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

a way to connect with your prima on a deeper level, young man, or the audience will not believe the performance.” He nodded to Isabel, smiling. “He has not left yet, Isabel,” he said as he beckoned to someone off stage. “A farewell dance to show young Quinn what I speak of.” Isabel smiled as David came out of the wings. She embraced him with a cry of joy and he kissed her cheek, beaming. Then they moved into position and Quinn watched as the couple performed the same duet. He had to admit, he thought as he watched; there was something quite different in the way they moved with each other. They were inviting the audience into the dance with them, as well. He knew then that he still had a lot to learn. When the dance ended, he went up to David. They were deep in conversation when the doors at the end of the theater opened and Rafael strode down the aisle. Now there, Quinn thought, was a man who was sure of himself. He held his hand out to Isabel and she frowned. “Her husband, Rafael Alvarez,” David told him. “She doesn’t look that pleased to see him,” Quinn noted as Isabel gathered her things and went to Rafael. She allowed his kiss on the cheek as if it were a duty. “The marriage was arranged,” David said as he frowned. “They are still getting to know each other. He motioned to one of the ballerinas. “Now, do that duet with Martha using what I just told you.” Isabel paused at the top of the aisle and watched as Quinn moved in the same duet. This time, he appeared to capture the spirit of the dance perfectly. She smiled over at David and he bowed to her. Then she was dragged out of the theater. Rafael opened the door of his car for her and she slid in, frowning. He was certainly playing the part well. She could feel the bruise on her wrist. He stopped in front of Alexa’s and she looked at him in confusion. “Alejandra is helping you choose your gown today for our church wedding ceremony,” he said as he came to open the door. He kissed her on the lips roughly and stepped away. She did not have to pretend she was angry. She went inside as he drove away and found Alejandra waiting for her. “You might have preferred to wear your mother’s gown,” Alejandra said as she came forward, “but she and your father, Charles, were married in a courthouse ceremony.” She led Isabel to the seats. “And you should have a gown befitting a princess.” “You’ve already made some selections for me,” Isabel frowned. She could see Alejandra daring her to argue and nodded. “Very well,” she sighed. “Let’s see these gowns you think will suit.” Alejandra had chosen five and Isabel had to admit that they were lovely. But it wasn’t until the final gown, a concoction of silk and lace that brought to mind the courts of Spain in an earlier age that she was convinced. She went to try it on and was pleased as she saw her reflection. If she had not begun caring for Rafael, she would have refused to wear it. This was a gown to be worn by a woman in love. “You are exquisite,” Alejandra smiled at her as she came back out. “My brother will die of happiness at the sight of you coming to him down the aisle.” She saw the pained look on Isabel’s face and misread it. “He will be a good husband to you, Isabel. He adores you.” “To the point of madness,” Isabel frowned, knowing this lie was necessary. “I do not want this marriage, Alejandra.” “Surely by now,” Alejandra smiled at her darkly, “you realize just how little what you want matters, Isabel?” She was enjoying this immensely. With this one marriage, Isabel’s inheritance would pass into Rafael’s hands, and she would deal with him soon enough. She reached up to stroke Isabel’s cheek. “Don’t be angry with my hermano, Isabel. You are a very lovely woman, designed to drive men mad.” She turned to Alexa. “This is the gown. See that it is delivered to the Alvarez estate,” she continued and watched Isabel look at her in confusion. “We will have the wedding breakfast there.” Alexa helped Isabel change. Isabel got into the car with Alejandra and was surprised again when she took them to the estate. What was going on? She looked at her and saw the girl’s triumphant smile. Alejandra was up to something. Isabel knew that she would not be pleased one bit by what Alejandra was going to tell her. But Alejandra said nothing until they were settled in the lounge together with glasses of lemonade in hand. “As my brother’s wife,” Alejandra told her bluntly, “your place is here, Isabel. You will move in.” “I will not,” Isabel replied. “I have a life, Alejandra…” “Oh,” Alejandra smiled nastily, “by all means continue with your dancing, if it pleases you. But you will be living here,” she continued harshly. “Your belongings have already been brought, Isabel.” She smiled as she saw the girl’s eyelids drooping. “The Senora is weary from her long day. She will rest before dinner.” Isabel was pulled to her feet and she could not fight. She had obviously been drugged. She went with the servants who had been in the lounge and found herself inside Rafael’s bedroom. She looked around as they sat her down on the bed. Nothing had changed from the one day she had been here. She thought of Enrique now and wondered if he knew the monster he had created in Alejandra. Would he have been proud of her for what she was doing to her own brother and Isabel? She couldn’t push away their hands as the servants removed her clothing, put her into a negligee, and put her to bed. The last she saw, before the sedative took full effect, was the two women settling down in chairs by the door. Isabel woke several hours later and the servants had laid a gown across the foot of the bed. She went to take a shower and pushed them away as they came to help her dress. She was not helpless now; she would do this for herself. They stepped away and she could feel their disappointment. It was an honor for them to serve the Senora. Isabel relented enough to allow them to comb out and dress her hair. They followed behind her as she made her way downstairs. Rafael was standing at the foot of the stairs, waiting. His expression warned her that his sister was around somewhere close. “You are looking very lovely, Isabel,” he said as he held his arm out to her. He saw her to her seat next to his at the head of the table and bent down to kiss her on the shoulder. “Don’t be afraid, querida. I will be the best of husbands.” “Of course you will, hermano,” Alejandra purred as she came in. She sat down on his other side and smiled at Isabel. “I’m afraid Isabel was not happy at our little surprise.” “This became your home when my father died, Isabel,” Rafael told her coldly. “We knew you were speaking out of grief when you said you’d sell it.” He reached over to her and she turned away. He pulled her to him and kissed her, roughly. “You will learn that I am not to be refused.” “I will never love you,” Isabel exclaimed as she glared at him. “I do not require that you love me,” Rafael shot back. “I admit,” he corrected as he ran his fingers over her lips, “that it would make things much more pleasurable if you could learn, but it is not necessary.” He laughed down into her anger and confusion. “You are merely a tool, Isabel, meant to bring children into the house.” He hated having to say such things to her, but he could see from his sister’s expression that he had fooled her. “We will eat now. Tonight, I will come to you…” “You would not dare!” Isabel cried out in disbelief. “And why should I not? You are my wife!” Rafael broke in coldly. “It is time you learned how to please me,” he explained himself to her. “Eat!” Isabel rose to her feet, her eyes blazing with anger. She would not be talked to like this. She started to leave and he grabbed her and pushed her back into her chair. His look told her he would have her tied down if he had to. Isabel bit her lip to keep from screaming and turned to see the delight on Alejandra’s face. She ate then, knowing she had no choice. She did not speak again and the siblings were too busy gloating over her defeat to speak to each other. The meal passed in chill silence. When it was over, Isabel was taken back to her room. She was prepared for bed and lay there helpless to prevent what was about to happen. “I do not want to do this, Isabel,” Rafael whispered as he removed his clothing and joined her in bed. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently. “I will be gentle.” “Please don’t do this, Rafael,” Isabel sobbed. “It is not something you can undo.” “You are my wife, querida,” Rafael reminded her as he ran his fingers over her lips. He didn’t want to do this to her, but he needed to keep Alejandra appeased. It was the only way Isabel would remain safe. He took her lips with his and she whimpered. “Forgive me,” he whispered into her ear as he tightened his grip on her body. She whimpered in pain as he began to caress her body. “I don’t care if you want me, querida,” he laughed aloud as he looked down at her. “You are mine and I will take my pleasure from you.” He kissed her and she gasped in shock as he ran his tongue along her lips and into her mouth. He moved his hand down to stroke and caress, and she shook her head. This was no play-acting, her eyes told him. He was doing something that was frightening her. He smiled down at her, willing her to believe he would not harm her. When he parted her legs and moved between them, her eyes went wide as he slid inside of her willing body. She screamed and pleaded with him to stop as his thrust brought pain. He continued what he was doing, ignoring her wishes. She finally fell asleep and he collapsed on top of her, relieved. He was still holding her in his arms, stroking her hair as she slept, when Alejandra came into the room. “Did you never learn anything about boundaries, hermana? “She pleased you?” Alejandra saw his expression and knew. “That is good. It would have grieved me to trap you into this marriage if she had not.” She saw his shock. “Who do you think reminded her father of the laws regarding her future, hermano?” She looked at Isabel. “She is your wife and should give you many children before you die.” She laughed at his anger. “I have done you a favor, hermano. You said you wanted her,” she reminded him. She nodded to Isabel. “Here she is, sleeping peacefully in your arms.” “You will leave now!” Rafael hissed. “You’ll thank me for her, hermano,” Alejandra sniffed. She bowed her head and left the room. “And on that day, you will die,” she said once she was outside the door. * Somehow Isabel managed to look at Rafael when she went to breakfast the next morning. She had woken to find him gone and wondered why she had been disappointed. He had been true