Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
The Morans’ butler asked me to wait in the foyer. This time, though, he respectfully offered me mulled wine before leaving to fetch his master.
Instead of waiting, I headed up the staircase to look for Salvador myself.
Several months had passed since my dinner party and Salvador had returned the favor and extended an invitation to dine at his father’s home.
With his family out of town, our privacy was assured.
He’d taken up his appointment as aide-de-camp at the senatorial residence, and I looked forward to questioning him.
This visit promised to be interesting on all levels.
The great house had been restored to its former glory after a recent royal visit inspired a refurbishment. Whitewashed walls loomed resplendent.
I caught the butler’s disapproving glare from the base of the stairs and threw him a big smile. He quick-footed it out of sight.
Salvador greeted me halfway along the passageway. His expression was difficult to read.
“You never told me you had a sister.” He frowned playfully.
Pausing, I tried to remain calm. “How is she?”
“Why don’t you ask her yourself?” He pointed to the end of the hallway.
I hesitated.
“She’s been looking forward to seeing you,” he said.
I clutched Salvador’s arm and guided him along the corridor. “What’s she doing here?”
“I had to get her out.” He rested his hand over mine. “She’s not going back.”
“What happened?”
“Felipe was beating her.”
I stopped walking and stared off down the hallway.
He looked over at me. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re both in danger. Felipe will come after you.”
“Maybe.”
“You can’t stay here.” I glanced at him, trying to ignore my badgering conscience that said all this was happening because of me.
But Alicia was safe now.
“Salvador, there’s something I have to tell you…”
“I think I know.” His expression was kind. “But go on.”
My heart ached that I might lose a friend by revealing the truth.
“I lied to you,” I said, turning to face him. “That stuff about the inquisition.”
“Why?”
“I needed someone I trusted to watch over Alicia.”
“I didn’t remove her because of Felipe’s abuse. I fell in love with her and wanted her safe.”
I let out an uneasy laugh, but as the idea settled, so did my relief.
“Felipe is a complete bastard,” he muttered.
“Will you ever forgive me? She had to be protected by any means possible.”
“You were very convincing.”
I cringed.
He shook his head and gave me a wry grin.
“I’m forever indebted to you,” I said. “I owe you so much.”
“Just give me your blessing.”
“Are you sure she wants to see me?”
“Absolutely.”
I sighed. “When Felipe finds out—”
“We’re going to Italy. She wouldn’t leave without seeing you.” Salvador patted my shoulder. “Come on.”
I allowed him to guide me the rest of the way, until we reached Alicia’s bedroom door. Still wary due to our last interaction, I waved to Alicia from the doorway.
She’d lost weight, evidence of her mistreatment. How many shades of evil did Felipe possess?
Alicia let out a sob. “I thought you’d fallen from the ledge.”
“I’m pretty nimble, you know that.” The lump in my throat refused to disappear.
Alicia ran to me, and I hugged her.
“You tried to warn me.” Tears stained her cheeks.
“All that’s forgotten now.” I breathed in her familiar scent, and it reminded me so much of our mother’s.
Salvador was smiling.
Alicia pulled back. “You’ve grown into such a handsome man.”
I smiled down at her. “I’ve missed you.”
“You look well,” she said, her voice soft. “Felipe—”
“I’m glad you’ve left him.”
She grasped my hands and held them to her face. “How did you escape?”
A flurry of crows and a rocking carriage.
A fragment of a forgotten memory tried to claw its way back.
I shook my head. “Salvador’s told me about you both.”
She released my hands and turned to look at Salvador. “We’re so happy,” she said, smiling.
“And that makes me happy.” I nodded toward Salvador to make sure he knew it.
Alicia gave me an apologetic look. “Felipe told me you were dangerous, that’s why I…”
“I understand.”
“But I almost got you killed.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Grandpa became sick, and you disappeared, and Mama wouldn’t talk about it.”
She shook her head, as though trying to make sense of it all.
I feared that with my explanation she would be moved to tears.
“You were so young, how could you have known about the bull?” she reasoned.
“There were men there that night.” I spoke calmly, my tone devoid of emotion. “I was shoved into the arena with a bull that had been worked hard for hours.”
She gasped. “That’s why you were taken away, so that you wouldn’t tell anyone?”
I shrugged. “Perhaps.”
I wanted to say that Roelle was good friends with Felipe, that I suspected they were responsible, but I had no proof other than a gut feeling.
Salvador’s expression told me he knew that I was protecting Alicia.
“How is your son?” I asked.
“He’s in the garden.” She pointed out of the window at the one-year-old child playing on the lawn, watched over by a maid.
Knowing they were all safe allowed me a moment to breathe. “What’s his name?”
“Ricardo.” She watched my reaction.
I stared at the boy named after our eldest brother and resisted biting my lip.
“Felipe chose his name,” she whispered.
I glanced at Salvador. He turned away, unable to look at me.
Felipe had given his son the name of the man he’d murdered. Not out of remorse…no, that would be too human. He did it to own the memory, to twist the knife every time someone spoke it. That way he was secretly punishing Alicia.
I had to push that man out of my mind for now.
After a fine meal at Moran’s dinner table, we spent the rest of the evening and well into the early hours conversing, never wanting it to end.
Alicia stirred long lost memories that I’d once suppressed.
Nothing could make up for a lifetime of being apart, but the precious moments we shared during that time proved somewhat cathartic.
Alicia embraced me for the longest time as we lingered before the horse drawn carriage. It pained me to have spent such little time with her.
With all that had passed between Salvador and I, our closeness had never wavered.
Even now, when he knew the truth of how I’d misled him, Salvador gave me that same look of affection with that illuminating smile of his.
The carriage lumbered off.
Alicia, her son, and Salvador headed for the road out of Spain. The sun rose and an array of orange colors burst over the horizon. The arrival of a new day meant a new life for them.
My smile faded when I realized that my home would be the first place Felipe would search.