Isabel suggested to her parents to postpone the wedding until her cousin recovered from the dog attack. However, as the days went by, Diego's wounds improved thanks to the intensive care of Sofía and María Esther, and there was no need to move the date. She hadn't seen her fiancé since the day they arrived in Buenos Aires, and the idea of spending her whole life with him did not excite her at all.That morning, the women of the Pérez Esnaola family were embroidering the tablecloths they would use for the wedding. The men of the house, on the other hand, had gone hunting, accompanied by Pablo Ferreira, Juan Bustamante, and his son, Mariano. A few years ago, someone had found the bones of a monster near the river and sent them to Spain. It was still a topic of conversation there. The Bustamantes were convinced they could find a living specimen of that creature. If they managed to capture it, the three families would be generously rewarded by the king.Amanda had begged her father to let her accompany them, and of course, she received a refusal. Hunting was not something a woman could do, especially not a Pérez Esnaola.Three loud knocks on the door broke the monotony of the afternoon and startled Isabel. It was too early for the men to have returned.The girls' aunt put down her embroidery on the table and went to open the door. She exchanged a few words that Isabel couldn't hear and allowed two young men to enter the room. Isabel fixed her gaze on the prominent nose of one of them and then on the packages he was carrying in his arms. The other had blonde hair tied back and was dressed very elegantly. They greeted María Esther properly and nodded toward the rest.The ladies stood up and went to receive the unexpected guests."I apologize for not being able to announce our arrival in advance," said the more handsome one.He spoke Spanish well, but his accent revealed that it was not his native language. Isabel knew immediately who they were."My name is Antony Van Ewen, and this is Simón, my secretary," he added."It's a pleasure to meet you," said Catalina, and then she introduced each of her daughters."I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier, but I wanted to come in person to see young Diego. Would it be possible to speak with him?""I'm afraid he's out, sir, but it would be a pleasure for you to join us for lunch. I'm sure my son and the others will be back before sunset. If you'd like, you can wait for their return," added María Esther."It would be a great honor, but unfortunately, I have to organize my ships to depart tonight, and we are running out of time," Antony apologized."That's a real shame," commented María Esther."I took the liberty of bringing some gifts for your family. I know it doesn't compensate for the suffering the young man must have experienced because of my dog, but I want you to know that it has been put down, and nothing like that will happen again. I would like your sons to continue acting as a link between my local suppliers and the captains of my ships. Of course, they will be generously compensated."Amanda moved the embroidered tablecloths they had been working on aside so Simón could place the packages he was carrying on the table. Antony gestured for them to come closer and see the gifts.Sofía, who was naturally curious, began to open the presents, and a moment later, Amanda and Isabel joined in. There were enough high-quality fabrics to make at least a dozen dresses, a carved box containing jewelry, precious stones, and about twenty different spices and preserves. Isabel couldn't believe it; she had never thought her cousin's arm was worth so much.Despite claiming to be in a hurry, the men agreed to stay and chat. Catalina and her daughters cleared the table and prepared mate and some sweet buns."Thank you very much; everything is delicious. It's a very interesting drink," commented the Englishman after tasting the infusion.Simón, for his part, stayed on the sidelines of the conversation, sitting next to the haughty and elegant Englishman, appearing almost invisible."If I had known you were coming, we would have received you better," apologized Catalina, looking at the Englishman with her head tilted."Believe me, my lady, everything is perfect as it is. Ah, by the way, Miss Isabel, I wish you my sincerest congratulations. Don Juan Bustamante told me you are getting married soon," Antony said, addressing Catalina and then Isabel."Thank you!" the young woman said with a fake smile on her face."If you'll excuse my intrusion, I'd like to know if Miss Amanda and Miss Sofía are engaged," Antony asked, looking at Isabel's sisters."No, they are not committed at the moment," Catalina responded.Sofía smiled coquettishly at the Englishman, while Amanda, for her part, was as pale as a ghost. Isabel couldn't help but frown slightly; she felt very uncomfortable. She felt like her mother was displaying them like slaves to be sold to the highest bidder. She wondered if her parents would be willing to give one of their daughters to a wealthy English pirate.Both Antony and his secretary were single and wanted to marry soon. Isabel reflected on how strange it was that at a time when tensions between Spain and England were rising, Van Ewen seemed interested in Spanish women. He didn't seem like the type to be dazzled by beauty. It was possible that the Englishman's intentions were more related to his personal economic benefit than romantic motives. A Spanish wife could be the perfect excuse to infiltrate Crown lands without attracting too much attention.Isabel was almost certain she was facing the future husband of one of her sisters. Although most of the Englishman's glances were directed at Sofía, Amanda was two years older, and custom demanded that she be married first.After a few mates, the young men said their goodbyes, and Van Ewen promised that when he returned from his trip, he would come back to speak with the heads of the household. He didn't need to say it; it was clear he intended to ask for the hand of one of the young Pérez Esnaola ladies. Isabel hoped Amanda would not be the unlucky bride. Everyone remembered her seasickness on the ship that brought her to Buenos Aires, and marrying someone like Van Ewen would condemn her to a life of suffering. However, the final decision would be her father's, as always.