The Forbidden Promise (23 page)

Doña
Raquel? Yes, definitely this
would be the best solution. That woman would do anything not to have the truth
revealed.
But instinct told him that he had to be very careful and cautious, Raquel
Navarra y Reyes could be as dangerous as a poisonous snake.
He had to protect himself in every way and hide these documents in a safe
place. From the moment he spoke with
Doña
Raquel, the documents would be
his salvation and his guarantee of success.
If they were to fall into the
Navarra y Reyes’ hands, it would be over for me.
His mind worked feverishly and suddenly he found a solution.
He went up to his room and took the reliquary that had belonged to his mother.
He opened the glass lid and took out the backing, he folded the documents and
put them in the display case and closed the lid again, satisfied.
Tampico’s good priest, Father Julian, will appreciate this gift for the
church
.
Cristobal smiled to himself
. Aurora, my beloved, you have given me a purpose
in life, a reason that I haven’t had since the day of my beloved wife’s death.
Aurora and Lucas’ last days in Tampico were wonderful. They spent the
afternoons at the sea, having fun on the beach like two children.
They were living the joy of loving each other, that before and immediately
after their marriage they had foolishly rejected.
Together they had gone to say goodbye to the nuns and Dr. Peron at La
Virgen
de la Caridad
Convent, who were all very happy to see them and, Dr. Peron
took the opportunity to ask some professional advice from Aurora.
They then went to Father Julian’s church, where to their surprise, they found
him busy with Cristobal de la Vega.
Lucas and Cristobal had not met each other since the day of the fight at the
Navarra
hacienda
. Aurora blushed, embarrassed and worried. She feared
Lucas’ reaction on seeing Don Cristobal again.
Father Julian was happy to make the introductions.
"Have you met this young lawyer?” Asked Father Julian, “He’s just joined
our congregation."
"Yes, father, we’ve already met. How are you Don Cristobal?" Aurora
replied anxiously.
"I'm fine thank you." He replied looking at Lucas with some
curiosity. He was clearly waiting for Lucas’ reaction.
"Our good lawyer has made a donation to the church, a beautiful reliquary
from the Baroque era. It will look fine on the altar dedicated to St.
Joseph."
"I'm happy to hear that," responded Aurora. "Perhaps we should
go ... we just came to say goodbye before our departure."
Lucas remained silent, but his eyes were expressive enough. He gave Cristobal
an angry look and Cristobal replied with a wry smile.
Aurora left the parish, arm in arm with Lucas.
"That lousy dandy makes me mad with rage!" Lucas said, "You saw
how he looked at you! He seemed to want to eat you with his eyes!"
"I don’t know Lucas ... You're just jealous, when I met him at my mother’s
he was very polite, he even asked me to give you his apologies."
"He could have had the courage to come and offer his apologies to me
himself! It was just a move to make an impression on you and your mother!"
"I care nothing for Don Cristobal, I think I’ve proved this to you."
Aurora said, smiling.
Together they walked towards their house. They found Yolanda there, waiting for
them. From the day she had been found out, her attitude had become blameless,
but she had not yet overcome her grudge against Aurora, this was obvious. As
soon as she could she addressed herself directly to Lucas.
"Lucas, I’ve finished all my work, can I go to my aunt’s," she asked,
avoiding greeting Aurora. Aurora chose, as usual, to ignore Yolanda’s rudeness.
It’s better if she avoids me, rather than plays some other trickery on me.
Lucas granted her permission and Yolanda walked away down the street. Her
meetings and daily venting of her feelings with Penelope, allowed her to
overcome her anger and disappointment, while she continued to work for the
woman whom she most hated and that she said had robbed her of the love of her
life. Although she hated to admit it, she had never seen Lucas so involved with
a woman, not even with Aurora’s noble cousin.
Absorbed in her thoughts, Yolanda did not notice the figure that was following
her. Suddenly she felt herself seized by the arm. "Hey!" She shouted
scared, "What do you want? Leave me alone!"
A man with a flowing beard and a wide-brimmed hat pulled down over his head,
immediately let go of his grip. Yolanda recognized him at once, it was the
strange patient that she had seen outside the Vargas de Coronado’s home the day
that she had accompanied Aurora.
"I’ve a task to entrust you." The man justified hoarsely, "I’ll
pay very well, even more if I can ensure a degree of discretion."
"And why are you asking me to do this?" Yolanda asked suspiciously.
"Because you know
Doña
Viviana Vargas de Coronado. Aren’t you her
daughter’s maid?" The man asked.
Yolanda made a grimace of annoyance, but she could not retort in any way,
because at the end it was the truth.
"I need you to deliver this note directly into
Doña
Viviana hands.
I’ll pay you very handsomely as long as don’t reveal our agreement to anyone.
Not even to your mistress."
Yolanda became suspicious, but eventually curiosity overcame her. She wanted to
find out what was at the bottom of this.
"I agree, give me the money," she said, extending her hand out.
" Naturally, I'll accompany you to the street where Mrs. Vargas de
Coronado lives, so you won’t be tempted to read things that don’t concern you.
That’s if you can read!" The man chuckled and a flash of light passed
across his ice-colored eyes.
Yolanda nodded and the man handed her some coins.
"I’ll give you the note later," he said as he started to walk.
Yolanda followed him at a good pace and just before reaching the Vargas de
Coronado’s gate, the mysterious man gave her the note, which Yolanda hid in the
neckline of her dress. Then she rang the bell. She turned and saw that the man
had gone, probably he was just around the corner of the street.
The door was opened by Carmen whom she had met the previous time she had come
there.
"Hello Carmen, I need to see Mrs. Vargas de Coronado. I have a note to
give to her."
Carmen let her in and Yolanda waited in the living room.
"
Doña
Viviana is in her room, I’ll go and call her." Carmen
said, leaving Yolanda alone.
Yolanda looked around and saw no one. Quickly, she pulled out the note, opened
it and began to read it with interest, then she heard footsteps on the stairs
and hastened to fold the note up again.
Doña
Viviana approached her, curious.
" My daughter needs something?" She asked worriedly.
" No, I’ve just this note to give to you," said Yolanda, holding out
the folded paper .
Viviana took it.
" Thank you!" Viviana said puzzled.
"I'm going now if you’ll excuse me." Said Yolanda leaving the house,
while Viviana opened the note and read the message.
Yolanda would have liked to have seen Viviana's expression! The message in the
note seemed to Yolanda rather unclear, but she knew it was something important.
The mystery man, who apparently was called Hector, had made an appointment to
meet Viviana on the beach, in the
La Virgen del Mar
chapel in a week’s
time. A fact that was tremendously inconvenient ...
Back in the street, she hastened to meet the man.
"Did you do it?" asked the mysterious figure.
Yolanda nodded.
" Good, thank you. Now don’t say anything to anyone." Without another
word, the man walked quickly away, leaving her alone in the street.
Yolanda walked to her beloved Aunt Penelope’s home, to whom she confided
everything. Today she would also have interesting news about Lucas’
mother-in-law.
Don Cristobal, on his return from his meeting with Father Julian decided to go
to
Doña
Raquel without waiting any longer. It was years since he had
felt so alive and determined and he had his plan perfectly outlined in his
mind. The first and easiest step was now accomplished. Blackmailing Raquel
would be more complex and more dangerous, but risk had always encouraged rather
than frightened him.
He hired a carriage and went to the Navarra y Reyes’
hacienda
, he had
not sent any message to inform them of his visit, preferring to exploit the
element of surprise. Catching
Doña
Raquel unprepared would provide him
with a significant advantage.
During the short drive he went over his speech word for word in his mind. He
smiled satisfied, if all went well Aurora would change her life and make him
once again a happy man. When she saw him,
Doña
Raquel did not hide her
astonishment, nor her displeasure.
" Don Cristobal, what a surprise, I wasn’t expecting a visit from you
today."
" I'm sorry if it seems a little inconvenient to you, but I’ve something
really important to discuss with you," said Cristobal, bowing.
" Then tell me, what could be so important," Raquel asked curious.
She breathed deeply, trying to control her irritation. Cristobal was not a man
to be reckoned with, he was smart and insightful and put her in a position of
disadvantage leaving her dominated by emotions that would be counterproductive.
Something in Cristobal alarmed her and she was certain that what he was about
to say she would not like at all.
Don Cristobal smiled, noticing the Raquel’s discomfort. Everything was going
well. He felt the adrenaline flow through his body while enjoying the tension
that he always felt while addressing the council in court when people's lives
were in his hands, just like now.
After a brief smile, he began to speak and saw with satisfaction
Doña
Raquel go pale.
Later, in her room
Doña
Raquel thought back over her meeting with Don
Cristobal, she still felt angry and frustrated.
That damn man dared to
blackmail me
! She threw a book she had on the table into the fireplace and
watched the blaze that arose when it caught fire
. How had he dared! Eduardo,
may you burn in hell like you deserve! Even from beyond the grave you’ve come
to ruin my plans! I disinherited that beggar of a son of yours to safeguard
mine and behold, a letter, a stupid letter can ruin all the work I've done to
date! No, I'll never permit it.
Cristobal’s words still rang in her mind, "Your late husband,"
the irony was not lost on her, "before he died, sent a letter to my
father." He remained silent for a moment to infuriate Raquel who was
waiting, "I imagine that you were not aware of this."
"In fact we were in the dark." Raquel had to admit reluctantly.
" As it happens," he added walking indolent in front of her with the
clear aim of making her uneasy, "I found it among my father’s papers a few
days ago."
Raquel had stared at him with ill-concealed resentment.
" And it just so happens that in this letter your late husband declared
that your son Federico is not his, but the son of your husband’s brother, he’s
called Don Hector if I'm not mistaken, with whom you entertained a sinful
relationship." He said menacingly approaching
Doña
Raquel’s face.
"The letter also certifies Don Eduardo’s wish to disinherit Federico and
leave all his possessions exclusively to his only son, Lucas."
Doña
Raquel could not deny the allegations, the existence of the letter
could not be questioned. No one was aware of the truth and so no one could have
informed Cristobal of these facts. For a moment Raquel thought of Penelope, she
knew the truth but she was too faithful, a loyalty based on money and Raquel
had always given her a lot.
" You’re here to blackmail me?" It was a statement rather than a
question." Well, tell me what you want? Money for your silence, or what?
"
"No," Cristobal said, shaking his head. "I'm here to make a pact
with you. A pact that you’re certainly not in a position to refuse, but I’m
sure you’ll not mind agreeing to it."
Doña
Raquel had to agree, for the first time in her life she had had to
let someone else win. She had always gotten everything she wanted! Burning
anger consumed her again.
Don Cristobal had assured her that he would keep the contents of the letter
secret if she helped to separate Lucas from Aurora.
"It’s advisable that you indulge me, you understand certainly! Or would
you rather lose all of your possessions in favor of your stepson Lucas? That is
exactly what would happen if your husband's last wishes are made known."
And Raquel had surrendered.
"It’s a deal then. I’ll give you the original documents in my possession
on the day that Aurora is mine." Cristobal had said, smiling.
Cristobal now savoring the victory had added "And don’t try to steal the
documents, I don’t have them anymore. I’ve put them in a safe place where they
can never, ever be found."
Damn lousy dandy! He hasn’t yet realized who he's dealing with ...
All in all the idea of ruining Lucas and Aurora’s marriage was enticing to
Raquel, but she hated having to do it on someone else’s orders, someone who now
held her in the palm of his hands. It had always been her who had enforced the
rules of the game! And now she was having to endure Cristobal’s vulgar
blackmail.
That stupid son of mine has just left for Mexico City on his honeymoon ...
until his return I can’t tell him anything so, as usual, I'll have to deal with
this myself.
The only person she could turn to was obviously Penelope Robles. Raquel
approached the fireplace, staring intensely at the fire. The destroying flames
had given her inspiration.
She heard a knock on the door of her room.
" What do you want? I gave orders not to be disturbed." She growled
nervous.
"It’s Penelope." Replied the maid intimidated. "I told her that
you didn’t want to receive visitors, but she insisted. She claims that it is a
matter of life or death."
Raquel became alarmed.
Damn, what else has happened?
She ordered the maid to let Penelope enter. Shortly after Penelope came into
the room, her sharp face was paler than usual and she had a worried look.
"What’s happened?" Asked Raquel.