The Adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow

Is There Romance in the Air?

Gabriela returned home. As soon as she entered the house she heard her father calling her name. Gabriela's smile turned into a frown. Isabela patted her arm and gave her a sympathetic smile before going to the kitchen with the groceries and the fish. Gabriela took a deep breath and pressed the bridge of her nose. She then faked a cute, innocent smile and headed toward her father's voice. Don Juan was in the sitting room enjoying a glass of Jerez. He heard his daughter's footsteps approaching him. He raised his head and scrutinized her from head to toe. "Let's go into the study!" he said.

He stood up and Gabriela followed him to the study. He sat at his desk and with his hand he signaled her to have a seat in front of him. Gabriela sat down.

"Tomorrow morning we will go to the West Indies Trading Company to sign the agreement with the duke and after that, we will join him and some other people to that ridiculous picnic he has organized to court you..." He paused, sipped some Jerez, and went on, "I don't know what you are planning or how you have persuaded him to do all this. But I warn you: This wedding is very important and I won't tolerate more of your spoiled girl behavior! This is not the Spanish court where you are used to doing whatever you want and throwing tantrums! This wedding is happening whether you like it or not. You can play tricks to the duke but I know you well enough to realize you are delaying this! Tomorrow we will fix a date! And we will put an end to this love letter nonsense and being courted. This marriage is an arranged marriage. I need it to seal the agreement and ensure our safety here! Stop playing like a child!" He ordered.

Gabriela rolled her eyes and with a careless voice, she said, "I don't know what you are talking about, it was the duke's idea. I only met him when we arrived and then in the ball," she scoffed.

Don Juan interrupted her, "Don't push your luck, young lady! We need a backer at this juncture. We need him badly!" He stated worriedly.

At this point, Gabriela howled with laughter "We? We in this equation is one too many!" She pointed out, "It's only you, the one who needs this! But I think that your agreement is fair enough. Why should I sacrifice my future with that old man for you? What have you ever done for me?" She demanded.

Don Juan was losing his temper, "How dare you talk to me like that! If I say you marry the duke, you will and that's final!" he shouted and with clenched fists, he hit the desk.

Her lips curled upwards and she mocked him, "Let's see about that!" She raised an eyebrow and looked at her father with disdain before adding, "I still have some tricks up my sleeves, Father. I suggest you don't bring up the topic of this marriage with the duke tomorrow, you will only embarrass yourself!" She stood up and turned around, "I will go and see if the cooks are preparing dinner," she announced with a wry smile.

"Don't you dare challenge my authority! Don't walk out on me! I am still speaking to you!!!" He spat out bitterly.

Gabriela took a deep breath to calm herself down before answering him in a voice laced with anger and haughtiness, "Be careful how you address me I am after all the Duchess of Toledo and the Queen's niece!"

"Why have accepted to come with me? Why have you accepted to marry the duke if you don't want to?" Don Juan felt defeated.

Gabriela tilted her head to the side, and looked at her father, "You never listen to me. I've already told you I didn't want to be the queen of Greece. I want to be free! And you were the ticket out of the old world into the new world! You will never ever tell me what to do again! And if you think I am a weak helpless woman, you better think what your next move will be because I have planned this for a long time and I made powerful alliances to secure my future long before you planned your agreement with the English Crown. If you think that a marriage will keep you safe you are very ignorant Anne Boleyn was married to King Henry VIII and that didn't save her from death. But his first wife, Caterina de Aragón, wasn't harmed or executed because England couldn't afford to annoy Spain. I know this is old history now but I believe they will never hurt me since I am a member of the Spanish Crown after all and since the English and the Spanish are in conflict for these lands, they won't want my blood in their hands. I already contacted the Spanish viceroy in New Spain and let him know I moved to this island. He will soon come to pay his respect to me or send someone in his place..." She calmly explained.