The days following the Pérez Esnaolas' arrival at the estate were as warm and sunny as the first. Pablo Ferreira and Sebastián had gotten along very well since their first encounter at the stream. The Creole had met Leónidas a few weeks earlier, and when the young man wasn't running errands for the household, the three of them enjoyed the afternoons together.
Amanda and Sofía had not mentioned to Isabel the circumstances in which they had met Pablo that afternoon in the water. It would be their little secret, as, although they adored their older sister, she had always been very proper, especially now that she was about to become Mrs. Páez.Their first Sunday in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata arrived, and all the family members dressed with great elegance. They would go to the nearest town for mass for the first time, which meant they would meet all the townspeople and the country folk. Sofía was very excited.The young woman gathered her long blonde hair with an ivory comb her uncle had brought her from one of his trips. She looked very beautiful and knew it, but that didn't stop her from blushing a little when she met Pablo at the church entrance, and he complimented her with a seductive smile on his charming face."My lord is very kind," she replied, bowing her head slightly.The parents of the children already knew Pablo, who had come to pay his respects on behalf of his grandmother since they were the closest neighbors. The woman had excused herself for not being able to come herself, as she was suffering from severe back pain. Sofía reflected that the pain must have been very intense since it had even prevented her from attending the service.The humble parishioners passing by them observed them as if they were exotic birds, and those who were better dressed introduced themselves. Sofía noticed that most of those attending the only church, around which the small town was built, were mostly humble people, primarily families of gauchos. The mestizos, mulattos, and zambos outnumbered the Spaniards and Creoles in that place. The young woman thought bitterly that it would be very difficult for her to find good people with whom to make friends. In truth, there were hardly any girls her age.The priest was a young man with wheat-colored hair and honey eyes that reflected inner peace. He introduced himself to the newcomers as Father Facundo and said that he, too, was quite new to the town. He had been assigned there recently. He seemed too kind, a quality usually lacking in the powerful. Sofía hoped she was wrong, but she didn't see him as a spiritual leader. Especially considering that the doors of God's house were open even to the vagabonds and ruffians.Sofía couldn't help but notice that the priest wore a frayed robe hem and patched sleeves. He also had the calloused hands of someone who had worked hard. It was possible that the man had to make a great sacrifice to get to where he was. Her father despised such people and called them "social climbers." From a young age, she and her sisters had been taught that God placed people where they were meant to be, and wanting to change that was a challenge to His greatness. Was the priest challenging the one he claimed to serve, or was Antonio Pérez Esnaola exaggerating by lumping them all together?The mass was relaxed, something Sofía was not used to. In the cathedral they attended in Spain, minutes seemed to last hours, and the sermons were tedious and dull. However, Facundo brought biblical events to life through his words in a very interesting way, like listening to the narration of a good literary piece.There was no lack of opportunity for the new Spaniards to speak and introduce themselves to all the townspeople and those from the surrounding areas, who listened with great curiosity. There was also no lack of people asking about the latest news from the old continent.The young priest invited the eligible young men and women to join him in the church gardens. The married and widowed people would stay in the main hall to listen to the voice of experience from an elderly couple close to the priest. Meanwhile, a woman led the children to a room adjacent to the confessional.The mother of the young Pérez Esnaola initially refused to let her unmarried daughters go with a group that included boys, and even worse, people from the lower social strata. However, the final word always belonged to her husband, and she remained silent when he stated that he approved of his daughters socializing with the other wealthy families in the town. After all, they would be with the priest, and Catalina had been taught to remain silent and respect her husband's wishes, even if she disagreed. With their parents' permission, Sofía, her sisters, and her cousins went out to the garden surrounding the building, while the adults remained in their seats.Pablo approached Sebastián but not before giving Sofía a look full of intention, which made her blush again at his passionate brown eyes. For his part, Leónidas, who had come with them driving the carriage but had kept his distance out of respect for his employers, took the liberty of approaching the group.Now that only the young, the outcasts, and the spinsters had stood up, Sofía realized there were many more than she had initially thought. A few groups of teenagers, judging by their attire, seemed to have an acceptable status for her. With a bit of luck, she would soon form friendships with some of the influential young ladies in town.Everyone followed the priest willingly. Many were chatting among friends, such as Sebastián, Pablo, and Leónidas, whom Sofía heard quietly commenting that there was a group of very pretty ladies. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy toward those who had caught the boys' attention.It was uncommon for Spanish women to frequent places where men were present without being accompanied by their mother, a maid, or a trusted married woman. The new lands were allowing Sofía a different kind of freedom. The kind of freedom she had only known in romance novels until now. She wondered if she would also find the love spoken of in the books, an unconditional and passionate love. Could it be that Pablo Ferreira would win her heart?