The Forbidden Promise

by Helena Rose

  Costantino left her in the living room, and went up to his bedroom to change.

  Viviana stood for a moment alone, lost , and in a flash she relived those moments that had marked her forever. Then she shook herself and slowly followed Costantino. My daughter comes first. But I can never be happy with her choice to tie our family to the Navarra y Reyes. This I will never be able to forgive her for. Never.

  Lucas arrived at the Vargas de Coronado’s house. As always he had an air of confidence that this time he did not feel, indeed he was plagued by doubts. He wore an elegant light-colored suit, which showed off his tanned complexion and he was holding a bouquet of red roses. What am I doing? A marriage of convenience? Is this what I really want? But he had given his word and he would never go back on it. And what if Aurora had regretted it? What if Aurora no longer wanted to respect the pact? In that case, the choice would be hers, but as long as she wants to continue with this agreement, I’ll not back out. She asked me for help and I’ll be happy to offer it. In the end, I’ll gain the benefit from this union ...

  But this last thought instead of offering him comfort, made him feel even more insecure.

  Lucas went through the gate and rang the doorbell. The door was opened by the maid, Carmen who invited him into the living room.

  " They will be with you soon," she said courteously.

  Lucas nodded and thanked her.

  Soon after, Don Costantino entered. Lucas immediately held out his hand in a friendly manner, and Costantino shook it firmly.

  "Good evening, I’m Dr. Costantino Vargas de Coronado" said Costantino presenting himself, looking Lucas in the eyes.

  " Good evening, I am Lucas Navarra y Reyes, very pleased to meet you," replied Lucas.

  " Aurora is just coming down, my wife, I'm afraid won’t be able to be with us as she is slightly indisposed."

  "I'm sorry, I hope it's nothing serious."

  Costantino reassured Lucas that it was nothing, and gestured for him to sit on the couch. Lucas started a general discussion, and Costantino replied with enthusiasm. Costantino made an excellent impression on Lucas, he was no doubt a good man, and this realization made him feel even more uncomfortable. I'm deceiving him... He found himself thinking. All this is a terrible deception and I'm playing a part in this trick...

  Aurora’s arrival interrupted his flow of thoughts.

  She wore a wonderful cream-colored dress with a low neckline with a delicately embroidered rose pattern on the bodice. She had left her wavy hair loose it covered her shoulders like a silky bronze colored cloak.

  Lucas got up immediately, followed by Don Costantino.

  "Good evening Aurora," he said immediately.

  Aurora replied to his greeting, with a smile.

  Lucas immediately handed her the bouquet of roses and Aurora could not help thanking him for the sweet thought. She called Carmen to organize the flowers in a vase. Then she sat down.

  Lucas looked at her and saw that she looked calm. Aurora however felt quite the reverse as she was in the throes of a whirlwind of emotions, as she waited for Lucas to raise the fateful request.

  After a few more pleasantries, Lucas cleared his throat.

  Here we go. It's time thought Aurora.

  But when Lucas was preparing to ask for Aurora’s hand in marriage, Doña Viviana came into the room. She wore an elegant sapphire blue dress, and had her hair pinned up softly.

  Lucas stood up again.

  "Good evening, ma’am," Lucas presented himself once again.

  Viviana held out her hand, so that Lucas could mimic the traditional hand kiss.

  Aurora stared at her mother’s slightest movement with eyes aghast. She wouldn’t dare make a scandal she said to herself to calm herself down, her mother herself wouldn’t tolerate this kind of behavior.

  As soon as Viviana had sat down, she called Carmen to serve the drinks. Then she turned to Lucas.

  " I seem to recall that I have already met you," she said in a serious voice. "In the market the day when my daughter came back from Mexico City."

  Lucas nodded.

  "You have a good memory, ma’am."

  "I remember in particular how you grasped my daughter," said Viviana "to prevent her from falling, of course."

  Aurora blushed, she had completely forgotten that incident, which her mother had witnessed. Of course, she recognized him, she had immediately raised the question, in order to embarrass Lucas.

  "Exactly," Lucas replied, not at all embarrassed. "In fact it was love at first sight, wasn’t it Aurora? "

  "Yes," Aurora hastened to confirm, lowering her eyes.

  " You see," said Lucas, speaking mostly to Costantino "Your daughter is a wonderful person. She’s cultured, kind, brave and very beautiful. I'm in love with her and want to marry her above all else. I ask you to give me her hand, I assure you that I shall make her happy." Lucas' tone was heartfelt, his green eyes took on a sweet and affectionate expression, as they turned to look at Aurora’s face.

  Aurora felt stunned, as well as thrilled. My God ... even I believe it! What a great actor!

  It was Costantino who was embarrassed this time and replied tentatively.

  "Certainly ... I have nothing against it." He replied. Aurora heard her mother sigh and for a moment, she feared that she would intervene. But she remained silent and just watched passively. Perhaps Lucas’ brilliant speech had made inroads even into her heart.

  " Thank you, Doctor. I assure you that I’ll take care of your daughter. From now on, this will be the only mission in my life." said Lucas taking Aurora’s hand and holding it in his. Then he touched it with his lips and let her hand go.

  " Are you happy, dear?" Asked Costantino.

  Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, Aurora confirmed in a faint voice.

  "I’m very happy, father. I couldn’t wish for more in my life." She replied.

  "Good," said Costantino, almost with a sigh of relief. "We’ll have to arrange a marriage then, won’t we Viviana?"

  Viviana nodded without saying anything. Lucas had certainly noticed how cold his future mother-in-law reaction was. I'm not deemed worthy enough for her daughter, that’s clear. She definitely thinks I’m an illegitimate bastard and not worthy of Aurora! Well, too bad for her! It's done now! Aurora will become my wife ...

  "When are you going to get married?" asked Costantino.

  " We have to go and talk to Father Julian, but I think as soon as possible," said Lucas.

  " And where are you going to live?" Doña Viviana took over, speaking for the first time. "In your house? Or at the Navarra hacienda?" She spat out the name almost in disgust.

  "Absolutely not, ma’am,” said Lucas calmly "As you well know I haven’t had any relationship with the rest of my family for years. I’ve just bought a hacienda and we’ll move there. "

  Costantino looked at Viviana with an expression of slight reproach.

  "And where is this hacienda?" He asked, trying to ease the tension.

  "It’s located in Zacatecas," replied Aurora readily. "We’re going to live there!"

  "In Zacatecas? So far?" Asked Viviana lost.

  "It's not that far away, Mother. You can easily get there in a day.”

  " It was a very good deal," added Lucas. "The main building is very lovely, it’s in a colonial style. The property includes a rich silver mine. It’s important to reactivate the mine to extract the metal. "

  "It's an ambitious project," said Costantino.

  " Yes, it is. But with Aurora’s help I can definitely succeed."

  Aurora smiled, grateful for the compliment. Overall, she did not mind the idea of helping to re-organize the hacienda, in addition to working as a doctor. During the days, when they had met to discuss the details of their agreement, Aurora had put forward a series of ambitious projects, the creation of a medical clinic that could assist the workers and the organization of a school for the children. Her scientific mind, accustomed to years of study, was continually co
ming up with ideas and practical and efficient methods to put them in place.

  Lucas on his part urged her on, confiding in her every aspect of the business that was about to take place and asking her advice. In the end, the hacienda will also be yours, perhaps even more yours than mine. In truth it was not so, Lucas had been able to negotiate a good price for the sale of his shares in the shipping company, business had greatly increased in value the initial sum which he had received from his deceased mother.

  " Would you like to stay for dinner, Don Lucas?" Offered Don Costantino.

  Aurora shook herself from her thoughts and turned to look at her mother. Doña Viviana remained impassive, without saying anything.

  Lucas decided to break the awkward silence that had arisen.

  "I'm very sorry, unfortunately I can’t tonight, I have to discuss the final details with the hacienda’s previous owner." In truth, poor Don Gajardo had only partially paid off his creditors. The creditors to ensure that the balance would not be delayed too long, had delivered some warnings in the form of a beating with a stick. The poor thing was now lying motionless in a bed at the boarding house where, at his own expense, Lucas continued to host him. Aurora had examined Don Gajardo and was treating him.

  " Maybe tomorrow?" asked Aurora, annoyed by her mother’s attitude.

  "That would be fine,” Lucas nodded "I’ll come to dinner tomorrow with pleasure."

  He got up to leave.

  " I’ll say good bye now, see you tomorrow, then."

  Costantino said goodbye warmly to his future son in law, while Doña Viviana merely extend her hand.

  Aurora also got up and walked to the gate with Lucas.

  " Thank you, Lucas," she whispered in the darkness. "You’re performance was great."

  " You don’t have to thank me. And it wasn’t a performance. You and I are really getting married, aren’t we?" Having said this, he unexpectedly bent down and his mouth touched her lips in a soft kiss.

  He went away laughing. Aurora watched him leave frozen, one hand resting on her mouth as if to retain the feeling of Lucas' lips on hers. Lucas

  Chapter 7

  The news of the engagement and upcoming marriage of Aurora Vargas de Coronado to Lucas Navarra y Reyes spread around the city in an instant.

  Viviana and Costantino broke the news to their next of kin who lived in Tampico, Costantino’s elder brother Don Miguel and his wife Clara.

  Don Miguel treated his sister-in-law, Viviana with a certain coldness, just as he always had. The Vargas family had never forgiven her for the secret from her past, her relationship with Hector, and had always disapproved of her marriage to Costantino.

  Doña Clara received the news with some enthusiasm, fluttering her fan more than usual.

  " Viviana, you must be very busy with the preparations, how exciting! Who knows, maybe in a little while, it will be my turn." She flirted.

  " Marisol too?" Costantino asked amazed.

  " Nothing official, of course," grumbled Don Miguel, glaring at his wife. "We’ll talk about it, when the time is right."

  " The gentleman who is courting Marisol is definitely a good catch." Added Doña Clara, rejoicing inwardly at the fact that Marisol would be marrying the Navarra brother with all the assets, not the brother, penniless due the doubts about his birth.

  Marisol, however, had not been so enthusiastic, when her mother told her the good news, her eyes widened.

  " It’s not possible." She stuttered "Not Aurora!"

  " Yes, I know, dear. I also immediately thought that the husband she has chosen is not a good match. All those rumors about his birth. The scandal has never faded. Your Aunt Viviana so proud, as if she too were noble. She won’t be so excited about the match." Said Doña Clara slyly. “You however, have the best, the son who inherited everything."

  Marisol however, did not have the same opinion as her mother. Under the guise of wanting to give her personal good wishes to her dear cousin, she immediately went to Aurora’s home.

  Marisol however, had to wait, because although busy with preparations for the wedding, Aurora was still trying to devote as much time as possible to her work in the infirmary at La Virgen de la Caridad convent.

  When she returned, already anxious because of the organization of the ceremony that her mother faced as if they were getting ready for a funeral and not a wedding, she confronted a furious Marisol.

  " My dear cousin," said Marisol, kissing her on the cheeks. "I’ve come to personally congratulate you." Her voice was cold and as sharp as a blade.

  " Thank you." Replied Aurora bewildered. She did not think she would be able to handle the wrath of a jealous woman at that moment. Luckily Doña Viviana had gone to the florist to choose the decorations for the church, so the two cousins could speak freely.

  " You’ve been really clever! I definitely underestimated you, cousin!" Snapped Marisol. "All that attitude of being a goody-goody, of an impeccable scholar! But it was however, all a plan, wasn’t it!"

  " A plan for what?" retorted Aurora beginning to get annoyed.

  "To have Lucas all to yourself! That evening on the beach was all organized, wasn’t it? Since when have you been sleeping with him, huh? Tell me!"

  Aurora felt anger rise inside her.

  " You're wrong cousin! Lucas and I have never..."

  " You're just a hypocrite ! How could you do this to me? How?" Anger and jealousy deformed Marisol’s delicate features.

  "Don’t you dare insult me, Marisol," cried Aurora. "Whether you want to believe it or not, my relationship with Lucas began after I surprised you together! And besides, you're not in a position to lecture me, are you?"

  " Don’t change the subject! I’ve always been honest with you, I told you the truth right from the start. And what about you, what did you see fit to do? To steal Lucas from me forever!"

  Aurora's voice rose further, while her hands shook with anger.

  "I haven’t stolen anything! You yourself told me that you would never marry Lucas due to his position! You were already thinking about marring his brother! You act modern, thinking about European culture, and yet you're just a coward like all the others. You don’t have the courage to openly challenge social conventions! With Lucas, you just had fun going to bed with him, like any other slut. If you loved him so much, you should have married him, as I am doing!"

  Marisol stepped back, struck by Aurora’s unexpected reaction.

  " Don’t you dare." Began Marisol but she was interrupted by Aurora

  " Don’t you dare accuse me of being a schemer who stole your man! And now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lot to do!"

  Aurora's tone left no room for a reply and Marisol, defeated for the first time, left the house.

  Lucas did not fare particularly better. Santos Robles was very surprised by the news but he immediately congratulated his friend.

  When Santos informed his sister Yolanda about Lucas' wedding, she immediately burst into tears and ran away.

  "I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!"

  She did not even notice that she had run in front of her aunt, Penelope Robles.

  " Yolanda, dear niece, don’t you recognize me?" Asked Penelope then added, "what’s the matter?"

  "Good afternoon, Aunt," sniffled Yolanda , trying to dry her tears "It’s nothing, nothing ... "

  " Oh, come on dear, come with me for a moment! You're too upset to be wandering around alone."

  Penelope gently pushed her niece into her shop of herbal medicines. She offered Yolanda some lemonade flavored with ginger.

  "Do you like it my dear?"

  Yolanda nodded without speaking.

  " Now tell me what’s happened."

  Yolanda confided in her aunt, revealing the wedding of her beloved Lucas to Dr. Costantino Vargas de Coronado’s daughter.

  " Oh, poor dear! Don’t despair!" consoled Penelope.

  " And I love him, aunt! I love him, but everyone thinks I'm still a girl! "

  Penelop
e embraced Yolanda to comfort her.

  "Don’t cry any more, little one. You know what we’ll do now? Let’s use the cards to see what the future has to say about this marriage. We could then certainly do something to prevent it."

  Yolanda frightened, broke away from her aunt’s embrace.

  "No, Aunt! Santos has forbidden me to have anything to do with these things, he absolutely doesn’t want me to get involved with tarot cards and potions he would definitely reprimand me!"

  Yes, my oldest nephew can’t stand me. Silly! He's only afraid of my powers!

  Yolanda thanked her aunt for the refreshing drink.

  "I have to go now."

  She went out of her aunt's shop and went directly to Lucas’..

  She began to tidy the house, violently dusting the furniture in the lounge, luckily Lucas didn’t have any fragile ornaments on the shelves.

  Lucas returned shortly after with a pile of papers relating to the sale of his shares in the shipping company and the improvements to be implemented in Zacatecas.

  He saw Yolanda weeping, immediately guessed what was wrong.

  " How could you do this to me! How?" cried Yolanda through her tears. Lucas approached her, but Yolanda began to attack him with punches to his chest.

  " Come on, child, don’t do that," he said.

  "I'm not a child! I'm a woman! A woman who loves you!"

  Lucas hugged her.

  "I'm not for you, Yolanda. To me you're like a little sister. I saw you when you were born and I saw you take your first steps while I was playing with Santos. I like you a lot, you know that, but not in the way that you wish."

  "I don’t want you to get married." Yolanda moaned through her tears.

  " You're just in love with an idea that you've made up of me. You'll see that soon you’ll meet the right man for you." Said Lucas

  "Do you love this woman?" Yolanda asked suddenly, staring into his eyes.

  "Of course. Otherwise I wouldn’t be marrying her." Replied Lucas, as he felt a slight feeling of discomfort. It's a lie, I'm getting married in order to have the money to fulfill my ambitions. What kind of man am I?