Nacre's Promise

Chapter XII : The Catalan nucleus

Barcelona, ​​1898.

The Cuban conflict was still ongoing. The United States had just entered the war with Spain, marking the start of the Spanish-American War. Thousands of Spanish soldiers were again sent to Cuba. Opponents of the war then united in Spain in an attempt to change the course of history by demanding an end to the massacre and the surrender of Spain.

The Catalan nucleus, of which Diego was part, had an anarcho-union tendency. He refused the notion of party, association or corporate grouping. It was a clandestine structure which allowed the members to organize themselves and to lead the struggle in their own way and not according to the directives given by a political office.

Diego's membership in this nucleus of independentists was quite unique given his personal situation. He had joined this cause because it corresponded to his convictions but not necessarily to his social rank.

Rodrigo d'Almondara was unaware of his son's commitment and Diego did not tell him about it. His trips back and forth between the estate and Barcelona allowed him to justify his absences when he took part in meetings or occasional actions.

Diego had a busy schedule between the field where his father continued his training so that he could succeed him, his trade union activities, the load of which was increasing every day, and the Barcelona factory. He oversaw the smooth running of the company since the arrival of the new production manager. His grandfather, in fact, could no longer take care of it.

The cell of which Diego was part, not being in Barcelona, ​​it was less affected. Workers wanted to join the opposition front during a strike and were arrested. One of them, employed in Estéban Martinez's farm, was even condemned to death and executed, which plunged the Estéban estate into mourning.

The repression was so fierce that regroupings were prohibited and the few secular schools were closed.

Diego understood the anger provoked by this government which played with men as if they were pawns. Spain was in a dire economic situation and, despite everything, the rulers were determined to keep a remote colony in which the Spanish people no longer had much interest.

In December 1898, the peace treaty signed with Spain officially entrusted to the United States, for a sum of twenty million dollars, the colonies of Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

After this surrender, the separatists who had always kept their hiding remained active, but they had to be extra careful not to betray themselves.

At that moment, Diego realized that his father needed to be kept informed. One day when he was at the estate, he asked his father to give him a moment in private.

— Padre, I must inform you of the direction I have taken because recent events force me to do so.

Rodrigo d'Almondara was staring at him with a small smile.

— I see your smile and you worry me. I certainly didn't use the right words. You can be sure that I have not infringed on the virtue of a young girl.

— That idea hadn't even occurred to me, Rodrigo admitted.

— But then, that smile?

— Well, that smile awaits your words, my child. I'm listening to you.

— There you are, Diego continued. Uh it's difficult, how do you say ...?

— It's not that hard, Diego. Tell me "Padre, I am part of the local resistance" and it will be over!

— What ? How do you know about it?

— I am your father and I know you. You look so much like your mother when she was young and claimed another existence. I am not surprised that this cause seduced you and that you have embarked on its body and soul! I understood when I saw that your trips to Barcelona were more numerous than what the factory could require.

— You cannot imagine, my father, how much your words reassure me. I knew I had to keep you posted, but I backed away each time, lest you understand my commitment.

He paused for a moment, then, speaking more to himself than to his father, he continued.

— We are a family from the aristocracy, you sat on the council of notables, nothing predestines us to support the popular cause and yet it does not leave us indifferent. What wood are we made of? I admit that these questions kept me awake for a long time and, today, I still do not have an answer.

— There is no one-size-fits-all answer that could ease your conscience while making you accept your inheritance, Rodrigo remarked. We are on the right side of the fence, but that does not prevent us from being human and wanting the good of our fellow human beings. Personally, I have always run this area with these principles and to this day none of the employees have complained and it is successful nonetheless.

— I must admit that it is true. If the government behaved like you do for your farm, there would have been no strike or uprising.

— Son, resumed Rodrigo, I must tell you that your mother today no longer shares these ideas. She has changed so much! We will have to take the time to discuss the subject longer, but today I recommend that you keep this information to yourself and never tell your mother or your grandmother about it.

Watching his father's posture, Diego realized that these revelations were difficult.

— You should know that your grandmother was a commoner, a kind of courtesan who married your grandfather just for his title. Fortunately, the couple have evolved favorably and they have a lot of attachment to each other, but it hasn't always been that way. This disgrace made your mother intransigent. You have probably already noticed that she does not even deign to speak to someone who has no title, so, no need to explain to you how she views the movement in opposition to the regime!

— Well, I take note, replied Diego with a tight throat. Thanks Padre. I understand better his eagerness to introduce me to suitors all from the old Spanish aristocracy. She must want me to have a prestigious marriage that allows her personal history to be erased.

— You have understood everything, my child. Now you have the cards in your hand, try to use them well, Rodrigo finished. We will talk about all of this later.

This last information, given by his father, made him feel like a cold shower. He had never paid attention to the behavior of his grandmother and his mother and he immediately thought of his promise to Isabel. If both wanted to keep their mutual commitment, then not very pleasant moments would await them.

Regarding Isabel, he had known that his parents had found him a job as a servant in Barcelona, ​​but he had no news.

Could this new life have changed her? Could it be that she forgot about me?

His conviction was that, in a relationship, there is always one who is more attached than the other and he thought that, compared to Isabel, it could be him. He would have given a lot to know his thoughts.

After these revelations, his future looked bleaker. His mother's fierce determination to try to force a wife on him was explained and made him angry. He could not conceive of letting himself be displayed like a trophy destined to catch a fine match.

For several months now, dinners had been organized at the estate, too often to his liking. Couples of aristocrats came to spend the evening with their daughter, whom she did not fail to introduce to her, praising all her qualities. All these suitors were well brought up, sometimes pretty and they were above all of good birth and with a substantial dowry.

A day would come when he would be forced to choose one and get married. For now, he still felt safe as these were only informal introductions but he was aware that it couldn't go on forever.