She nodded, as a fresh wave of tears threatened to engulf her. He was right—if she was married off to another man, they would never have the chance to be together ever again.
‘Papa would have hated this,’ she murmured. ‘His family ripped apart by money, my mother dismantling all the plans he’d left in place. He’d be turning in his grave.’
‘She hasn’t succeeded yet,’ Felipe said. ‘I know nothing about the law or things like this, but surely if a successful man like him left a written will?—’
‘Valentina!’ came a hiss from outside. ‘Felipe!’
‘That’s my father,’ Felipe said, nudging her forward and then helping her up to her feet as he stood. ‘We’re in here,’ he called back.
‘Valentina, you need to go,’ José said, his eyes wide. ‘Your mother has threatened my job if I don’t send you back to the house, and she’s warned me that if she finds out that you and Felipe have been seeing each other without her permission…’
Valentina nodded, understanding what he was trying to say. She wiped at her eyes, itchy and sore from crying, and turned to Felipe. She ignored the fact that his father was standing there, cap in hand as he waited for them to say goodbye, and stood on tiptoe to kiss Felipe, sliding her arms around his shoulders to hold him.
‘I love you,’ she whispered into his ear.
‘I love you, too,’ he whispered back, fiercely, holding her fingers in his so tightly it felt as if he might never let go.
When Valentina finally turned away from him, tugging her hands from his hold and nodding to his father as she passed, a wave of emotion caught in her chest and left her fighting to breathe as tears streamed down her cheeks.
No matter what Felipe said or what they planned, she had the most awful, overwhelming feeling that her mother would find a way to put a stop to it all. And if they did succeed in being together, then Felipe’s family would be the ones punished for their actions. She didn’t know what was worse—a life without Felipe, or knowing that she was responsible for his family’s downfall.
Valentina stood with her back pressed to the side of the house, before running out into the pouring rain. She’d arranged to meet Felipe that night, and nothing was going to stop her.
She ran in the dark, the rain soaking her dress and dripping from her eyelashes, knowing the way even without lights to guide her. Valentina knew every inch of the property, could have navigated her way around blindfolded if she’d had to, and she counted the steps across the grass to the stables, knowing that she just had to make it there without being seen. Once they were hidden in one of the stalls, no one would know where to look for her on such a stormy night. Or at least she hoped not.
‘Valentina?’
Felipe’s soft, hesitant call when she pulled open the door made her heart flutter. They hadn’t seen each other for two weeks, with Valentina unable to leave the house, but she’d managed to get a note to his father when she’d passed him on her way to the car the day before. She’d kept it in her pocket for days, waiting for her chance, and the moment she saw him she’d run over and quickly slipped it into his hand, telling her mother that she’d heard him call out and wanted to accept his condolences. Other than the one outing into town for a new dress, she’d felt as if she’d been kept prisoner, confined to one wing of the house unless she was summoned for dinner.
But she forgot everything when Felipe emerged from the shadows. He was as handsome as ever, with his dark hair combed back off his face and his eyes immediately searching hers. But he didn’t look himself—she could see the same strain echoed on his features as she felt in hers, and she wondered if he had the same deep knot of worry in his belly that she did.
‘Felipe,’ she murmured, standing in the entranceway with her hair dripping and making a small puddle beneath her.
He ran towards her, folding her in his arms despite how wet she was, his lips to the top of her head, his hands warm around her.
‘I didn’t think I was going to see you again,’ he whispered. ‘I’ve waited every day, hoping you’d come down to find me.’
Valentina squeezed her eyes shut tightly as she tried to stave off her tears. She’d promised herself that she wouldn’t cry, that she’d cherish every moment she was with Felipe and save her tears for later. But it was proving easier said than done. Being in his arms again made her realise just how much she’d missed him.
‘My mother may as well have me under lock and key,’ Valentina said when he held her at arm’s length, gently stroking the backs of his fingers down her cheek and smudging away a tear. ‘She won’t let me do anything without supervision.’
Felipe took her hand and led her into one of the stalls, where he had some hay bales set up and a blanket. She was grateful when he pulled it out and wrapped it around her, keeping his arm there and rubbing her shoulder as her teeth began to chatter from the cold. They sat down, and she tucked her legs up beneath her, grateful for her long dress so the hay couldn’t scratch her bare skin.
‘Before we say anything else, just in case you have to leave in a hurry,’ Felipe said, letting go of her and reaching into his pocket, ‘this is for you.’
He held something out to her that was wrapped in soft tissue. Valentina looked up at him, curious about what was inside.
‘I was going to wait until your birthday, I’ve been working on it for months,’ he said, his voice huskier than usual. ‘If something happens, no matter what, I wanted you to have it.’
‘Thank you,’ she whispered, as she carefully unwrapped the gift.
In her hands, she held the most intricately carved figurine of a horse. She ran her fingertips over the edges, marvelling at how perfect it was.
‘It’s beautiful,’ she said, looking up at Felipe. ‘No one has ever made me anything before.’
‘I wish I could have bought you a diamond, or something expensive, but?—’
‘No,’ she said, closing her fingers around it to keep the figurine safe in her palm as she leaned forward to kiss him. ‘It’s the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen. I will cherish it forever.’
