Chapter 6

Although they managed to keep their affair discreet, the rumours soon started circulating that the wife of the commanding officer was having an illicit affair with someone under his command. No names were mentioned and everyone thought that the gentleman involved was an officer, for no-one would even consider that Doña de Alvaro would take a common soldier as her lover.

Colonel de Alvaro was aware of the rumours and had to confront his wife one evening. "Carolina, I know that we each have our own life but these rumours are becoming too loud to ignore. Either be more careful with your behaviour or cease this liaison."

She was surprised by his words, never before had he interfered with her affairs and wondered why. "Vincente, there have been rumours before but you've never mentioned it. Why now?"

He sighed. "That's true and I have always ignored it but its different now." he gently placed his hands on his wife's shoulders and smiled. "It's not yet official but I'm to be promoted to General in the near future."

"Oh that's wonderful Vincente, I am so happy for you." she smiled warmly at her husband.

"Gracious Carolina. But I think you understand why you need to be even more careful now. As I must be."

She nodded. "Of course, Vincente you have my word on that and I will tell..." she stopped.

"You will tell de Soto as well. Not that he has ever talked about you, I'll give him that."

She gasped. "You know?"

Vincente chuckled as he walked towards the side table and poured them both a glass of brandy. "Of course I do. I've known the names of the others as well. Don't be too shocked my dear, I had to ensure I knew what I was up against in case it became public." he handed her the glass.

Carolina took the glass. "Dios. I had no idea. I'm sorry if that knowledge hurt you."

He shook his head. "Its okay, I know that my own...liaisons may have hurt you."

"Oh Vicente, it doesn't hurt, not anymore. I even understand in some way...it's just how you are."

He gazed into her eyes and wondered for the first time, what their marriage would have been like if he had been different. She was a charming, passionate, beautiful and proud woman. She would have been a perfect match for him. "Are you in love with him Carolina?" he asked suddenly.

She was startled by the question. "Love him?" she turned away. "I admit that I am attracted to him but love him, no I don't."

Vincente raised an eyebrow at the untold truth he heard in her soft voice. His wife was indeed in love with de Soto but she was denying it. He hoped that she didn't get too hurt when the affair ended, as he knew it must. He knew the kind of man de Soto was. He was very ambitious, he had only been in the army for eight years and had been Sergeant for several years and would do anything to further himself.

Ignacio and Carolina became even more secretive in their meetings, they never meet at the hacienda or anywhere else that they could be seen together, instead she leased a small cottage along the coast, under her father's name. They arrived at the cottage separately and from different directions. She kept away from the barracks unless she was in the company of her husband. So the rumours slowly died away, which was good for all of them.

One afternoon, the two lovers lay entwined in each others arms, some six months their affair began. An affair that was very gratifying for both of them. Carolina was definitely no longer bored but was ecstatic by her lover. She had been right, Ignacio took her like no other man could. He was aggressive for he knew what he wanted and he took it and in the process he had given her such pleasure which she never knew existed. She had been elated that he allowed her to do what she wanted to satisfy her own needs and the sense of freedom that gave her was intoxicating.

Ignacio was thrilled by his lover, she had matched his desires and was adventurous in their intense lovemaking. He had come to realise that her other lovers had never allowed her to explore her own desires, which stroked his male ego, knowing that he was the only one to bring her such pleasure. And she had lived up to her side of the bargain. In the six months he had learnt a lot about society, how to behave in company, learnt about the arts, plays and books. She taught him rudimentary French and English, and he became aware of all current events to carry on conversations at dinner parties, of how to woo influential people, how to control his temper so that he wouldn't end up fighting duels every week and learnt how to dress to impress the right people.

But their affair was coming to an end. Her husband's promotion had come through and in a week's time General de Alvaro was being transferred to a new command and was only taking several of his key advisors with him. And of course his wife.

Carolina slowly ran her fingertips over his bare chest, pleased to feel his slight tremor. "Ignacio."

"Yes my dear." he said sleepily.

"Are you still determined not to make the military your career. You know you could go a long way, you could even become an officer."

He raised his head and looked in her eye. "Si that has never changed. You know that Carolina."

She chuckled slightly. "I thought so. I do have a suggestion for you." she wriggled away from his warm body, threw back the covers and walked naked to the dresser and pulled out some papers.

Ignacio's eyes widened in appreciation as he stared at her wonderful curves, her breasts still full and high, her hips generous and her long legs perfect. He felt his body stirring once more as she returned to bed.

"Oh Ignacio surely not again." she smiled at his growing arousal.

He chuckled. "Shortly my dear. Now what do you have there?" he nodded to the papers.

"It's to do with your future. I want you to hear me out first, then you can decide on what you want." she told him somewhat nervously. She hoped that he would be pleased by this.

He was curious, he had never seen her this nervous before. "Okay Carolina, tell me."

She took a deep breath and sat on the bed and draped a cover over herself. "Ignacio, you are a smart man and I do I believe that you are meant to be more than a soldier and so an opportunity has come up and I think you should take it."

Ignacio raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"It will mean hard work for you."

He shrugged. "I'm not afraid of hard work, you know that. So what is it?"

"You may be at a slight disadvantage..."

"Carolina." he voice took on a warning tone.

She had the grace to look embarrassed. "Sorry. Every year Madrid University offers five scholarships to those who cannot afford the fees. The scholarship covers all tuition, books and materials as well as living expenses for the four years it takes to complete a degree. The competitions for these limited places are very fierce and it is usually given to those with contacts in high places. I want you to know that I am willing to put you forward as my protégé."

Ignacio's jaw dropped at this bombshell. Never in a million years would he ever imagine this, but his mind quickly processed the information, it was an absolutely incredible opportunity, one that he would be a fool not to take up.

Carolina was thrilled by the look of complete disbelief on her lover's face. It made everything worth while, just to see that look on his face.

"But...But you can't guarantee that I would get a place, what would I study, where would I live?"

She chuckled softly. "You can study whatever you wish, you would live on campus with other students. Ignacio, you will be going into university at a disadvantage, you will be older than the other students, and all of them will have come from wealthy families, who would have had private tutors at home. But you will also be meeting important sons and their families, you will gain an education that you would never have had, the possibilities are endless. So Ignacio what do you think?"

"Madre de dios, Carolina it's incredible. I do realise that it will be hard but like I said, I am not worried about hard work. But you didn't answer my question, can you guarantee that I would get a scholarship?"

"I'll answer that, if you answer one first. Do you want this?"

"YES, very much so, it's just what I need."

She smiled at his enthusiasm. "Then yes Ignacio, I can guarantee you one of the five scholarships, I happen to know the current Dean of the University. All you have to do is complete these forms and I will send them to him."

"Dios, why are you doing this? I mean I only wanted introductions but this..." he was speechless.

Carolina moved closer to him, took his hand and placed it over her bare breast. "Ignacio you have given me more excitement and pleasure in the last six months than I have ever had in the last ten years and I wanted to do something special for you." What she didn't say was that she had fallen in love with him, for she knew that he didn't feel the same. Oh he loved her in his own way but he wasn't in love with her.

Ignacio was overwhelmed by her generosity as he gently squeezed her soft flesh. No-one had ever thought about him, ahead of their dreams and he felt a strange feeling of humility as he kissed her soft lips tenderly. She melted into his embrace and he pushed her down onto the bed and they made love gently, lovingly and it took them to heights of pleasure they had never experienced before.

Two months later Ignacio De Soto resigned from the military and began his university studies at the age of twenty five.