Quito empress: the delicate gift, from Lusitania, that alarmed New Granada

Book excerpt: The wife of Danilo (the head of the Álvarez cartel) left him for a Brazilian lover. She also robbed half of the cartel's money before she vanished! Vincente, to both console his father-in-law and to bring closure for the family, searched for someone to replace Danilo's ex-wife. The cartel's financial woes caused the collapse of the economy. Civil unrest, riots and lootings followed within days. The viceroy of New Granada threatened to annex the colony if the (local) politicians failed to solve the crisis. At the yearly vice-regal beauty pageant, Vincente selected Giovana--who won the beauty contest of the Margarita province earlier that year. As the 'trophy wife' and new 'lady of the house' of society's ruling family, she enjoyed many privileges and a life of ease. At least, that is what it seemed unto outsiders...