Rating: T

A/N: It has been more than a week since I posted the previous chapter. I apologize. My editor and I had a hard time getting together to get the final check done. I want to add the warning that I know less than nothing about the taxation systems of the old Spanish colonies – so all the information Diego provides herein is purely fictional.

Disclaimer: I do not own Zorro in any incarnation. I am not sure who does, all I know is it is not me. No copyright infringement, or disrespect to the people who have made Zorro a legend, is intended. Thank you.

Secrets in the Night

Chapter 04

By: visions2share a.k.a. Vi

Diego and Victoria had been traveling for over an hour in complete and nearly companionable silence before Diego finally figured out how to say what needed to be said.

"Victoria, in all the conversations you've had with my father about his planned visit to Monterey – did he ever tell you how he was going to get into see the emissary?" He should figure out how much of the situation she knew before telling her the rest.

"You mean you don't know?" Victoria asked, astonished.

"No – I know exactly what it is going to take – I'm asking if you do?"

"No. Nothing specific, I just figured that we would show up and say we were there to see him. Is that not how this will work?" Victoria questioned, and her tone made it difficult for Diego to tell if she did have any inclination that this was going to be a major issue in and of itself or if she had an undeserved confidence in their future success.

"Not exactly. You see the emissary isn't required to speak with anyone in the colonies except the governor and any colonial military officials that the King has direct messages for. He is not required to host meetings with the colonial citizens. Not even the de la Vegas." Victoria looked at once surprised at this information and angered. It would not do for her to get her fiery temper up – that would not help the situation.

"How can he not see the citizens that he is supposed to serve?" Victoria asked showcasing her anger.

"The emissary isn't supposed to serve the citizens – he serves the King – only the King. Victoria – you have to calm down – anger will not help this situation – do you understand me?" Diego spoke more firmly than he normally would as himself. If she questioned it later he would just say that he had been nervous.

"I understand – but if he will not see us – then how are we to talk to him?" Victoria asked – and although she'd said she understood she shouldn't be angry it hadn't changed the tone of her voice.

"I will request an audience with him – using the de la Vega name – I have documents that I want hand delivered to the King – he may be willing to see me just for that purpose alone. My father was, as I now am, counting on using the de la Vega name to gain us access to the emissary and the governor." Diego said.

"And you think that will work?" Victoria sounded doubtful.

"I think that has a much better chance of working than would causing some sort of a scene, Victoria. Victoria, as much as I do not want to say this I must, you must understand. If we, if you, react with anger toward either the emissary or the governor it would most likely land us in jail for a few days. Nothing more serious – most likely – unless you started proclaiming how much you admire what Zorro has done for the pueblo – which would have us jailed as co-conspirators to a traitor. Victoria – I don't want to scare you overly – nor do I want you to be angry with me. But you must understand – this is a delicate situation – diplomacy is the most vital requirement today." Diego finished speaking and waited to see how Victoria would react.

Victoria didn't respond immediately – instead she seemed to be thinking of distant things – her eyes were somewhat unfocused and Diego become more and more grateful that they were riding along the beach where there were few dangers to horse and rider.

"Don Diego?" Victoria called after what seemed an eternity – but had probably only been a couple of miles.

"Si, Victoria?"

"Do you think that I am too opinionated? That I am too forceful?" Victoria's voice quavered unnaturally as she asked the question.

"No, Victoria, I do not. I know you are a caring and compassionate person and that sometimes those characteristics in you cause you to lash out with anger in defense of others. And while, as I've said that would not be a good way to behave in front of the emissary, it is one of the most endearing aspects of your personality." Diego felt like he was walking a tight rope in a circus act. How did he tell her that her passion and her drive were, alongside her compassion, the things he loved most about her without telling her he loved her? Without revealing his identity?

"I will keep my anger under control Diego. At least for today." Victoria smiled slightly as she qualified her promise.

"I would appreciate that Victoria – I want this trip to have a positive outcome for the people of Los Angeles just as much as you and my father do – despite what you may think. That and I have no desire to spend any time at all in a jail cell." Diego chucked as he made light of himself but it was forced. He didn't think Victoria could tell – that was, without a black silk mask, the only type of laughter she ever heard from him – but it hurt making fun of himself, helping to cultivate her low opinion of him when all he really wanted to do was convince her that she could come to love him in time. Impossible dreams.

"Would it be better if I didn't talk at all during this trip?" Victoria asked.

For a quick moment Diego was unsure how to respond to that. What was he going to say? It would be better if she didn't talk directly to the emissary – despite how relaxed different social levels were becoming in the colonies the emissary was a man of court from Madrid – he would not be used to having a conversation with someone of Victoria's station in life – let alone a female of Victoria's station.

"I think that it would be best if you let me do the talking to get us in to see the emissary. And that you not talk to him unless he specifically addresses you. The emissary would not be accustomed to…" how in the world was he supposed to tell her this? How did a man tell a woman that he thought the world of that in another man's eyes she was inferior in both sex and class?

"The emissary would not be accustomed to speaking to a mere tavern owner. Especially not a female tavern owner. It is alright Don Diego; I have always understood that we are from different stations in life – despite how well I am treated by you and your father." Victoria's voice showed no hint of pain only resignation. This was nearly as heartbreaking for Diego as the pain would have been.

"You must understand Victoria that my father and I do not care much at all for stations. We count people by their relationships to us. You are our friend – regardless of how you earn your living. But unfortunately the rest of the world doesn't always see things in this way – so, yes, for just today, and as much as it pains me to ask you for this, you must pretend to be somebody you are not. You must pretend to be a woman of little consequence, a shadow in the corner, with no ideas or thoughts or passions of your own. There is a chance – and I admit that without knowing the identity of the emissary I do not know how great a chance – that he may be willing to see me but only alone. You may have to wait outside, Victoria. I know that is not why you came – you want to help – you want to ensure that I don't waste this opportunity – but it may be the only option available to us. I am sorry." And he was. Deeply sorry. Victoria was a wonderful person, it was their loss that they wouldn't take the opportunity to get to know her.

"You think they may not let me in at all?" Victoria questioned, even understanding her place in society didn't mean that it had occurred to her that she couldn't at least witness the meeting.

"Victoria, the emissary is a man of the royal court in Madrid. And while the ladies there attend court parties, even they are not privileged to witness court business. The emissary may well feel that it is not your place. And while in any other situation I would argue that you had as much right to an audience with him as I – in this case I am unwilling to risk losing a chance to speak with him by angering him. Do you understand what I mean, Victoria?" Diego asked gently.

"Si, I understand," Victoria paused and as Diego watched her gazed traveled away from their path and out over the ocean, with her eyes still on the distant horizon she asked, "Diego were you ever in the court in Madrid?"

"Si, Victoria, many many times." Diego responded wondering why she had asked.

"When?" Victoria asked.

"The first time was when I was a little boy and my parents took me to Madrid for the spring – I must have been about twelve that year." Diego said, he missed his mother, she had been such a sweet gentle woman and yet she had a passionate heart, not unlike Victoria's, although she didn't have Victoria's extreme temper.

"Children are allowed in court?" Victoria questioned.

"Not normally no. But my parents were each blood relatives of the King – cousins one from each side of his family tree. And while my father spent most of his life in the colonies, my mother was raised in Spain – she grew up as a playmate to the King. So when she returned to Madrid for the first time since her marriage, what turned out to be the only time after her marriage, she brought her son to meet the King." Diego explained. It had really been a simple matter – while it was true that the King was the King he was also family. In fact if they were in Madrid right now it would be far easier for Diego to get an audience with the King then it was likely to be to see the emissary in Monterey.

"And you have met him since?" Victoria questioned, her voice was even but Diego could sense that even she was impressed.

"Si. I attended many court functions while I was in school. Some because they interested me, and a great many more as a personal guest, family, of the King. The King is an interesting man - with many varied interests and passions - including philosophy and the sciences - and of course the strategies of life, governing, and chess. We engaged in many a lively debate in my three years in Madrid. And more than one or two chess games. Many more." Diego answered with a chuckle, remembering that some nights he and the King would play chess until so late that by the time Diego made it back to his apartment at the University the sun was dawning and it was time to get ready for class.

Diego was more interested in the progress of their journey than their current conversation and if Diego was not mistaken he could see the outskirts of Monterey on the horizon ahead of them – they should arrive at the governor's office within the hour.

"You actually spent a great deal of time in the palace while away at school?" Victoria could barely get her jaw to rise to ask the question.

"Si. I liked it there it was quiet – made it much easier to study." Diego explained trying to down play the situation. "And His Majesty has a vast library – even more well stocked than the one at the University. I had access to some of the greatest thoughts ever recorded while visiting there. All those books – what a treat – I miss that so very much."

"You are a royalist then?"

"Oh course."

"Why? When the King taxes his citizens into poverty? When he uses us and takes from us – but gives us nothing, no protections, or provisions, or consideration?"

"Yesterday you mentioned that Los Angeles is much worse off than most other Colonial settlements. You remember?"

"Si. What does that have to do with why you and your father choose to be royalists?"

"The vast majority of the 'taxes' collected in Los Angeles are not for the King but rather to line de Soto's pockets. The King collects taxes once a year and that amount is based on land ownership, and income levels. If a peon were to earn an average of 500 pesos every year we would only owe somewhere between five and fifty pesos in taxes – depending on whether or not he owned his own land. Landowners pay a higher percentage of taxes – ten percent instead of one percent. Under do Soto that same peon pays nearly 450 pesos every year – more than eighty percent of his annual income. The trouble we have isn't with the King – but rather with the alcalde. If we are successful this day – eventually, in the future, the situation in Pueblo de Los Angeles may well greatly improve."

"I didn't know all of that. How do you?"

"I've had discussions about such things many times in my life. I've heard my father offer his view on fair taxation my entire life, the King spoke of such things with me on occasion as well, I even remember my mother having an opinion on the subject. And while I understand that you do not think highly of me or of my chosen pursuits – do not underestimate me enough to think I lack knowledge. I am nothing if not well informed and well educated."

Victoria nodded, but didn't respond directly to his assertion that she didn't think highly of him. Instead she asked another question, "I thought, for a moment, perhaps you chose to be royalists out of family loyalty."

"That isn't untrue either. Nor are being royalists unselfish on our part. But I can honestly say that I don't agree with other parties' political views anyway."

"Selfish?"

"My father – and I – are named in the line of succession of the royal crown. Granted we are far from high on the list."

"You could be King of Spain one day?"

"Si. But many good people would have to pass on for that to happen. So you can understand, I am sure, why it isn't something I wish for."

Victoria replied with only silence. Diego frowned, mostly to himself, he hadn't known Victoria was so unaware of his family connections. He was certain her parents had known exactly who his parents were in relation to the crown - how was it possible that everyone had, until now, overlooked giving Victoria the same information? And if she didn't know? Who else didn't know? Was it possible, even remotely, that they had so much trouble with de Soto, were targets of so much of his ire, because he was unaware of exactly whom he was targeting?

End Chapter 04

A/N: Thanks you for reading Chapter 04 of "Secrets in the Night." Chapter 05 is ready to post save for a final edit – so it will be up as soon as that is done. Thanks again!