Independence & Consequences, M J Marlow [read out loud books .txt] 📗

of her dancing such with David would drive Rafael wild. It didn’t matter to her; she was going to make certain that Rafael knew how displeased she was with being forced to remain married to him. “So I take it you are not free to pursue your ballet career,” David frowned as they moved together to the center of the floor, “and a friendship with me?” “I will have what I want,” Isabel told him fiercely, “no matter what Rafael Alvarez thinks.” He spun her and everyone else moved off and watched as the couple danced. Isabel threw herself into the dance; allowing herself to feel the emotions, display the emotions this dance called for. When it was over, she and David were panting, their eyes were only for each other. She laid her head against his leg and he raised her up slowly, his eyes never leaving hers as they moved into a waltz. They didn’t even notice that no one else was on the floor, not until the applause started. They came out of the trance and moved back to their respective places: Isabel to stand at Rafael’s side, and David to move freely about the room. “You have proven quite a formidable young woman, Isabel,” her father said as he came over to claim her for a dance. “I would tread more carefully, child. Rafael is not a fool.” “No, he is not,” Isabel frowned up at him. “He is the man I had to marry.” “Then is it not fortunate for you,” Sebastian said, his expression quite serious, “that he loves you?” He felt her stiffen and looked down to see the shock in her eyes. “He could have refused to marry you, Isabel. His love for you, the need to keep you safe, made his refusal impossible.” “Alejandra?” Isabel guessed. Her father nodded and she frowned and looked over at Rafael. It would appear she had been mistaken in him. “That little scene in my dressing room…” “Staged for his sister’s benefit,” Sebastian finished for her. The dance ended and he returned her to Rafael. “It might look better, Rafael, if you danced with your pretty wife?” Rafael bowed his head and took Isabel by the hand. As he took her in his arms she caught a flash of his true feelings in his eyes. Then they were dancing, his expression arrogant, possessive. Despite the chill of his act, he was no slacker on the dance floor. He moved with an assurance she would never have expected. Despite her misgivings, she began to feel something stirring to life within her. She looked up into his eyes, stunned. The dance ended and he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She did not fight and the kiss was far more pleasurable than she could have imagined. They moved over to her father’s side. Rafael was about to say something when his beeper went off. He checked it, bowed, and left her alone. “It appears, daughter,” Sebastian said as he leaned down to whisper in her ear, “that the thought of him as your husband is no longer as repellent as it was?” She blushed and he had to hide his smile. “If you do not wish this union, I will speak to Ricardo about it. As head of your house, he is free to dictate to Rafael.” “And I will not do so,” Ricardo said as he joined them just then. “It was quite obvious from the way they moved together that Rafael and Isabel belong to each other.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Do you realize that you had the libido of every male here on overdrive during that tango?” He looked around the hall. “I believe there are many here who are still struggling to control themselves.” She blushed as he held his hand out to her. “Let us show them what the Alvarez can do.” Isabel nodded and went out onto the dance floor with him. This evening was certainly turning out much more pleasantly than she had thought it would. Ricardo had not been boasting about his dance prowess. He was powerful, commanding, and assured. When the dance ended, the temperature in the room appeared to have risen quite considerably. She could see the women’s eyes running over her father-in-law appreciatively. This pleased her. It was time the man found another woman to love. “It is time we were leaving,” Rafael said coldly as he came to Isabel’s side later. “I would be alone with my wife, Guerrero.” Sebastian nodded and signaled Emilio and Guillermo. They followed Rafael and Isabel outside and stayed a discreet distance away as Rafael led Isabel down to the riverfront for a walk. They did not speak for a long time. When they did, it was at Rafael’s instigation. He put his hands to her arms and leaned forward to put his lips nearly to hers. Isabel quivered in his arms and he knew that her father had told her the truth. He frowned. It was not a decision he would have agreed to. “You must struggle, Isabel,” he whispered against her lips. “You are supposed to be angry at this forced marriage, remember?” She did so and he nodded. “When I release you, I want you to slap me and storm off. Do not hold back. It must be believable.” “You bastard!” Isabel hissed and did as he told her to do. “Good girl,” Rafael whispered as he watched her storm off, her guards falling in behind her. He put his hand to his cheek, shaking his head. She had far more strength in her arm than Isabel’s delicate appearance would have one believe. He heard soft laughter from the shadows nearby and knew he had been right. “Did you enjoy the view, hermana?” He turned on her, eyes blazing. “I will not be watched! Go find yourself a man of your own!” “So touchy!” Alejandra laughed as she came out of hiding. “One would think you did not want this alliance.” She laid her hand on his arm and looked up at him coldly. “We know better, don’t we, hermano? The thought of the sweet Isabel in the hands of that ‘rooster’ was driving you mad. Is it not good, then, that he would have no longer been a problem after tonight?” “What are you talking about?” Rafael hissed down at her. “What game are you playing now, hermana?” “No game, Rafael,” Alejandra smiled at him. “I have just learned that David Evans has accepted a position as instructor at a school for the arts in Minneapolis. He will be leaving at the end of the week.” As Rafael hissed in anger, realizing that, once again, he had been duped by his sister; Isabel was back at the reception, looking up at David in shock. She waited for him to laugh, tell her it was a joke, but he did not. She looked at his sister and she nodded confirmation. Her friend was leaving her. Isabel bit her lip to keep from crying and ran. David started to go after her and Tabitha laid her hand on his arm and shook her head. She was right, he saw as Isabel went to her father and mother and they left. “You could have told her the truth, David,” Tabitha told him as they joined Gordon for a late dinner. “I would rather leave her with a happy lie,” David told her, “than a harsh reality.” He saw Tabitha frown. “I know you don’t agree, Tabby. This is my choice, and I would appreciate it if you did not ruin it by telling her the real reason I am going.” He looked over at Gordon. “That goes for you as well, Gordon Talbot.” “I will not betray your confidence, David,” Gordon told him. “She’s going to realize something is wrong, however, if you don’t show up at your own sister’s wedding.” “Wedding?” David’s eyebrows rose in shock. He looked at his sister blushing, his friend looking proud but uneasy and laughed. “But this is wonderful!” He clasped Gordon’ hand and pumped his arm. “I couldn’t be happier for you!” He looked over at his sister and the imp returned. “Just don’t let her run your life, like she has mine.” “I’ll leave her a letter,” David frowned at them, knowing they were hoping he would change his mind. He was not going to destroy any chance that she could be happy with her husband by telling Isabel that he loved her; and he would, if he spent any more time around her. That was what he had decided; that was what would be. “So when is the happy day?” “When you come back home,” she told her brother stubbornly. She shook her head as he started to argue. “I don’t care, little brother. I am not going to marry Gordon until you are there to help us celebrate.” “But Tabby…” “It’s decided, David,” Gordon told him, joining in. “We are not going to let you off the hook.” * Isabel entered the theater the next day and there was a cloud over the crowd. They had just learned that David would not be continuing in the company. They looked at her as if she was the cause of this, and she couldn’t blame them. His decision to leave to teach had been very sudden. But, Isabel smiled to herself; it had been a good one. He was a very gifted teacher. She remembered how he had guided her through their solos. She sank down into a seat with the others and they relaxed as they noted how upset she was. Isabel was not a heartless diva, they remembered. Sebastian came out onto the stage and clapped his hands. “We will miss David Evans,” he acknowledged their grief, “but the Company goes on. Delphine Swan has been auditioning for the past two months to find his replacement,” he informed them and saw their shock as they realized he had known. “I would like to introduce to you, Michael Quinn.” A dark-haired man with steely eyes strode out onto the stage with the arrogance and assurance of his own importance. “He has accepted our offer to join the company. “Isabel,” he motioned to her. “I would like you and Quinn to perform one of the duets from the Nutcracker.” Isabel set aside her shrug and moved up onstage. She could see the man looking her over for some sign of worthiness. She did not like this man one bit. He had an arrogance that angered her. She waited for him to choose the duet and wasn’t surprised when it was the one where Clara and the Nutcracker never touched. He might as well have performed a solo, she thought ungraciously as she went to put on her slippers. She was surprised when Sebastian vetoed the choice. “I know how well you move on your own, Quinn,” Sebastian told the angry man. “I need to be assured that you can move with our prima.” He chose the duet and watched the man nod reluctantly. Isabel smiled at him and he winked. “When you are ready, children.” Isabel moved into her first position and waited for the man. The music started and he was quite assured. Every movement was exact. But the bond that she and David had enjoyed from the very first was missing. It robbed the performance of the magic. The duet was technically flawless, but lacking a very key component. Quinn nodded to her at the end and stepped away. Sebastian came up to them, frowning. “That was technically perfect,” he told them and watched the man nod. He could see Isabel waiting for more and knew she understood. “There was no magic!” he said and watched the man stiffen. “This is a dance celebrating first love, and you danced it like you were in a beginner’s class.” He looked at Quinn. “You need to find