The Forbidden Promise (11 page)

Aurora tried to examine the old woman, but she was too agitated.
" What did you say her niece’s name was?" She asked worriedly.
" Alma," said Mother Agostina, frightened.
" This woman has been drugged repeatedly. She’s now going through
withdrawal. Do you agree Dr. Peron?" Aurora asked.
" Yes, I recognize the symptoms." Replied Dr. Peron, his voice,
reduced to a whisper as the memory of his own withdrawal crises due to
abstinence from alcohol invaded his mind.
" Given her age, it could be risky to completely stop the substance that
she is dependent on. We must give her some and reduce it a little at a
time."
" What could the substance be?" Asked Mother Agostina.
" It could be anything." Said Dr. Peron, "Morphine, belladonna,
laudanum, opium."
"Let's try morphine?" Suggested Aurora.
Dr. Peron shook his head.
" We’ve very little, we need it for post-operative treatment of the most seriously
ill. Let's try laudanum or belladonna."
The old woman, meanwhile, had started to rave.
"My poor niece! She has been taken over by the devil! The devil has come
to take her to hell! Call Father Julian! He must bring her back from hell! The
devil has taken her to hell!" The old woman’s voice became higher and
higher. Mother Agostina tried to calm her, while she invoked
St.
Michael, the Archangel
, defender of all demons.
Aurora made the old woman drink water with belladonna, hoping to calm her down.
"It would be better if we tied her down until we see if the belladonna is
effective, otherwise she could hurt herself."
Dr. Peron helped Mother Agostina to tie the old woman’s wrists.
The rest of the afternoon thankfully passed pretty quietly, even though the old
woman did not calm down.
"We should try something else," commented Dr. Peron.
Aurora nodded and said, "We shouldn’t however mix too many substances, we
need to wait until the belladonna has been metabolized."
"I'll stay here until late, so that I can administer some laudanum."
Replied Dr. Peron.
Aurora completed the round of visits and then returned home before sunset.
At dinner she saw that her mother was calmer and told her parents about the
case of the old woman.
"It’s easy for eldery people who have problems with insomnia to abuse
these substances. It’s criminal to see them used without any control,"
ruled Costantino.
Viviana said nothing, but contented herself with watching her husband and
daughter discussing the evils of drug addiction.

Immediately after coffee, Aurora wanted to retire to her room.
She kissed her father and turned to bid her mother goodnight.
"Good night, mother," she said.
" Good night, child. Think about what we said today."
Aurora did not answer.
How could I forget
? She wondered, as she climbed
the stairs.
The agitation and nervousness returned to invade her. The distraction that her
work had given her vanished in an instant while she was putting on her
nightgown.
She relived the discussion with her mother.
She’ll never give up, She’ll not
have peace until I find a husband
. She got between the sheets.
You're
beautiful, young with a large dowry, you can afford to choose!
  Her mother
had told her. But who she had hoped would become her husband had only deceived
her.
Why can’t I pursue my dreams? Why I can’t I hope to be happy in my own
way?
Her mother’s reaction that afternoon had amazed her.
What had
happened to make her so disenchanted?
The minutes passed long and
unrelenting, but she could not get to sleep. The minutes became hours and
Aurora kept tossing and turning in bed. She got up and poured herself a glass
of water. In anxiety, she was not aware that she had spilled  some on the
table.
I also need some belladonna tonight
.
Finally, even though she did not realized it, her mind surrendered to a kind of
unconscious alertness. Faces and thoughts swirled around, she was no longer
able to make complete sense of all the things that she saw in those moments. I
must not lose heart. Lucas hasn’t given up, he's chasing his dreams! Lucas, why
am I now thinking of him? Then she saw his sad, green eyes, while he recounted
his unfortunate childhood and his suffering on account of his stepmother.
I
won’t be discouraged, I’ll try other ways to get the money I need!
But he
was a man, he was able to fight to realize his dreams, to reestablish his name
and succeed in life.
But he doesn’t have the money to do so
she said to herself. In her
semi-conscious state she smiled.
I have the money, but I don’t have a
husband who will let me lead the life I want ... what had her mother said in
the afternoon? Your father and I have made available a large dowry, enough to
buy a house, if necessary
!
She never knew how her mind, confused by fatigue, had linked the two thoughts
to form a unique design, a picture in which each piece matched perfectly ...
Suddenly the same idea that she had just conceived startled her and woke her up
abruptly and she found herself sitting up in the bed, panting.
My God, I'm
going crazy. How could I even think such a thing?

Aurora
woke up with dark circles under her eyes, the sun was shining, already high in
the sky.
My God! It's so late! And of course, my mother didn’t wake me up!
Like a fury, she washed and dressed. She combed her long hair and put on
some make-up to try to mask the aftermath of the sleepless night.
She went down stairs and quickly greeted her mother, her father had already
gone to visit a patient.
As she hurried to
La Virgen de la Caridad
convent she could not help
reflecting on what had leapt into her mind during the night.
The plan that she had thought of to save the situation would have been
brilliant if it had not been so bizarre, reckless and even amoral.
I must be completely mad
she kept repeating, like a litany.
She arrived at the convent’s infirmary almost doubled up from the exertion, so
that Mother Agostina made her immediately sit down and poured her a fresh
lemonade with plenty of sugar.
A little less out of breath, she stood up and put on her doctor’s apron. Dr.
Peron was already seeing the new patients that were arriving. The old woman
seemed quieter, but the tremors in her arms and legs continued, though less
violent than those of the day before.
Incredibly, this time Aurora could not get distracted by her work. The fixation
of the night continued to buzz around her head like an annoying fly, so much so
that Mother Agostina had to repeat several times the patients’ medical
histories.
Eventually she gave up and admitted she did not feel well. Dr. Peron sent her
straight home and Aurora took his advice without arguing.
She returned home. On seeing Aurora,
Doña
Viviana asked worriedly if she
was sick.
" No mother, I'm just tired, last night I didn’t sleep," she replied
flatly.
She went directly to her room and lay down on her bed, massaging her temples.
What's so wrong about it
? Said a soft voice of a temptress in her mind,
a voice that she wanted to forcibly drive out,
you need a complacent
husband, Lucas needs money. This is just a practical solution.
Don’t be silly
replied another voice, that sensible and gratifying voice
of wisdom,
you’ve never seen or heard of such a thing. Besides, how will you
propose it to him? You’ll never have the courage to do it!
You're already breaking conventions, you're one of the few female doctors in
Mexico, the only one in Tampico and probably in the whole state of Tamaulipas
said her unconscious side,
you’ve no other way out
.
Slowly she dozed off and fell into a deep dreamless sleep.
Carmen, the maid, woke her up for lunch, but Aurora did not have much appetite
and asked to have a snack in her room.
Shortly after her father came to see her as he was worried about her health.
" I hope you're all right," he said, after finding that there were no
particular symptoms.
Aurora tried to reassure her father.
" I'm just tired, father," replied Aurora.
" Are you worried about the discussion you had with your mother?"
Aurora was not surprised that he knew of it, she knew that her parents were in
complete confidence.
" No, it's nothing."
" Your mother is particularly sensitive on this point," continued
Costantino, "perhaps too much. But at heart, she is only worried about you
and wants the best for her beloved daughter."
Aurora smiled.
"I know, father."
"She’s not completely in the wrong, you too know that well."
"I believed that you thought otherwise." Aurora commented,
disappointed.
"I gave you permission to study medicine in Mexico City against her will.
I gave you the opportunity to work in the convent’s infirmary, as I think it's
only fair that you have experience in what you studied. But it’s also true that
you are a woman, and you can’t do anything about it. At the end you’ll have to
get married, and find the right husband for yourself."
" Like Don Felipe?"
" Felipe is a gentleman and has liberal ideas. But if you don’t like him,
you can think of someone else. Your mother wants you to hurry. I don’t, but
remember that sooner or later you’ll need to take this step."
Aurora felt a lump in her throat. Even her beloved father, who had spoiled her,
protected her, also defended her against her mother, was now joining forces,
albeit with a lot of tenderness, against her.
I don’t really have a choice
then. I have to do something or it’ll get worse and worse. If I decide now, at
least I’d have the opportunity to choose. Otherwise, I risk being trapped in an
arranged marriage, with no choice.
Without realizing, she began to cry silently.
Costantino, upset, hugged her.
"No, my child, don’t do that, please. You still have time! But please, at
least think about it, don’t rule out anything beforehand! "
Aurora hugged her adored father, feeling secure in his embrace, like when she
was little and woke up scared at night because of the noise of thunder.
But
I’m no longer a child, I'm a woman. And if I don’t want to succumb, I have to
act.
Costantino left her to rest and went back downstairs.
Aurora lay back down on her bed, confused and bewildered. On the one hand, she
continued to think about the bizarre solution that had flashed into her mind
last night. On the other hand, she knew that she would never have the courage
to talk to Lucas. Lucas intimidated her, so self-confident, handsome,
brilliant.
And he’s Marisol’s lover
.
He was, they’ve left each other, remember
? said the voice of madness
within her.
They broke up due to a fight caused by you.
What should she do? How could she make a decision?
You have to see him,
here's what you must do: go and find him and you'll know if you have the
courage to propose such a deal to him.
Aurora got up from the bed, changed her creased dress and put on a better
one, the color of saffron. She combed her long chestnut brown hair and went
downstairs.
"I’m going out for a walk," she said to her mother.
"Take Carmen with you," ordered
Doña
Viviana.
Aurora went out accompanied by the maid. Pretending to walk aimlessly, she went
towards Lucas’ house. On reaching the house, she told Carmen that she needed to
speak with an acquaintance of hers and knocked on the door. No one answered,
not even the rude girl came to open it. Disappointed she decided to go to the
harbor. She went directly to the shipyard where after looking in vain for a few
minutes, she saw Santos Robles who was carrying planks of wood.
When Santos saw her, he put the timber on the ground and walked towards her.
"Miss, good afternoon, do you need something? "
" Good afternoon. I need to talk to Don Lucas. "
Fearing that Santos would think, who knows what, considering it was the second
time that she had come looking for information about Lucas, she hastened to add
a plausible explanation.
"I need to know when he’ll complete the delivery of medicines for the
convent. They are now becoming very necessary." She almost feared that she
would lose her voice before finishing the sentence due to her agitation.
But Santos did not show any signs of having noticed Aurora’s uneasiness.
"It must be for this reason, then, that Lucas brought the trip to Veracruz
forward. He embarked this morning, raising hell with his partners to change the
order of the procurements."
Aurora sighed visibly, relieved on the one hand, but on the other hand
tremendously disappointed.
She said goodbye to Santos and walked towards the beach.
Maybe fate has willed it this way. If Lucas were to find the loan he needs
in Veracruz he’ll no longer have a desperate need for money. And at that point
I won’t have the opportunity to propose anything to him.
She decided to enter the small chapel of the
Virgen del Mar
. Inside,
away from heat, Aurora felt a pleasant sensation of freshness. She knelt in
front of the little altar, where the statue of the Virgin wrapped in a blue
robe and with a crown of stars stood. The inscription on the pedestal read
Stella
Maris
.
If Lucas were to return with the money needed for the hacienda in Zacatecas,
I won’t even have to worry whether or not to talk to him about what I was
thinking of. Otherwise, I'll do it whatever the cost, I swear. I'm in God’s
hands and in the hands of fate. It will be what it will be!
Almost reassured by the deal that she had made with herself, made the sign of
the cross and stood up to go home.

The next morning, Aurora
arrived at the infirmary very early and found Mother Agostina with red eyes.
" Mother, what’s happened?"
" That poor woman, the old woman with the addiction to laudanum died just
before dawn. Dr. Peron says her heart gave up. We have to let her niece know.
Poor thing, it will be a blow to her. "
" If you want I can go and inform her," offered Aurora.
"Thank you my dear it would be very kind of you." Replied Mother
Agostina.
Aurora made her way to the old woman's address with a heavy heart.
The old woman had had no serious illnesses that could have brought on her death
so quickly. Her heart had been weakened by the drugs, and having lowered the
levels of the drug in an attempt to detoxify her, it had killed her. She
wondered what kind of person was the niece who had allowed such a sacrifice.
Aurora reached the house and was struck by the desolation of the place. She
knocked repeatedly at the door but no one answered. A street urchin who was
sitting on the ground near the entrance looked at Aurora and asked, "Miss
are you looking for people who live in this house? "
"Yes, do you know where they are?"
" I’ll tell you if you give me something to eat." Replied the boy
"I’ve no food with me but I can give you a coin. "
"That’s fine, this time." Said the boy.
Aurora could not help smiling, "Tell me what you know."
"Well, the old lady has been gone for a few days, she was kind, she always
left me something to eat at the window."
"I know this, I have to talk to her niece."
" Another question, another penny."
"You're a little rascal," said Aurora giving him another coin.
" I'm an orphan, Miss, and I have to live. The niece went off yesterday
with a tall man with light hair and blue eyes, she had a suitcase with
her."
"Do you know if she will return?" Asked Aurora, the child laughed and
held out his hand.
"Look little one, I'm losing my patience."
" I don’t know, Miss, but the maid went out this morning crying, carrying
a bag."
"Thank you."
" If you need me I'm here, Miss, at your service."
" What's your name? Although if I have to pay I don’t want to know."
"It's free, my name’s Paco, Miss."
"When you're hungry go to the nuns at
La Virgen de la Caridad,
tell
them that Aurora sent you, they’ll give you something to eat. "
"Thank you Miss, may God bless you!"
Aurora returned home as it was nearly time for dinner.
We’ll have to take
care of that poor old woman’s funeral, the niece tried to get rid of her before
disappearing. I don’t even know her name, poor unfortunate woman.

What Aurora was unaware of,
was that Alma was equally unfortunate.
Federico had picked her up the night before.
" Alma, come, we’re going out, I want to take you to a nice place."
" My love! Where are we going? Will we have fun?" Asked Alma
"Of course silly we'll have fun, we’ll have dinner, we’ll drink something
good, and then we’ll spend a very interesting night." Explained Federico.
"What do you have in mind? I'm curious."
"I know you are, but I want to surprise you, so don’t ask me any more
questions."
" How do you want me to dress? " Asked Alma.
" Wear something very provocative, I want everyone to admire you. Then
pack a suitcase with some changes of clothes because tomorrow we leave on a
little trip."
Alma clapped her hands enthusiastically. "A journey. Oh dear Federico, it’s
a dream come true. Will you take me to your
hacienda
? "
" You stubborn little thing, I told you not to ask me questions, don’t
waste time, hurry up."
Federico had the smugness of someone about to conclude a bargain.
From the corner of his eye he saw a young maid bustling about in the living
room, he strode over to her and grabbed her roughly by the arm.
"You, collect your rags and leave, you’re not needed in this house
anymore."
" Why sir, what have I done wrong?" Asked the maid crying.
" I told you, you’re not needed here anymore. Disappear quickly. Miss Alma
doesn’t want to see you anymore, so don’t go and bother her. Lock yourself in
your room and wait until we’ve gone before you leave." Ordered Federico
aggressively.
" But, sir, please don’t throw me out." She pleaded.
" Don’t make me hit you, obey me immediately or you’ll pay for it!"
Threatened Federico.
The young maid, frightened by Federico’s threats ran to her bedroom and locked
herself in, crying in terror.
Alma and Federico left shortly afterwards.
Alma was in seventh heaven, convinced that all her dreams were finally coming
true
.
Doña
Penelope
was right, Federico is taking me with him on a trip and tonight he’s planned a
surprise. I'm sure he’s organized a wedding and tomorrow we leave for our honeymoon!
It must be so! I'm so happy! I love him so much!
Federico helped her into the carriage and sat down beside her.
Immediately his hands went to Alma’s breast and she responded by panting
heavily. Federico's mouth fell ravenously on Alma’s lips that greeted his rough
assault with a sob.
"I love you Federico, I love you madly."
" Ah yes, then show me, tell me you’re my slave." He demanded as he
thrust his hand into her hair tightening his grip painfully "Tell
me!"
" Yes, I’m your slave, do what you will with me." She replied.
"Pull up your skirts and open up for me. "
With her eyes burning with lust, Alma obeyed.

The following week
passed peacefully without any significant events that could completely distract
Aurora from the thoughts that tormented her.
She went to the convent every day to work.
At home, her mother tried to leave her alone, perhaps noticing her anxious and
agitated state. Only one night was she forced to remain in the living room for
longer than usual due to a visit by the Braganza's, with their nephew Don
Felipe in tow. The visit only served to strengthen her purpose.
Finally, after a week, while she was at the infirmary and was examining a young
man with an acute stomach ache, she saw Mother Consuelo come running from the
gatehouse.
"We have more medicine! We have some stock!"
Soon after, she saw Lucas, who was struggling to carry some boxes. Dr. Peron
instantly ran to help him. Together they lowered the boxes to the ground.
Aurora went over, while her heart began to beat wildly, so much so that she
looked down to make sure it wasn’t going to leap out of her chest.
Lucas looked at her intently with his green eyes.
"Good afternoon," he said in his usual deep voice. "I did as you
asked as soon as possible, as you see."
Aurora did not answer immediately, trying to figure out from his eyes and from
his expression if things had gone well for him, and if he had found a bank
willing to give him a loan. She suddenly realized that everyone was looking at
her, including Mother Consuelo, who was obviously imagining at least a dozen
possibilities for her reaction to Lucas’ greeting.
Embarrassed she hurried to reply:" You’ve been very kind,” trying to sound
as natural as possible.
" Now I have to go," Lucas said. "I have to take care of the
rest of the load."
" What about the payment?"
Lucas looked uncomfortable probably for the first time in his life.
"There is no rush ... after all it’s for a good cause."
Mother Consuelo hastened to chirp a plethora of compliments for this brave and
honest young man who thought about the poor and the humble according to the
words of our Lord.
"This is a considerable expense," said Aurora lost. "I…don’t ...
at least allow me to personally contribute to transport costs. In the end it
was I who came to you to ask this favor."
Lucas smiled, looking straight in her eyes.
"Don’t mention it. I did it with pleasure, don’t worry."
Saying goodbye, Lucas walked away, while Aurora stood watching him leave.
" Doctor, I need a hand," Dr. Peron called to her.
Aurora hastened to follow her colleague, trying to stifle the emotions that
pervaded her
. I need to know what happened in Veracruz. I can’t wait any
longer.
Trying not to show her agitation, she buried herself in her work for the rest
of the afternoon. When she left the convent, instead of taking the route home,
she walked towards Lucas’ house.
It’s the right time to challenge myself. I've always prided myself on being
a strong woman, modern and bold. Now I can prove it. I have to fight with the
weapons at my disposal, to defend my choice.
She knocked on the door and waited anxiously. Shortly after the door opened.
Luckily, it was Lucas himself that answered. She would not have been able to
tolerate the young girl with her rude manners.
" Good to see you again. On your own once more?" He asked with a
mischievous smile, then added, "come in, please."
Aurora nodded, trying to hide her embarrassment and went into the living room.
She sat down on the sofa and cleared her throat.
"I would like to thank you again for your generosity," she said.
Lucas did not answer and simply studied her for a few moments, his intense
glance ran from her head to feet that greatly increased Aurora’s embarrassment.
He then sat down next to her.
"  Is there something wrong?" He asked curiously, “your hands are
shaking."
Aurora blushed as she forced herself to relax her hands and stretch her elegant
fingers on her saffron -colored skirt.
"No, no, I'm fine," she answered with a sigh.
Lucas looked dubious, “I’m glad about that."
An awkward silence fell, broken finally by Lucas asking, "Have the last
few days at the infirmary been quiet? "
" Yes, but unfortunately we lost a patient, an elderly woman," said
Aurora.
"I'm sorry."
"Thank you. And you, how was your trip to Veracruz?" She hastened to
ask, thankful that Lucas had brought their struggling conversation to this
point.
" Well, in addition to the drugs for you I found everything that our
customers had ordered."
"Excellent."
"Yes."
Aurora felt in a corner and resigned she decided to ask her question directly.
" And how did the other matter go? Did you manage to find the money to buy
the
hacienda
in Zacatecas? "
Lucas looked at her for a moment, before lowering his eyes.
" Unfortunately no. It seems that a report has been circulated on me that
considers me a bad person, unreliable and a bad payer." He replied sadly.
Unwittingly, Aurora closed her eyes.
And now? What do I do?
What left
her particularly upset was the feeling of absolute confusion she felt. She
could not distinguish whether what she felt was a major disappointment followed
by a sense of fear or excitement full of hope. Or, more likely both.
"You can try other banks," she suggested timidly. "Maybe in
Mexico City."
Lucas jumped up from the couch and began to pace nervously round the lounge.
"No bank will give me a loan, I understand now. They have ruined me
again!"  He ran his hand through his unruly black hair. "With this
reputation no bank will give me weight! I don’t know what to do! But I have to
have that
hacienda
, I have to rebuild what they unjustly took away from
me."
" You care about this a lot?" Aurora whispered, her heart beating
furiously in her chest.
Lucas turned to face her.
" Yes, I care a lot. Not for the wealth itself, I don’t care about that. I
want to be reestablished. I want my rightful place in society and I’m willing
to work hard and rebuild with my own hands the future that I was deprived
of!" Lucas looked like a wounded noble beast, a lion that had had his
heart pierced. Aurora had never seen him like this before. She did not know if
it was due to the expression of pain that she read in those green eyes or her
own feeling of helplessness toward the social conventions that both were forced
to follow and at the end, having to give up their ideals. Suddenly she behaved
like she had never thought she could, not even in her wildest dreams.
She got up from the couch and walked over to Lucas.
"I know how it would be possible for you to buy the
hacienda
."
She said seriously, looking at him in the face without a second thought.
" What do you mean?" Lucas asked stunned by her determination and the
energy that he saw in those beautiful brown eyes that were staring at him.
" I said I know how it would be possible for you to buy the
hacienda
in Zacatecas. I can help you."
" You perhaps want to lend me the money? Your family would never allow it.
And rightly so." He replied," I thank you however for your
selflessness."
"I'm not talking about a loan," interrupted Aurora, "but of a
pact between you and me."
Lucas frowned curiously.
" A pact, you say. A contract? "
Aurora shook her head, overcome with agitation.
" Not a contract. What I’m proposing is a secret pact, forbidden by God’s
law and that of men."
" I don’t understand."
"I have access to a large dowry. Marry me and that amount will be yours. In
return, I ask only for the independence that I can’t have with my parents and
the freedom to do what I want, including being a doctor." Explained Aurora
Lucas froze. For a second he thought that Aurora was joking, but her very
serious expression told him it was certainly not a game.
" You want to marry me?" He asked shocked.
The energy that had sustained Aurora until then ceased abruptly. She was afraid
of collapsing to the floor as her legs felt weaker and weaker. She returned to
the couch, sat down, and began telling him everything that had been tormenting
her. Her future as a doctor that was within her reach but that due to absurd
social conventions were preventing her from achieving and the psychological
pressure she was under from her mother, to find herself a suitable husband.
"I can give you what you need, the money to buy the
hacienda
and
create the position you deserve. In return, I ask you to do the same for
me."
" You know what is involved in a marriage, don’t you?" He ventured,
staring at her.
Aurora blushed.
" What I propose is a pact that mimics a wedding, not a
true conjugal
union.
" She clarified swallowing hard. "We'll be husband and wife
to the whole world, except to us."
" And if I don’t want to accept this condition? After all, if I have to
get married I want to enjoy all the benefits." His gaze traveled from her
head to feet again, well aware of how his words were making her uncomfortable
and therefore even more amused by the situation that had arisen.
Aurora's heart continued beating furiously. She appealed to his rationality and
decided to ignore his last words.
" We will sign a secret pact that we’ll keep hidden. If our agreement
doesn’t work out, we can use it to assert our rights and easily obtain an
annulment of the marriage, becoming two free people again. Also, if what you're
worried about is ... I do not care if you have other .... I mean, you
understood me?"
"That isn’t what worries me," exclaimed Lucas almost angrily.
"Even though I'm no saint, I'm not a fortune hunter! I wouldn’t like to
profit from your innocence and presumed inexperience!" He pronounced these
last words with a mischievous look. Aurora lips parted ready to respond hotly,
but he went on without giving her time to speak. "A woman like you
deserves true love and a husband that makes her happy!”
Among all the possible scenarios that she had foreseen, Aurora had not imagined
that the only objection Lucas would have would be his concern for her
happiness.
Without thinking, she reached out her hand and took his.
"I’ll be so happy, believe me. I can do what I want, what I really want. I
don’t want a husband, I just want to win my freedom!"
"You don’t know me. We’d still have to live in the same house, my
character is not easy and you might soon regret it.” Lucas’ eyes looked at her
with gentleness. "I wouldn’t want you to find out too late that your
freedom has cost you too high a price "
"No price is too high when freedom is at stake," she replied staring
at him straight in the eyes.
Lucas took a few steps, turning to stare out the window with his hands on his
hips. He was silent for a long, endless moment.
Aurora did not know what else to say to convince him. She had exhausted her
supply of courage and feared that she would soon burst into tears. But Lucas
astonished her, he took a deep sigh, turned and knelt down beside her, taking
her hand and touching her palm with his lips.
" Miss Aurora Vargas de Coronado, would you do me the honor of marrying
me?" He said firmly without taking his eyes from hers.
Aurora was stunned, then, after a moment's hesitation, she withdrew her hand
timidly.
"Deal done."
Lucas tightened his lips, staring at his empty hand that until a moment before
had been holding hers.
He said nothing, however, but got up and sat down beside her.
" Would you come to live in Zacatecas?" He asked.
" Yes, at this point I’m not interested in remaining in Tampico. I'll go
with you."
" I'll have to ask for your hand in marriage from your father," said
Lucas.
"He’ll have no objection. Your name is respected here, whether you like it
or not."
" But I'm certainly not a rich man "
"I was assured that I could choose any gentleman, as long as I
marry."
" I'm flattered that you think me a gentleman!" He joked.
Aurora smiled without answering.
" Do you need an advance for the purchase of the
hacienda
?"
Lucas looked surprised.
" You are a very practical woman, but don’t worry. I’ll sell my shares to
the other shareholders of the shipping company and I’ll have the sum needed for
the down payment."
"Good. "
" When are you thinking of getting married?" He asked.
" As soon as possible, I would say. At this point there’s no need to wait,
what do you think?"
" I agree. We could also start using our first names! After all we are
engaged."
Aurora felt strangely peaceful, the tempest of emotions had passed and like the
sea after a storm, she was extremely calm and relaxed, so much so that she
laughed at Lucas’ jokes.
"We can certainly use first names, Lucas. Have you any other
requests?"
" No, not for now."
Aurora would have preferred not to question him on an issue that she would
never be able to ask in the future. She looked down intimidated.
"I have only one more favor to ask of you, regarding my cousin
Marisol."
Lucas’ face darkened.
"There is nothing more between me and Marisol."
"I ... like I said, I’ve no intentions of forbidding you from living as
you like. It wouldn’t be right, but I ask only one thing, please not with
Marisol. She is my cousin and I ... I have my dignity. Everyone must believe
that we are really married and I don’t want ... "
The speech was becoming painful for Aurora, because she could not explain
exactly what was bothering her so much.
" I swear to you that there will never be anything between me and Marisol
again other than a proper family relationship," said Lucas happily.
Aurora stood up from the couch.
"It’s time that I went. My parents will be expecting me."
"Fine,” said Lucas as he too stood up," but it's dark. I'll accompany
you."
"You’re very kind," replied Aurora, smiling.
Lucas got his jacket and slipped it on, escorting Aurora out of the house. As
they got to the street, he offered her his arm.
" My dear, may I take the liberty? "
" Lucas, you're just inexcusable! Must I remind you that this marriage is
a sham, and it isn’t acceptable to walk arm in arm in Tampico with a person who
has not yet had the good taste to present himself to my parents? It's already
pretty scandalous that you’re accompanying me at this hour of the day! "