Chapter 10

After the funeral Victoria went with Diego and Alejandro to the de la Vega hacienda waiting for an explanation. She had understood that she had to keep quiet until everything was over, but she had grown impatient during the hours it had taken. It had made her angry to have been so deceived if even for a short time. The first moment she had seen the black clad body, she had been convinced that Zorro was dead.

Diego sensed her anger and wasted no more time when they arrived at the hacienda. "Victoria, I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you in advance what was going on. If I had had the time, I would have spared you the shock. Forgive me?"

"You will tell me immediately what all this was about!" Victoria demanded, not over the shock yet. "It was terrible to see that man buried as Zorro. If you hadn't been standing beside me, I would have believed it was you." Then she started to cry. "Tonight I dreamed I saw you hang and today I had to attend Zorro's funeral."

"It's alright, Victoria," Diego drew her into his arms, soothing her and softly began to explain.

"The body today in the plaza wasn't Zorro, only someone of similar build, who was dressed like me."

"But why? How?" Victoria asked.

Shortly after you left, the padre paid us a visit and asked to speak with me. Then Diego related his talk with the padre.

"As Zorro, I met with the padre at the home of the deceased man and talked to the widow," Diego continued his story.

"Together with the padre I convinced her to play her part in this. She was very desperate about her future and she was glad to find a way out. Of course, I told her that I would help with money even if she didn't agree. The woman said she wanted to thank Zorro for everything he had done for the pueblo and if that was the way, she would do it, not wanting to know the reason why Zorro had to die. I helped her dress her late husband into Zorro's spare clothes and then I had to head home to change again."

"So you arrived at the pueblo at about the same time as the cart with the body?" Victoria asked.

"Yes, I would have told you about it if there had been time to talk to you."

"And now?" Victoria questioned him.

"As soon as De Soto has left California for sure, I'm free. To the world, Zorro is dead and will stay so. I'd love to marry you today, but we already have the guests invited to the wedding in two weeks, so I can give you the big party you deserve. Will you marry me in two weeks?" Diego went down on his knees.

"Yes, I will." Victoria smiled joyfully. Diego swept her in his arms and twirled her around. "I'm so happy," he whispered. Relieved Diego kissed her and never wanted to let her go again.

"But what about Agnes?" Victoria asked after some time. "I was relieved she didn't show up in the pueblo today. She could have spoiled the whole plan."

Diego grinned mischievously. "I sent Felipe to her hacienda this morning, his job was to keep her away. He hasn't returned yet, so I'm wondering how he managed it."

Z Z Z

Alejandro came looking for them after a while, assuming that Diego had pacified Victoria again. Finding them kissing and oblivious to the world around them, he was the first to congratulate them to their wedding plans. From what he had seen earlier, the wedding date couldn't come soon enough and it probably wouldn't take very long until he had the grandchild he had wished for.

Z Z Z

It wasn't until very late the next day that Felipe returned.

"Where have you been?" Diego asked a little concerned and Felipe started to sign.

'In Santa Paula? You stayed there overnight?' Diego asked incredulously. "Don't tell me you have suddenly fallen in love with her and have compromised her. She is about your age!"

Felipe rolled his eyes in shock at that suggestion. 'Never! You'd rather fight as Zorro than listen to her talking any longer!' Diego laughed at that. 'There hasn't been any compromising situation at all because the maid was always present!"

"That's good to hear, Felipe." Diego couldn't refrain from teasing Felipe a little. "Imagine, if Agnes found out something compromising about you! When I'm married to Victoria, you'd be the next best catch in the pueblo as an unmarried de la Vega." Felipe looked in horror at the idea of being the target of Agnes.

"So tell me, how did you spend the last two days," Diego asked.

'You lured her to Santa Paula, telling her I was waiting for her there? And then you kept her occupied by going shopping with her?'

Felipe signed exhaustion from carrying heavy parcels around town all day. 'You kept her waiting there for me until it was too late to drive home. You stayed in the tavern we always take when we stay overnight there?' Felipe nodded in confirmation. 'You wanted to make sure that she didn't return before the alcalde had left.'

"Well, done Felipe. I couldn't have handled it better." Diego smiled.

'You want to know if everything proceeded here as planned?'

"You're to be my best man at my wedding with Victoria," Diego laughed happily. "Yesterday we had a big funeral for Zorro and de Soto immediately left afterwards. Mendoza told me that his ship should have left the harbor by now. Our former alcalde couldn't wait to leave our pueblo behind and return home successfully as the man who got rid of the legend. It took him a longer time than he anticipated when he came here, but he did it, even if he will never find out the truth."

Felipe smiled, relieved, at Diego's happy mood and listened to the detailed report from Diego. Looking at him, he knew his miserable day with Agnes in Santa Paula had been worth it. Diego needn't to know all he had done to prevent the marriage. Nobody would ever find out who had ruined Agnes' first wedding dress causing her to delay the wedding or who had paid the seamstress to prevent her from getting the new dress ready for the next scheduled date. The sweating in the heat today, pretending that the wheel was broken in order to keep them from returning to the pueblo, had been nothing when he saw Diego so happy.