Lost Chances and Revelations by JuliaBC
A/N: This chapter takes place after Sweet Face of Danger. Me being me, it will be twice as tumultuous (read: insane and OOC) as any other chapter.
"Thank you for honoring the fiesta with your presence," Alejandro told Magistrado Galindo.
"It was a lovely night," Galindo replied. "Thank you for inviting me."
Inez and Garcia had already departed, and once Alejandro saw his last guest off, he turned around and stormed up the stairs, not bothering to knock when he entered his son's room.
"Do you even have an explanation for your behavior tonight?" He burst out, and Diego jumped slightly from where he was reclining on the bed. "One minute, you're dancing with Magdalena like you'd never want to stop, and the next, you are telling me an announcement would be premature!"
"Father," Diego said, starting to get up.
"No, you listen to me," Alejandro said. "Do you think I do not know how many women there are in this pueblo, women of marriageable age?"
"I don't see..."
"When the news spread around that I had written you telling you to come back, do you think there was not a flurry of women trying to buy out the shops? Do you think I didn't hear the whispers of how exciting it was to finally get you back, now that you were at a marriageable age?"
Diego was blushing now and tried to hold his hand up to stop his father, but Alejandro plowed on.
"Then you did come back, with your silk handkerchiefs and your books of Philosophy. I heard the words said, Diego. They were, and I quote: he is only to be a brother after all."
Alejandro paced the floor. "Here's another question for you, my son. If you heard the rumors about Magdalena, do you really think she didn't hear about you? She was set to marry you, of course she'd try as hard as she could to find out all she could!" He moved closer. "And that would include hearing about your change in attitude. She'd have heard the worst about you, as well as the best, Diego, but she was the only woman so far to completely disregard it."
"Father, there is something..."
"You got on," Alejandro said, his voice lowering. "When you came back yesterday, you were buzzing. Magdalena made you feel that way, so what is this nonsense about prematurity when she's perfect for you?"
"In case you'll remember, I have changed," Diego said. "You do recall telling me this, don't you? I have changed and I don't want to marry the first woman who shows an interest!"
Alejandro gaped at him. "The boy is mad!" He said, tilting his head to the ceiling as though talking to Heaven. "She was one of the most beautiful..."
"Beauty is not everything and not all beauty is external," Diego said.
Alejandro scoffed. "I thought we agreed to disregard her reputation," he began.
"But I cannot," Diego said. "I do not think Mother would approve of her."
At those words, Alejandro stilled. "What did you say?"
"My mother would not approve of her," Diego repeated.
"Your mother," Alejandro began, but then broke off. "Your mother was the most beautiful woman I ever met."
"Inside, too," Diego said coldly.
"What did Magdalena do?" Alejandro said helplessly. "Just because she may have done foolish things in Mexico City, that does not make her evil."
"Not evil, just misguided," Diego said.
"I do not think Magdalena fell that far," Alejandro said. "If she had, Francisco would not be daring to show her around like this. She is as chaste as you are!"
"Chastity is not all either," Diego said. "There are other sins for a woman to make besides those!"
"Why must you brand her a villain?"
"She is like the wicked fairy in a superstitious tale," Diego said. "She lures you in with beauty and then, once you are captured, reveals her true nature. She's part of a web, of lies and trickery and boredom."
"What are you even talking about?" Alejandro said, exasperated. "She's but a girl!"
"She is nothing of the sort," Diego said.
"Why do I get the feeling there is something you are not telling me?" Alejandro asked, voice full of sarcasm.
"Maybe there is," Diego said, finally meeting his father's eyes. "Maybe there are a lot things I haven't been able to tell you, because when I tried—"
"Oh, don't be foolish," Alejandro said. "I always—"
"No, you don't, and you just interrupted me again! I could have a fantastic secret, a whole double life and you wouldn't even know!"
"Si, I do know about your double life," Alejandro said and Diego's eyes widened.
His father stormed to the door and opened it. "You pretend to be a gentleman, but are really just a frightened little boy!"
A/N: LOL, I don't think I've ever written a Diego that was actually disgusted with Magdalena. But, of course, I'm taking it as Diego being disgusted with himself, because, of course, I think Magdalena is the woman on the show most right for him.
