Chapter 36

When Alejandro came into the dining room, Diego and Victoria appeared to be happy and more relaxed than usual and were chatting amiably with the new alcalde, calling each other by first name. Alejandro felt like an intruder in a room of strangers. Everything had changed today. Diego was no longer the son he thought he knew. The new alcalde seemed to know him better than his own father.

There were so many questions he had for Diego, but he couldn't ask them in front of a stranger. Alejandro regretted the spontaneous dinner invitation for the new alcalde who knew so much more about his son than himself. He had to postpone his plan to question his son as soon as possible until there was a private moment. A sudden headache overwhelmed him and he felt unable to join the happy company.

Instead of announcing his presence, Alejandro simply watched the young people interact.

"Manuel, I'm surprised to hear that you're our new alcalde. I thought you and Sofia would be happy in Monterey. I believed she would miss the social events after spending so much time in the convent," Victoria inquired.

"I wasn't very successful with my task of finding the missing women to say it plainly," Manuel admitted.

"It wasn't your fault that Señor Agramunt sabotaged all your efforts," Diego replied.

"Yes, I know, but I realized that I need to do something on my own," Manuel explained. "In Monterey I'll always be the nephew of the governor and I don't want that. When I fought in the war in Spain, I was respected for my own work and not because I was related to someone. I have seen what you achieved on your own and you didn't even use the influence of your name or the money you have. You and Victoria have made a great impression on me and Sofia. We wouldn't be where we are now without you and your courage."

"I must say that I'm flattered," Victoria said. "But I don't understand yet why you came here to Los Angeles."

"I went through the reports about Los Angeles and I believe that Los Angeles is the pueblo with the greatest problems here in California. They started with the greed and mismanagement of the late alcalde Ramone who was responsible for the creation of Zorro and continued with the obsession of the late Alcalde de Soto to catch Zorro. Both men only worked for their own goals and the pueblo and its citizens had to suffer for it." Manuel stated.

"It's good that someone finally realized that," Victoria agreed.

"I asked my uncle to grant me the office and I promised him I would change things for the better. Here I am on my own and nobody will expect me to run to my uncle for support. I can prove myself and make the pueblo a better place. There weren't many applicants for the office because of the problems with Zorro and the remote location far away from the amenities of Monterey with its theaters and social life." Manuel explained. "Sofia will be happy to be away from her parents who never accepted her decision to marry me instead of becoming a nun."

"Father, there's something I have to tell you," Diego finally noticed his father's presence.

"Not now, Diego. Captain de Aragón, you must excuse me for being a bad host tonight," Alejandro slightly bowed to Manuel. "I have a headache and need to go to bed. My son will keep you entertained. We need to talk tomorrow, Diego. You will have to answer a lot of questions, but not tonight."

"I hope you'll feel better tomorrow, Father, and I'll tell you everything you want to know. This has been a long day for all of us. I offered Victoria one of the guest rooms for tonight to make sure she's safe for the moment if you don't mind." Diego said.

"I don't like you staying here, Victoria, while you're not married, but I understand Diego's concern for your safety after the attack on you today," Alejandro agreed. "The attack on you was a shock for all and I still need to understand what has happened." Alejandro looked inquiringly at his son who had turned into someone different today.

"Good night, Diego, Victoria, Captain." Alejandro said determinedly, before he retreated to his rooms.

After the dinner with Manuel, that had passed all too quickly for the friends to exchange all the information they wanted to tell each other about the events of the recent weeks, Manuel rode back to the pueblo.

Z~Z~Z

In the night Diego was haunted by nightmares in which Victoria was killed by Mateo's shot or floating lifelessly in front of him. Tossing around in his bed he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep.

He put on the pants and the shirt from the evening before and walked down the hallway where the guest rooms were located. Quietly, he opened the door of Victoria's room and slipped inside. By the light of the moon shining through the window shutters, he could make her out in the large bed. She was tossing around in bed, troubled by nightmares.

Victoria opened her eyes and looked at him sleepily when he sat down on the bedside looking at her.

"Diego?" she murmured. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to wake you. I couldn't sleep and I just needed to see you to know that you're all right." He took her hand and squeezed it.

"You don't intend to sit there all night, do you? Come into bed and hold me, Diego. I want to feel you." She lifted the cover and opened her arms.

Needing no more invitation, he slipped under the covers lying down beside her.

"I need to hold you tonight," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her.

"I need you too." Victoria put her head on his chest like every night they had slept together in the mission cell. "This is much better," she whispered, instantly drifting off to sleep again.

When he had her safely sleeping in his arms, he could sleep as well, relaxing when he felt her warm body and the familiar weight of her head on his chest.

Z~Z~Z

It was shortly before dawn when Diego woke up again and he had to hurry back to his room before one of the servants saw him leaving Victoria's room.

The moment he slipped out of the door he saw his father coming down the hallway and there was no escape.

"Diego! What are you doing in Victoria's room at this hour?" Alejandro asked him, shocked. "Did you spend the night together? How could you! You're not married yet!"

"Father," Diego tried to explain, "it's not as you think. I only checked on her to see if she is safe."

"Do you want me to believe that?" Before Alejandro could continue, the door opened and Victoria, who had heard them talking, stepped out on bare feet, wearing only her nightgown.

"Sebastián?" she asked in a sleepy voice, not fully awake. "Do you have to leave already? Please, come back, it's cold without you!"

Diego stepped forward and took her in his embrace, warming her with his arms around her. "Go back to bed, Querida. It's still early, and you can sleep a little longer."

"I was right! You spent the night with her!" Alejandro shouted angrily.

His loud voice startled Victoria out of her sleepy state and she looked around, confused.

"Diego, Don Alejandro? What's going on? Why are you yelling and standing in front of my door?"

"You're asking me that? Now that I know what you have done?" Alejandro growled. "I don't want to see you two together unchaperoned until you're married."

"As I said, you don't know anything, Father," Diego countered. "After all that has happened to Victoria lately, I needed to check if she was safe. I don't care any longer if this appropriate or not. We will be married in a few days and no one keeps me away from Victoria!" he declared. His face showed the same determination as the day before when he had fought Mateo. The way he drew Victoria closer in his embrace made clear that nothing would come between him and Victoria.

"Can you two please stop fighting? It's early in the morning!" Victoria begged. "Don Alejandro, you have to trust us on this and understand that we need each other now. We've been through so much and Mateo's attack yesterday was the last strain."

"I'm sorry, Victoria. I didn't want to wake you," Diego apologized. "Go back to bed before your feet get cold."

"My feet are already cold," she complained.

"Diego is right, go back to bed, Victoria," Alejandro agreed. "And you should go back to your room too, Diego. I can see that I can't keep you apart, but I don't approve of your behavior. I want you to stay in the tavern until you're married, Victoria. You say that you have been through a lot and I want an explanation from both of you. I want the whole story. I expect you in the library when you're dressed and had breakfast."

Z~Z~Z