Later that same evening, Zorro rode. He wanted to be sure that Juan wouldn't cause any more trouble for Victoria, and also to find out what the strangers where doing at the pueblo. He reached the outskirts of the small town when the moon was already dipping in the night sky. Leaving Toronado, his trusty steed, outside the perimeter of the pueblo, he proceeded to the tavern to check on its proprietress.

"Zorro!" Victoria exclaimed as he entered by way of the kitchen window. She was still washing up for the evening, and he had startled her.

"I heard you a trying evening," he spoke in low tones looking at her intently only just stopping himself from grasping her forearms as he had earlier, but without the mask.

She nodded and almost threw herself into her arms. She started to cry, not explosively or even very hard, just quiet teardrops, like a gentle rain. Then she laughed through her tears saying, "Earlier I said to Diego, I should be used to these things by now. And here I am crying all over you."

Zorro held her fast against him, stroking her back and hair. "Shhh, mi preciosa. I hate to see you cry, but if I must there's nowhere in the world I'd rather your tears fall." He held her as she cried out the fear and frustration of the evening. They didn't speak any more of it, except for his soothing words and a few exclamations that he should have been there himself.

Much later, Zorro noticed the moon in the window and saw it close to setting, and knew much to his unhappiness that the idyll was over. Victoria was quiet now, had been for some time. He knew that she, just like he had been was just relishing being with him. That simple pleasure was so often denied them. He kissed her very lightly on her forehead and whispered, "I must go."

"Not yet," she pleaded and pulled him close for one last embrace for that night. "This is how it should be with us every night, not the crying I mean, the holding." Her words were a whisper against his neck. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to hear them, but he couldn't help responding with a groan and reply of, "Yes, soon. Not soon enough, but soon."

He kissed her then, with the quiet tenderness that the moment seemed to call for. Then, without another word, just a silent look of longing and affection, he was gone.

"Now, Diego, just hear me out," Alejandro pleaded the next morning at breakfast. "I'm not saying you have to marry the girl. I'm just saying give her chance you might like her."

Diego shook his head at his father. He had just reminded Diego of the conversation that had been interrupted by the previous night's excitement. His old friend, Pumphrey, was coming for a visit. That was Lord Pumphrey of London, England and his marriageable ingénue of a daughter, Lady Lilly, supposed belle of the London Ton.

"I'm not going to get any younger, Diego," his father continued. "And what's more, neither are you! I want to live to see little de la Vega grandbabies."

Diego sighed and couldn't help rolling his eyes at his father's tired refrain.

"Alright, father. I'll meet this lovely nonpareil."

"With an open mind…" his father insisted.

"With an open mind, father," was the resigned reply.

"Good, they're arriving today," his father nodded contented with his son's obeisance.

"What?!" Diego gasped. "Father, I was going to Monterey this morning to pick up some items I've been expecting."

"Felipe can do that." Alejandro countered dismissively, with a wave of his hand.

The carriage arrived on the de la Vega hacienda right at the scheduled time, three o'clock. Diego, his father, and a few of the de la Vega house staff had been waiting at the hacienda entrance for the guests' arrival. As the carriage stopped the door opened and a man in his middle years stepped out. He immediately turned to assist the women inside. Whatever Diego had been expecting it wasn't the woman he saw exit the carriage.

She was, in a word, beautiful, but that wasn't the most surprising part. It wasn't her graceful movements or her peaches and cream complexion, or her enchantingly disheveled red gold curls. It was the intelligence and good humor that sparked in her dark blue eyes when she looked at the greeting party. She seemed genuinely excited and interested to meet them all. After smiling brilliantly at them she turned to her companion a very timid looking young woman and linked her arm through hers as the necessary introductions were performed.

The de la Vega's well trained staff proceeded to unload the carriage, as the guests and hosts proceeded into the hacienda.

"I'm sure you are fatigued after your journey," Don Alejandro began.

"On the contrary, Don Alejandro, I slept the entire carriage ride, and am consequently only a bit stiff, but I will need to change and Claire here is exhausted." Lady Lilly absently patted her friends hand as she spoke. "I hope you could be troubled to have someone show us to our room directly."

"Of course," said the caballero graciously. "Maria, if you would."

The housekeeper led the girls away and Don Alejandro led the other guest to the library. Diego followed the two men, as they made themselves comfortable on a sofa and chair respectively.

"Well, Pump," Don Alejandro began. "She is very beautiful!" He gave Diego a very meaningful look. Diego could only roll his eyes. However, he could not help but be intrigued by the lady.

The lady that had intrigued Don Diego de la Vega had just decided that she had fallen in love at first sight. She was looking out the window of the room she and Claire had been assigned and was almost certain it was the most beautiful thing she had seen in all her life.

"It's so lovely, Claire! Come and see," she turned to beckon her friend to the window, but saw that she was already snoring. Lilly smiled. Claire was always exhausted by traveling and would be out for an hour at least. Meanwhile, the beautiful California landscape was just begging for Lilly to explore it. She had been cooped up too long, in the carriage, on the ship, in London and New York. Her father had been determined that she would end up married during this trip and had kept her on a tight leash. She'd played her part smiling at all the correct young bucks for her father, but she yearned for a little freedom.

Lilly turned back to the window and decided it wouldn't be too difficult to lift herself up and outside. She looked back at the door of the room and hesitated, but in the end she chose freedom.

The room had been selected for them, she supposed, for the spectacular view. There was nothing on this side of the house to detract from the natural California landscape the stables and other necessary buildings must be on the other side. Lilly could imagine she was the only person left in all the world and found herself returning to her childhood games and fantasies.

She was an explorer and naturalist. She was the first to discover this particular tree or that insect and she was almost giddy with excitement. Remembering days gone by when she was growing up in Devon, she explored the countryside.