The Forbidden Promise (4 page)

Interested, he asked for further details.
Santos looked at him in amazement even though he knew that Lucas had an
extraordinary shrewdness for business.
The three stood talking for some time, and then Lucas devoted himself to
inspecting the ship under construction. Lucas promised to recommend it to other
members of the transportation company.
Leaving Santos to work at the shipyard, Lucas returned home.
Yolanda was there just finishing the cleaning. She smiled, glad to see him.
" Hello Lucas!“ She greeted him joyful.
Yolanda was a beautiful girl with curly hair and dark impertinent eyes.
" Hello, thank you for tidying the house, everything was in a real mess
and without your help, I wouldn’t even be able to find the table."
"I know, if I don’t take care of you who would do so?” Yolanda asked,
wrinkling her nose, “Certainly not that little madam I’ve seen you with for a
while."
"Marisol is not a little madam. However I think you're jealous,” Lucas
replied laughing. “A jealous child."
Yolanda stuck her tongue out at him and turned away offended.
"I'm not a child. I'm a woman now, but you don’t realize."
Lucas suddenly noticed an envelope on the table.” What’s this?" He asked.
" Your little madam’s maid brought it here a little while ago," said
Yolanda shrugging her shoulders. "I'm leaving. I’ve finished."
Lucas eagerly opened the envelope and read the short message.
My dear Lucas, meet me at the shack on the beach this evening.
I'll be waiting for you with anticipation.
Yours Marisol.
Lucas smiled happily, the day was getting better and better. The ship under
construction, the interesting news about the
hacienda
in Zacatecas and
now the prospect of a pleasant evening in good company.
He lay down on his bed with his hands behind his head and recalled Marisol’s
blue eyes, her slender body that at the same time was endowed with generous
curves that he had so often hugged to his chest. Suddenly this vivid memory was
superimposed on a different face, haughty, hazel eyes, flowing brown hair, full
lips waiting for a kiss and a body wrapped in a sage colored dress that
overflowed with femininity.

    
Lucas got up from the bed, the scene of a romantic encounter with Marisol and
began to dress.
"You know, I met your cousin today," he said sardonically.
Marisol, curious, propped herself up on one elbow.
" My cousin?" She queried.
" The daughter of Doña Viviana Vargas and Don Costantino de Coronado,
isn’t she your cousin?"
" Ah, yes of course. She’s the daughter of my father's brother. She’s
called Aurora. She’s been in Mexico City a long time, studying medicine. So,
she’s come back! I didn’t know. Where did you meet her?"
" At the market, we bumped into each other rather than met. She’s quite
pretty."
Marisol brushed the hair from her forehead with a sensual gesture.
" Yes, she is," she replied nonchalantly.
" She studied medicine, you say? What a bizarre choice for a young
noblewoman." Said Lucas as he thought again of Aurora’s haughty tone.
" In truth, she isn’t noble, my family got the title through my mother,
Countess of Rivera. My father’s family, though wealthy, isn’t
aristocratic."
Lucas snorted.
"Nobility and aristocracy, what complicated rules for the same nonsense!
"
Marisol looked at him irritated.
"It isn’t nonsense. A noble title opens many doors. Even the high and
mighty family Navarra y Reyes despite being one of the most powerful on the
east coast, isn’t aristocratic, and must make way for us when we enter church.
These are the rules."
Lucas started to laugh.
"First of all, even though I’ve kept the name I’m not part of the high and
mighty family Navarra y Reyes, as you call them. Second, I rarely go to church.
Third, I‘m not at all interested in having a title, much less yours."
" Your brother seems to be very interested." She retorted.
Lucas stiffened.
" What about my brother?" He growled.
" You know very well that I know Federico. Your brother is always so kind
and polite, and generous with invitations. And, he’s really charming. My
parents would approve of such a union. After all, he’s the owner of the largest
hacienda
in the region."
Lucas, angry, pushed her back onto the bed, towering over her with his body. He
could not tolerate, despite all the time that had passed, being reminded that
he had been cast out as a stray and deprived of his inheritance.
" Ah yes," he said severely. " So why do you come to bed with me
if you’re so interested in a union with him? "
"Don’t be vulgar!" She scolded him. "Anyway, the two things are
not totally at odds.”
Lucas grinned.
"You're a little hypocritical. You’ve just spoken of nobility, aristocracy
and marriage and yet didn’t hesitate to lose your innocence with me. "
"You're a brute," replied Marisol. ”I’m noble, but I’m also modern, I
read and keep myself updated. These are absurdities of the colonial times. This
country is backwards! Don’t you know that in Europe, women are joining together
and demonstrating to get the right to vote? Yet here in Mexico they still speak
of being innocent when you get married! I just want to know about love so that
I can make the right choice when I have to decide who is to be my
husband."
Lucas turned away from her and began to laugh uproariously.
"You really are impossible! Do what you want, marry my brother, but I warn
you, he’s not what you think. He’s cruel, controlling and devoted more to his
amusements than managing the
hacienda.
"
Marisol shrugged.
"Like all men. But when he marries, he’ll surely change. Enough talk about
Federico and my marriage, I certainly haven’t decided about my future
yet." Murmured Marisol as she gently caressed Lucas’ muscular chest.
"And tonight I want to dedicate to the two of us.”
Lucas nodded and kissed her passionately.
Another house, another situation, another couple, another night of passion.
The house was an uninhabited cottage outside Tampico that at one time had
belonged to
Doña
Raquel’s family. Federico Navarra y Reyes was upstairs
lying in a large bed, half-asleep, exhausted from a hangover and a night of
passion.
" Love, are you asleep?" Asked a soft, gentle voice.
The woman at his side gently caressed his arm.
" Alma, shut up and let me rest!" He exclaimed roughly.
" What's the matter? Why are you being so rude? Didn’t I satisfy you
tonight?" Alma looked at him with pleading eyes.
"Of course you satisfied me, my beautiful little harlot, you've got a real
talent for these things." Federico replied with a sardonic grin. "
But I’m very tired now and I want you to go, tomorrow I have important things
to do."
" You don’t want me to stay a bit longer? I have time. My aunt won’t wake
up for a few hours yet." Laughed Alma. "I gave her a double dose of
laudanum tonight so that I could be certain of leaving home unnoticed."
"No, you have to leave." Federico replied tersely. Then adding more
gently, "but don’t worry, I’ll see you soon. I thoroughly enjoy the games
that you play."
"Do you love me as much as I love you?" She continued. Federico
raised himself up on one arm to look at her.
At times she’s so stupid that
it’s irritating
he thought. He reached out and caressed her pale cheek.
"Of course silly, did I not love you last night?"
Alma jumped out of bed, shaking her beautiful blond hair and began to dress
with flirtatious gestures, "Yes, you love me, I’ve always known, a witch
foretold this to me!"
"Oh? And who is this witch?"
"I'm not telling you, it's a secret!” Replied Alma with a giggle.
"I'm going now, but only if you give me one last kiss.”
Federico lit a cigar and went to the window.
Poor silly Alma, Penelope could
make her believe anything, and especially make her do whatever I want. It had
been so easy to convince her to surrender herself, and soon Penelope would
convince her to abandon her sick aunt to become my mistress.
A cruel smile
crossed Federico’s handsome face.
That little harlot is really good, she
should do it as a profession. When I am tired of having fun with her, I’ll try
to make money from her talents.
But now I have to rest, tomorrow I have something really important to do,
something that will make me a lot of money, I hope ...
The next afternoon Federico knocked on the door of the Vargas de Coronado
Rivera’s house. A servant hastily opened the door, bowing deeply: "Please enter,
Don Federico Navarra y Reyes,
Doña
Clara and the young lady are waiting
for you in the tea room.”
Federico proceeded towards the room without acknowledging the servant.
"
Doña
Clara, what an honor to receive your invitation! "
"Make yourself at home, dear Federico," invited
Doña
Clara as
she rose from her chair and walked over to Federico to take his hands. “Come,
my daughter Marisol has been looking forward to seeing you."
" Mother!” Exclaimed Marisol flushing with embarrassment.” Of course I'm
glad of your visit Federico, your company is always very pleasant. "
"Marisol, you are radiant today, your beauty is enchanting." Federico
knew how to be very gallant.
"Madam, your charm rivals that of your wonderful daughter," he added,
turning to
Doña
Clara.
Doña
Clara, whose face was already showing the first signs of aging;
pallid, thin and framed by thick dark hair that made her pallor stand out even
more, laughed with pleasure behind her fan.
Marisol looked down,
my mother would believe anything
...
Federico is
a real flatterer and certainly a good catch but
…Lucas’ soulful eyes that
smiled at her ironically, surfaced in her mind, so different from his brother’s
unnerving icy stare.
Enough, passion is one thing and the other is
convenience. Lucas has been disinherited, has nothing; Federico however, would
bring money and wealth to my noble surname. Our union will be perfect ...
"Federico, it’s so hot today, I'd love to take a stroll through the garden
and get some fresh air. Of course, with your permission dear mother."
"Of course my child, go ahead, I’ll watch you from here.”
Federico stood up and offered Marisol his arm.
Everything is going well, the
courtship of the young countess is easier than I expected.
" Come Marisol, I want to see if I can find a flower in the rose
garden that can compete with your beauty."
Later that evening Federico sat down at his writing bureau, took out some
writing paper with his initials on and wrote.
My beloved Aurora,
I regret enormously that I have not yet had an opportunity to visit you and to
pay my respects to your parents.
Ever since I met you in Mexico City, I have had no other desire than to see you
again and soon I will have the honor of asking your father for permission to
court you.
Unfortunately, I still have to wait, as urgent problems at the hacienda are
holding me up, and I do not know when I will be able to join you in Tampico.
Believe me, every day of separation from you is a deep wound in my heart, I do
not know how much longer I will be able to resist it.
Forever yours
Federico
Federico closed the letter with a wax seal and smiled in amusement.
Here's
another silly girl to play with. No, this time I have to be very careful
...
Marisol and Aurora are cousins. I can’t allow them to realize that they are
both being courted.
"Aurora is very beautiful but isn’t as rich as her cousin, nor is she
noble. Marisol is more flirtatious, maybe she’ll be more difficult to control,
but her dowry is certainly reward enough for the effort of keeping her under
control.” He muttered to himself.
Aurora read and reread Federico’s letter, disappointment was written all over
her face. How much longer would she have to wait? He had promised her that as
soon as she returned from Mexico City he would ask her father for permission to
court her ... and then maybe even marry her. Federico was so proud and kind, he
made her feel innocent and sensual at the same time. Reflected in his languid
gazes, Aurora felt beautiful. She had never been courted before and now the
attentions of such a charming young man made her dizzy.
Federico my love,
how long will I have to wait? I want to be yours for always.
Aurora had already imagined all of her future with Federico: after the wedding,
simple but romantic, they would move to his estate where, as a doctor, she
could take care of the laborers and their families. And then children would
come, their children ...
She stood up, shaking her head,
I can’t let these dreams carry on. It will
be better if I look for a way to practice medicine and make myself as useful as
possible to Tampico’s poor. But of course, Father Julian! I’ll go to him!
Aurora got her prayer book, a fine lace veil and ran down the stairs.
"Where are you going, my dear? "
Doña
Viviana’s question
reached her in the hall.
" To church," replied Aurora breathless.
" A young lady for her own good shouldn’t run that way," reproached
her mother. "Also, I don’t think it is time for the service.”
Aurora was a good Christian, but had never been particularly devote, she could
not justify her desire to go to church with sudden piousness.
"Actually I wanted to talk to Father Julian," said Aurora biting her
lip. "I'm so used to doing something during the day and now that I'm back
I'm afraid of being bored. I want to ask if I can be useful in the parish, offering
my help as a volunteer."
"I'm not a fool, Aurora," retorted Viviana. " Not as a
volunteer, but as a doctor. "
" I don’t see what's wrong with that.” Replied Aurora.
"This wasn’t what we agreed."
"Our agreement was for me to get married and think of my family. As I have
neither one nor the other, I can’t see why I can’t practice medicine."
" And how are you going to find a husband attending the sick, the crippled
and the dying?" Asked Viviana
" The sick, crippled and dying have brothers, sons and cousins, maybe my
destiny is with one of them." Said Aurora.
Aurora saw that her mother was irritated. It was not easy to contradict her
when she was seriously angry.
" Nobody in our social class will ever visit a female doctor." Hissed
Viviana, slowly enunciating every word. "And, I’ll certain not allow my
only daughter to marry a beggar. Is that clear?”
" Mother, please don’t be angry." Pleaded Aurora.
" You think I don’t understand you, but you're wrong." Vivian sighed
regaining her calm. "I just want to protect you from disappointment. Dear,
a woman is never really free to do what she wants, the conventions, reputation,
judgment of people, can make a woman’s life hell. I'm talking about the
ostracism that you would be subject to if we let you do what you want to
do."
"I don’t care about people’s opinion," Aurora replied hotly.
"Now maybe not, but one day, when you're really alone and abandoned by our
people you’ll understand what it means to be shunned. Your patients could never
pay you and without a husband to protect you what would you do?" Queried
Viviana.
" Mother, I just want to be helpful. Try to understand me, no one will
know about it, maybe very soon I’ll receive an offer of marriage and everything
will be okay."
" An offer? Did someone court you while you were in Mexico City?"
Asked Viviana suspiciously.
" No, mother, no one. With your permission I’ll go to Father Julian."
Said Aurora as she walked quickly towards the door.
"No! Aurora wait! Don’t you dare."
Blessed girl, you don’t
understand that I just want to protect you! The fewer dreams and illusions you
have, the easier your life will be ... the life of every woman.
Viviana
sighed and thought about her past
. Don’t suffer as I have suffered under the
illusion of a dream that will never come true ...
" Viviana," called a male voice behind her. "Don’t torment
her."
Viviana turned and saw her tall, handsome husband.
" I thought you were still in your office," replied Viviana.
" I heard you shouting." Said Costantino as he looked into her eyes.
Tall, with neat gray hair and a strong chin that still made him handsome,
despite the advancing years.
"You shouldn’t be so strict with her." He added.
"I'm just trying to protect her from herself." Explained Viviana.
" She has to make her own choice."
" She'll end up disappointed and bitter."
"You know what this is like, don’t you?" Asked Costantino.
Viviana winced, as if she had been struck in the chest by a dagger. She walked
over to Costantino.