Diego had not been to a ball since Madrid. He found them stuffy affairs in all senses of the word. The lack of air flow was enough to send some ladies into fainting fits at any mention of anything shocking. The gentlemen would be strutting around either like peacocks or roosters depending on their love of fashion. The older ladies would be throwing daughters at the feet of any man who had a decent income, and most of the girls could barely think, let alone engage in a decent conversation.

Victoria had borrowed something of her new sister-in-law's. What colour or style he had no idea. He tried to be curious and surprised for her sake. Her first ball was something special, he realised. He wasn't a complete idiot.

His father was content to talk to some old friends that he hadn't seen for years, and Diego was at a loose end for a moment.

Victoria approached him, and at first he didn't recognise her. Dressed in a peach dress, with her hair arranged on top of her head like a Dona, she was breathtaking. Several young caballeros were approaching her, so Diego did the first thing he could think of. He moved decisively and fast, and was at her arm in seconds.

"Victoria, you look very…"

"Diego?"

"Breathtakingly beautiful," he whispered. "Dance with me."

"There's no music yet. Diego, do you feel alright?"

"Outside…" He ordered, guiding her to the garden door. She was a little worried, he was being very blunt. He was acting very unlike himself, and she wasn't sure if he was angry or not.

"Where are we going?" She asked, as Diego hurried her across the grass. It was covered with moisture from an earlier spring shower, and she would have slipped, if his hand was supporting her arm.

"There's a gazebo here somewhere," Diego murmured, glancing around distractedly.

"What's wrong?"

He dragged her quickly up the steps of the gazebo, and held her tightly in his arms.

"You're frightening me, Diego," she murmured, staring into his intense blue eyes.

She felt his lips descend on hers, and he was kissing her with fiery, possessive kisses, and she responded as if they were air and she was drowning. She sank against him and he pulled her closer, steadying her as her knees grew weak.

"Am I frightening you now?" Diego asked, taking a breath. "I can stop if you want."

"Don't…stop…don't you dare," she whispered. Diego drew her down to a seat and kissed her hungrily, keeping his hands at her back.

Something inside her wanted more, but she hardly knew what she wanted. Diego broke the kiss, and his eyes flickered over her face. His hands went to her cheeks, caressing her smooth skin tenderly. He examined a black ringlet thoughtfully.

"You are such a beautiful woman, Victoria."

"I will wait for you forever," Victoria murmured.

"Name the day, Victoria," Diego murmured.

"What?" They both said at the same time.

"What did you say?" Both said again.

Diego sighed and laughed.

"Name the day, Victoria. It is the bride's duty after all. Make it soon. I am full of desire for you as it is, make it soon."

She looked at him dumbfounded, and laughed.

"That's what you said?"

He nodded sheepishly.

"And I said I will wait forever," she whispered.

"That is amazing," he whispered back. "Only I find that I can't…wait…I want you now."

They were kissing again, more passionately, more desperately than before. Diego didn't care if he was missed, he didn't care if Victoria was missed. They were together. That was all that mattered.

Zzz

Alejandro grew impatient. Where was his son? For that matter, where was Victoria? He had searched the magnificent townhouse. He had assumed Diego had sneaked off to the library, Carola's father's collection of books far surpassed Diego's. He knew how Diego viewed most social gatherings. He was more worried about Victoria. Perhaps one of the young caballero's had taken her into the garden to seduce her. That was more the worry.

He ventured into the garden, and immediately saw the gazebo structure towards the back of the lawns. He frowned, and marched over to it.

"When will it be, querida?" He heard the soft voice say.

A lady sighed softly. "How soon can it be?" Victoria's voice.

"We will have to ask…"

Alejandro stormed up the steps, and Diego's eyes met his. Alejandro's mouth opened but no words came out straight away.

"Four weeks," Alejandro said quickly, and left again. Diego glanced in his direction with concern, but Victoria pulled his face towards her again.

"Hmm," Diego murmured, between kisses. "Ahh, Victoria…."

"What?"

"My father…"

"Never mind him," she murmured. "I love you so much, Diego de la Vega."

"I never thought I could love someone as much as I love you, Victoria Escalante. Four weeks?"

"Four weeks," she murmured.

They fell into each other's arms again, and kissed for a while longer.

Zzz

Alejandro collected them from the gazebo, and apologised for their absence from the ballroom.

In the buggy that Carola's parents had lent them, Alejandro frowned a little at his son. Victoria had snuggled up to Diego's warm side, and was sleeping soundly.

"What? Father…"

"It was a little extreme, your behaviour tonight."

"I thought you'd be pleased. I have a wedding date," Diego said softly. "Be careful, you'll wake her."

Alejandro glanced at Victoria's sleeping form, and smiled a little. "If all it took was a ball to get you to express your feelings for one another, I would have hosted one years ago."

"I think you did, Father. Only, I don't think Victoria was invited to that one."

"No I don't suppose she was."

"She's my equal in every way, I won't have my bride criticised by you or anyone."

"I wouldn't dream of it. She's been like a daughter to me since her parents died. I just thought your feelings were brotherly."

"Not so brotherly," he whispered, kissing her lightly on top of her head.

"Not so standoffish now, Diego?" Alejandro said with a soft smile.

"Temptation is not so easily overcome," he murmured. "She looked like a princess, and everyone saw it. I had to keep her safe."

"She missed her first ball, Diego. Hardly fair to monopolise her time like that."

"She'll have plenty as Dona Victoria. Without suitors swarming like piranhas around her."

Alejandro smiled a little more at his son's romantic jealousy. Diego relaxed into the soft cushions of the covered buggy and watched Victoria breathing. He soon dozed lightly, his head dipping down to hers.