The Forbidden Promise (18 page)

Cristobal left the Navarra estate reflecting on the meeting he
had just had with
Doña
Raquel. From an early age, he had always had an
analytical mind, which he had then developed further with his profession.
Studying people’s behavior, reading their unintentional gestures and their
expressions was very useful during court hearings. In Madrid, Cristobal,
despite being young, had already acquired a reputation as an outstanding
lawyer, capable of skillfully directing the interrogation and cross-examination
of witnesses.
Doña Raquel is definitely a very smart and strong woman. She’s certainly not
the quiet country matriarch that she wants to appear. She tried to drag me
where she wanted, to investigate the relationship between her husband and my
father ... there must be something interesting that she didn’t want to reveal
to me, probably about her husband’s legacy.
Cristobal smiled.
His attention then shifted to reflect on Federico Navarra y Reyes.
A wimp.
An idler who thinks only of his vices, alcohol probably and gambling.
But even in this Cristobal was not surprised. Many times he had known
descendants of noble lineage similar to Federico, raised with every possible
comfort and becoming inept, incompetent and degraded. Never having had to fight
to live or give up anything, they lose any impulse for personal improvement,
human growth, and healthy ambition to leave their mark on the world. They are
reduced, like Federico, to wrecks dominated by pride and arrogance.
In Tampico, Cristobal dedicated more and more of his time to introducing
himself to the town’s society. Helped by his manner as a perfect European
gentleman, he had no difficulty in winning the acceptance of the town’s well
off people.
In the following days he managed to meet, among others, Don Miguel and
Doña
Clara Vargas de Coronado, Count of Rivera. Don Miguel appeared to him rather
arrogant and full of himself. Natural he had gained a prominent position due to
his marriage to his noble wife, and this sense of inferiority was compensated
by his haughty manners. His wife was the classic noblewoman rather silly and
full of mannerisms, such as moving her fan at different speeds depending on her
moods. He was pleasantly surprised when he met their young daughter, Marisol.
She was so different from her parents! Her beauty was almost Central European
rather than Mexican, with her blond hair like wheat and blue eyes that always
shone mischievously, she affected him deeply. Moreover, she was able to chat
amiably about everything. She was up to date, cultured and had liberal ideas
that her father did not like very much. She loved Europe passionately,
convinced that the old continent had been reborn as a melting pot of every
social and political innovation. She admired the first feminist movements and
literature of the great poets who had lived wild lives. It was with surprise
that he greeted the news of her recent engagement to Federico Navarra y Reyes.
Definitely
a mismatched couple
, thought Cristobal, almost wistfully.
This sweet
girl is going to meet unhappiness, for sure
. When he discovered that she
would be transferring to the Navarra estate to allow the newlyweds to continue
to follow the family business, he shifted uncomfortably in his chair, unable to
suppress the feeling of regret that came over him
. Poor girl, Doña Raquel
will crush her in a moment
.
She’ll have to be submissive in all respects
or the Navarra matriarch will break her.
Doña
Clara loved talking and spreading rumors. So it was not difficult
to find out that the Vargas de Coronado family and the Navarra y Reyes family
were already united by marriage.
" My niece Aurora married the eldest son Lucas."
Doña
Clara
informed him with ardor. Then, lowering her voice, as if some indiscreet ear
could hear her and she raised her fan to partially hide her face as she leaned
towards Cristobal.
"A union that I’d never have approved for my daughter. Lucas may be the
first-born, but he was disinherited by his father, and there are doubts about
the legitimacy of his birth. You understand me, don’t you?"
So it was, that Cristobal de la Vega knew every aspect of the most talked about
family crisis of Tampico and began to better understand the interest that
Doña
Raquel had in his father.
She definitely wanted to find out if my father was
aware of the matter and in what terms.
Don Cristobal noted that Marisol showed signs of discomfort when the
much-talked about firstborn Navarra was mentioned. Don Miguel, irritated by the
behavior of his gossipy wife interrupted Cristobal’s soliloquy.
Cristobal thanked them for their hospitality and cordially bid the noble family
goodbye.
He did not fail in the following days to visit the banker, Don Guadalupe and
the priest, Father Julian. Then he went to the town’s doctor, Don Costantino
Vargas de Coronado, Don Miguel’s brother.
Don Costantino appeared extremely friendly with an open smile, polite and well
mannered. Definitely more pleasant than his brother, without a complex and
clearly satisfied with the existence he led. More puzzlement was aroused in
Cristobal on meeting the doctor's wife,
Doña
Viviana, so beautiful and
haughty. Gentle and polite, but with a deep sadness. She was undoubtedly a
strong woman, without knowing why Cristobal found himself comparing her to
another woman who had struck him,
Doña
Raquel Navarra y Reyes. Both were
pretty, one dominated by black hair and stern eyes, the other with lovely
bronze hair and brown eyes. One, strict, strong and determined to impose her
personality, even unknowingly, the other cautious, gentle but with a hidden
hardness, that was ready to emerge when needed. Similar, but at the same time
completely different, like chalk and cheese.
Costantino and Viviana Vargas de Coronado were very friendly but spoke little of
their daughter’s marriage to Lucas Navarra y Reyes. Not known for gossiping,
they did not show their approval or disapproval for such a union.
He bid them good bye and left. He was now satisfied, he was pretty well
integrated in the small local community. He would soon start working and he
would make a name for himself.
Not a bad start, not bad.

At
the silver mine in Zacatecas there was a lot of hard work going on. Aurora’s
dowry and the proceeds of the sale of the shipping company shares had allowed
the purchase of the estate, but all the equipment, improvements to the house
and mine and the furnishings, had been purchased on credit from various
suppliers, won over by Lucas’ gentle and convincing manner that inspired
confidence in people.
The wages of the
peones
and miners who currently enjoyed food and
accommodation that Lucas provided for them were also an issue, but their work
agreements guaranteed that they would receive a wage when the first load of
silver was sold.
Aurora on her part, had not been idle. The clinic, as she liked to call it, was
functioning perfectly. Luckily, she had not yet found herself having to treat
any severe cases, but inevitably in the mine there was always someone who got
hurt due to carelessness. Lucas would then personally come running with the
wounded.
I don’t want anyone on my conscience as I get rich. They work for
me and I am responsible.
Aurora found Lucas’ attitude commendable and she did everything she could
to not disappoint him.
With what he experienced during his youth, he could
have hated the whole world and someone else in his shoes would have stepped
over a thousand corpses in order to regain their position.
But not Lucas, he was not like that. He was the first person to be there
when there were problems, tireless and strong. Then before dinner, he returned
to the house to devote himself to administrative problems in his study. If
Aurora had no patients to visit in the clinic or in the workers’ huts, she
would hurry to help him. A certain complicity had grown between them. One look
was now enough for them to understand each other.
They were perfectly aware of the difficulties they were facing, but they were
certain of being able to overcome them all. The fact that they were not really
husband and wife was definitely a disadvantage, a couple seriously connected by
love would have had perhaps a greater force with which to face life's
obstacles. But for this reason and to compensate for this absence they tried in
every way, with their determination to succeed in overcoming the challenge.
Since their trip to Zacatecas, Lucas had been more and more courteous. Gently
courting Aurora, offering her flowers and paying her compliments. Aurora was
very flattered and, on her part she sought his support, confiding in him every
aspect of her working day. Yolanda had also been quieter recently. Lucas had
scolded her on other occasions when she had behaved excessively rudely.
She’s
jealous of me, because she loves him. And me! What do I feel for my husband?
Wondered
Aurora.
Aurora carefully avoided thinking about and questioning her feelings too much.
I
mustn’t be fooled by appearances ... Lucas is a womanizer, it’s natural for him
to court me, it's just a hobby. I asked him to marry me, I proposed the pact.
He doesn’t love me, I mustn’t forget this. He’s just a friend.
Sometimes, at night, she laid awake thinking about what Lucas was doing at
that moment. Alone in her room, she was gnawed with the suspicion that perhaps
Lucas was not in his room, but was with some other woman, perhaps even with
Yolanda.
And in the morning she observed Lucas furtively, and also watched the impudent
maid, to see if her suspicions were well founded, if between the two of them
there was a different attitude, a particularly look.
Ah, if we were married like everyone else! If he was really in love with me
and he had asked me to marry him without any secret agreements ...
She banished these thoughts from her head, like a troublesome insect.
It’s
stupid to think about this now. Be content with what you have, isn’t it what
you wanted?
Yes, it was what she wanted. But it was not enough, now it was no longer
enough.
She tried to banish these thoughts from her mind that had become an obsession.
But the thoughts resumed while she was returning to the clinic from one of the
huts after having examined a pregnant woman. She had discussed the birth as
usual with the midwife who looked suspicious of her scientific methods. Once
again, she tried to focus on something else so as not to torment herself.
Outside the clinic, however, she saw a laborer who usually worked in the
kitchen garden waiting for her.
"Mistress, come quickly!" The man exclaimed when he saw her.
"Pablo has been hurt in the kitchen! A pan of boiling water fell on
him!"
Aurora quickly went into the clinic to get what she needed. She also had a
small stock of products in the villa, but it was better not to risk not having
the right supplies.
She then went quickly to the house accompanied by the laborer.
There was bedlam in the large kitchen. The cook, who was worried, was yelling
and Yolanda was trying to comfort Pablo who was lying on the ground complaining
of the pain.
"What are you doing? Take off his clothes that are soaked in boiling water
immediately, they will only worsen the burns! "
Pablo embarrassed waved a feeble protest, but at Aurora’s order, the laborer
who had accompanied her, immediately snapped into action.
" Take it slowly ... slowly." Aurora advised moving Yolanda roughly
aside and kneeling down beside Pablo. She immediately took some soft gauze and
asked for clean cold water. She then started to delicately sponge Pablo’s chest
and part of his legs, trying to see the severity of the burns.
"Mistress, please." Pablo protested weakly. "What would the
master say if he saw you?"
Yolanda made a grimace of displeasure. It really annoyed her that anyone,
including Pablo, reminded her that Lucas was Aurora’s husband and that Aurora
could claim all rights to him, including the right to be jealous. For Yolanda,
Aurora was just an interloper, someone who had been put between her and Lucas
and was not noteworthy.
"The master is here and he’s not angry, don’t worry." Said Lucas, who
had meantime arrived in the kitchen..
"Fortunately, it’s not a very serious burn." said Aurora, "but
it should be properly looked after. Take him to his room, so I can treat
him."
Aurora followed the men, and once they were in Pablo’s room she continued to
cool the burned parts with cold water. Then very gently she applied a
refreshing ointment containing calendula oil. She then bandaged Pablo’s chest
and thighs, while he desperately tried to overcome his embarrassment.
"Close your eyes and imagine that I’m just a doctor.” said Aurora to calm
him. "Don’t think of me as being a woman, nor the lady of this
house."
When she had finished the job, she washed her hands in the basin of water in
the corner of the room.
" I recommend complete rest. I’ll tell them to bring your meals here to
your room for the next few days. You have many blisters, especially on the
stomach, so you must be careful not to burst them but to let them dry out by
themselves."
Pablo could not stop thanking her and Aurora smiled as she left the room.
Outside, waiting, she saw Yolanda, with her usual miserable and arrogant face.
" Can I go in?" She asked rudely.
" As long as he stays quiet," said Aurora, annoyed. She left the
servants' wing and returned to the main wing where Lucas was waiting for her in
his study.
"How is Pablo?" He asked when he saw her enter.
"Luckily it's not as bad as I expected, but he will have to rest for a few
days." Replied Aurora as she sat down across the desk from Lucas.
Lucas looked at her, worried.
"You look very tired, Aurora, you should rest more."
" Today was a little hard, but I'm fine, don’t worry." Aurora
reassured him.
Lucas then changed the subject.
"The post has arrived,” he said.
"Is there a letter from my mother?" Aurora inquired. It had been some
time since her mother had written to her.
"No. There is something else though." Lucas handed her a very elegant
envelope. Aurora opened it curious, as soon as she started to read her eyes
widened in surprise. She looked at Lucas, puzzled.
"It’s an invitation to Marisol and Federico’s wedding!"
Lucas nodded.
"So in the end he convinced her to marry him." Commented Aurora.
" Do you mind?" Lucas asked, watching her.
"Of course I mind." She answered.
Lucas looked at her coldly.
"I thought you didn’t care for Federico anymore!"
Aurora, distracted, looked up from the envelope in her hand.
"I beg your pardon! Ah, no! It’s certainly not Federico I'm sorry for! But
for my cousin! Overall, she doesn’t deserve such a husband. I should probably
have warned her about what happened between him and me while I was still in
Mexico City."
Lucas leaned back slightly.
"Would you like to go?" He asked.
Aurora did not answer immediately.
"I don’t know ... I would be happy to return to Tampico for a visit and
this would be a good opportunity. It’s some months now that we’ve been here at
hacienda
."
"I won’t go." Ruled Lucas, "I'll organize an adequate escort for
you."
"Why?" Aurora asked. This time it was she who shot him a suspicious
look. "Does it bother you to see Marisol married to someone else?”
Lucas, in response, stood up from his desk and began to nervously pace the
room.
"Don’t talk nonsense! Marisol doesn’t interest me, you know that well.
Going to the wedding would mean going back to the Navarra
hacienda
and
seeing once again all the places that I have been trying to forget as much as
possible. I’m also not dying to see my stepmother."
What a fool I am, I should have thought about how much Lucas would suffer.
Instead I just think of my stupid jealousy
.
Aurora also stood up and walked over to her husband.
"It could be the right opportunity to regain the place that you deserve
and the rank that is your right by law." She whispered, "You’ve been
treated unfairly, you’ve been a victim, it’s not you who should be ashamed, but
your stepmother. She and Federico probably expect that you won’t go. That you
wouldn’t dare challenge them on their own ground. But it’s time to stand up and
be counted Lucas. Alone you're rebuilding your life, you have this wonderful
hacienda
,
you’re loved and respected by your men, you're well-liked by all who know you.
These are all the things that your brother will never have."
Lucas smiled sadly.
"I didn’t do it all alone. You forget that without your money I’d never
have succeeded. And we’re so full of debts that we’re walking on the edge of a
precipice."
Aurora moved even closer.
"I’ve not regretted our agreement, Lucas. I'm happy here, really, I don’t
regret it at all. And you?"
Lucas took her face in his hands in a kind and gentle gesture.
"I do, I regret it. I regret having accepted this absurd deal. I regret
having signed a paper by which you would just be a pretend wife. You don’t
understand, Aurora? I want you, I wish you were really my wife."
Aurora felt her heart leap in her chest, and a shiver ran down her spine.
"In recent weeks we’ve got to know each other better, we’ve argued, but
we’re also very close ... and you're beautiful, wonderfully beautiful, and I
want you so much."

Lucas slowly brought his
face close to Aurora’s, waiting for a sign of refusal on her part, but it did
not happen. Aurora was unable to look away from Lucas’ beautiful face,
mesmerized by the words that for so many sleepless nights she had longed to
hear spoken by him. His lips touched Aurora’s in a gentle kiss, then a second.
He pulled away from her a little, just enough to see Aurora’s face and make out
her expression. He saw surprise and emotion. Lucas’ passion, long suppressed,
burst forth. With a hoarse moan, he took possession of Aurora’s lips, his mouth
hungrily kissed her with a violent passion. His strong arms slipped down to her
waist and clasping her, he pulled her tightly to him. Aurora’s thoughts whirled
round in her head disturbed by feelings that she had never felt before.
Sighing, she put her arms around Lucas’ neck and arched her back to mold closer
to his body.
Lucas' mouth fell along the curve of her neck assailing it with fiery kisses.
Carried away by his emotions Lucas bent down, lifted Aurora in one smooth
motion, and strode towards his room.
He closed the door with a kick and laid Aurora down on the bed then lay down
next to her. His hands went to Aurora’s bodice and tried to unlace it, to free
the body he had loved so often in his dreams. Blinded by urgency he grabbed the
neckline and tore it violently baring her full, pure white breasts. Aurora
roused herself and attempted to free Lucas of his clothes. Soon they found themselves
completely naked.
Lucas kissed her passionately, while his hands explored her body with hot
caresses. His mouth came down to brush her neck and then, going lower and
lower, reached her throbbing breast. He looked admiringly at her pink nipples
eager for his touch and with a guttural sound took one between his lips.
Aurora let out a moan of pleasure, while Lucas’ caresses became more and more
daring.
His hand slid further down, tracing red hot circles across Aurora’s stomach and
then slowly moved towards her legs causing her to open them a little more with
every caress. Deliberately slowly, his hands approached Aurora’s most secretive
center and began to caress it with an expert touch. Aurora intoxicated by these
new and unexpected sensations could barely hold back a cry of pleasure. She
abandoned herself to the sensual ecstasy, moaning, wanting more.
"I can’t wait any longer," Lucas panted against her breast. He
brought himself on top of Aurora who prepared to welcome him.
A strong and hot pressure took the place Lucas’ hand between her trembling
thighs.
“Take me." She whispered, hugging him tightly and trying to overcome the
inevitable fear she felt. She was about to lose her virginity and become a
woman and a wife in every respect.
Lucas looked into her face and read trust and abandonment in it. He closed his
eyes in an effort to hold back her impulsive eagerness and with ardor and
delicacy made her finally his. When he felt the sweet barrier, he stopped for a
moment to let her get used to the new invasion. He stifled with a kiss a moan
that escaped from Aurora lips. He slowly began to move inside her, as Aurora
clung even more tightly to Lucas’ muscular body. The pain vanished, replaced by
a sweet languor that Lucas knowingly awoke in her body. They moved in unison in
the beautiful dance of love, until Lucas felt Aurora’s body send him the
sweetest of signals. Only then did he allow himself to lose control to reach
the zenith of pleasure along with Aurora.
Sated and exhausted they relaxed. Lucas rested his face on Aurora’s breast and
listened to her heart beat until her rapidly beating heart regained a leisurely
pace, while his hands continued to lightly caress Aurora’s beautiful body, who
was finally really his wife.
Aurora slowly emerged from her sweet dreaminess and muttered, “Lucas."
"I'm here my darling, are you all right?" he asked anxiously.
" Yes I’m fine." Aurora blushed suddenly looking embarrassed and
trying to cover herself with the sheets. He stopped her," Don’t do that
please, you are so beautiful and I’ll never get tired of being here with you
and looking at you ... and touching you, so." He sighed, his eyes
reflected his passion that recently satisfied had been rekindled like a fire
from burning embers.
" No, please, leave me a little time to get used to ... to all of
this." asked Aurora
"You want to be alone a moment?" he asked thoughtfully.
" Yes, please," she said in a whisper lowering her face.
"Fine, whatever you wish. I’ll go to your room and get your dressing gown,
then I’ll ask for dinner to be brought up here."
" No, I’ll put my dress back on."
Lucas got out of bed, perfectly at ease with his nakedness, and picked up
Aurora’s dress. "I don’t believe so, I'm afraid that I’ve hopelessly
ruined it." He said smiling slyly and showed her the tear, that starting
from the neckline and ran down to the waist.
He put his pants on and left the room.
Aurora let herself fall back among the blankets, smiling at the memory of what
had just happened. Then like a flash a thought crossed her mind
he never
said he loved me
! She wrapped her arms around herself.
And I love him so
much ... but if he has only deceived me
?
Lucas quickly went down stairs to the kitchen where Yolanda seemed impatient.
" Dinner has been ready for ages, if you don’t go into the dining room
soon everything will get cold!"
"We’re not going to have dinner in the dining room tonight. I want it
served in my room," he ordered.
He ran back upstairs and went to Aurora’s room, got Aurora’s dressing gown and
went back to her, handing her the dressing gown.
" They’ll soon bring us dinner," he said kindly.
Aurora nodded and took her dressing gown. She hesitated, embarrassed about
getting out of the bed naked.
Lucas laughed.
" Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed with me?" He exclaimed surprised.
"Well ... I have to get used to it, like I told you ..." she
whispered, intimidated.
Lucas turned his back, smiling.
" We’re husband and wife for real now, remember that."
Aurora got out of bed, dressed quickly and went to him.
"Hold me, please," she said emotionally. "Hold me."
Lucas embraced her tightly against his chest, sighing.
"Now we're really happy," he whispered.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in" Lucas said.
Yolanda entered the room, carrying with difficulty the tray with dinner.
Immediately her shrewd eyes widened to see the two embracing, practically
naked. In a flash, she turned to look at the bed and saw it was completely
disheveled.
Then a repugnant anger overcame her. Clouded with anger, she slammed the tray
on the table and walked out without saying a word.
"Stupid girl," exclaimed Lucas, angry.
Aurora said nothing and sat down at the table to eat dinner.
Lucas followed her and began to eat in an awkward silence.
" Is everything all right, Aurora? You shouldn’t care how Yolanda behaves,"
Lucas said to break the atmosphere of embarrassment.
"I'm fine, thank you, there’s nothing wrong." She replied, with
downcast eyes, the recent immense happiness had been replaced by a disturbing
sense of unease.
What will happen now that he’s got what he wanted? Will we return to being
just two good friends? Little more than business partners?
She stood up, clearing her throat.
"I'm sorry, Lucas, I’d like to go to my room." She said in one
breath.
" But why?" asked Lucas disappointed. "Your room is now this
one. With me."
Aurora felt faint.
"Do you want me to move in here with you?" She asked surprised
Lucas stood up and held her.
" Yes, I want you to be with me. I've been alone far too long now. I want
to share the same bed with my wife."
Aurora sighed as Lucas blocked any attempt to respond with a flood of
passionate kisses. She felt her lips open, to accommodate his passionate kiss.
Immediately the fire of passion flared up inside her, as she clutched Lucas’
body and laced her fingers through his wild black hair.
Lucas , please don’t deceive me ... not now that I need you so much ...
Without realizing, they found themselves back in bed while Aurora hastened to
undo her dressing gown. With a roar of passion, Lucas pulled her close and in
one fluid motion made her lay down beneath him making her his once more. This
time no inhibition overshadowed their pleasure and Lucas knew immediately how
to arouse Aurora who sighed ecstatically.
Once again Lucas dragged her towards the most intense pleasure until he heard
her barely able to restrain her moans. Only then did he allow himself to find
contentment and with a stifled groan he let go, flooding her with his seed.