The Forbidden Promise

by Helena Rose

  Lucas walked away from the bars and sat down against the damp wall. Then, glancing at Pablo out of the corner of his eye, he asked the question closest to his heart,

  "Doña Raquel told me that Aurora has left the city with Cristobal ... is it true?"

  Pablo looked embarrassed and hesitant.

  "I'm afraid so, this gossip has already arrived even to my ears. However it seems that Doña Viviana also went with them."

  Lucas moved back nearer Pablo and grabbing the bars with fury said,

  "Pablo, you have to go to Doña Viviana’s house and talk to the maid, Carmen. Try to find out where Aurora is, I need to talk to her, I have to explain what happened or I’ll lose her forever! "

  "I believe that she loves you, you could see from the way she looked at you, you’ll see that she’ll understand and she’ll wait."

  "No! I’m afraid that when I manage to explain everything it will be too late! Definitely that Cristobal and maybe even her mother are filling her head with lies against me. Pablo, I’m counting on you, don’t disappoint me my friend!"

  "I'll go right away to Doña Viviana’s maid and I’ll ask around to see if anyone has any news, I’ll return this evening!" Promised Pablo who was not used to seeing Lucas so depressed and demoralized.

  Pablo left the prison and went straight to the Vargas de Coronado’s home. A girl with olive skin and big black eyes opened the door.

  "Are you Carmen, Doña Viviana’s maid?" asked Pablo.

  The girl nodded.

  "I’ve come from Zacatecas, I’ve a message for Doña Aurora. Where can I find her?"

  Carmen seemed hesitant.

  "I don’t know if I can say ... "

  But fortunately, Pablo was able to discover that Aurora and her mother were in Mexico City, guests of her cousin Dolores. Carmen did not want to give him Dolores’s address, despite numerous requests.

  "If you want I'll send the message to her..."

  Pablo thanked her for her kindness, but declined the offer. He said goodbye to Carmen and returned as fast as he could to the prison. He managed to get passed the guard who was reluctant about letting him enter as visiting time had finished, but with a payment he was able to see Lucas.

  Pablo told Lucas what he had discovered.

  Lucas began to walk around the small cell, nervously. Dolores had been Aurora’s bride’s maid at their wedding. He remembered that Aurora and her cousin had often written to each other while she was in Zacatecas and some old envelopes with Dolores’s address could still be in his study.

  "Thank you Pablo!" Lucas said, shaking his hand, "Now please, write to Santos as soon as possible tell him to search every corner of the hacienda! Even the smallest clue can help me! I must find out where this cousin lives in Mexico City!"

  Pablo nodded and ran out as fast as he could, eager to please his boss. The post office was closing, but with his persuasive ways he convinced the clerk to send a telegram immediately to Zacatecas.

  The days passed and Lucas’ anxiety grew. He felt that every minute that went by was increasing the distance that separated him from Aurora. He had to find a way of reaching her at any cost, even if only in writing. Until finally, Santos sent him a note with the address of Aurora’s cousin that he had found on an old envelope addressed to Aurora that she had kept among her personal effects left at the hacienda. Pablo brought the news to Lucas who thanked him, he now regarded Pablo more as a friend than a servant. Left alone, he lost no time, he wrote a letter immediately to his adored wife in which he explained to her everything that had happened. He wrote that he loved her and that he had been unjustly arrested. He swore to her that he would come and get her as soon as possible and above all that he had never cheated on her, even in his mind.

  He waited anxiously for Father Julian, who often came to see him to help him through these difficult times. It was as if time stood still and Lucas was still a little lost boy without family and without a penny.

  He handed the letter to Father Julian with the prayer to make the letter reach Aurora, he feared that a letter with his name as the sender would be intercepted by Viviana or Cristobal and would never be delivered to Aurora.

  He could not have imagined how much his fear was well founded.

  He hoped that those few lines reached Aurora in time. Aurora, please wait for me ...

  While Lucas was struggling in anguish for a love that he was losing, in Mexico City Don Cristobal spent his days in peace, working diligently to break down the barriers that Aurora had built up and to finally win her heart.

  Like every day before going to visit Aurora, Cristobal went to the post office to collect their mail.

  He asked the clerk if there were also any post for Viviana or Aurora.

  The clerk, who now knew the elegant gentleman, gave him the envelope that had just arrived from Tampico for Aurora Navarra y Reyes.

  Sometimes fate causes two hearts in love to come so close to touching each other but they never manage to touch.

  Cristobal looked at the envelope with curiosity and noticed that the sender was Father Julian. Nevertheless, he had a strange premonition. Pretending that nothing was amiss, he thanked the young clerk and left the post office, walking slowly down the crowded sidewalk.

  I’m so close to success ... I can’t let anything go wrong right now! I’ve done everything to have Aurora for myself... I have concealed Don Eduardo’s true will, I’ve entered into an evil agreement with Doña Raquel, I asked for and have achieved, that by any method Lucas and Aurora are separated ... and now that we’ve reached this point I have to be careful! The slightest misstep could cost me dear!

  Overcome by his doubts, he decided to open the envelope as it had not been sealed with wax. Immediately he fell silent. His suspicions were well founded, the letter was actually from Lucas! Lucas had written to Aurora about his current situation and begged her to wait for him. Cristobal knew of Lucas’ arrest because it had been talked about in all the papers. In truth he did not believe for a moment that Lucas could have committed such a murder, but revealing the news to Aurora could have triggered a protective reaction against him and pushed her back into Lucas’ arms. For this reason, he had also convinced Doña Viviana that they had to keep the news a secret. He was very surprised, however about the explanation for Lucas’ alleged betrayal. The justification seemed far-fetched, but Cristobal knew that it could be the truth ... Doña Raquel is a truly diabolical woman. She had implemented an extraordinary plan, I'm sure she’s there behind this perfect trap. And Lucas’ fortuitous arrest makes me think ... the man who died with Don Costantino was Don Hector Navarra y Reyes and I well know what danger he constituted to the powerful Doña Raquel! My God, who am I allied with? Has that woman really such an evil soul? However, the memory of the pain caused by his wife’s death that had almost swallowed him up, that he had overcome only by his passion for Aurora, made him put aside his scruples.

  He carefully put the letter in his pocket, he would burn it as soon as he arrived home. He was glad, that this time, he had been able to silence his conscience.

  He could not let Aurora escape him, he was sure he had almost won her heart.

  He then went to Dolores’ house, where Viviana and Aurora were guests.

  Without hesitation he climbed the stairs that took him to his beloved, after all, he thought, in love everything is allowed.

  "Good morning Aurora, you look beautiful," he said kissing her hand.

  " Cristobal, what a pleasure to see you," said Dolores, still focused on embroidering. "You’ll stay and have lunch with us, won’t you? You know that I won’t accept no for an answer!"

  "With pleasure," replied Cristobal, holding Aurora’s hand in his.

  Aurora however, was not smiling. Her face was pale and distressed.

  "Are you all right, Aurora dear?" Asked Cristobal worried.

  Aurora nodded without enthusiasm. In truth yet another disappointment tormented her. It had been over a month since she had sent the letter to Zacatec
as and she had not yet received any reply from Lucas.

  Throughout lunch while her mother and Cristobal spoke of this and that, Aurora could not help thinking of her marriage that she was now sure was over, of Lucas, who had forgotten her and, of what a great mistake she had made by getting married.

  Just picturing Lucas’ face was enough to make her heart beat wildly, she was convinced that sooner or later even this unrequited passion would be extinguished. He had even thrown away the last chance I gave him like powder in the wind, my marriage was just a farce. I was a fool to delude myself that it could really work. I must resign myself, there's nothing else I can do.

  Aurora sighed sadly, trying to control her emotions.

  "I’d like to ask your permission to start the paperwork for the annulment of your marriage," Cristobal suddenly asked. Viviana winced, fearing Aurora’s reaction. But Cristobal, being a connoisseur of human nature, knew that it was now time to take the plunge and finally break down the determined defense that his beloved had erected around herself.

  Aurora aroused from her thoughts, took a deep breath and remained silent.

  "My dear, I think it's the best thing for both you and for him. I think that Lucas wants to regain his freedom..." Said Doña Viviana.

  "So why hasn’t he come and told me that?" Retorted Aurora harshly.

  "Is that what you want? You want him to come looking for you?" Asked Cristobal staring at her frowning. "He’s lied to you, he’s humiliated you and you still hope he comes back to you? Don’t you think that if he really still loved you he would have come looking for you, at least to try to explain what happened?"

  "No. It's over!" She said dryly.

  "Then my dear, let Cristobal help you, he has proven very generous with us," interrupted Doña Viviana.

  "But how do we to seek an annulment?" Aurora asked nervously fiddling with her fork.

  "Well, we'll talk about complete betrayal under the marital roof, we’ll say what kind of individual Lucas has shown himself to be, and finally we will say that the marriage was never consummated... "

  Both looked at her straight in the face to see her expression. Aurora sat petrified.

  " But ..." She stammered.

  " No buts, trust, it is the best thing for everyone." Said Viviana.

  Aurora swallowed desperately trying to hold back tears.

  "Isn’t evidence needed?" She asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

  " Why, is there evidence? If there is, it would be great!" Exclaimed Cristobal taking her hand. “It would greatly facilitate things!"

  Aurora bit her lip nervously, My God what should I do? If they know about the pact, it’ll be truly over, they won’t leave me in peace until the wedding is annulled. On the other hand why continue with this farce, I have to turn over a new page if I want to get out of this turmoil of pain that is killing me.

  "There is a pact ... signed by me and Lucas before the wedding ..." She said in a low voice with her eyes fixed on the plate in front of her.

  " A pact?” Cristobal asked excitedly.

  Aurora explained briefly what the pact between her and Lucas contained, despite all her attempts she failed to prevent copious tears sliding down her cheeks.

  Doña Viviana and Cristobal listened dumbfounded. Cristobal could hardly contain his happiness, not only had their marriage obviously been a farce but above all it would soon be just a memory.

  Viviana, although she realized how difficult it was for Aurora to make them aware of the existence of the pact could not keep quiet any longer.

  "How could you Aurora? You lied to everyone! You insisted on marrying Lucas rather than Felipe Braganza, swearing to love him when in fact it was all a sham! You and that man have made fun of me and your father, may he rest in peace, how could you? I'd have expected that from that adventurer husband of yours but not from you! I thought you were different!"

  " Please forgive me mother, I didn’t want to offend anybody! I just wanted to continue to be a doctor."

  " Because of what you desire, you felt authorized to cover your family with ridicule! What will people say when this thing is made public? You didn’t have a shred of decency or shame!" Viviana’s hazel eyes burned with anger. "I’ll never forgive you for what you’ve done! You’ve squandered the dowry that your father and I made available to you, giving it to that beggar!"

  Viviana could not suppress her anger, she raised her hand and slapped Aurora.

  Aurora put her hand to her flushed cheek, but did not dare reply. She sat with her eyes downcast, as they filled with tears.

  "Come on, Doña Viviana, don’t be so hard! Aurora has certainly learned an expensive lesson. The important thing now is to annul this marriage as soon as possible," said Cristobal. "In addition, Aurora has been able to preserve her virtue, the most priceless asset that exists."

  "Pray to the Lord that this nonsense can at least give you back your freedom, otherwise you’ll be linked to that wretch for the rest of your life!" Doña Viviana concluded with a dark expression still on her beautiful face.

  "Where is this document?" Cristobal said impatiently.

  "It’s here, I entrusted it to Dolores before the wedding."

  Dolores jumped, "The letter you gave me that day? ... That was a pact? My dear, you don’t know how sorry I am..."

  Aurora could not stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks. It’s really over ... now I've lost him forever. Lucas ...

  For the unfortunate Marisol things were not much better.

  Not a trace remained of the carefree girl and lover of life, she was forced to live with a husband who beat her when he came back drunk from the worst taverns and a despotic and tyrannical mother-in-law who did not respect her privacy.

  She cried every night, praying that Federico stayed at the brothel to sleep rather than come home to avoid enduring more violence. I, who has always been liberal, who supported the European feminists, am reduced to being the slave of a terrible man!

  The life she had imagined with her husband was quite different, the kisses and caresses during the engagement period had vanished immediately after their return from their honeymoon and in their place was recrimination and violence.

  Before getting married, she had been convinced that she knew the masculine nature, Federico’s gentleness and good manners had not given her the slightest suspicion of the ordeal to which she was going to encounter. By day she was forced to stay at home under the close supervision of her hated mother-in-law and at night she had to share the bed with Federico.

  Federico returned only at dawn completely drunk and slept still dressed. Often, however, he preferred to remain sober enough to end the evening with Marisol since his lust was not usually satisfied only with the girls in the brothel. Marisol was also much more beautiful than the prostitutes that he spent his evenings with, so it was normal that he wanted to keep the most delicious morsel for the end.

  Marisol tried to talk to her parents about it but they did not give due weight to her plea for help, they told her that she just had to get used to married life.

  Her mother’s look of indifference was the thing that had hurt Marisol the most.

  "Darling, men are men and have their flaws, but you have to be patient ... Pray to the Lord to help you."

  Marisol was annoyed to see her mother’s happy face, as she waved her fan rapidly. "You’re cruel... you don’t care about your daughter!" She cried in anger.

  Her father did not even answer, he looked at her with a vague air of pity, "The important thing is that the honor of our good name is preserved ... look at the shame that befell your cousin Aurora."

  Marisol was shocked when the news came that Lucas was in prison. She could not believe that a man like Lucas could have been involved in a crime as serious as her uncle Costantino’s murder. She was also shocked when she noted the indifference and quiet enjoyment that she saw on Federico and Raquel’s faces. A fierce indignation engulfed her and, once alone with Federico, she had vented her anger.
>
  "How can you be so inhuman? In the end, Lucas is your brother ... and the one who died along with my uncle was your uncle Hector! The whole town is talking about it!"

  In response, Federico had slapped her and without a word, had gone out on one of his usual nightly forays. Marisol found herself alone, weeping, her cheeks reddened and sore thinking about her happy and carefree maiden life. Everything was now gone forever, the nocturnal escapes, the unrestrained enjoyment, the passion with Lucas ... Now she was married to a brute, Lucas was in prison and Aurora had left him and moved to Mexico City.

  She had received a short letter from Aurora who told her, coldly, that she intended to request the annulment of her marriage.

  Finally, unable to resist any longer, she took the first opportunity that presented itself to go out alone without arousing Federico and Raquel’s suspicions, to see Lucas.

  She left her maid at the prison entrance and entered the barracks. She had brought with her some money to "soften" the guards that let her pass without many problems as soon as they saw the jingling coins.

  One of the guards walked her down the stairs and then she made her way along the gloomy corridor.

  When Lucas saw a young woman move in prison’s shadows, he walked quickly to the bars with a heart full of hope. On recognizing Marisol, he was glad to see his friend again, even though it was not her that he was anxiously waiting for.

  "How are you?" She asked, worried.

  " All in all pretty good," Lucas said. "The lawyer is looking for evidence that could prove my innocence and Santos and Pablo are taking care of my business while I'm here. Have you heard from Aurora?"

  Marisol was a bit hesitant, then said, "I heard from my parents that she is the guest of her cousin in Mexico City and ... " Marisol hesitated again for a moment. Then biting her lips she said, "I hate to tell you Lucas ... But it seems that Don Cristobal visits her every day and that she has already signed the request for the annulment of your marriage."

  Lucas, staring ahead, remained silent with his fists clenched around the cold bars.