Smelling Salts in the Library
The next morning, Alejandro found himself being woken by Felipe, and directed to his own bed. The boy escorted him there, as if thinking he was a naughty little boy. Alejandro allowed the treatment, but worried about the boy. He was acting too mature, too adult, too responsible for his age.
Alejandro rested in his bed, and Felipe fetched him a large breakfast. Eggs and bacon, with toast and orange juice. It sat on the bed-tray ignored for a while. Felipe rushed back to Diego's room.
Alejandro toyed with the food on his plate, and found he just was not hungry enough to do the meal justice. He drank the orange juice, and ate some of the toast.
He was thinking about the poem he had read to Diego the night before. He should have refused to read it, or gone on to another, more light hearted poem. Poems about being a social outcast were not healthy surely?
Being Zorro in the darkness of the night, that wasn't healthy either, he realised. One day or night, he would be informed of his son's death or impeding execution. One day Felipe and he himself might be hanging beside him. It was better to be prepared to have that flung at you without prior warning.
He got out of bed, and placed the tray on the dresser. He wanted to get presentable enough to visit the tavern. Diego seemed out of danger with his health, and a squad of men guarded the hacienda like it was a King's palace. This time the hacienda would be impregnable.
He had sent for some of the governor's men as well, and due to his letter from the King sent with his own, he was sure he would not be badly treated. Felicidad's cousins at the royal court in Spain had heard that Los Angeles was volatile. They had persuaded the Queen to persuade the King to write a letter of protection for the de la Vega family. While it was not enough to save Zorro from execution, it would cover almost everything else.
He trimmed his moustache to neaten it in his large mirror on the wall. Today was the day to arrange a marriage. Victoria certainly seemed to be considering the plan. Diego might not appreciate the difficulties and the art of arranging such things, and probably the marriage partner would shock him. He would refuse to marry Victoria on some flimsy excuse, some principle being breached or some such rubbish. He loved her, enough to be miserable for the rest of his life if Alejandro didn't do something about it. Stubborn de la Vega pride.
He made his way to the tavern on Dulcinea. Entering the tavern he was immediately greeted by friends, offering their good wishes.
"Amazing how your son managed to escape…"
"De la Vega, your boy is the luckiest man in the territory…"
"Yes, yes. Diego is recovering nicely. It will just take a bit of time, that's all," Alejandro said. "I do believe Zorro was in the area, and offered his assistance."
"Of course, Zorro is a great man."
Victoria had seen him enter the tavern, but had customers to see to. She made her way over to the older man.
"How is he?" She whispered intensely. Some of the other people gave her a strange look.
"He is recovering quickly," Alejandro assured her. She sat with him for a few moments.
"I was so worried, Don Alejandro. So worried," she murmured. "Should I ask Pilar to take over the tavern for a while? Should I go to him?"
Alejandro shook his head. "Felipe is with him. He is in the best of hands."
He watched the young woman staring at the bar intently, and it took a moment for him to understand. "Diego often sits at the bar…"
"Yes," Victoria breathed. "Every day…," she added. "When everyone said he was dead, the feeling he would never, ever sit there again….well, it was a hard couple of days. When I saw that man strangling him, I thought, I thought…" She put her head in her hands suddenly, startling Alejandro.
Alejandro found himself stroking her back gently, as if she was a small child. She wasn't crying, but she was close enough to a total breakdown. Pilar was glancing at him and fidgeting with her wiping rag. Alejandro beckoned her over.
"I think she's a little overwrought," Alejandro said softly.
"A little overwrought! Don Alejandro, that man is my heart!" Victoria half shouted. Absolute silence reigned in the tavern. Everyone heard her words. "I can't bear it!"
"Sergeant," Alejandro called. The surprised soldier rushed over.
"Don Alejandro, is she talking about Don Diego?"
"I think we need Dr Hernandez right now," Alejandro said, wondering if he should answer the question.
The sergeant grabbed a private and sent him for the doctor.
"I need to see him, Don Alejandro! Right now!" Victoria continued. Alejandro hesitated, and then helped her to her feet. "He could be dying! You shouldn't have left him!"
Alejandro glanced around the room nervously. Murmurings were going up slowly. Alejandro helped her walk out the back to her cart. There was no way on earth he would allow her to drive, but she was in no state to ride either. The sergeant followed them, curious.
"Perhaps she is talking about Diego, sergeant. She was very upset over him, and she still is. Perhaps deep down she loves him and didn't know," Alejandro offered, bewildered. He helped her into the back of the cart and draped a blanket around her. She was shivering a little. "You don't happen to have any smelling salts, do you?"
Mendoza slowly shook his head. "Didn't think so," Alejandro murmured. "Can you lead Dulcinea out here and tether her to the cart? I'm afraid I have my arms full right now."
"Si, senor." Mendoza was not great with horses, but Dulcinea came calmly enough. "I will inform Hernandez that you are going home."
Alejandro drove Victoria's horse at a moderate speed, occasionally glancing back at the shivering woman. He knew shock when he saw it. He had been a commanding officer at many battles. Young men at their first battle often ended up covered in someone else's blood and shaking like crazy. Warm blankets and warm soup had been all he could offer the teenage soldiers, and all he could promise was that the next day would be mainly the same.
He opened his mouth a few times, but couldn't think of the words to say, so he shut his mouth before he said something completely stupid. He had been taught early by his wife. If you can't say something helpful in time of crisis, don't speak at all. He could do it with females, but he wasn't so able with his son or other men.
He led her into the library, where she promptly burst into tears. He would have held her, but she struggled to get away, and he had to let her go. He stood there, without a clue of what to do.
Felipe raced into the library, hearing the noise. He didn't want the tears to wake Diego, but he didn't have any ideas about how to stop it.
Diego made his way over to his father, leaning on the walls for balance. His hand resting on Alejandro's shoulder startled him, and turning, he managed to catch his son around the waist as he lost his balance.
"Lounge," Diego whispered. Victoria had thrown herself down on the lounge, and was weeping hysterically. "Smelling salts."
Alejandro supported him to the lounge, where he stumbled onto his knees. He tried to get Victoria to look at him, but nothing could help her stop crying. Felipe handed him a tiny vial of the smelling salts. Uncorking it reluctantly, Diego gently placed a hand on Victoria's back, and passed the vial under her nose. It made her gasp deeply, and the fumes were indeed powerful enough to make her pause.
She slowly became aware of Diego's hand on her back, and she turned her head to look at him. She helped herself up, and smoothed her clothes a little.
"I don't know what happened," Victoria whispered, as she blushed. "I'm so sorry…"
"Don't be," Diego whispered hoarsely. He stayed on his knees, and she looked at him. They seemed to stare into each other's eyes for a long time.
"Your voice…You shouldn't be talking….You should not even be out of bed," Victoria said, coming fully to her senses. "Your injuries…"
Diego looked at his father, as if for help. Alejandro remembered helping him to get to the lounge, and walked back.
Diego used his father's arm as a crutch to rise to his feet.
"She's right, you should be in bed, Diego," Alejandro said.
"Piano," Diego said stubbornly. He left the support of his father's arm and sat at the piano.
Diego opened the lid gently.
He began to play something. It sounded like a familiar tune. "We danced," Diego said, glancing at Victoria. "Was good."
Victoria widened her eyes, as she recognised the tune. Alejandro remembered the dance. It was after Risendo had fallen from the roof. Everyone had thought it was the end of him, but it was really only the beginning. All the hope that surged through the town, only to be dashed the next day.
She hugged herself close. Alejandro remembered Diego had claimed her when the Alcalde had asked for the dance. Finally acting like a man who might be in love, he had been very proud to watch them. His son had seemed so graceful, so confident. In such a crowd of people, he never once stepped on her toes, twirling her gently to the rhythm.
Diego stopped playing the piano, and the room was silent. She went to stand beside him. Alejandro noticed the hope that lit up her eyes, as she looked down at him.
Diego turned to look up at her, and smiled. He stood shakily, and draped an arm around her. Alejandro watched in shock of his own, as his son brazenly kissed and embraced the young woman in front of his very eyes, in the middle of his fashionable library.
"Diego," Alejandro began. "Diego, a-hem…" They were still kissing, and Felipe was watching them with curiosity.
Alejandro walked over to them and put a hand on Diego's back. He paused in his kissing, and reddened. He let go of Victoria so abruptly, they both almost fell. Alejandro put an arm around his son to help him regain his balance, and watched as Victoria backed up into a chair. The poor girl was breathless and embarrassed.
"Diego, that is not how a de la Vega behaves. You have shocked Victoria. She was already in a state, and you've probably made it worse," Alejandro rebuked his son.
Victoria shook her head silently, and smiled. "I'm…I'm alright, Don de la Vega." She took a couple of deep breaths as if to slow a racing heart-beat, and stood. "I'm here to help. I'll help," she murmured.
She made her way over to Diego's other side, as if to help him balance as well.
"No, Victoria. Felipe, I need some help here," Alejandro commanded. "Victoria, go boil some water, or something." Alejandro was irritated in their behaviour. They needed to be separated for a while, so that he could calm down, let alone them.
"We'll get him to bed. He's bound to be hungry. He's only had some cactus tea. He's bound to want something more substantial, but nothing that will hurt his throat," he added, remembering he cared deeply for the woman who stood in his library, looking a little hurt. She smiled, and headed to the kitchen.