Carla led her to the room but instructed her on the proper way to announce her entrance. 

The young girl had a goal of becoming the head housekeeper in mind, and Anastasia wanted to help her along with that goal. 

After a few moments, the doors open, and she heard Carla’s soft voice echoing in the hall with a proper introduction.  The young girl was dismissed with a smile by a middle-aged woman. Anastasia guessed was the wife of the alcalde since they seemed to be the same age.

The alcalde’s wife and daughter both greeted her. The alcalde’s daughter, a girl a few years younger than herself, was called Beatriz. 

“Please forgive us, my lady. My daughter and I were unaware that you and your family had arrived. That is why the young girl was sent to retrieve the items from the room we prepared for you,” said the alcalde’s wife, Doña Catalina. 

“Thank you for your explanation. I was just surprised to see her, that’s all. Doña Catalina, my mother, would love to meet you—and if you don’t mind, perhaps Beatriz could show me around her quarters,” said Anastasia.

Both ladies agreed to the arrangement. The home was smaller compared to the manor, but Anastasia realized that Doña Catalina took great pride in her home. She even told her about how she weaved the tapestry in the entrance hall, inspired by the spring season. 

Once Anastasia introduced Doña Catalina to her mother, Beatriz took over the tour, and they decided to resume the tour in Anastasia’s temporary quarters. 

Beatriz seemed a little nervous as she guided her through the house, but remained polite throughout.

 At one point, she glanced at Anastasia and offered a small smile. “You can just call me Beatriz, if you’d like,” she said.

“You can call me Anastasia”, she responded. 

“I’m sorry, my Lady. But I just couldn’t.  My mother would scold me,” she said, a bit sheepish. 

Anastasia nodded in response, and they soon concluded the tour. Before they parted ways, Anastasia reminded Beatriz that she still needed to fetch the item she had left in the room. 

Beatriz and Anastasia enter the room. 

“Thank you so much, my lady, for reminding me. It’s a birthday gift for my best friend. I finished embroidering it and needed to give it to them before they left,” she said. 

Beatriz informed Anastasia that dinner would be ready at six. Anastasia thanked her, and for the first time since the journey began, she found herself alone.

The silence was comfortable and yet a bit unerving.