Independence & Consequences - M J Marlow (manga ebook reader txt) 📗

no proof that she was willingly involved. I believe she was an innocent tool and should not be punished unduly for crimes she was unaware she was committing. I ask that she be turned over to me, to become my wife. She will live out her days, giving children to the house of Alvarez to replace the one she was meant to masquerade as.” “I have no objections,” Enrique bowed his head. “My son’s suggestion is soft, given the immensity of the crime, but just.” “So it is said,” Orlando nodded, “so it shall be done.” He looked at Isabel then in disgust. “You would bring this person into your family, Alvarez?” “It is just,” Ricardo said before Enrique could. “She was only a tool.” Isabel was helped to her feet and freed from the cuffs. Rafael came forward as Sebastian removed the gag. He took her hand in his and slipped a ring on it. Then he nodded to the Council and took her out of the lounge. He kept a grip on her wrist as took her up the stairs to the helipad. Enrique and Olivia were already aboard, waiting for them. The helicopter lifted off the cruise ship and headed off. “You are going to make my son the envy of every man on the planet, Isabel,” Enrique smiled as he bowed his head to her. He heard her whimper and smiled. He turned her eyes to his. “I had to do something, pet. My son would never speak to me again if I allowed you to come to any true harm.” “You’re vile!” Isabel shot back at him. “I am your father now,” Enrique frowned at her. “You will not speak to me so.” “I am not your son’s wife!” Isabel cried, remembering no ceremony. “You heard the Council agree to the union,” Enrique laughed. He pulled her hand up. “You wear my son’s ring. The union will be legally filed before we arrive at our destination.” He shook his head at her. “It is done, Isabel. You are now Rafael’s wife.” Isabel shook her head in disbelief. This man said it was so, and those men in the lounge said it was so, and that made her a wife? It couldn’t be legal. She wasn’t going to stand for it! The moment she got a chance, she was going to get away from this lunatic and find her way back to her uncle Gordon. He would be able to tell her if this was legal. He would be able to protect her from this madman. She saw Enrique watching her closely and turned her head away. Rafael put his arms around her and glared at his father coldly. There was a gentle thud as the helicopter landed and the door was opened. Rafael lifted Isabel down onto the ground outside of his family estate. “We will be going to the opera tonight, Rafael,” Enrique told his son. “You and your wife will join us.” Isabel went with Rafael. There was nowhere she could go. They were surrounded by mile after mile of grounds. She didn’t want to die needlessly. She wanted to bring this bastard to justice for what he had done to her. Rafael led her into the house and upstairs to the right. At the end of the corridor, he opened a set of immense teak doors at the end. He stepped aside to allow Isabel to enter first. The room was larger than any room she had ever seen in her life. A silver haired woman waited for them. “Isabel, this is Dora,” Rafael said as he nodded towards the short, round woman, “she will be your attendant when we are here.” He kissed her on the forehead. “She will help you get ready. I will go into the other room.” Dora led her to a door to the left and she found herself in a bathroom. The woman began to run water into the tub as Isabel looked around. She had never seen so much marble in her life. “You will bathe now,” Dora said as she poured a perfumed oil into the tub and the scent of roses filled the air. “I will be just outside if you require any assistance.” Isabel waited until the door had closed and then she undressed and slipped into the water. The warmth chased away some of the chill that had hit her. She remembered this scene, she thought to herself. This was where the new harem bride prepared for her first night with the sultan. Isabel fought the hysteria that was mounting inside her mind. She washed quickly and shampooed her hair, then stepped into the shower to rinse off. She found a robe and put it on. Dora opened the door just as she was heading towards it. She took Isabel over to the vanity and sat her down. “You are a beautiful young woman, Senora Alvarez,” Dora smiled as she combed out Isabel’s hair. “You will give the Senor Doctor many healthy babies.” She frowned as Isabel whimpered. “I know it is frightening the first time a man takes you, Senora, but it is a natural act. It can be quite pleasurable if you do not fight.” Dora finished and they went into the room where Isabel found Rafael waiting for her. He held a glass of champagne out to her as Dora left them alone. Isabel took it and threw it into his face. She was not going to make this easy on the bastard and his father. He pulled the robe off her and used it to wipe his face. Then he sat back as Dora led her into the walk-in closet and chose a gown for her to wear to the opera. It was a simple gown that fastened at the shoulders and flowed over her body like a caress. He brought out a necklace of sapphire and diamonds and added a matching bracelet and earrings. He made her spin for him and pronounced himself quite pleased. He brought out a white mink stole and draped it over her shoulders, enjoying the feel of her silken skin as his fingers brushed her arms. He could feel every eye on him as he escorted her into the theater. He strutted like a peacock and smiled as he introduced the girl to his associates. They were quite pleased to hear he had married. They were quite envious that his new wife was so exquisite. They arrived in their box and Enrique saw her to her seat next to Olivia. Once the opera started, she tried to concentrate on the opera. The anger in the voices behind her was very distracting. She turned to Olivia, who was watching her closely. “You should be happy, Isabel,” Olivia told her. “Enrique would have done what he said, if Rafael had not agreed to marry you.” “Rafael wanted me,” Isabel said coldly. “He made no secret of that fact. His ‘sacrifice’ is meaningless.” “You are not a stupid woman,” Enrique said as he leaned forward in time to hear her comment. He kissed Olivia on the cheek. “My son would have done the same for you even if he did not have feelings for you.” “I should hate you,” Isabel said as she met his eyes. “Si, hija,” Enrique nodded, looking suddenly very ill at ease. “You should.” He cupped her chin in his hand saw her as she truly was; a frightened child. “I was wrong to do this to you.” He did not see Alejandra as she listened from out in the corridor. “I am going to make it up to you, Isabel. In the morning, I will turn myself over to the Council for judgement.” The first act intermission sounded and they went down to the bar. They met Gordon there with his date, Tabitha Evans. Rafael excused himself a moment and Isabel felt abandoned. She looked back and her uncle. To say Gordon was not pleased at seeing them there, and together, was understating things a great deal. “Director Talbot,” Enrique smiled coldly at the man, “and the beautiful Dr. Evans!” He bowed over hand. Then he drew Isabel forward. “I believe you know my daughter-in-law?” “How did you begin as a kidnap victim,” Gordon asked once Enrique was out of sight, “and return home married to that bastard’s son?” “Kidnap?” Isabel looked at him in confusion. “I wasn’t kidnapped, Uncle Gordon. I was on a cruise with my mother.” She knew what she had just said was a lie, but she couldn’t let Liza get in trouble for what had been done. “Rafael happened to be on the same cruise. We spoke, we danced, we grew quite fond of each other.” “But Rafael Alvarez?” Gordon shook his head. “He is…” “Telling my bride lies about me already?” Rafael smiled as he joined them. He put his arms around Isabel and kissed her shoulder. “I was just getting to that,” Gordon frowned as he saw the way Isabel responded to the man. The lights flashed signaling the end of the intermission. “Perhaps another time?” “Perhaps.” Rafael nodded. He held his arm out to Isabel and led her away. When they got back to the box, Enrique and Olivia were gone. He sat down next to her and took her hand in his. “I pray one day you can forgive my father for what he did.” Isabel looked at him and he nodded. “I would be lying if I said I was unhappy at the thought of you as my wife, Isabel,” he continued as he brought her hand to his lips. “I would have preferred to court you properly and let you choose me willingly. He poured them both a glass of champagne from a bucket someone had left there for them. “Will I be wearing this one?” “I don’t think so,” Isabel smiled at him shyly. She sipped at the drink and wrinkled her nose as the bubbles entered her nose. “It’s bitter.” “Dip one of the strawberries into it, querida,” he said as he pulled up a basket of fruit; a gift from the theater manager. She did as he asked and he watched as she brought the berry to her mouth. She bit into it and enjoyed the bitter and sweet. “Better?” “Should I be drinking this?” Isabel giggled after the second glass. “What is the legal drinking age in this state?” “I think you are safe, querida,” Rafael told her, delighted by her. They enjoyed this interlude. The opera ended and they went out to the limousine. Halfway home, Rafael suddenly realized that they were not headed in the right direction. He frowned as the car began to slow down. “Diego? What is happening?” “It would appear that there is an accident up ahead, Senor,” Diego replied. “I can turn off up ahead and take the back roads for awhile.” “I don’t think that’s wise,” Rafael shook his head. When Diego did it anyway, he knew they were in trouble. “Diego. What are you doing?” The glass partition rose up between the front and back and he saw Isabel’s fear. He pulled her into his arms and held her so she couldn’t see the rage in his eyes. “We’ll be all right, querida,” he said as gas entered the back compartment. “I have you.” * Enrique woke up and found himself tied into a chair in a warehouse. He looked around for his wife and there was no sign of her. He tried to work his hands free of the ropes and had just loosened the knot when he heard several men moving in around him. A man stepped forward, his features hidden behind a mask. What was going on here? A needle entered his vein and he felt his mind begin to spin. They had used drugs on him? “We will have the truth now, Alvarez,” the man said coldly. He brought a chair up