The Forbidden Promise (31 page)

Penelope sighed,
annoyed. Alma continued to suffer from a dull and persistent fever. Small
outbreaks of a rash had appeared in different areas of her body.
Syphilis,
there’s no doubt
...
Penelope had administered a concoction to try to block the infection, but it
did not seem to have had much effect. She had informed Don Gonzalo, who was
very angry about the fact that he could no longer exploit Alma’s labor. Alma
was therefore assigned household chores, which Alma preferred as she had even
more free time to devote to little Matteo. Penelope had forbidden her to
breastfeed him to avoid passing on the infection and so Matteo was fed on
diluted goat's milk.
He has beautiful blue eyes, like his father
...
thought Penelope looking at him.
Then she roused herself from her thoughts and went down stairs.
"How is that stupid girl?" Asked Don Gonzalo.
" Not very well,” she replied. "I can’t get rid of the infection, you
have to send someone to get some other herbs from my shop."
" My men are not your servants!" Protested Don Gonzalo roughly.
"You know that I don’t want to be seen around," answered Penelope
vehemently. "Tampico is full of Lucas’ men that could recognize me!"
Penelope, in fact, from the day she had left Zacatecas after committing her
misdeeds, had been hiding in the brothel fearing Lucas’ vengeance.
On one hand she felt relatively safe, on the other hand she could no longer get
information from her nephew and niece about what had happened to that bastard.
After what she had done they had decided to cut off all relations with her and
had not even responded to her letters.
Of course, Lucas was now languishing in prison. However, she did not
underestimate his ability to break free from the gallows’ noose under the eyes
of an executioner.
The only way left for her to discover the latest news was to talk to the
venta
’s
customers as much as possible. It was not a particularly difficult task, a good
glass of wine and tongues loosened with pleasure.
That very evening she learned from one of Lucas’
peones
that
Doña
Marisol was a guest at the Zacatecas
hacienda
.
That news would certainly have to be shared with
Doña
Raquel immediately
and perhaps she would even earn some
pesos
.
The next morning, Penelope went to the Navarra
hacienda
, making sure not
to be recognized during the journey.
Doña
Raquel received her in the study.
"What are you doing here? I’ve told you more than once that you mustn’t be
seen in my house if I personally haven’t called you," she exclaimed
annoyed.
"Forgive me, Ma’am,” replied Penelope, "but it is a very important
issue. I bring you news of Marisol."
Doña
Raquel looked concerned.
"Well?" She urged grim.
"It seems that she’s in Zacatecas at Lucas’
hacienda.
"
Raquel swore furiously, slamming her fist on the desk.
"Luckily that bastard Lucas is still rotting in jail! "
" But
Doña
Raquel, don’t you know yet? I assumed that the news had
already arrived here. Lucas has been released from prison."
"What?" Raquel screamed, knocking over the small table next to her in
a fit of rage. "Why?"
" I don’t know," answered Penelope dejected, "but the news is
the talk of Tampico, I believe that now he’s in Zacatecas ... with your
daughter in law Marisol."
"Damn bitch! If she thinks she can tarnish my son’s name, enjoying herself
with that bastard, she’s made a mistake!”
Then, staring at the candle flame in front of her for comfort, she continued,
"She’ll pay for this ... "
Raquel threw two coins on the carpet that Penelope promptly picked up.
"Now get out. Use the back door and make sure that no one sees you,"
Said Raquel to Penelope who ran out, intimidated by the evil expression that
Raquel face had taken on.
She knew that look and knew that Raquel’s wickedness once unleashed could not
be contained by anything or anyone. She wished only to stay always in her good
graces.
But then with everything that I know it’s also convenient for her to
maintain our alliance ...
Doña
Raquel, left alone in the study, began to pace nervously around the
room. Eventually she made a decision, she wasted no time and ordered a maid to
go to the post office to send an urgent telegram to Federico in Mexico City.
She had to warn him that Marisol was in Zacatecas, along with that bastard.
She also decided to go immediately to visit Marisol’s parents to inform them
what kind of daughter they had.
Looking forward to the scene, she ordered a carriage to be made ready and
hurried to leave the
hacienda
. A fierce storm was battering the coastal
town, but the roar of the thunder had a relaxing effect on Raquel.
Poor
stupid Marisol ... But at least you’ve offered me an excellent opportunity to
have fun, humiliating that fool of a father of yours will be absolutely
hilarious...
Raquel smiled in satisfaction, how much she loved the feeling
of manipulating people's destiny with her own hands and having other people’s
lives in the palm of her hands!
She arrived at the Count of Rivera’s residence in a short time. She shook the
rain from her cloak and the maid invited her to make herself comfortable.
Shortly after, Don Miguel and
Doña
Clara arrived in the lounge.
"What a pleasure your visit is..."
Doña
Clara said
ceremoniously, motioning her to sit down.
Raquel, in response, raised her gloved hand to silence her and, clearing her
throat came straight to the point, without any preamble.
" I came to tell you where your daughter currently is." She said
sternly.
She saw Don Miguel and
Doña
Clara look at her curiously.
"Marisol has acted as I never thought she would, tarnishing her and your
honor and blackening our name. She has neither shame nor dignity, leaving the
marital home to live as a whore in the house of another man!"
"I can’t believe that Marisol has gone this far," said poor
Doña
Clara raising her eyes to heaven and fanning the air with her fan.
Raquel smiled content, staring at
Doña
Clara with an air of pity.
"I'm afraid it’s all true ... she’s currently located in Zacatecas in my
stepson Lucas’ house and you understand this situation is intolerable! Lucas
has been released from prison and now lives under the same roof! Marisol’s
behavior leaves no room for doubt whatsoever! Desertion! Treason! Your daughter
is guilty of the worst sins, when the rumors spread to Tampico her dignity will
be lost forever and it will compromise my son’s honor. You understand that we
can’t let this happen!"
"Certainly.” interjected Don Miguel, getting up from his chair and walking
nervously about the room. "What a disgrace! I'll go to get her
today!"
"No!" Objected
Doña
Raquel. "This would result in even
more gossip. I’ve already warned Federico, asking him to return from Mexico
City where he went to look for her. I’ll send someone to bring her home at
night. If people see them come back at the same time they’ll think that they
were on a trip together and gossip will be quieted."
Doña
Clara and Don Miguel looked distressed.
Doña
Raquel noticed that the fire in the fireplace was lit, no doubt to
combat the humidity of the tropical storm. Without thinking she stood up,
enjoying the scene of Don Miguel and
Doña
Clara completely terrified,
and walked to the fireplace. With the poker she revived the fire, staring at it
intently.
"I warn you that this is the last time your daughter does something like
this or Federico will be forced to disown her."
"Disown her?" Stammered
Doña
Clara pale.
"For the love of God,
Doña
Raquel! We’d rather shut her up in a
convent if it is necessary ... but disowning her would bring too much
disgrace," concluded Don Miguel.
"So you've been warned!" She threatened, pointing the burning poker
at them.
Neither Don Miguel nor
Doña
Clara had the courage to reply and were
limited to looking at each other disconsolate.
Poor stupid people ... you’re completely in my hands
...
Thus satisfied, she left them speechless and helpless as she put on her cloak to
go out into the pouring rain.
In Mexico City, Federico received the telegram in the late morning at which
time he was already almost completely drunk.
Since he had arrived in Mexico City he had not spent more than a couple of
hours sober. Not because of the pain he felt at Marisol’s absence, but because
vice and alcohol were now part of his daily life. Away from Raquel’s control,
he could let off steam and let himself go as much as he pleased.
The beauty and elegance that had always characterized him were fading faster
and faster. He was lying on the bed in the hotel dozing, despite the late hour,
a glass of liquor abandoned on the carpet, when he heard a knock at the door.
Grumbling, he got up with difficulty and went to open it. A boy handed him a
telegram that had come from Tampico. Federico read it carefully. Astonished he
had to lean against the wall to keep from falling crashing to the ground.
He ran to wash his face with cold water to revive himself, then in a fury went
to Dolores’ home.
He did not even wait for the maid to announce him, but slipped through the
opening of the door and burst into the living room where Aurora and
Doña
Viviana were taking tea together with Dolores.
When they saw him enter with so much violence, the three women jumped to their
feet.
" How dare you enter in this way?" Cried Dolores outraged.
Federico took off his top hat and said in a mocking tone, "Forgive me,
Ladies. I wanted to let you know that I’ve received news of my wife, she’s
located in Zacatecas, at that bastard Lucas’
hacienda
!"
Aurora felt her heart sink, not knowing that Lucas had spent all that time in
prison, she thought that he had already replaced her with Marisol. Her pale
face was ablaze with anger.
"So what do you want from us?" She asked flushed, advancing
threateningly towards Federico.
"You lied to me!" He said, grabbing her by the shoulders, "You
knew!"
Doña
Viviana ran to Aurora’s rescue and tried unsuccessfully to remove
Federico, hitting him in the back.
" We didn’t know anything," cried Aurora.
Federico tightened his grip on her even more.
"Let me go," cried Aurora. " You’re hurting me! "
"If Lucas is having fun with my wife, why can’t I have fun with his?"
Sneered Federico while an ugly smile appeared on his face.
He moved closer to Aurora who was forced to turn her face to evade his lips and
his breath that smelled of alcohol, while
Doña
Viviana and Dolores
screamed, scared.
Fortunately at that moment Don Cristobal entered and on seeing the scene he
grabbed Federico by the shoulders turning him around.
He punched Federico in the face, knocking him to the floor unable to react.
" Are you all right?" he asked Aurora, panting.
" Yes, thank you," said Aurora as she sat down exhausted on the sofa,
while
Doña
Viviana rushed lovingly to her side.
Cristobal grabbed Federico by the lapels lifting him up and without resistance
led him into the adjacent studio.
" What the hell were you thinking of, you coward?" Yelled Cristobal
as Federico dropped heavily into a chair.
"Those two lied to me," he muttered, still confused from the blow.
"Listen to me you ugly drunkard, if you ever dare repeat such a thing or
touch even a hair on Aurora or her mother ..." Cristobal shouted in a
fury, "or any other woman in my presence, I swear to you that I’ll reveal
to everyone the truth about you and Lucas. I don’t care about the pact with
your mother! I warn you, I'm not kidding!"
Cristobal grabbed Federico by the arms continuing to shake him.
In his anger, he did not realize that
Doña
Viviana had approached the
study door to ensure that Cristobal did not need help and involuntarily she
overheard the conversation between the two. She was quite troubled, but when
she saw the door open, she ran back to take sit close to Aurora.
Cristobal brusquely escorted Federico outside and returned to the ladies.
"I hope you weren’t too scared!"
"Luckily it's all over. Federico scares me, he’s always drunk, he could
cause some problems!" Said Aurora.
"I’ll always be here to protect you," said Cristobal, softly,
squeezing her hands.
Doña
Viviana remained silent, concerned by the conversation she had just
heard behind the closed study door. W
hat secret were Federico and Raquel
hiding that Cristobal was
aware of?
Viviana thought feverishly,
it
is definitely something very serious if Cristobal keeps them in check by
threatening to reveal it, and how does Lucas come into it? The answer to these
questions must be in Tampico...
Viviana sighed, perplexed, watching Cristobal bend lovingly over Aurora.
Can
we really trust him? Is he really the good and honest lawyer that he likes to
appear? What does he have to do with that damn Raquel
? Doubt began to
assault her, and suddenly Cristobal’s courteous manners appeared to her in a
new light, greasy, treacherous and false.
And we're here alone, completely
at the mercy of this man ...
"Ma’am, are you feeling alright?" Cristobal’s voice awakened her from
her thoughts.
"Yes, certainly," she stammered, "It's just that I think we
should go back to Tampico ... I don’t feel so safe here in Mexico City."
"If you say this because of what has just happened
Doña
Viviana, I
can assure you that it won’t happen again."
"Where does your certainty come from Don Cristobal?" Inquired
Viviana.
"Because I’ll watch over you, if you’ll allow me," replied Cristobal
promptly, without the slightest hesitation.
"Thank you, but it is time that we returned to Tampico. What do you say
Aurora?"
Aurora looked at her mother, hopefully. She also wanted to go home to see the
sea, to return to her job and because only in Tampico would she find the strength
to turn over a new page and confront Lucas once and for all.