Prohibited Bond

Three weeks later, in the morning, the hacienda was in full swing. Marta, with her usual authority, was giving instructions so that everything would be perfect for William's welcome party.

— Philip, go to the barracks with Nina and bring the new slave. We need to get her ready for tonight's party — ordered Marta.

Philip, the young messenger, nodded and walked with Nina towards the barracks. Nina, always kind and understanding, walked beside Philip, exchanging smiles and words of encouragement.

— Sarabi will be delighted to know that she has been given an assignment for the party — said Nina with a smile.— I'm sure she'll do very well.

As they reached the barracks, they were intercepted by James, who eyed them suspiciously.

— What are you doing here? — James asked, threateningly.

— Mrs. Marta has sent us to fetch Sarabi — Philip answered firmly — She must prepare for tonight's party.

James frowned, clearly annoyed, but finally nodded.

—Take her away, but it's not over yet — said James, looking at Sarabi with a sinister smile. — Keep that in mind.

Sarabi shuddered, but held her head high as she followed Philip and Nina to the big house. Upon arrival, she was greeted by Martha.

When she arrived, Marta looked at her with disdain, assessing her appearance from top to bottom. With a hint of contempt in her voice, she said:

— What are those rags you're wearing? And that hair is completely disheveled. You have a very unkempt figure.

Martha turned to Nina with authority in her tone:

— Do me a favor and prepare her. Dress her and comb her.

As she was being dressed, Nina whispered words of encouragement.

— Don't worry, Sarabi. Tonight will be special. You just have to do your job and everything will be fine.

— Thank you, Nina — Sarabi replied, feeling a mixture of nervousness and gratitude. — I will do my best.

When William was mentioned, Sarabi felt a knot in her stomach. Nina noticed and smiled.

— William is a handsome, elegant man —Nina said with a knowing smile. — And he seems to like you, too.

— But remember that it is only that which he pleases you. You must never fall in love with him or any target. You know our place very well — said Nina, advising her.

Sarabi looked down, her thoughts confused and filled with emotion.

With the arrival of evening, the house began to transform. The slaves decorated the place with lights and flowers, while the tables were filled with food and drinks. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation for the great feast that was about to begin.

Martha watched Sarabi with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

— So you are Sarabi, the slave who has captivated everyone since you arrived. You're good looking, at least you'll give this house a little presence — he said, slowly walking away as he continued to oversee the preparations.

Marta wore a beautiful purple dress with lace and frills, very elegant. Her poise and elegance were undeniable, radiating the authority she had always exercised at the hacienda. The guests began to arrive, dressed in their best clothes, full of joy and ostentation of their wealth.

As Marta stood in the doorway, she greeted young Elizabeth with a warm smile. Elizabeth wore a beautiful pink silk dress with lots of lace, standing out for her elegance among all the young ladies present. Her brown hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and her blue eyes sparkled with a mixture of sweetness and possessiveness. She was a sweet-natured person, but also spoiled and used to getting what she wanted.

— Elizabeth, my dear, it's so good to see you — said Marta, hugging her. — You look dazzling.

— Thank you, Mrs. Marta — Elizabeth replied with a smile. — The party looks wonderful.

— Come, I want to introduce you to my son William — said Marta, leading her into the house.

William, who was in conversation with some guests, turned as he saw his mother approaching with Elizabeth. Martha introduced Elizabeth formally, with the consent of the young woman's parents.

— William, this is Elizabeth, the daughter of Spanish government official Mr. Fernandez — said Marta. — Elizabeth, this is my son William.

— It's a pleasure to meet you, Elizabeth — said William, bowing slightly in respect.

— The pleasure is mine, William — Elizabeth replied with a charming smile. —I've heard a lot about you and your trip to Europe.

— I hope it was only good things — said William, smiling.

As they talked, William couldn't help but glance at Sarabi, who had just arrived all dressed up for the party. He became nervous at the sight of her, her beauty standing out even more in the new clothes. Although he was conversing with Elizabeth and Martha, his gaze constantly strayed to Sarabi.

— William, are you all right? — asked Elizabeth, noticing his distraction.

— Yes, sorry — said William, trying to concentrate —I was just... admiring the party decorations.

Martha, realizing the situation, tried to keep William's attention on Elizabeth.

—William, tell Elizabeth about your plans to expand our sugar business in Europe — said Marta, smiling.

William tried to focus on the conversation, but his mind was still on Sarabi. He felt a mixture of worry and desire, as his eyes kept searching for Sarabi's figure in the crowd.

The night progressed with the hustle and bustle of the party. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Sarabi was busy preparing dishes for the guests. The festive atmosphere mingled with her nervousness, but she remained focused on her work. Suddenly, James' presence made her shiver.

—I didn't expect to see you here, Sarabi — said James with a mischievous grin, slowly approaching. — Are you having fun?

— I'm just doing my job, sir — Sarabi replied, trying to remain calm.

— It's a pity you're here, serving the others, when you could be with me — James continued, coming dangerously close —Don't forget that this isn't over yet.

Sarabi recoiled, sensing the threat in his words. James laughed and walked out of the kitchen, leaving her trembling with fear.

Meanwhile, in the main hall, William could not stop thinking about Sarabi. He had noticed her absence and decided to go looking for her. He asked Elizabeth's permission, excusing himself momentarily.

— Excuse me, I need to take care of something — said William, with a forced smile.

Elizabeth nodded, intrigued by his behavior. William hurried to the kitchen, where he found Sarabi crying.

— Sarabi, what's wrong? — William asked with concern. — Why are you crying?

— I'm tired of being stalked by James — Sarabi replied between sobs.— I can't take it anymore.

Without thinking, William hugged her, trying to comfort her. At that moment, Nina entered the kitchen and noticed the tension between them.

— Sarabi, we must keep working — said Nina softly, trying to ease the situation.

Sarabi turned away from William, grateful for the reassurance, and followed Nina. William, still worried, returned to the party, where he tried to avoid Elizabeth and began talking to his friends.

The music changed to a slower, more romantic beat. Elizabeth approached William, reaching out her hand to ask him to dance.

— Shall we dance? — asked Elizabeth with a smile.

— Sure — William replied, trying to forget his worries for a moment.

As they danced, Sarabi watched sadly from a corner of the kitchen. Nina, noticing her expression, approached her.

— Sarabi, you must remember your place — Nina said softly — William is our master. You cannot afford to have these feelings for him.

Sarabi nodded, although her heart was reluctant to accept the harsh reality. The party continued, and the guests congratulated Thomas and Marta on the success of the event.

At the end of the evening, Martha and Thomas retired to their private sitting room, where they discussed William's future.

— I think the party was a success — said Martha.— Elizabeth and William met and seemed to get along well.

— Yes, but we need to make sure this relationship thrives — Thomas replied. —An alliance with that family is crucial for us.

— We will do what is necessary — said Marta with determination — We have to plan well the next steps for William to accept this marriage.

Meanwhile, William went to his room, still conflicted about his feelings for Sarabi. He sat down at his desk and began to draw his face again, lost in confused thoughts and mixed emotions.

The next day dawned with a cool breeze that brought with it an air of hope and possibility. Early in the morning, Philip, the young messenger, came running to the barracks with an urgent message.

— Sarabi, your father is injured and needs medicine — said Philip, panting from running. — You need to go get the medicinal herbs.

Concerned about her father's health, she nodded quickly.

— Thank you, Philip. I'll go right away — he replied, grabbing a basket and hurrying off to the stream where he knew the necessary herbs would grow.

Meanwhile, William was at the waterfall, a secluded and quiet spot on the estate. The waterfall was surrounded by lush vegetation and tall trees that provided shade, creating a cool and relaxing atmosphere. The constant sound of the water falling over the rocks filled the air, mingling with the chirping of birds and the whispering of the wind.

William had taken a sketchbook with him, trying to clear his mind of the stresses related to business and his growing feelings for Sarabi. Sitting on a rock, he began to draw the slave girl's face emphasizing her gaze and curly hair, capturing every detail with a precision and tenderness that reflected his deep admiration for her.

— It's impossible to concentrate on anything else — he muttered to himself, losing himself in thought. — She has captured my heart in a way I can't explain. How can I live up to my parents' expectations and at the same time be true to how I feel?

As he was drawing, he heard footsteps approaching, but he didn't pay much attention to them, assuming it was one of the slaves passing by. However, the melodious voice of someone singing in an African dialect made him look up. It was Sarabi, approaching with a basket full of medicinal herbs, singing in a voice that seemed to harmonize perfectly with the surroundings.

Intrigued, William quietly approached until he was close enough to see her clearly. His heart fluttered as he recognized her and, without thinking, he began to clap his hands.

— Bravo! — exclaimed William.

Surprised and embarrassed, Sarabi dropped the basket and ran away. William quickly caught up with her, taking her hand and pulling her close to him.

— Don't be frightened, please — William said gently. — I didn't mean to frighten you. Your singing is beautiful.

Sarabi, still embarrassed, lowered her gaze.

— I shouldn't have sung — he said quietly. — It's not like me.

— No, don't say that — William replied, looking at her sincerely.— You have an amazing voice and you should be proud of it. Besides, I'm glad I found you here.

Slowly, Sarabi looked up and began to speak, sharing her story.

— My ancestors lived like kings in Africa. There was abundance and joy. My father was a great leader and cared for the welfare of our people. My mother came to this island pregnant, and I was born here, never knowing what freedom is. My whole life has been one of slavery and suffering — said Sarabi, sadness in her voice.

William was deeply moved by her story.

— I'm so sorry, Sarabi — said William, gently squeezing her hand. — I can't imagine how hard it must be for you. My parents have high expectations for me. They've always wanted me to continue the family business and marry into high society, like Elizabeth. But I don't think that's what I want.

William took a breath, opening up more about his life.

— Since I was young, I always felt different. I studied in Europe, where I saw a different world. I read about ideas of freedom and equality that don't exist here. I have seen the injustices of slavery and I am against it, but challenging my family is complicated. My father is an authoritarian man, and my mother has always pushed me to meet her expectations. But you have changed everything, Sarabi. You have awakened something in me that I cannot ignore.

They both stared at each other, feeling a deep and genuine connection. Their faces slowly drew closer, and William raised his hand to stroke Sarabi's cheek, gently sliding his fingers through her hair.

Just then, the sound of someone approaching interrupted the intimate moment. Sarabi, fearful of being discovered, quickly let go and ran in the direction of the hut.

— Sarabi, please come tomorrow at this time! — cried William, hoping that she would hear his plea.

Sarabi did not respond, but her heart pounded as she ran, knowing that her feelings for William were true, though difficult to sustain in her current reality. William watched her figure disappear into the trees, full of determination and hope.