Author's note: I'm sorry that I keep giving you cliffies, but as I said before: I need to split the story into chapters somewhere, so I might as well use it to create some suspense. Now it's time to put the plan in motion!
― Chapter 9 ―
Spreading the word
As soon as everyone had gone to bed Victoria and Diego snuck into the garden again.
`Why did you hide in the kitchen all day, Victoria?' Diego asked.
`I wasn't hiding.'
He looked at her skeptically.
`All right, I was hiding!' she admitted. `I didn't want to spent another day near you but not near you.'
`So it was better just to stay away completely?' Diego asked in disbelief. `I missed you!'
`I missed you too, Diego, but the constant scrutiny was driving me crazy. You don't think they're going to keep doing that once were married, do you?'
`I most certainly hope not! But if they do, I think I'm going to have a conversation with them,' Diego said forcefully, `and if that doesn't help, I'll just have to get used to living at the tavern.'
Victoria laughed and wrapped her arms around his waist.
`Let's hope it doesn't come to that.'
Diego nodded, lowering his head to softly kiss her.
`We should go to bed,' he whispered several minutes later. `If Father discovers we've been out here, alone and at night, we will never hear the end of it.'
Victoria returned to the tavern the following day, just in time to help Pilar with lunch. Sergeant Mendoza was delighted to see her.
`Señorita Escalante, I'm so happy you're back!' he exclaimed. `I've missed your enchiladas.'
Poor Mendoza. He was in for a real shock.
`Then I will make you some, Sergeant,' Victoria replied.
`Oh, gracias, Señorita!' the sergeant said with a big smile on his face.
Sergeant Mendoza ate her enchiladas faster than Victoria had ever seen him eat, before deciding to return to the cuartel for a nice long siesta. He followed Don Diego back into the tavern a few hours later, evidently hoping for a free drink. Victoria's heart did a back-flip at the sight of her love, but she managed to keep a straight face.
`Buenas tardes, Diego,' she greeted him.
`Hola, Victoria,' he said cheerfully, giving her a slight nod to let her know that he had spoken with Padre Benites. `Could I get some juice, please, and a bottle of wine for the good sergeant?'
`Gracias, Don Diego!' Mendoza said with a grin as he leaned against the bar.
Diego groaned inwardly. He had hoped that with a bottle of wine the sergeant would seat himself at one of the tables. Instead Mendoza continued to hover next to him. Victoria looked at him with questioning eyes, but Diego surreptitiously shook his head. With the sergeant within earshot he could not tell her what she wanted to know. She smiled in relief when he winked at her. Diego would find a way. They had no chance to talk for the rest of the day, but when Victoria went to bed she found his solution. On her pillow lay a rose and underneath the rose she saw a note.
Only your cool, sweet lips will quench my burning desire.
Victoria smiled to herself; he remembered.
Saturday, noon. Spread the word.
All my love, as always,
Diego
She lightly caressed the note. As always.
Victoria was already preparing breakfast the next morning, when Pilar walked into the kitchen.
`Pilar, I have a request to make of you,' Victoria said immediately. `You did a wonderful job running the tavern the past three days. Do you think you could manage for a few weeks, maybe longer?'
`Sí, Señorita, but why?' Pilar asked confused.
`I'm getting married tomorrow,' Victoria replied happily. `At noon.'
`To who?' Pilar exclaimed.
`To whom,' Victoria corrected.
`Now you're starting to sound like Don Diego. You've been spending to much time with him.'
Victoria chuckled, but didn't respond.
`All right, to whom?' Pilar repeated her question while she rolled her eyes.
`Wouldn't you like to know?'
Pilar continued to entreat Victoria, but didn't get a name.
When Don Alejandro came into the tavern shortly before lunch and asked for Victoria, Pilar told him, `She's hiding in the kitchen. She told me she's getting married tomorrow at noon, but she won't tell me to who... I mean to whom.'
`Victoria is getting married?' Don Alejandro feigned surprise. `I think I will go offer my congratulations.'
As the caballero disappeared into the kitchen, gossip flared in the main room. By dinnertime every person in the pueblo knew of the upcoming wedding and speculation as to the identity of the groom ran rampant.
`Mendoza!'
The sergeant ran into his commander's office.
`Sergeant, what do you know of this wedding?' asked de Soto.
`Not much, Alcalde. I know it is tomorrow at noon, but that's about it. Señorita Escalante has been hiding in her kitchen all day. Only Don Alejandro has gone in to see her.'
De Soto glanced at the sergeant.
`Do you know who the groom is?'
`No, sir. She hasn't told anyone, but I think it's Zorro.'
`Yes, well, that isn't saying much, Sergeant,' the alcalde grumbled. `We have no idea who he is and we can't even be sure it is him she's marrying.'
Sergeant Mendoza looked at him in confusion. Who else would the señorita want to marry?
`Think about it, Sergeant,' de Soto exclaimed. `She spent the past few days at the de la Vega hacienda. For all we know Don Diego proposed.'
`Oh, no, alcalde. I saw Don Diego at the tavern yesterday and he was just... He was just Diego! Besides, Don Alejandro would have known about the wedding, and he didn't. I was there!'
De Soto sighed and rubbed his chin.
`Oh, well, if she was going to marry de la Vega, she would probably leave him at the altar, like she did with that naval officer. As it is, we may finally discover Zorro's identity. No that it matters anymore since the pardon, but I would really like to at least see who is behind that infernal mask.'
`So would I,' Mendoza said brightly. `Zorro is my friend. I will be so happy to know who he is and to see him married to the señorita.'
`Thank you, Sergeant, you can go now,' the alcalde groaned.
He shook his head as he looked at the sergeant's retreating back. He would never understand the admiration the soldier had for the masked man.
Felipe had already checked the garden, the library and Diego's bedroom, when he considered the possibility that his father might be in the cave. But what would Diego be doing there this late in the evening? When he entered he saw his father brushing Toronado. He rushed over and tapped the man's shoulder.
`What is it, Felipe?'
The young man signed, pointing at the horse and the brush.
`I know you already groomed Toronado today,' Diego chuckled, `but it's relaxing.'
Felipe stared at him in confusion. Why was his father in need of relaxation?
`I'm nervous, Felipe,' he explained. `I'm not getting married every day, you know.'
Felipe laughed and signed that he didn't see why that should make his father nervous. After all, Diego had been dreaming about marrying Victoria for years.
`It's one thing to dream about it,' Diego sighed, `but it's quite another to have it actually happen.'
It was happening, Felipe assured him. There was no point in being nervous about it. He should stop worrying and go to bed.
`All right, Felipe, I will,' Diego conceded. `Is everything ready? My cloths? You have the ring, right?'
Felipe sighed and shook his head. So much for not worrying. He grabbed his father's arm and pulled him out of the cave, while he tried to convince him that everything would be fine. When they arrived at Diego's room, he refused to leave until his father was in bed and asleep.
After nearly thirty minutes Felipe looked down at the finally sleeping man. At least he would be rested tomorrow. Now all he could do was hope that Diego would be able to keep his nerves under control.
