The Forbidden Promise (32 page)

" Yes mother, I too would like to return to my work at the
infirmary."
" But you can work here too if you like," replied Cristobal, while
Doña
Viviana threw him a look of disapproval.
"No, I want to go back to Tampico. I also miss the mild climate of the
coast," concluded Aurora.
"However, we must await the Archbishop’s summons for the first hearing of
the marriage annulment, it should arrive in a few days," pointed out
Cristobal, insistently. "You can’t miss it. Unless you've changed your
mind ..." Cristobal’s gaze became severe.
"Of course not!" Said Aurora decidedly.
" Well, we’ll leave in a few days, after the hearing," said Cristobal
as he walked towards the door. Cristobal’s determination on the one hand
reassured Aurora, on the other made her feel trapped.
Why am I not in love
with him yet? Everything would be much easier
, she thought, watching him
walking away.
Viviana however, disappointed by the turn events had taken, got up from the
couch and began to pace nervously around the room. Cristobal’s ways were
starting to annoy her. However, she knew that, if she wanted to have any hope
in removing Lucas Navarra y Reyes completely from their lives, she had to
support Cristobal as much as possible in his project to annul Aurora’s
marriage.

Federico took the first available train to Zacatecas, ignoring
his mother’s advice written in the telegram telling him to go first to Tampico
in order to be accompanied by armed men. In his exaggerated presumption he was
sure he could stand up to Lucas alone.
Arriving in Zacatecas, he had to ask for directions to get to Lucas’
hacienda
and, discovered with dismay that he had to go back along the road to the
small village of Guadalupe.
Without even thanking the man who had given him the information, he went
immediately to hire a horse. He mounted it and urged it into a wild gallop,
threatening to trample the passers-by.
He arrived at the
hacienda's
main entrance just as Lucas was giving
final instructions to Santos before leaving for Mexico City.
" What are you doing here?" Lucas asked in amazement, giving a final
tug to the strap on the horse’s saddle.
"Where is Marisol?" Federico said, his face red with fatigue and
anger.
" Safe away from your abuse!"
"She's my wife and must return with me," He shouted approaching
threateningly.
Lucas entrusted the reins of his horse to Santos and said, pointing to
Federico.
"She'll stay where she feels safe!"
" Yes, safe ... rolling around between your sheets, you mean!" Federico
hissed between his teeth, with a mocking grin.
Lucas sprung at him and punched him in the face causing Federico tumble to the
ground.
" Get out of here and never come back or next time you’ll get more than
just a fist." Lucas growled angrily.
Federico wiped the trickle of blood running down one side of his mouth, he
stood up and shook his jacket that was covered in dusty.
"You took advantage because your men are here to cover your back!"
Lucas laughed, staring at him with contempt.
"If it makes you feel more confident, we could continue this discussion
wherever you want, just the two of us, with bare hands or with guns," he
said, tapping the butt of his pistol sticking out from his belt.
Federico turned around, moving away towards his horse.
"You can also keep that bitch ... it will mean that I’ll entertain myself
with someone else dear to you," he said, grinning, "And you know who
I mean!"
He mounted his horse and turned to look at Lucas one last time, his eyes burned
with hatred.
"If you dare touch Aurora, you won’t live long enough to tell the
tale!" Lucas threatened him.
"I don’t understand why you are so upset. As I understand it, Aurora is
already having a blast in Mexico City with Cristobal! "
Federico hastened to spur on his horse, fearing a further reaction from Lucas.
These last words and Federico’s echoing laughter infuriated Lucas but he would
not give Federico the satisfaction of showing it.
He stood still observing his half-brother who moved away in a cloud of dust.
He went back into the house still trying to control his anger.
Marisol and Yolanda were hiding behind the partially open door and had watched
the whole scene in silence.
"Are you all right Lucas?" Asked Yolanda.
" Yes," he replied dryly. "Don’t leave the house and don’t open
the door to anyone when Santos isn’t at home," he ordered. "I'll also
put some men on guard on the access road to the
hacienda
."
Then looking at Santos he added, "I want Marisol to leave tomorrow morning
and go to my house in Tampico. Federico now thinks that she is here and we can
fool him. Make sure she’s accompanied by either Juan or one of the other
peones
and tell Pablo to keep me constantly informed about what's happening
in Tampico. Furthermore, for no reason must he allow Marisol to be left
alone!"
Santos nodded slapping Lucas on the shoulder, even though he wanted to look
strong and gruff he knew that inside Lucas was suffering immensely.
Lucas shook Santos’ hand vigorously and left without another word.
"Wait Lucas ..." Marisol shouted, running after him as he mounted his
horse.
He held the animal by the reins, looking at her quizzically.
Marisol wanted a goodbye kiss, but a fraternal embrace would have also been
enough just to hold Lucas’ manly body close to her once more.
" Good luck ..." She managed to say in a whisper.
Lucas gave the horse a kick with the heels of his boots and galloped off.
Marisol saw Yolanda watching her sternly from the doorway, her hands on her
hips and with her typical impertinent look.
" And what did you hope to get from Lucas?" Yolanda asked in her
blatant manner.
Marisol did not answer, and pushing her brusquely aside with her arm, went back
into the house.

As
Cristobal had predicted, the summons in front of the ecclesiastical tribunal
was not long in coming.
Aurora and Cristobal presented themselves punctually before the bishop on the
specified day.
Cristobal related to the bishop the events while the secretary diligently noted
down every word in the minutes of the hearing.
He presented the marriage certificate and the pact signed by Aurora and Lucas.
From time to time the bishop raised his white head to look over his glasses at
Aurora who was sitting with her hands folded in her lap, her eyes fixed on the
ground and her soul now resigned to the inevitable.
"Well," said the bishop, when Cristobal concluded his address.
"From what I see there is every reason to seek an annulment of the
marriage for simulation of consent. However, first it’s necessary to determine
whether the fundamental condition for the annulment request by simulation of
consent hasn’t been fulfilled."
Aurora looked up curious.
Turning to her, the bishop said, "I must first know if the marriage has
been consummated."
On hearing these words Aurora blushed violently.
There was a prolonged silence. Even the constant clicking of the typewriter
stopped and the secretary turned to look curiously at the scene.
Aurora opened her lips and ...
"Of course it hasn’t been consummated!” Intervened Cristobal.
Aurora stood with her mouth half open holding her breath, wondering what to do,
but Cristobal did not give her the opportunity to say anything.
" The integrity of my client can’t be questioned," he continued in a
heated tone.
" That being the case, I’ll proceed with the application for
annulment," concluded the bishop, resting his elbows on the desk.
"The procedure requires that there is a final hearing in a few months’
time in the parish of Tampico where the marriage was celebrated. The groom must
also be present. After that, the verdict will be sent to Rome where a final
judgment will be made by the Roman Rota."
The secretary turned back to the typewriter and began the frantic typing of the
minutes.
Cristobal offered his arm to Aurora, who still red faced and confused, stood up
and leaned against him.
They kissed the bishop’s ring and left the courtroom.
On the way back to Dolores’ house, Cristobal excited continued to say how
positive the hearing had been, while Aurora walked in silence, lost in thought.
Why then  am I unhappy? I’ve never felt so sad and lonely in my entire life
...
Fortunately, they soon reached Dolores’ home, Cristobal’s presence was becoming
more and more intrusive.
Cristobal said goodbye to Aurora at the door, she went into the house and to
her amazement found there Don José who was chatting amiably with her mother.
"Good morning, what a welcome surprise Don José," exclaimed Aurora.
"I find you beautiful as always,
Doña
Aurora." Said Don José,
standing up.
"My dear, why don’t you go to Dolores’ room? She wanted to talk to you as
soon as you returned.” Suggested Viviana in an authoritative voice.
" First I’d like to know from Don José if there’s been any progress with
the investigation." Said Aurora firmly. "Why have you come such a
long way to see us? You’ve gone to a lot of trouble, so I guess that something
important has happened."
Don José hesitated, his gaze lingered on
Doña
Viviana’s deep hazel eyes,
then realizing that the attraction he felt for
Doña
Viviana appeared too
obvious, embarrassed, he cleared his throat ready to speak, and turned to
Aurora.
" Don José has been kind enough to come to report that unfortunately there
have been no significant developments.” Interrupted Viviana, sternly.
" So Lucas hasn’t been charged?" Asked Aurora, insistent.
"You’ve found an explanation as to why an identical cufflink to his was
found near
La
Virgen del Mar
chapel?"
Don José looked at
Doña
Viviana again, as if to seek help. Aurora had
put him on the spot and he did not know how to get out of the situation.
Shortly before, Viviana had made him promise not to reveal anything to Aurora,
but now it was almost impossible to handle the matter without blatantly lying,
which he hated to do.
"I want to know the truth, I'm not a child anymore," insisted Aurora,
hotly.
At the end
Doña
Viviana sighing gave an almost imperceptible nod of her
head, allowing Don José to finally be honest and tell Aurora the truth.
"Well, I should start from the beginning, the corpse that we found along
with Don Costantino's ..." Don José stopped because he saw a grimace of
pain on Aurora’s face.
" Forgive me, if it still hurts you too much to talk about it, I’ll come
back another day."
" No, please continue, the pain is severe but we’re learning to live with
it," replied Aurora.
"So, we have identified the other man as Don Hector Navarra y Reyes, your
husband’s paternal uncle. After living for many years in Europe, he returned to
Mexico travelling on the same ship as your friend, Don Cristobal de la Vega. We
checked the passenger lists of the shipping company."
Doña
Viviana paled, trying to remain composed, how sad had been the fate
of the two men who had loved her so much and whom she had loved so differently.
Death had united them forever.
Aurora reacted with astonishment to the news.
" You understand the situation this has caused. At the crime scene we
found a cufflink belonging to Don Lucas, if there had just been your father,
there would be no problem. The other victim however is linked to Lucas and the
information that we have collected indicates there could have been a grudge between
them ... "
"On what grounds?" Aurora asked weakly.
Don José looked embarrassed. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to answer.
"You also know that Don Lucas was disinherited by his father. We have
collected evidence, indicating that Don Hector could be Don Lucas’ real father
and his death therefore has avoided a scandal..."
“It’s not possible," cried Aurora. "Lucas would never have done it!
What happened then?"
" Don Lucas was arrested on suspicion of murder. The day of the fire, he
didn’t have a proven alibi. No real banker in Veracruz has ever confirmed
having met him and no one has matched the description given by Don Lucas. As
far as we know it could very well have been a fabricated excuse and the letter
he received with the invitation could have been sent by himself... "
Aurora leaned back on the sofa, pale and trembling.
"But," she interrupted. "It couldn’t have been him ... and where
is he now?"
"We released him just before I left to come here, because your maid Carmen
has confirmed his alibi. "
" Carmen?"
"Yes she said that on the day of the murder she spoke with a man,
corresponding to the description of the fake banker given by Don Lucas. The
mystery man asked how to get to the uninhabited house outside Tampico where the
meeting was held."
"So you mean that all this time Lucas has been in prison?" Exclaimed
Aurora.
Due to the thrill of learning that maybe there was a reason why Lucas had not
yet come looking for her, her heart beat so fast she feared that everyone could
hear it.
Her head spun and she felt her cheeks burning.
"Yes, but tell me where does your certainty come from that it wasn’t him?
To be honest I thought that your prolonged stay here was due to the fact that
he had been charged with  this horrendous crime." Said Don José.
Doña
Viviana intervened, responding instead of Aurora.
"No Don José, my daughter and I needed to stay away from Tampico to get
over our pain."
" Yes, of course!" Commented Don José.
"With regard to Lucas, he could be anything but a murderer, believe me Don
José! Someone wanted to hurt and incriminate him. That man, the fake banker, it
was an engineered and professional trap!" Aurora exclaimed in a firm tone.
In fact, Don José was starting to think the same thing. He had developed a
certain intuition about people and knew that Lucas was honest and upright. He
could not imagine him in the role of a mad arsonist who had killed two people
in such a devious way.
Aurora sighed, holding her forehead in her delicate hand.
" It’s all so mysterious, so cryptic! It’s like a game of Chinese boxes!
Also I don’t understand what my father was doing in the chapel with Lucas’
uncle..."
Viviana intervened promptly.
"Your father and Don Hector knew each other since they were  young, that's
all," she said nervously. "I’m sure that Don Hector wanted to say
hello to him after all these years ..."
Doña
Viviana gave a pleading look to Don José who nodded almost
imperceptibly. He had sworn that he would never betray Viviana’s confidence and
did not intend to break that promise.
"Now if you'll excuse me I need to rest, I have a headache." Aurora
said in a tired voice. "With your permission."
"Of course," said Don José, standing up.
Doña
Viviana who had guessed the reason for Aurora’s restlessness, said,
"We’ll expect you down for dinner later, darling, Don José has graciously
accepted my invitation."
Aurora nodded and went to her room to think about Lucas without any
disturbance.
Meanwhile, Viviana and Don José continued their conversation, no longer needing
to hide anything.
"But do you really believe this motive could have prompted Lucas to wish
for Hector’s death?" Asked
Doña
Viviana when they were alone.
Don José was silent for a moment.
"Speak, you can trust me," said
Doña
Viviana, sensing his
embarrassment.
"Well, promise me that what I’m about to say will remain between us!"
Viviana nodded.
"
Doña
Raquel informed me that before he died, Don Eduardo had
discovered that Lucas was not his son but Hector’s and for this reason he
decided to disinherit him. According to
Doña
Raquel, Lucas feared that
with Hector’s return the scandal would be made public."
"I'm shocked, this story seems unbelievable to me," she said.
"To be honest, it is to me too. I don’t think Lucas had anything to do
with the murders, and that's why I have released him. However, I’ll continue
with my investigation to find the real murderer." Replied Don José.
Viviana was silent for a moment, perhaps Lucas really was just a victim.
Something told her that it was the evil Raquel that was manipulating everything
and that Raquel was probably trying to hide something, maybe something about
herself or Federico.
Raquel, I always find you in my way, always trying to hurt me
thought
Viviana with hatred. She hated that pale and stern face with its proud and
confident expression.The last time she had seen Raquel, at Federico’s and
Marisol marriage, they had ignored each other, but the hatred that ran between
them would never cease. As she thought back to the night of the wedding feast,
Viviana remembered a detail that had been buried in the back of her mind.
My
God, it can’t be
... Viviana could not help suppressing a shudder.
" Are you all right?"
Don José voice aroused her from her thoughts.
" There's one thing I must tell you," gasped Viviana. "I don’t
know whether it’s important or not, it may well be nonsense ..."
"Please tell me and let me be the judge. Speak; I beg you,"
encouraged Don José.
"At Marisol’s wedding, there was a scuffle between Lucas and Don Cristobal
and during the fight I clearly saw Lucas’ shirt sleeve tear. I had completely
forgotten until today. But the strangest thing was that when the uproar over
the fight had ceased and we were all going back to the  dance floor, I turned
back and saw Doña Raquel staring at something in the grass and then bend down
to pick it up." Explained Viviana.
Don José looked at her seriously.
"This could be crucial information that could definitively exonerate
Lucas! You should have told me sooner!"
"I didn’t remember it ... You see," sighed Viviana embarrassed.
"That evening I saw Don Hector for the first time after all those years
... I was in a state of shock!"
Don José, in a burst of understanding took hold of her hand.
"Forgive me if I used an inappropriate tone," he said politely.
"It won’t happen again ..."
Viviana looked into his blue eyes, so sweet and understanding. She decided,
however, to withdraw her hand.
" I don’t know what's going on, Don José, but we’re faced with an intrigue
of unimaginable proportions." Viviana got up from the couch, walking
around the room nervously, "I don’t know what to think anymore! Just
yesterday, I accidentally overheard a conversation between Cristobal and
Federico in which Cristobal threatened Federico with telling the truth about
him and Lucas. But I don’t know what the truth is that they were referring
to."
"This is all very strange, but reinforces my suspicions," said Don
José stroking his chin. "An evil mind is at work here. If we assume that
we are dealing with a perverse set up,
Doña
Viviana, you should realize
that the person to bear the brunt of all this is your own son in law... Don
Lucas hasn’t done anything of which he has been accused."
Viviana paused thoughtfully.
What if Don José is right? What if Lucas is
really a good man, an honest person? My God, I've been acting so terrible
towards him
... but then she remembered the suffering he had caused Aurora,
a betrayal consummated right in front of her eyes.
Such behavior deserved
neither understanding nor forgiveness
.
Soon after Don Cristobal arrived to join them for dinner. Dolores immediately
went to oversee the meal and also to call Aurora.
At the table, Dolores tried to speak on light and harmless subjects, after all
of the day’s emotions.
"Tomorrow Don José is returning to Tampico, why don’t we go with
him?" Viviana asked suddenly, addressing Aurora.
Cristobal trying to hide his uneasiness twisted his napkin in his hands.
"If you can wait a few more days I can accompany you." He suggested
hopefully.
"Don’t worry. You have work to do and we don’t want to rush you. We’ll
take advantage of Don José’s kindness and we’ll leave tomorrow." Replied
Doña
Viviana, assuming the proud and haughty tone she had always had before
Costantino’s tragic death.