“Why is it under dispute? Surely the fact he gave it to her should be enough proof of his love?”
“One would have thought so, however when the boys were in their teens, the baron’s wife died and he entered into a new marriage contract with a woman from a high-ranking French family. Some say it was for financial and political gain, but there was no need, then, for him to continue to advance the family fortunes. He was already the wealthiest man on Isla Sagrado, and one of the wealthiest in all of Spain and France.”
“He married someone else?” Rina was shocked. “After she’d waited for him all that time?”
“Ah, I see you’re a romantic at heart. You think he, a Baron, should have married his daughters’ governess?”
“Well, of course he should!”
Reynard shook his head gently. “Such was not the way of things then. A commoner, while good enough to warm the sheets of the noble classes, could never marry above their station.”
“That’s just disgusting.” Rina reached for the glass of cava that had appeared during Rey’s storytelling. “He owed it to her.”
“Well, it appears she felt much as you do. According to legend, she was apparently crazed with grief at what she saw as his betrayal, so she broke into the wedding festivities at the castillo and publicly accused the Baron of stealing her sons. Of course, he decried her statement but what is said to have made matters worse was her own sons refuting her claim as well—saying she was not their mother. She became uncontrollable and the Baron ordered his soldiers to take her below the castillo, to the cliff caves where cells were kept for unfortunates such as her.
“But before they could drag her away she cursed the Baron and his children, all nine of them, swearing that if in nine generations they could not learn to marry and live their lives by honor, truth and love, the family and all its branches would die out forever.”
“She cursed her own children?”
Rey shrugged. “She was mad, what can I say?”
“Driven mad, more like. And then to have her own flesh and blood turn their backs on her?” Rina nodded slowly. “I can see why she’d have done it. But I imagine she regretted it with every bone in her body.”
“We will never know if she felt regret. They say she broke free of her captors once they reached the tunnels below the castillo and ran down one in particular that led to an opening in the cliff face above the rocks. The legend says that as the soldiers closed in behind her, she ripped La Verdad del Corazon from her neck and cast it into the sea, saying it would only return to the family once the curse was broken. Then she followed the necklace into the savage ocean below.”
“Oh, no. That’s awful.”
“Tragic, yes. Her body was washed up by the waves within days, but the necklace was never seen again.”
“And her curse? Has it really happened?”
Rey shrugged. “Who is to say if she has seen her wishes come true or not? The family lines have certainly diminished over the past three hundred years. But that is only normal given the circumstances of wars, ill health and general bad luck. From the direct line of the sons, reputed to be hers—remember, there is no proof—only Abuelo, Alex, Benedict and myself remain. And my brothers and I are the ninth generation.”
“Honor, truth and love. Those are the words on your family crest aren’t they?” Rina took another sip of her wine, enjoying the dance of bubbles across her tongue before she swallowed.
“They are. I didn’t know you’d seen that,” Rey nodded.
“I saw it on the doors to your office, the day of Benedict’s accident. I suppose it makes sense that she’d have chosen those three provisos if she felt her lover had not abided by them. So, have you?”
“Have I what?”
“Have you abided by them? Is the curse broken?”
Eight
She had the nerve to sit there and judge him? Rey bit back his instinctive response and schooled his features into a pleasant smile.
“Now what would make you think we del Castillos would live any other way?”
Sara—no, Sarina, he corrected himself—twirled the long stemmed champagne flute on the tabletop in front of her, eyeing him from beneath her long, dark lashes as if considering her reply very carefully. As well she should, he thought. She wasn’t who she said she was, so she could hardly harp on about truth now, could she?