The Prisoner of Heaven (The Cemetery of Forgotten 3)

Bea smiled and nodded.

The couturier, a slender gentleman with affected manners and theatrical gestures who went simply by the name of Evaristo, kissed Bernarda on the cheek.

‘You’re the best model in the world. The most patient and long-suffering. It has been hard work, but well worth it.’

‘And do you think, sir, that I’ll be able to breathe in this dress?’

‘My darling, you’re marrying an Iberian macho buck in the Holy Mother Church. Your breathing days are over, believe me. Anyhow, a wedding dress is like a diving bell: it’s not ideal for breathing, the fun begins when they take it off you.’

Bernarda crossed herself at the couturier’s insinuations.

‘What I’m going to ask you to do now is remove the dress with the greatest care. The seams are loose and with all those pins I wouldn’t like to see you walking up to the altar looking like a colander,’ said Evaristo.

‘I’ll help her,’ said Bea.

Casting a meaningful look at Bea, Evaristo inspected her from head to toe.

‘And when am I going to be able to dress and undress you, my love?’ he asked, flouncing off through the curtain.

‘What a look the rascal gave you!’ said Bernarda. ‘I didn’t think he was into female company, if you get my meaning.’

‘I think Evaristo keeps all sorts of company, Bernarda.’

‘Is that possible?’ she asked.

‘Come on, let’s try to get you out of this without dropping a single pin.’

While Bea freed Bernarda from her captivity, the maid swore under her breath.

Ever since she’d found out the price of that dress, which her employer, Don Gustavo, had insisted on paying out of his own pocket, Bernarda had been in a terrible state.

‘Don Gustavo should never have spent such a bundle. He insisted that it had to be here, the most expensive shop in Barcelona I’m sure, and on hiring this guy Evaristo, who is a half-nephew of his or something like that. Apparently Evaristo says that any fabric that isn’t from Casa Gratacós gives one a rash. And they’re so pricey!’

‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth … Besides, Don Gustavo is thrilled that you’ll be getting married in style. He’s like that. You’re the daughter he never had.’

‘I’m his maid, and I would have been quite happy wearing my mother’s wedding dress, with a couple of alterations, and Fermín doesn’t care. Every time I show him a new dress all he wants to do is take it off me … And look what that’s led to, may God forgive me,’ said Bernarda patting her belly.

‘Bernarda, I was also pregnant when I got married and I’m sure God has far more pressing things to worry about.’

‘That’s what my Fermín says, but I don’t know …’

‘You listen to Fermín and don’t worry about anything.’

In her slip, and exhausted after standing for two hours in high heels with her arms stretched out, Bernarda fell into an armchair and sighed.

‘Poor thing, he’s lost so much weight, he’s as thin as a rake. I’m really worried about him.’

‘You’ll see how he gets better from now on. Men are like that. They’re like geraniums. When they look as if they’re ready to be tossed into the bin they revive.’

‘I don’t know, Señora Bea. Fermín seems very depressed to me. He tells me he wants to get married, but I have my doubts.’

‘Come on, he’s crazy about you, Bernarda.’

Bernarda shrugged.

‘Look, I’m not as stupid as I seem. Since I was thirteen all I’ve done is clean houses and I may not understand a lot of things, but I know that my Fermín has seen the world and he’s had his share of adventures. He never tells me anything about his life before we met, but I know he’s had other women and he’s been round the block a few times.’

‘And he’s ended up choosing you out of them all. So there.’