by ML BINELLI
"Don't cry my daughter. We will be together again soon. Simply do as I say and everything will work out!" he promised.
She said her goodbyes to the other servants and stepped into the litter. Jonas, after lifting in the trunks, said goodbye to Leonardo and they set off. She did not look back. All she wanted was to put the torture she had to endure in the past. She asked Jonas to take her once more to his house so she could pray for the last time at her mother's resting place.
After having laid fresh flowers at her mother's grave, Jonas and Barbara entered his house to go over the last details of her escape. They had not been able to talk to each other in the last week except through Aia.
"Jonas, as soon as we leave Lisbon, I will send the letter about Leonardo to the archbishop. Delay Leonardo as much as you can to facilitate his capture," said Barbara.
"What reason will you give for the incrimination?" asked Jonas.
"I am going to accuse him of being a freemason. The archbishop persecuted them in his home land and will do the same here. When my father is thrown in jail, you need to disappear. Under torture, he will certainly implicate you in his crimes and you will become a target also," she warned.
"Don't worry. I have prepared for my trip long ago. With the diamonds you gave me, I can establish myself easily. Teo has already sold the tavern. Him, his wife and Aia will also move away from here. We discussed the matter and we think it would be too risky for them to stay after Leonardo is put in prison," explained Jonas.
"And then, we will never see each other again. Forgive me, once again, for having distanced myself from you," said Barbara.
"Child, child. I am the one who regrets having placed you in harm's way. I feel like staying here to implicate him in all his crimes so he goes to hell faster," said Jonas.
"No, save yourself. Don't think such things. He will get what is coming to him," stated Barbara.
"Are you sure the letter will be enough?"
"Yes, it will be enough. "You don't know this but the archbishop is in love with me," said Barbara.
"What do you mean, Barbara? He is a priest...
"Yes, a priest with the devil in his heart. I insinuated myself to him and seduced him when he was my professor. I needed someone to end my torment, so I gave myself to him," revealed Barbara.
Jonas almost lost his footing and his legs went weak, he pulled a chair and sat down. The girl he called child was now a woman who had learned how to manipulate men and did not hesitate using her female guiles to get what she wanted. He cried covering his face with his hands.
"Child, child, I didn't think it had gone so far. You must have been so desperate to do something like this... Why didn't you turn to me? I would have killed that vermin even if I had to die for it. What has become of you? I still see you as a baby. That monster has stained your soul," lamented Jonas.
"That is water under the bridge. I did what I had to do and now I will get my rewards: the archbishop will become a desperate man when he finds out I am gone and Leonardo will be tortured and put to death. They will both pay for their wicked sins. I have no doubt that Torres will kill himself and follow my father into hell, which is waiting for them," said Barbara.
"Stop talking in this way, please, these words are harsh, I don't want to hear them from your lips. You are not my daughter but it is as if you were. I can't bear to see how dark your soul has become. Pray Barbara, pray for all this hurt to go away. Be a good wife, have children, forget everything that has happened here!" pleaded Jonas.
"Don't worry about me, worry about yourself. Let us go, it is late. I don't know if I can bear another day waiting for all of this to unfold. Let us depart. No, wait! Do you want to read the letter? I have already written it. I think it may be important for you to know what is written in it.”
13. Letter
"My dear beloved,
The news I must give you is bleak but I need to tell you why I was unable meet you. I have only now been able to distance myself for a short while from the people who are accompanying me on this trip and who are keeping a close watch over me. I hope this letter reaches you.
My father suspected I would report what I have written below and locked me in my room. I will tell you everything so you understand how I suffered for our love and in the hands of such a wicked man. I want you to understand my pain and realize how keeping this inside has damaged me.
Despite crying and pleading with my father on my knees not to harm me, he had no pity. He dragged me like a dog and struck me on my face. I became unconscious. When I awoke, I had been tied to the bed, naked and face down. He tied a scarf around my mouth to keep me from screaming so the servants wouldn't hear. He then whipped my back and buttocks as if I were a slave who had committed a grave crime. The strikes were so painful, all I could do was cry while he screamed that I was his whore, his pet, that I could never be with another man, that he was my male, my lover, my man!
I cried and thought of you, my beloved, asking myself why God had denied me the man I loved and why he had left me within the grasp of this monster.
The whipping finally stopped, but that was worse because then he began kissing me and licking my feet, my soles, drooling all over me and uttering obscenities that would make the Prostitute of Babylon blush. I try to forget what happened but I cannot. My feelings in that room keep coming back to haunt me. His hot, disgusting drool seemed to burn my skin making me forget the bloody slashes on my back. His groans and his smell reminded me of a pig in heat. After kissing and licking my feet, my calves and thighs, he undressed and took me violently.
You know, my love, at times like these I have always tried to keep my thoughts directed at you, at our love, saying to myself that one day this will end and this is the penalty I must pay for loving you so much. But this time was not like the others. He took me in a place he had always respected in the past. I felt like a white-hot branding iron was being pushed into my body and I could not even scream to ease the pain. He pulled my hair with so much force it seemed to be ripping out of my head, the hair that you love to caress with such affection and love. I felt like a mare being tamed by a brute. His violence tore me and I began to bleed but he did not stop, nor care, he simply grunted and grunted.
After it was all over, he abandoned me there alone, tied and bleeding, tending to me only the following day. What a night I had to endure, my love. If I at least could have had the pleasure of saying goodbye to you, my suffering would have been worth it. I was not even given that simple respite.
He intends to keep me as far away as possible from you. He ordered me to take a trip, he will say I am on a trip to see my grandmother in England but I am actually fleeing. He thinks you are readying yourself to incriminate him so he has sent me far away from Portugal and he will follow me soon so the torture can continue. This will happen again if you do not do something about it, I have no one else to turn to. He has ordered Jonas to accompany me and told me that if I try to escape or ask for his help, he will kill him as soon as they meet again. Him and I, my love.
I know Jonas since I was a girl and he is like the father I never had, very unlike the horrible man that raised me. I have always been worried for his safety and would never do anything to put his life in danger. Even more so now, that he has vowed to kill the two men I care for the most. I cannot allow these crimes to happen, my beloved. I intended, during our meeting, to find a way out for both of us. I needed your advice. I even thought of running away to an isolated place so we could stay together but I was unable to do so. Forgive me.
Despite my love for you, I cannot help blaming you for what has happened and what will come to be. I know now that I will never see you again in this life and this fills my heart with grief. Despite not yet having recovered from the abuse I suffered in his hands, the pain in my soul is many times greater than the wounds on my back and the tear in my bowels.
My love, I now ask you to seek revenge. You must do what must be done and if such had been done long ago we may have been able
to fulfill our destiny, but, alas, this was not to be. I was hurt by you too, for allowing me to be taken from you but I am certain of one thing. I will never again be taken by the devil. Now that I have more hope, if he finds me again, it will be only to bury my body because I will never be his again in this life nor in any other. Yes, my love, my passion, you will certainly never meet me in heaven because I will go straight to hell for my crime.
You will need to accuse him of being a freemason, the evidence lies in his bedroom, inside his wardrobe. He keeps his insignias in a box there. They will serve as proof for the accusation.
I wish you happiness. As for me, I will spend the rest of my days remembering the joyful moments I had with you.
Good bye my love. It is a pity you will never know the happiness of having me in your arms again.
From yours and only yours, Barbara."
Jonas' face transformed while reading the letter. He began reading with an ironic smile but it slowly transformed into a grimace of anguish and then anger. His eyes bulged and were blood shot. He struggled with his trembling hands like claws clutching and crumpling the letter. His breathing had normalized by the end but he was snorting like a bull.
"Barbara, what madness is this? If Leonardo did what is written here, I will kill him now!"
"Calm yourself Jonas, none of this happened. I am simply fueling the fire in Torres' heart. We wrote it together, Aia and I," Barbara remarked.
"I can't even imagine where you two found the inspiration to write something like this but if the archbishop loves you like he says, I don't think he will use the church to punish Leonardo, he will do it himself!"
"Jonas, Torres is nothing but a coward. After everything that I did and revealed to him, he should have done something about it but he always found an excuse not to do anything. After reading the letter I hope that he will at least be overcome with hate and remorse.
"If what is written here does not move him then nothing will. I will write a letter also. It will be addressed directly to the church accusing Leonardo of Simonia of associating with the devil. I doubt they can ignore both letters."
"Do as you wish but ensure that you are far away before they read it. If you are called on as a witness, he will accuse you and you will be in big trouble. It is not worth it, my friend," said Barbara.
The Trip
14. The arrival
When they reached Lisbon, the moon was high in the sky. They entered the city and looked for an inn. Both had agreed it would be best to spend the night there.
During supper, Barbara noticed that Jonas looked pale.
"What is wrong, Jonas? Are you regretting something?"
"I am sad, it is true. This trip has tired me but it was a joy having you with me throughout the journey. I am only now realizing we must separate. We will never see each other again."
"Come with me, Jonas. Leave this life behind you," suggested Barbara.
"I can't, child. I would like to, but I want to see Leonardo suffer. I also don't want to leave my boy alone in this world."
"Jonas, you have a son?"
"No, not a son, a love. I met him when he was looking for work and I employed him in the vineyard. He is young, full of energy and strong. He is close to your age. I fell in love with him. He had to leave his home to spare his parents from the shame of his unnatural behavior, as some call it," said Jonas.
"I am happy you have found someone who can give you what you need," said Barbara.
"Yes, he gives me more than I give him. I feel like going to a faraway land and living my life with him, no pressures, no one nearby. Maybe we will do that. I am tired of hiding, of pretending and running from who I am," said Jonas.
"Me too, dear Jonas. Even I don't know who the true me is anymore. I need, however, to keep up the facade a little longer so I can finally be rid of this situation."
"I pray for you to succeed Barbara. I hope your destiny gives you everything that has been denied to you until now. How will you get rid of your husband? Wouldn't it be better to disappear right now without establishing a connection with him?" asked Jonas.
"I don't know, Jonas, I don't know. I have thought about that also. But I am afraid of doing this trip alone. I need someone to protect me. I have the feeling that my future husband, by accepting this marriage, has shown that he is desperate for money. When we reach our destination, we will separate. I will give him an amount he can't refuse. That way I can buy my freedom, with my father's money. It will serve him right. Will you stay for the ceremony?"
"Yes, I will. I will then return to finish what needs to be done. Would you like to wait a few days here before we introduce ourselves?"
"No, no. Let's go tomorrow to Teodoro's house. I don't want him to suspect anything."
"All right then. Go to bed, I will warn the stable hand that we will be leaving early tomorrow morning," said Jonas.
"Good night, sweet Jonas. Until tomorrow."
Jonas kissed her forehead. She accepted his affection and returned it by kissing him on the cheek.
Next morning, they had a morning meal while the trunks were removed from the rooms and loaded onto the backs of the horses. They paid their bill and left the inn. The litter was outside waiting.
When they reached Teodoro's house, they were informed that Teodoro had left very early to take care of urgent business. But he had taken the precaution of warning the servants of the imminent arrival of a few visitors and gave them orders to welcome them if he was not home.
The house was very comfortable and spacious. Barbara was led to one of the rooms, which belonged to one of Teodoro's daughters, and Jonas to another.
They then met again in the drawing room to go for a stroll outside. When they returned from their walk at noon, Teodoro was there to greet them. He rushed to them.
"Barbara, child, what pleasure. I hope you had a good journey." "How are you Jonas? Did you take good care of this flower?"
"Do not worry Sir Teodoro, everything went as planned. Our journey went well," said Barbara.
"Well then, let us have our meal. I hope you like pork, I gave the order to roast a piglet this morning!"
When they entered the house, Teodoro slipped away to check on the meal in the kitchen. He was famished. Maria, one of the servants, informed him that lunch was ready and asked if she could serve it. Teodoro nodded in approval and returned to the drawing room. He approached Barbara and held her arm to steer her gently towards the table, while he gestured to Jonas to follow them.
"Barbara, forgive me for not being here to greet you this morning. I had to take care of business and left very early. I was worried though, by my calculations you should have been here days ago," he said.
"We traveled slowly so Barbara would be more comfortable, Sir Teodoro," said Jonas, who was walking behind them.
"Yes, I asked him not to rush the trip. I enjoy looking at the scenery on the way to Lisbon and the trip becomes less tiring that way," lied Barbara. In reality, she had used the time to refine her plan with Jonas, looking for pitfalls and preparing for them if they should arise. They could not be heard in the litter and their guards were mostly preoccupied with the route.
"So, Jonas, what can you tell me of Leonardo? How is he?"
"Sir, you must have received a letter sent by him giving you the news. Did you receive it? He has asked me to stay for the wedding so I can report back to him. Has a date been set for it?"
"Yes, I received it. As for the date, we depend on the departure date of the Royal Mail Steam ship, which will make the journey from Portugal to England and then to America. It should be arriving soon, having come from Louisiana. By now, it must be close to the Madeira islands. It will depart from Lisbon and dock in Southampton. It is better if you embark now and make your way to England because that way you will be out of sight and no one will start asking questions.
You will stay there for a few days and then return. Leonardo will meet you both upon your return. That way it will be easier for all of you to go
together to America.”
"How will my father know when to arrive in Lisbon for us to meet?"
"I will send him a letter informing him of everything he needs to know, do not worry. This afternoon I will speak to the priest that will celebrate the ceremony and will invite Vidal to join us for supper at some time so you can meet him. Do you have any preference for the day of the week, Barbara?
"No Sir, I would just like it to be as soon as possible. I plan to spend time with my betrothed so I can get to know him before the wedding day. What is he like, sir?"
"He is a young man of your age. He has not been very lucky in life until now, but I can guarantee that he has good character. He is a good lad, I think you will like him considering the circumstances." Leonardo avoided talking about Vidal's past as a gambler in order not to cause alarm. After all, who is without sin?
"Yes, the circumstances are somewhat strange. What did he think of this proposal to marry someone he has never met before?" asked Barbara.
"I must say that he was a tad wary at first but his financial troubles weighed in and when he saw your portrait I think he fell in love with you, which is not surprising at all, isn't that right, Barbara?"
Barbara lowered her eyes.
"Don't be shy, child," said Teodoro. "You are lovely! I don't know how you are not married yet, it is about time."
"I didn't find anyone to make me take this decision. Since I was unable to, the decision was made for me. I hope he is a gentleman and is patient. It will not be easy to live together without knowing each other first. For this reason, I ask you to set the ceremony as close as possible to the departure date, to give us time to meet properly," explained Barbara.
"Yes, I understand," said Teodoro. "If you allow it, I will ask him to come tonight."
"Sir, if you will, I would like to rest tonight. The trip was tiring at the end and I would like to be fully recovered before I see him so he does not get the impression I have lost interest or have become indifferent... what is his name again?