Sorry! We are soooo sorry for the lateness. Yes I know we took more than a month to update! This will be the only time--hopefully. I had terrible writer's block. I couldn't think of what to type. So...he, he, he, sorry again. Enjoy.
So far... Camilla has been invited to de la Vega's dinner. There, Elena finds out that she was "accosted" by Zorro. She drags Alejandro in private and now he's fearing for his life. It's hilarious. Enjoy!


CHAPTER SEVEN Lovely, Just LOVELY

Alejandro didn't know why he could face ten men and win without so much as fearing for his life when he couldn't even face one woman! Much less his wife. But one look at those piercing brown eyes and Alejandro couldn't tell the difference between fighting ten men and...well...his wife.

"I have a perfectly good explanation," Alejandro smiled weakly.

Elena inclined her head, "For your own good, you better."

"Heh," Alejandro brought the chair closer to him as he moved back a step, "It wasn't me." He said quickly which made Elena arch a distrustful eyebrow, "Come on, Elena," Alejandro left his safe place and walked slowly to Elena, "It was maybe someone who," he was now a foot apart, "impersonated me."

"Really?"

Alejandro nodded, "You know how well loved I am," he shrugged, "They," he snatched a hand around her waist and pulled her to him, "can't resist."

Smiling at him, she brought her hand hard across his cheek with a loud slap, "You're right. I couldn't resist." Elena smiled ruefully.

"What was that for!" Alejandro asked as he nursed his red cheek.

"That's for trying to lie to me and daring to invite a woman that you," she jabbed a hard finger at his chest, "kissed."

"I didn't!"

Elena folded her hands in front of her, "Oh, sorry, I meant Zorro." She said dryly.

"I would never lay a hand–much less–press myself upon a dama (Lady)." Elena raised her eyebrows, "Ok, that was just once and that was you!" Elena still didn't say anything but continued to look at him distrustfully, "It wasn't me," he rubbed the back of his neck, "It was Joaquin dressed as Zorro and I just found out."

Elena was at a loss for words, "So...so you didn't kiss her?"

He shook his head, "I love you Elena. I would never do that."

Smiling a bit, Elena relaxed, "Oh, well then I'm sorry for the s–" her eyes widened, "Wait! You did deserve that slap! How did–why did–!" Her face turned to that of realization, "You," she pointed an accusing finger at him, "were never at the poker tables like you said. You were really with Joaquin and–!"

Hombre(man), I married a smart woman. There was no point in denying it, "He, he, he," he chuckled weakly, "depending which time."

"Alejandro!"

"It was just practice. Nothing harmful. You know." He shrugged his shoulders, "And..." don't get mad at me! "Remember what Joaquin did! He kissed la senorita, not me. He went without me knowing, I swear, querida(dearest)."

Elena placed a hand at her forehead, "I don't know whether the kissing would've been better."

Alejandro walked toward her again at the risk of getting slapped again, "We could arrange that if you want." He smiled as Elena glared at him, "Or..." he grabbed her and kissed her on the lips passionately. And I still got it.

"I hate that." Elena said against his lips.

"I can show you something else you'll hate." He lowered his hand down the small of her back pressed her against him tighter, "Wanna see?"

Elena chuckled, "We have guests." She said between kisses, "And there is Joaquin's punishment."

"We'll torment him until tomorrow. As for the guest," he kissed her lips, "we'll have to be good hosts for today."

Joaquin all the while couldn't stop stealing glances at Camilla. He was mesmerized by her. He smiled as he sipped from his glass. He remembered their first meeting. Well technically it was Zorro but that had still met her. A fiery daring temptress. And surely enough, with the clothes she wore, he was correct at name the temptress.

Camilla smiled at the maid who retrieved her plate and saw that Joaquin was watching her though he quickly looked away. Taking this as an opportunity, Camilla scrutinized him.

He surely was almost a replica of his father. Tan, tall, and handsome and as Gabrielle would oh so put it, who knows what may lay beneath all those clothes. Well the suit didn't really impeded her to see just what may be underneath. Somehow this speculation came to be that of Zorro's.

A moron! She cut her stake daintily. Maybe if she gained de la Vega's support she'll be able to capture this so called hero and make him pay. For what he had done to those men and for kissing a lady and...Camilla caught sight of Joaquin's smile.

So familiar.

It sent chills about her body yet it sparked something in her memory. As if she had seen those lips smile and...kiss her.

Oh, for heavens sakes! She just had too much port. That's all. How could she have thought that a son from a well brought up family could be Zorro! Impossible.

She'll make Zorro pay more now that he's got her thinking crazy idea.

"Miss de la Rosette," Joaquin smiled at her, "the meat is already dead."

Camilla raised a confused eyebrow and then looked down at her plate. She noticed that while she thought of ways to make Zorro pay she had stabbed her steak, "Oh," she placed her utensils down, "of course. I don't know what came over me."

Joaquin chuckled, "You were," Joaquin unfolded his napkin, "obviously thinking intently."

Raising a question eyebrow, Camilla asked, "Is it such a surprise that a woman is thinking, Señor de la Vega?"

"Hmm, I would have expected an English lady not to dwindle time on thinking. But of course it might've been about dresses, woman fripperies." He didn't know why but he loved the way she looked when she was in temper. Luckily enough for him, she didn't a pistol at hand.

Before she could retort, Joaquin's parents entered the dinning room.

Alejandro pulled his wife's chair out and she sat while glancing at Joaquin and what appeared to be a heartfelt smile for a son was in reality a threatening notice of what is to come. Alejandro sitting at the head of the table, looked at his son with the same glare.

"Ay, Dios."(Oh, God) Joaquin said as he sipped from his glass.

"Sorry for such a long absence," Elena said.

"We had something pending." Alejandro prompted.

So then the whole table resumed to conversation and eating. With the few exceptions of a few glares here and there that not only came from Elena and Alejandro to Joaquin but from Camilla to Joaquin.

His last comment was more than an insult.

Not only were glares given also but a flirtatious look here and there from none other than–without much surprise–Gabrielle and Diego. They seemed to have missed the little tension happening in the table, "If you keep starring at him like that, you'll be married by the end of the day." Camilla dabbed he napkin on her lips as she muttered to Gabrielle discreetly.

"Well at least a marriage will come out of this dinner." Gabrielle said glancing over to Elena and Alejandro who were engaged in a conversation with Diego, "They obviously set this up so that there will be a small match with you and..." she looked over at Joaquin, "...le beau garcon."(the handsome man)

Shock made her gag on her drink. Her drink sprayed all over Alejandro's coat.

"Lovely." Enrique let the one word roll out in his tongue as he looked down at the young woman descending from the carriage. From where he stood in Antonio's study, he smiled and rolled on his heels to face his father and an expectant Antonio, "Lovely."

Ramon looked over at Antonio, "So what you are trying to imply is for my son to marry Senorita de la Rosette?"

Antonio placed his brandy down on his desk and stood to walk in front of Ramon, "Yes. Your son is after all looking for a bride and my niece–placed in my care–" he pointed out, "is of age to marry." Antonio chuckled, "It would be a great advantage to our oil plan."

Enrique slumped down on a seat and placed a finger on his chin, "He has a point, father. I would be don of all this and instead of doing all this behind her back we could easily do it."

Ramon stroked his beared.

"Plus," Enrique absentmindedly glanced at the window, "she is lovely." He looked back at the men, "I want her."

Gabrielle gave her parasol to her maid and lifted her skirt lightly following Camilla up the stairs, "Mon ami, (My friend) It was just an accident. I'm sure he didn't take it offensively."

Camilla flung her bonnet of her head and started walking to her room briskly, "Gabrielle, I sprayed his coat!"

Catching the bonnet that Camilla had flung out, she said, "He laughed afterwards."

"What else could be said."

"It was pretty funny."

Camilla glared at her friend, "You should have just stayed quiet! How could you possibly have thought of such..." Camilla shook her head and flung her arms out helplessly, "...I don't even want to repeat what you just said." She huffed, "He's a jerk who thinks less of woman." She started pulling at her gloves, "Thinking of fripperies, I'll show him what I'm thinking."

"I'll just add it on your list to torture. Should I put him under Zorro?" Gabrielle teased and ducked just in time as a glove was flung at her.


pRiZ nOtE: Again, I apologize. Hopefully Yamile will be able to finish up chapter six. Also, please review. We'd really appreciate feedback. Well, tchao!