Chapter 6
Diego sat in the library thoughtfully sipping a glass of wine. It felt good to sit down and relax after the evening he had. After keeping such a tight rein on his emotions, he had finally allowed a little bit of the mask to slip. He had not planned on showing Victoria how he felt but it had happened. You are the most beautiful woman in the pueblo. You have always been important to me, Victoria. I don't want to see you hurt by some man...that doesn't deserve you...who doesn't care for you like I do. His eyes closed as he remembered the exquisite feel of her lips on his...What have I done?
"Ah, there you are son...I was looking for you," Don Alejandro said as he walked into the room, "Is something wrong, Diego?"
"Why would you think something is wrong, Father," the younger man said as he took another sip of wine...
"I know you, son... I thought that you had lost your taste for wine, Diego. Did something happen that I should know about?"
"Victoria...Victoria and I had an argument...about Foucard."
"Son, you didn't. What did you say to her? Did you do something to upset her," the old don said as he paced the floor.
"I told her that I don't trust the man and...I let my jealousy get the best of me. Father, she barely knows the man...I only did what a concerned friend would do..."
"Why am I beginning to think that there was more to it than that? what could have happened to upset her...and to upset you? Did you by any chance tell that young woman how you feel about her?"
"I did more than that, Father...I don't know what came over me...I kissed her," he admitted.
"You kissed her, Diego," the old don smiled, "Did she enjoy it, son? You enjoyed it and judging by the smile on your face, Victoria did as well. You are making progress..."
"Don't be too happy yet, Father. There is still the matter of Henri Foucard..."
"And Zorro...I know that they have flirted a few times but if Foucard can capture her attentions then so can you... Give it time, Diego. Things will work themselves out and as for Foucard...Leave that up to Zorro.'
ZZZ
Zorro silently climbed through the window of the magician's room. Thankfully, Victoria and Henri were taking another one of their moonlit walks…Everything looked to be in place except… a nail stuck into the top left-hand corner of the door. The outlaw grasped the piece of cord hanging from a clothing rack. As he opened Foucard's trunk, he found a plaster head, wig and a pulley inside. This is how he appeared to be in two places at the same time…He looked into the trunk again, pulling out a bellows. Standing back up, he played with the bellows before tossing them back into the trunk. The man certainly is clever, he thought to himself, but not clever enough.
ZZZ
Victoria sighed as she looked at the peaceful, moonlit sky. It was a wonderful evening. Henri was thoughtful and attentive, a charming and witty companion…Diego is wrong about him…I know it...He's just jealous of Henri...He's letting his feelings for me cloud his judgement about Henri...
"Victoria, when my wife died, I lost hope of ever finding another woman to share my life with. When I met you, I felt an attraction to you," the magician confessed, "I want you to come with me and everything you ever wanted will be yours. Travel…fun…adventure."
"I am flattered Henri but we barely know each other. Aren't you moving a little too fast? Everything I want is here. This tavern, the people who depend on me. Los Angeles is my home."
"Victoria, I love you. I could offer you the world on a silver platter…if you would come with me."
"You are a very charming man Henri but I'm afraid my heart belongs to another."
"Is it de la Vega? Is he the reason that you cannot leave. Are you in love with him?"
"I love Diego but as…as a brother, Henri," she hesitated. The remembrance of the tall caballero's kiss was still fresh.."He is my closest friend."
"The man looks as though he wants more from you than friendship, Victoria."
"I care for Diego but my heart belongs to Zorro. He is the man that I love."
"Zorro is an outlaw…with a bounty on his head. What kind of life can he offer you, Victoria? I could marry you right now…give you the life that you deserve."
"I am flattered, Henri but I cannot leave Los Angeles. Please understand."
"You are wasting your life here…you were meant for more than this life," he started.
"The answer is still no, Henri. If you are the man that you say you are, then you will abide by my wishes," the taverness said.
The couple walked back to the tavern in silence. Victoria's thoughts on the man walking beside her. She hardly knew anything about him and he was asking her to go away with him…Diego was right, she thought, and I was wrong. I let my heart rule my head…I got carried away by the romance of it all…the promise of adventure but without love…Henri attractive but she did not love him…Why didn't I listen to Diego or Pilar? "Good night, Henri," she said as they reached the top of the stairs…
"Goodnight, Senorita," he said as he watched her go down the hallway. I will not give you up so easily.