Diego sighed a little, and looked up from his book.
"Victoria will you stop pacing the room for five minutes?"
"I can't help it."
"The party won't even start until 5 o'clock tonight. It's only 9 in the morning."
"You have started reading early, even for you," Victoria said softly.
"Well," he said, putting the book down firmly. "I promise to put it away, if you will stop pacing."
He stood and gathered her in his arms. She laid her head on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat.
"Does that feel better?" He murmured into her hair. "We're both a bundle of nerves. I have an idea…"
"You sound like Zorro," she whispered. "What are you planning? Is it bad?"
"Bad? Why would Diego de la Vega do anything untoward?"
"Why would he not? I know what you are capable of, Diego. Or is it Jack? Possibly Zorro? Possibly…Henri Noires?" She said. He startled, and she hit him hard on the shoulder.
"Really Diego! You're always playing games! How many more characters will come out of the woodwork?"
"I couldn't help it. You were driving me insane!"
"Me! You with your marry me, no, on second thoughts, don't marry me! You think that is comfortable!"
Alejandro strolled into the library with a frown on his face. He glanced from one to the other. "Now, now. What's this?"
"Tell Diego I…."
"What?"
"Really, it is not the right time for a lovers tiff," Alejandro said softly. "The engagement party is in a few hours….contain yourselves."
"We both need air, Father. We are going stir crazy indoors," Diego said. "I was going to suggest a ride in the fresh air…if Victoria will agree?"
Victoria sighed, and glanced down at her skirt. "I am sorry. I think I may have started that…whatever it was."
"No, I must confess, it was purely my fault, Victoria."
"Now, children… No more arguing…."
"Children? Father, really…"
"Don't start with me, Diego." Alejandro breathed deeply. "Let me handle the preparations, you both obviously need to relax. Off you go, although I shouldn't really allow this…"
"Zorro has always behaved with the utmost propriety, Alejandro," Victoria assured him.
"Yes, but has Diego?"
Diego flushed a little, remembering the gazebo at the ball.
Zzz
They reined in the horses near the river, and sat under the shade of a large tree. Diego sat a little away from Victoria to give her room to relax. He bit into an apple and investigated the picnic basket Maria had packed for them.
"We have a bottle of champagne in here, Victoria."
"I have never tasted champagne. What is it like?"
"Bubbles, and more bubbles. It's best to eat something first, or it will go straight to our heads. Whatever was Maria thinking?"
"It's a celebratory drink…"
"Yes," Diego said, gazing at her with wonder in his eyes. "Shall we eat something first?"
"What is in the basket? Besides apples… No more for you, Diego. That's three since we arrived," she said, brushing his hand away.
"I like apples," he said, with his mouth full. She laughed, and sighed. Peeking into the basket, she realized that Maria had remembered that fact as she had packed. There was almost a bushel of apples in the basket.
"Really, you are a pig."
"Can't be a caballero all the time," he said softly.
"I didn't even know that you liked apples, Diego."
"I suppose there is a lot about me that you don't know," Diego said softly.
"There is chicken in here, a large roasted chicken. Sandwiches… Are we English now?"
"Sandwiches are very much in vogue in Madrid right now. All the best people are eating them," Diego said with an air to his voice that made her giggle.
"What on earth is on them?"
"Cucumber, I should imagine."
"Ugh, no thank you," Victoria said softly. "Here we are, tamales."
"I suppose I will have to eat the cucumber sandwiches?"
"If the ducks won't."
Diego chuckled. He moved slowly across to her, as she watched him.
"Well then, caballero? Will you sit by me like Zorro? Or will you sit over there like Diego?"
Diego hesitated a little. "My father will want us back soon," he murmured.
"He'll send someone to find us."
"Exactly," Diego said, staring into her eyes. "And how will we appear? Grass stained and dirty? Or prim and proper?"
Victoria sighed a little. "I would like neither, personally, but if it means missing out on your kiss..."
He smiled. "Well, I can kiss you on the blanket that should reduce the grass stains on that lovely dress of yours."
"I was only thinking of your wonderful blue trousers," she said with a smile. "They are always so spotless, Diego."
He moved closer, and stroked her cheek.
"Do you remember that night? I bandaged your arm, and we sat on your bed and kissed?"
"I have never forgotten anything you've done, any time you touched me…How could I?" She murmured, closing her eyes.
"I should never have done it, of course."
"Of course. Diego de la Vega would have been horrified to be seen in a lady's bedchamber."
"I was worried about you. You fainted in my arms. You never faint," he said in his defence.
"Can I taste the champagne?"
Diego smiled, and glanced over at the bottle. "I would want you to eat some chicken first."
"Would you now? I like it when you think more like Zorro, Diego. Can you pour us one glass each?"
"Very well, but believe me, champagne is very powerful…"
"I have been a tavern keeper for a long time, I know what alcohol can do," Victoria said. "I am also not a little girl."
"No," Diego said, staring at her strangely. "You are definitely not a little girl, Victoria."
She glanced down a little embarrassed by something in his tone, as he handed her a glass of champagne.
"Sip it slowly," he cautioned.
She sipped it, and savoured the taste. It was sweet, and the bubbles tickled her nose a little. She sipped a little more.
"Oh, look. We have strawberries," Diego said. She smiled.
He popped one into her mouth, and kissed her gently. She reached for one, and placed it in his mouth. He rewarded her with another kiss.
"I love the taste of strawberries on your lips, Victoria," he murmured, drawing her closer.
"Drink some champagne. It's really nice," Victoria responded. She drank a little more. The taste was so unlike anything she had tried before. Disengaging himself from her, he obeyed cautiously.
"It is indeed sweet, Victoria." He grimaced a little. He liked more robust flavours more. "Perhaps a little too sweet…"
Victoria downed the rest of her champagne, and Diego frowned a little. She moved over to his glass that he had just put down, and downed it all at once.
"Victoria…that's hardly wise."
"Hardly wise?" She said with a smile. She hiccupped a little, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Victoria?"
"It's very hot, Diego. Don't you feel hot?"
Diego stared at her for a moment. "Victoria? Are you feeling alright?"
"It's totally alright…I have a chemise under my clothes. I won't reveal anything," Victoria assured him. She removed her blouse and Diego turned away for a moment, a little shocked with the suddenness.
"Victoria, I think you need to put your blouse back on," Diego whispered.
"The river looks so cool and inviting, don't you think?"
Don't you dare, Diego thought wildly. Not the river. She was removing her skirt. It was true that the cotton chemise covered everything that would stir wild passions, but it only barely covered her beautiful body.
She stepped towards the river, and dangled a toe in the water.
"The water is icy, Victoria. This is not a great idea," Diego protested. "Get away from the edge. It is a little unstable there."
As he said it, she slipped. The resulting splash made him strip off his own shirt, and dive quickly into the cold water.
He surfaced and looked for her. She was standing in reasonably deep water, and she was laughing at him.
"Who are you this time, caballero? Henri, Jack, Diego or Zorro?"
"All of them," he said. He swam over to her, and stared at her carefully. She didn't look hurt, but the champagne had gone straight to her head. He was going to be in trouble for this one, he realised.
She moved close to him, and he could feel her soft body so close to his. He reached out and embraced her, drawing her closer so he could keep her safer. Who was he trying to fool, Diego told himself. She was so much more desirable in his arms. He brought his lips down on hers and kissed her passionately, stroking her soft cheek, and brushing wet curls out of her eyes.
