Zorro Meets his Match
Chapter 38 – Bloodlines
The three New York women were making themselves at home. After the excitement of returning the Prince to his own, Diego had been pleased that things had calmed a bit for Zorro. The commandant seemed to be ruling, at least for the moment, fairly. Perhaps it was only because he had neither the man power or the whim to cause the people trouble yet.
The two girls seemed to like the attentions of the pueblo men, but no one seemed to wish to court either really with Diego watching them. However, as this happened, Saphia then seemed to set her sights on Diego, who though was a gentleman, resisted her charm.
After another supper, Boudica noticed an odd change in her aunt. She seemed to be paying a lot of attention to Alejandro and in fact, had asked him to take her for a carriage ride so she could see the area.
Boudica had watched the pair leave. Benedicta was spending a lot of time with the de la Vega patriarch. She walked into the room where Diego was playing the guitar softly.
"She is really doing it?"
"What?" He asked.
"She is trying to convince Alejandro that he is madly in love with her."
"Perhaps it is good for both of them." He said tuning the guitar a little.
She hissed.
"What? You do not approve?" He asked.
"All she wants is money and position." She looked at him. She leaned close to him. "Would you really wish her to be your mother."
He twanged the guitar as he looked up sharply.
She smiled a little too sweetly. She then moved, hand on her belly as she walked to the bed. "We have to stop her."
"Saphia seems to wish to at least bed me." He said.
She arched an eyebrow and turned to him. "You wish to court her?"
"No!" He said rising to his feet. "She is the most arrogant and biting woman I have ever encountered."
She smiled a little. "Ah, you have her exactly."
He sighed and moved to kiss her. "I have no want of a girl who thinks herself a lady when I already have a true lady in my company."
ZzZ
Boudica blinked as Bernardo pulled her into the hidden passage. He put a finger to his lips and pulled her to the wall that was part of the guest room.
She blinked and then heard her aunt's voice.
She opened the small eye hole.
Inside the room, Benedicta was pulling on a corset for Saphia.
"We need to make this count." Benedicta said. "There is no money left."
"Will not Don Alejandro take care of us when you marry him?" Agnes asked.
"He will care for me and find husbands for you two." She sighed. "Saphia. If we can convince Diego that his wife is a poor choice, then you can have him. But you must be willing to work for it."
"Boudica is carrying his child." Agnes said.
"Once we are rid of it he will see that she is not the brood mare he hoped for." Benedicta said.
Boudica looked at Bernardo and he was wide-eyed. She felt his hand go to her belly. She turned her head back her own hand going to his.
Saphia looked back at her mother. "But I do not want to bear children. I could die."
Benedicta slapped her. "Do you want your fancy things still? Do you?"
"Yes." Saphia gasped, hand going to her cheek.
"Than you will spread your legs for Diego whenever he calls you and bear him a child. He will want a son for this grand estate." Benedicta sighed. "As unpleasant as it is, I will have to allow Alejandro to do the same. If he is able to perform, I can bring a sibling to Diego, perhaps a son. That would make the lands more divided…"
Agnes looked at them. "You are talking about killing an innocent baby. Boudica tells me she is six months along. What if you kill her?"
"Than it will be easier for Saphia to support Diego through being a widower." Her mother said coldly.
Agnes gasped. "You cannot be serious! She is our cousin."
"Who never deserved more than a drowning at birth." Benedicta said. "Ungrateful Spanish half-breed."
Saphia hissed. "She is Basque Momma. Worse than a Spanish half-breed."
Boudica gasped and stepped back.
She moved back through the tunnels and down to the cave. Bernardo followed her. Diego was there combing Tornado, watching the little mare. She was showing a little, her sides moving as the foal within her moved. He smiled thoughtfully. Boudica was due in January, though she could deliver early. Rana and Nevada's foals would come in late February or March.
"Diego!" Boudica said. She moved to him.
He turned and caught her as she ran to him. "Bo! What is it?" He asked.
She whimpered and started to cry. He pulled her to him, holding her to his chest as she sobbed. He looked back at Bernardo who stepped forward and touched her back.
"Bernardo. What has upset her so?"
Bernardo then began to gesture.
Diego blinked. "They plan to kill Boudica? But…"
Bernardo shook his head and lifted a hand to her belly. Bernardo rarely did this and never had with Diego present. His master looked at him startled, but that was over run by another emotion.
Diego felt anger run through him. "All three of them wish to kill our child?"
Bernardo nodded and then shook his head and lifted two fingers. Diego could guess which two. Agnes always seemed to be the woman who was never allowed to do as she willed, under her mother's thumb. She had nursed their father as he was dying and she seemed her hopes at finding a marriage were never going to happen. Diego would see to that.
Diego took a breath trying to quell the rage in him as he lifted a hand to his wife's neck and gently caressed her. "Relax Bo." He murmured. "We will not let them." He promised.
"How?" She asked.
He smiled a little. "Zorro will not take it well that someone wishes to murder an innocent."
She nodded and calmed a little, reduced to hiccups and sniffles as he cradled her to him. He moved to sit on the rock, holding her in his arms for a time, letting her body calm him as well as he her as they listened to the water from the cave spring.
Zzz
Diego sighed. He rode again, this time with Saphia alone.
He did not really care for her. He found her a spoiled, selfish brat. He also refused to be anything other than a gentleman. It was clear to him after the first ride that she was trying to win him over and perhaps seduce him to her bed. That would never happen, but she seemed to think batting her eyes would get her everything in the world. It likely had until now.
"Aren't you coming?" She asked.
"We should turn back." He said. "Before it gets dark." It was coming toward sunset. They were less than a mile from the hacienda, but he wanted the company of his wife rather than this creature. No wonder why Boudica hated her.
"We have time." She said looking up. "Besides, momma says you have to escort me since none of the vaqueros can be with me without an escort."
She then rode on ahead of him as he just shook his head at her. He heard her scream and he gasped.
He rode forward and saw her horse a little way away with her lying on the ground. Her horse must have reared at some point. He dismounted and went to her, rolling her into his arms.
"Senorita Saphia?" He asked.
He sighed and then lifted her up to carry her to his horse, her arm around his shoulder, both his arms about her. She was heavier than Boudica and it was not due to her riding habit, it was due to her being larger.
She then laughed. "I told you, you would do anything for me."
He looked at her and then dropped her unceremoniously into a mud puddle at his feet. She gasped, startled to be in the mud. He stepped over her and walked to his own horse.
She then laughed again. "I look forward to our next ride."
He shook his head and sat there. He nodded to her mount as she walked towards him mud covered. "Your horse is over there, Senorita." He said.
She looked at him and then mounted the mare in annoyance.
He rode back with her and she went to her room after glaring at him. He smiled a little as he went to his room.
ZzZ
Zorro did not have far to ride. He moved down in the passage to the Sala. Boudica was seated in the Sala. Agnes was there with Saphia and Benedicta. Zorro waited for Agnes to come close and watched as everyone turned away.
He then opened the cupboard door and used his cloak to grab her, clapping a hand over her mouth. He pulled her back, closing the door. He then hit her with the pommel of his sword knocking her out into his arms. Normally not something he would do to a woman, he sighed. It would work out, she would just have a headache.
He knelt, binding her hand and foot, gagging her.
The others were there speaking. He dragged the girl to the secret room. There, he tossed water on her face for her to wake up.
She did and looked at him wildly.
"Greetings Senorita." He said, sitting on a chair, leaning against the chair back as he sat backwards upon it.
She whimpered.
"I have questions for you." He said. He reached up and pulled down the gag. He had a gloved hand clapped to her face. "Make no outcry, Senorita. I will slit your throat." She nodded, eyes still wide. He stepped back then as she panted. "First and foremost. Why does the Senora Carlisle wish to harm Senora de la Vega?"
She looked at him startled as he lifted the sword tip to her chest. "Momma has always been jealous of her mother, her sister. A man who loved her, being able to be happy, enjoying life. Being free."
"What is your part in it?" He asked.
"Who are you?"
"Ah, forgive me. I am el Zorro." He said dipping his head.
"The fox?"
"Si." He then watched her. "Now, answer my question Senorita. My patience wears thin."
"I have no part other than just wishing to be free."
"You are held captive as much as the Senora de la Vega was then, eh?"
"More so. I will never wed now that my mother and sister both crave husbands."
He took a breath and rose to his feet. "There are many men here who would take you to wife, especially if you were endorsed by the de la Vega household. Has anyone caught your eye?"
"Well…"
"Two men, Senor Zorro."
He cocked his head and folded his arms. "Who?"
"One is the handsome vaquero who escorted us here and the other is the Sargent."
"Benito and Sargent Garcia?" He blinked. Benito was handsome, but was pledged to Senorita Elena Torres. Garcia, however, was another matter. Sure the man was a gentleman and likely would treat his wife like a goddess walking the earth, but he would need to work on his drinking and eating habits to have a wife.
Still…
Zorro grinned a little. "Sargent Garcia, eh, Senorita Agnes." He said. "Well. That would likely be good for both of you." He moved then.
"Why do you even care?" She asked.
"I fight for justice everywhere, Senorita. Oppression is something I do not stand whether of California, its people, or young Senorita's like yourself."
She smiled a little.
He walked behind her and blind folded her. "I cannot have you learning my secrets, Senorita, however, you are in no danger from me." He said. He then lifted the gag back. Shifting before her he moved and put a shoulder to her stomach and lifted her to his shoulder.
She was larger than Boudica also both taller and heavier, but still though she was plainer than her sister, this girl had several attributes and she had proven to him she was not the enemy. He had seen her speaking to his wife at times.
Agnes was a good woman.
He moved, returning her to her bedroom. He cut her hands and legs free and sat her in a chair. "Do not move until after you have counted to thirty, Senorita." He took her hand and kissed it. "Until we meet again."
She took a breath and nodded. "One…Two…three…"
And Zorro was gone.
ZzZ
Diego smiled as he escorted Agnes and Boudica into town. They had ridden in a carriage with him. Bernardo had been the driver. Agnes seemed to be far more chatted out from under her oppressive sister and mother.
Diego smiled. She was quite the witty spite fire as she played off him and he laughed in amusement.
Once at the plaza of the pueblo, he climbed down and helped the ladies down. Sargent Garcia came over to them.
"Don Diego, Senora Boudica, Senorita Agnes. Buenas Dias."
"Buenas dias Sargent." Boudica said.
"What brings you here, this day?" The Sargent asked.
Boudica smiled and nodded at her cousin who had moved to look at some things in the plaza. "Perhaps you can help my cousin with making a selection of a pretty shawl, Sargent." She said.
"I am sure any would look pretty on her."
Diego tapped his shoulder and drew him close. "Senorita Agnes is quite fond of you. If you have any sense at all, you fool, you will try to woo her before she gets away from you."
Sargent Garcia looked at him. "Me?"
"If you do not do it now, Sargent, you will always remember the one who got away." Diego chided.
Sargent Garcia took a breath and then nodded going to her to speak to her and see about the shawls.
Boudica watched as her husband stood behind her as the pair moved around the plaza and the peon shops. Diego had given Agnes pesos to buy things and had offered her more if there was a need.
"Those two have no idea how to court." She said softly.
He shook his head. "Let them learn together."
"Where did you come up with this idea anyway, cupid?" She asked.
"An idea I had." He smiled. "Solves two issues. She could marry and remain here, which I think you would like. And it gives a career soldier a wife and something to look forward to."
She nodded. "Zorro found out he liked her, didn't he?" She asked looking up at him, speaking in a whisper.
"No." He said. Then he smiled and leaned down to her shoulder, hugging her as they both watched, his hand coming to her belly. "Zorro found out she liked him."
She blinked. "Really?"
"Si." He said
She nodded. "Good for them." She said. "Come. I am thirsty."
"Should we not stay and chaperon them?" He asked.
"He will come to the tavern soon enough." She said. "Also they are both a little old to be minded so." It was true. A near spinster and a career solider were an interesting match, but Diego knew Garcia would treat her well. It would also gain him being a land owner he always wished. Diego was sure he could convince his father to parcel some land as a wedding present for them.
He chuckled. "As you say beloved."
ZzZ
Boudica smiled as she looked at Alejandro and her aunt at the dinner table. "You two seem close." She said.
Alejandro took a breath. "If you must know, Boudica, I am courting your aunt." He said.
Boudica nodded. "I know." She smiled. She looked at her aunt. "Tell me, aunt, were you pushing for a quick marriage before the money was gone so far?" She asked.
"What?"
"You do not love Alejandro. It is an emotion I am not sure you are capable of feeling."
"Boudica, you are being rude." Alejandro said in warning.
"Rude for speaking the truth."
Alejandro took a breath. "If you excuse me ladies." He moved to walk away, clearly flustered by the conversation.
"What, little thing?" Benedicta asked. "Afraid I will leave him or worse, leave you no money for your husband to have to give you wall you want."
Boudica smiled. "That is just the thing, aunt. Diego would have married me in my shift without a dowry. I would take him if he had nothing. That is what love is." She looked at her aunt. "Because of you I did not have a dowry anyway. It was well enough that I was a mail order bride."
Benedicta hissed. "I never thought you could stoop lower." She hissed. "Then you came here to be someone's whore. Bed a man in exchange for his protection of you."
"Are not all marriages this sort of exchange aunt?" Boudica asked.
Saphia walked in with wine. "What are you two so heated about?"
"Nothing." Benedicta said. "Just a difference of option."
Saphia poured the wine and then sat back.
Boudica lifted the wine and swirled it before she moved to drink it. However, it was knocked from her hand by a sword.
She gasped and turned and saw Zorro there, watching the three.
"Forgive the intrusion, Senora de la Vega." He said, his voice sounding less cultured that Diego pointedly.
She looked at him. "Zorro." She whispered. She looked at the other two who were looking at the man in black before them, sword drawn. He was a handsome figure even with a mask on. "Why are you here?"
He took a breath and stepped a little forward. He lifted the bottle and then smashed it to the floor. "The wine was poisoned, Senora."
"What?" She asked.
He looked at the other two. "Do you deny it?" He asked.
"Not poisoned." Benedicta said. She took a drink. "Would I drink it myself if it were?"
"Than what was the powder your daughter poured into it?" Zorro asked.
Boudica looked at him shocked.
Saphia made a face. "How can you possibly know that?"
"Ah so you do not deny it." He said. He then smiled and dipped his head. "Please allow me some secrets Senorita."
"It was merely to put Boudica to sleep." Benedicta said.
Zorro looked at her. "That is a lie. If that were the case, again, you would not drink it.
"Perhaps I would. Have all three of us sleep and then blame a servant for trying to poison us."
"Blame an innocent servant for your crimes?"
Boudica sniffed. She could smell something somewhat bitter in it, she could smell from where she was.
Zorro saw her look and dipped his glove in. He then spat it out. "What is that?" He asked. "The wine does not cover the bitterness."
Saphia looked at him. "Tansy and pennyroyal." She admitted.
Boudica looked at her shocked.
Zorro took a breath and looked at Boudica. "It would seem that my coming was timely indeed." He moved to the other two. "You two will write a whole confession. Then Don Diego will decide what to do with you."
Boudica was breathing hard looking at the wine on the floor. Had she drunk it… To the other two it would have just brought an early cycle, but her, it would have caused a violent miscarriage, and she could have bled to death herself depending on the amount she had drank.
Benedicta turned to write, Zorro's sword at her neck as he watched them both.
He tied them to their chairs and gagged them before walking out the Sala door. He bowed to Boudica. "Senora." He said and was gone.
Boudica sat, watching the pair. She rose to her feet slowly and walked over to the mantle. She pulled down one of the rapiers and walked back toward them. Saphia's eyes opened wide as she looked at her cousin holding a deadly weapon in her hands.
Boudica paced a little, debating murdering them both then and there when Diego walked in with Benito from outside discussing something.
"What is going on here?" He asked taking in his wife looking murderous and the two bound women.
Boudica growled. "Murder." She said.
"Oh? They look alive to me." He said.
"You would have killed them if they had accomplished their task." She looked about. "Where is my other cousin?" She asked.
"Senorita Agnes was in the stables." Benito said. He nodded to Diego. "Patron." He said, leaving to allow Don Diego to sort it.
Diego looked at his wife. "What do you mean?"
She used the sword to flick off the gag from Saphia. "Tell him cousin. Tell him what you were going to do."
"We meant no harm really." Saphia pleaded.
Boudica barked a laugh.
"We just wished to show you how inadequate your wife was for you. She is a half-breed. Not worthy of you."
Diego's face twisted a little. "Not worth of me because she is a half-breed?"
"You a Spanish aristocrat. Someone with good bloodlines would be far better."
He took a breath calming himself. "What did you do?" He asked in annoyance.
Boudica stepped to him. "Ils voulaient m'empoisonner et tuer notre enfant. Ils voulaient tellement avoir les terres, l'argent, et vous, ils étaient prêts à faire n'importe quoi." She sighed. "Since courting you did not work or as quickly as they wanted. They thought it would be easier once I was gone in one way or another."
Diego looked at them shocked. "Is this true?" He asked putting his wife behind him. "You would kill an innocent and the mother bearing him just to have your way?" He asked.
"Read the confessions Zorro made them write." Boudica said.
Diego moved, lifting them before either woman would stop him. He read and took a breath. "I am a gentleman, ladies. However, I must insist you leave this hacienda forthwith and never return."
Saphia gasped. "But Diego…"
He shook his head. "As I said. I am a gentleman. If you were men, I would duel you to the death for the insult you offered my wife." He said lowly.
Benedicta looked at him. "It is my understanding you do not know the art."
He smiled a little wickedly, a Zorro smile. "I have been practicing." He said coldly.
ZzZ
Diego spent much of the next day speaking to his father about Benedicta trying to use him. At first, Alejandro acted as a man blinded by love, but then as they spoke, checking fences, he began to know the truth of his son's words. Diego had always had his best interest at heart. When he found out the woman he had asked to marry had tried to murder his own grandchild, that was the final nail on the coffin of his doubt.
When they came home he quietly came to Benedicta who had come to him to embrace him. He quietly broke off the engagement with her before coming to speak with his son and daughter-in-law. He was hurt naturally, but Bo had encouraged him.
Perhaps he would try again.
Who knew?
He had rather enjoyed the attention. With his son a grown man, perhaps it was time to find another wife.
Boudica teased him by suggesting he put out an ad out.
Both de la Vega men glared at her for it.
ZzZ
Boudica looked at her aunt as she sat sullenly in the carriage, Saphia beside her. "I am sorry your schemes did not work out for you aunt." She said.
Her aunt looked at her. "If Zorro had not come, I would have been rid of you."
Boudica nodded. "I know. It is amazing what he hears. Enjoy life back in New York. Hopefully you will find a man who will keep you safe from harm."
Saphia took a breath. "What of Agnes?"
"She is happy here and will stay as long as she likes under my husband's protection. However, I think she is growing to like it." She said nodding over to the girl as Sargent Garcia shyly handed her some flowers he had picked while on patrol.
Saphia made a face. "He is so…fat."
Boudica shook her head. "You should not judge. Sargent Garcia maybe overweight, but he has a good heart. Rest assured if he does wed her, she will be treated like princess."
Benedicta looked at her niece. "You would condemn us to debtor prison out of spite?"
Boudica chuckled. "No. You did that on your own merit. Yours and your husbands. You reached high and now you are made low." She took a breath. "I am sure you will remember me always, but know this is the last time I will think upon you." She said coolly.
"You will not write us?" Saphia asked. "Will Agnes?"
"That is her own affair, but as for me, no. I have a family here who loves me. You have never been capable of the emotion, mores the pity."
Diego came with the Commandant.
"It is tragic that you must leave us, Senora." He said.
Benedicta took a breath. "I would love to stay, but our visas have run out, Commandant."
He nodded. "A shame." He looked. "Senorita Agnes is not going with you."
"No." Saphia said. "She has convinced Diego to sponsor her for another month." She said bitterly.
Diego looked at Saphia who was watching him almost sadly. "Do not fret, Saphia. I am sure you will find a man who will take you." He said. Some man would take her as at least a mistress as pretty as she was. He lifted a small coin purse to her. "To remember us." He said.
She took it and sat back trying not to cry. She had wanted very much to be this attractive man's wife. He had sent for a mail order bride and she had scoffed at the idea. Now she realized, perhaps she should do this herself and pray the man who brought her to his home would be as kind and generous as Diego de la Vega.
The carriage rolled away and Agnes looked up and waved a little. Her sister and mother merely turned their heads away unable to look at her for betraying them, they felt. She had wished to follow her heart and have one shot at happiness. They seemed not to wish her to have it.
She gasped and put a hand to her mouth.
Boudica saw her reaction and then looked to the wagon. "Diego." She whispered.
"What?" He asked.
"They disowned her." She whispered. She wondered what they had said as they packed their belongings. Agnes had helped them and then announced she was not going. She finally had stood up to them. She was slapped for it, she had come to Diego and Boudica in tears, but Diego had promised he would see her well. She believed him.
Sargent Garcia came to her seeing her tears. "Senorita? What is it?"
"My…My mother and sister…have…disowned me." She gasped and began to weep in earnest. She had no prospects now other than the charity of the de la Vegas, which was, even she had to admit, better than being under the heel of her mother.
Sargent Garcia had no idea what to do. He offered her his handkerchief and she took it gratefully. He then looked back at Diego who nodded encouragingly. He took a breath and opened his arms. "It's all right, little one. You will be well looked after here."
She looked up. "You promise?"
"Si. I promise."
Diego looked at his wife who smiled back at him.
Sargent Garcia was learning.
Boudica looked at her husband playfully. "The list of skills Zorro is gaining seems to be unending, my love."
"Oh?" He asked looking at her.
"Outlaw and now matchmaker." She teased.
He laughed and she joined him as they walked Garcia lift a lovely shawl for Agnes that matched her grey eyes like a coming thunderstorm over the ocean.