Chapter 27. Prenuptial agreement.
Three days later, in the tavern, the count and Marina were waiting for one of their servants to tell them that everything was ready.
Fadrique looked at his sister with concern. "Are you sure you want to be present when we discuss the details of the contract?"
"Yes, I am." she said firmly.
"There are legal details that I don't know if you will understand."
"Don Diego has explained to me how these contracts work. They are very much like a purchase and sale."
"Precisely my point, I don't think you've quite understood."
She held his gaze, stubbornly. "Well, I think I do."
"I don't know if the de la Vega's are a good influence on you."
"Because they explain things to me in a way that I understand?"
That made Fadrique reflect, because that phrase, which in another woman would have been irony, in her was a legitimate question. If he was going to send his sister across the ocean the least he could do was let her learn to stand up for herself. He had never believed it was possible, but she had seemed so changed lately.
Eugenio approached discreetly. "It's all ready. Señor de Soto will be here in a few minutes."
"Thank you." replied the count mechanically. He saw that Marina was looking at him approvingly and found it strange.
"Is something the matter?"
"You have thanked him."
"That's nothing out of the ordinary, I do it habitually."
"You do, but I've seen other men in your position who don't."
"And you think it's important?"
"More and more. I can't understand very complicated things, but I can see that little details tell me whether someone is legit or not."
"And what do you think about Eugenio and Leandra, do you agree with them accompanying you to Spain and helping you with your affairs?"
Marina looked at him a little astonished, it was the first time he had asked her opinion about something important.
"Yes, I think they are both trustworthy, "
Fadrique sighed slightly. "Good, we agree on that, so at least we have a starting point."
Ignacio de Soto entered the tavern dressed in his best suit and carrying a leather folder in his hand. He approached the table where they were waiting for him. When de Soto extended his hand towards him to greet him, Fadrique stood up and responded to the gesture, not wanting to humiliate him in front of his sister. De Soto greeted the young lady with a bow, which she responded in kind.
At a nod from Fadrique, his assistant brought him some documents. "This contract is a copy of the one I gave you yesterday to read."
Marina intervened at that moment. "Did Eugenio also have a chance to read it?"
"That's right, he helped draft it."
"I would like him to be at this meeting as my advisor."
"Is his presence necessary?" asked de Soto trying to avoid letting it be noted that he didn't like the idea.
"Since it is about the future of my sister and my nephew, as well as the management to be made of some assets that belong to her in her own right, I think it is convenient that Marina be in the negotiation, and if she requests assistance, then she will have it."
The count made a gesture and Eugenio approached.
"The draft of the prenuptial agreement states that there will be a proxy without whom my sister's signature will not be valid. Eugenio will be that proxy, and she can appoint another to take his place if necessary."
"The law establishes that the husband is the manager of the marital assets." said de Soto cautiously.
"In this case any financial decisions must have the approval of the proxy, to avoid mismanagement and ensure that the assets are not squandered. You will have a generous annual allowance, and you may live in any of the properties she has in Spain, but you may not sell any of the assets without the signature of Marina and the proxy."
"In any of the properties? Not wherever she is?"
"She will have the possibility to decide if she wants to live with you or not."
"And the child?"
"Diego. The child has a name." she said very seriously. "And he will not be separated from me at least until he begins his studies."
De Soto could not help frowning, but said nothing.
"In the event that she predeceases you, all property would pass to her child or children, if you have more, in the manner she decides in the last will and testament she makes. You would retain your annual allowance and would be entitled to visit the children with supervision if they are still underage."
"This deal is less advantageous than the one you initially offered me."
"I am trying to protect my sister in the best way possible, and trying to fulfill her wishes. If you don't agree you can leave and we will look for a way for her to pass herself off as a widow." said Fadrique in a tone that brooked no retorts.
"Is that how it's going to be?" the alcalde asked his fiancée. "Are you never going to trust me?"
She felt again a desire to believe that he might come to love her, and his son as well, but he had already broken her heart twice, by abandoning her and by denying that he knew her.
"Honestly, I don't know." she replied quietly.
"And what if the proxy and I can't agree when it comes to making an important decision?"
Marina looked at Eugenio, waiting for him to answer the question.
" Señor de Soto, I am not your enemy, I will only look out for the interests of Doña Marina and her son Diego. My wife and I have no children, and no family in Spain to try to favor. We have known the señorita since she was born, and although we have always kept the proper distance because of her noble birth, we almost consider her a daughter. I am honored that she trusts us. If I ever oppose any ideas you may have it will be with the good of your family in mind. Besides decisions will also not be valid without your signature, just as I will keep an eye on you, you can do the same with me."
Marina smiled at what her brother's assistant had said. Leaving for Spain no longer seemed like such a bad idea if she could have someone she trusted nearby.
"So. Will you sign the agreement now, or does it need some modification?"
"I will sign it." said de Soto feeling somewhat disappointed. Despite the restrictions it was still his best option to return to Madrid, however there was something else, deep down he did not want to say goodbye to the young woman and their son.
Eugenio motioned to another of the men, who approached with a small trunk containing a scribbler. The inkwell was a glass jar covered with a cork, Eugenio placed it on the table and de Soto was able to use the elegant pen to sign the agreement. It was then signed by the Count as Marina's legal guardian and Eugenio as a witness.
The Count was the first to get up from the table, and de Soto imitated him. This time the count held out his hand to de Soto first.
"I will return in two weeks for your wedding to my sister. It will be a small ceremony, because most of our relatives will not come to such a secluded place. You can go make arrangements for your trip to Spain, because I hope to get you a leave of absence from the army in less than a week."
De Soto felt a little better on hearing this. He had not yet joined the family and already he was beginning to benefit. He shook his future brother-in-law's hand proudly and nodded. "Everything will be ready for our trip."
"Good." the count turned to his sister. "Decide which of the servants will travel with you to Spain. Leandra will be able to help you with that. She probably knows better than you which ones are trustworthy and won't go around telling what has happened before your wedding."
"Thank you, I think that's good advice."
The count headed for the door followed by several of his men, who had remained in and around the tavern.
De Soto looked at his fiancée, who seemed somewhat discouraged.
"Maybe we could go out this afternoon for a little walk." he said with a smile.
She looked at him suspiciously.
"I would very much like it if you would allow me to live with you and little Diego. I know my behavior has been reprehensible, but perhaps if you give me a chance I can show you that I am indeed interested in making our marriage a success."
She sighed. "That's fine. You can pick me up at six."
He walked over to her and took her hand to kiss it. "I'll see you later."
When a smartly dressed de Soto entered the tavern at 6 he saw his fiancée in a pretty summer dress and an umbrella. Beside her was the nanny, who was carrying the baby in her arms.
De Soto kissed Marina's hand. "We can ride in the buggy to the riverbank and stroll in the shade of the riverside trees."
"I thought Diego could come with us."
"Of course." smiled the alcalde, trying to make a good impression, although he had never liked children. He thought he would ingratiate himself with Marina if he paid attention to the baby, so he approached him. The child looked at him curiously, and tried to grab a lock of his white beard.
"Do you want to hold him in your arms?" asked Marina.
"Of course." he said holding out his arms and with a strained smile. He had heard someone once say that the best way to ingratiate oneself with a mother was through her children.
The nanny looked at him suspiciously, but gave him the child. Not knowing what to do with that little human he grabbed him by the torso, under his arms, under the watchful eye of the child who began to pout because he didn't like the position. De Soto moved him up and down saying "Ea, ea" while Marina and the nanny exchanged a worried look. The baby then made a slightly strange face. "I think he's smiling at me." said de Soto hopefully, and at that moment the child coughed and vomited a green, slimy liquid all over the best suit and silk scarf the alcalde had put on for the occasion.
Victoria was at the bar, from where she could see what was happening. Seeing the alcalde's terrified face she couldn't help but burst out laughing. Meanwhile he turned in on himself, trying to keep the baby as far away as possible to give it to its mother. The nanny was quicker, and wrapped the baby in a towel to prevent Marina from staining her clothes.
"Maybe the pea puree didn't agree with him," said Marina.
"Don't worry, ma'am, at this age it's normal. We'll try to give it to him again in a couple of days and we'll see if it was the puree or if he's just a little lousy today."
De Soto looked at his ruined clothes not quite knowing what to do. "I'm going to change my clothes." he mumbled, though holding back because he knew she didn't like him yelling at the servants.
"I'll wait for you here with the boy." she said.
""All right."" he replied leaving for the barracks.
The alcalde changed clothes as he gibbered about smelly little monsters, but managed to look calm as he rejoined Marina in the tavern.
"Diego will stay here with the nanny, I don't want him to get in the carriage if he's not feeling well."
"Sounds very sensible to me." he replied relieved offering his arm to the girl. Luckily for the rest of the afternoon there were no further mishaps.