the road from Madrid to Barcelona, there was a modest carriage carrying three people for the last two days. The spring muddy weather has always caused inconvenience in these places, especially with transport.
Salazar and Lesaro, who left early in the morning, were forced to stop a few hours away from their last overnight stay due to a cracked wooden wheel. The driver jumped down from his seat to the ground, running up to the affected part and inspecting the breakdown, and an agitated Marcos partially leaned out of the carriage.
-The wheel is cracked, sir.
The gunsmith slowly descended from the running board, watching the actions of the coachman. For a few moments, the captain's face appeared from the doorway of the carriage, hiding behind it. Salazar, who decided to help, took off the clothes that were in his way and jumped to the ground, swaying slightly from the unpleasant pain in his injured ankle and helping his wife out.
-I'll help you. Marcos, please take a walk together until we finish.
The man nodded at him and immediately offered his niece an elbow. The driver reached into the chest under the seat, taking out the necessary repair tools and handing them to the captain.
-Come on, honey, let's not get in the way.
The girl did not resist the will of the men and allowed her uncle to lead her deeper into the thicket under his constant chatter. They walked through the surrounding forest for about half an hour, until they reached the banks of an overgrown river, where Marcos suddenly fell silent, staring into the distance.
-Uncle? - the medic grabbed his elbow harder - Uncle, what's wrong?
The armorer, who hadn't said a word, turned his gaze to her.
-I... I've never been here, but the place…
The man shook his head, taking several dozen steps downstream and stumbling over the remains of a rotten wooden trough. A rotten tree captured his ankle, which was quickly released with one gentle jerk. The tall grass hid everything below his waist, but the gunsmith continued on his way, hiding behind the dark green spruce branches.
-Dorothea! Come here! His voice was agitated.
The medic hurried to break through the thickets to her relative, in some places through the prickly branches of wild raspberries or wild rose hips, and found him in a dazed state. The reason for this was the skeletons of wooden and clay houses, partially hidden by tall grass and young trees, and a church bell tower with a sunken roof stood on top of a gentle hill. The gunsmith whispered something under his breath and crossed himself, and the girl tried to understand why he was so shocked by this picture. Of course, it looked terrible, but not so bad as to put a person in a stupor.
The man did not take his eyes off the ruined village, but turned his head slightly towards it.
-You know, a long time ago, even before you were born, I heard a story from one of my mistresses that there were people living in the forests near Madrid who were completely different from us. She said they were neither Catalan, nor Basque, nor French. Not even gypsies. - he took a deep breath and exhaled noisily, turning back to face the ruined settlement - When I arrived and opened the gun shop, I saw them. One day, two men in shirts with strange patterns came to us, one of them was blond and big. Tall and huge, bigger than Armando by a quarter. The second one was smaller and less tall, but also blond, they bought axes and tried to ask my employee about woodworking tools, they spoke strangely and communicated with each other in a different language. A few years later, your father went to Barcelona on some official business and disappeared. He was supposed to come back, but there was no news, no sign of him. That was the second time I saw them, but they were two younger guys. They were also blond, light-eyed, tall and sturdy, and Constance had almost been run over by one of their horses. On the same day, one of my officer acquaintances informed me that Carlos had been found. Soon my brother came home, and two months later he left again in the same direction. He returned with your mother and an incredible story.
Marcos scratched his eyes with both hands, wiping away the tears that stood out from the memories and removing the flies that flew into his eye.
-We understood the risk we were taking at that time, because the Inquisition was still fighting heretics at that time, and your mother could be accused of anything. Relief came only when I received a letter from Carlos and I learned that the inquisitors had visited your house, but realizing that they would not find anything, they left. - he sighed heavily again - After Leandro was born, Constance made sketches from Eva's words and showed them to me. There was this street. When we get home, I'll show them to you.
All the time he was talking, his gaze wandered over the walls of the collapsed buildings, some of them had traces of fire. After finishing his monologue, Marcos walked forward, crushing the tall grass with his feet in an attempt to get closer to the ashes of one of the houses, from which only a few protruding piles and clay bricks remained, which were hidden among the grass but quickly revealed by the toes of his boots. Making their way through these thickets, they walked along the once wide street, peering into empty windows. Feminine curiosity led Dorothea into the house that stood next to the church, she went inside without paying attention to the plaintive creaking of the floorboards.
Lesaro looked around the large room of the house, which had once clearly been well-lived in, but now it was a pitiful sight - several benches were overturned, as was the table, the rags covering the doorways that had previously been curtains had darkened with age and water penetrating through the leaky roof, and there was a massive stove in the middle of the room, which inspired fear by its very appearance. The medic, who decided to take a closer look at her, took a few steps and only managed to scream when the rotten floor caved in under her feet.
-Dorothea! Marcos shouted excitedly and ran into the house when he heard the noise.
-It's okay, Uncle, I'm okay.
Brushing off the dust from her pale blue dress, the girl looked around, distinguishing the strange-looking clay and wooden dishes standing on the cellar shelves, on the tops of the necks of which lay a dusty book, which she grabbed, immediately opening the first page she saw. The text was written in Spanish. Hovering over the gap, Marcos called out to her again, holding out his hand.
-Honey, let's go. They're probably already looking for us.
Dorothea nodded at him, grabbing his hand. Even though the man was already seventy years old, he retained his strength, with which he pulled his niece out of the basement.
After leaving the dangerous place, they quickly went out onto the road, returning to the carriage repaired by the men in complete silence.
