This chapter changed the rating of the whole story...wow...Victoria is a bad girl...

Taking a breath from kissing, Diego glanced around at his surroundings. He wasn't drunk, and he was the gentleman. He sighed, she looked so entrancing and she wanted him. He could see it in her eyes. She really, really wanted him. He had to be the responsible one and work out how to rectify the situation.

"We have to get out, Victoria," he said firmly, feeling like a school master with mischievous students. "It's far too cold to be playing in the river."

"Who's playing, Diego?"

He smiled, despite himself. She bit her lip, and stroked his shoulders, reminding him that he was unclothed there. He glanced down at the way her fingers were tracing little patterns across his skin. They left little traces of fire as they went, and he knew that it needed to stop.

He grasped her hand, and kissed it gently. "No, not right now, Victoria." He whispered, watching her frown. "We can come back…in two weeks, and we can play in the river all day. With no regrets, querida." The warmer weather would be more suitable as well.

He caught her around the waist, and guided her gently towards the bank. What to do with the wet clothes was another problem that loomed large in his mind. Would she be alright without her chemise? And where would she change? And how would he keep her safe without looking at her?

"Diego, you are silly," she said with a giggle.

"How so?" He said as he helped her up the bank, staying behind her to assist.

"It was fun in the water," she protested. He shoved her gently but firmly until she clambered up the bank onto the grass again. "It's so cold out on the land. Let's go back in."

"Let's not," he said with a frown.

"You should have had some more champagne," Victoria said.

"Wrap the blanket around you, Victoria. I'll get a fire started, and we can get dry faster."

"Are you sulking, Diego?"

"Sulking?"

"You've turned into old grandfather Diego again. It's weird and annoying. Live a little…Kiss me," she murmured.

"I'm fetching kindling, Victoria," he said with irritation.

"I'd better get this wet thing off," she said. She unlaced a panel in the front of her chemise, and the whole garment descended with a squelch to the ground. Diego glanced away with difficulty.

"What's the problem? We're getting married in a few weeks. What's the problem?"

"What is wrong with you?" He said exasperated, turning his head, and wrapping the blanket around her. "This is so unlike you. It's not funny, it's not right. No more champagne ever – you must have a low tolerance for it."

"Aren't you cold in your wonderful blue trousers, Diego? They're soaked through…"

"Leave the trousers out of it. They're fine, Victoria."

"No more querida? How unfair, how unkind…"

Diego frowned, and sighed. He moved away a little, and threw the blouse and skirt in her general direction. "At least get some dry clothes on, Victoria."

"What about your trousers?"

"Get dressed. One of my father's workers will be along any moment to direct us home."

There was the sound of hoof beats, and Diego looked up to see his father arrive.

Victoria jumped up and down waving at him, much to Diego's dismay.

"What's going on, Diego?"

"Alejandro, you really must…pour him a glass…it is wonderful….so sweet, but Diego is being boring again and won't drink with me…"

"What's happened, Diego?"

"No one is listening to what I have to say today," Victoria said pouting. She fidgeted with the blanket, and it dropped a little.

"Diego, she is completely naked," Alejandro said, shocked. He raced across to help her cover herself. "I hold you completely responsible for this."

Diego moved closer to the fire he had made, and steam rose from his trousers.

"She fell into the river?"

"If I could get a word in edgewise, Father…"

"Of all the foolhardy, stupid, idiotic things to be doing, today of all days…" Alejandro said in exasperation. "Guests will be arriving, and look at her…"

Diego grinned a little, and shook his head.

"I prefer not to get into any more trouble than I am in already….She is completely naked, after all."

"Not a laughing matter, Diego!"

"No, definitely not," Diego said softly. He could imagine the curves of her beautiful body, and that was bringing a decided heat to his face and other parts of his body. The way she had kissed him in the river had promised of a passion bursting to the surface, so wild and unrestrained, and he had definitely wanted more.

"How are we to sober her up?"

"There are remedies, Indian potions that I could try," Diego said thoughtfully. "She is going to be embarrassed and shocked by all this."

"Well, we'll not mention it. The poor child….why did you pack the champagne?"

"I hate champagne, it was Maria."

Alejandro smiled a little, and chuckled. Diego looked at him in curiosity, and smiled as well.

Victoria looked from one man to the other, and shook her head. She clutched the blanket around her a little more, well aware of the rising breeze that was fast becoming a brisk gust of wind.

"How am I to get changed?" She said, a little worriedly.

"Well, my dear," Alejandro said, considering her. "Diego can hold up one end of the blanket, and I can hold the other, and we can shield you from any," he said, glancing at his son, "prying eyes."

They proceeded to help her in that exact way, diligently keeping their eyes front and centre.

"As if I would," Diego said softly. "I think I am being very self-controlled in this situation…."

"Really? It was a good thing I decided to collect you both early. I blame myself, actually. A caballero and his fiancée need a duenna. Everyone knows that."

"A duenna? After all we've been through….we have survived without one this long, why now?"

"I have a naked woman, drunk, with no control over herself, that's why. And an impetuous son, who thinks he can justify a lot of things as long as he is masked."

"Can we at least choose one to suit us?"

"I think Isabella may enjoy herself in the role."

Diego stared at him cautiously. "Your courtship?"

"It goes slowly, she is nervous and unsure. Being your duenna will bring her into our household, and a life she may enjoy. She says she is prepared to marry me, but she is still unsure. I don't wish to upset her with marriage, if she'd rather not have me."

Diego stared ahead, as Victoria made a frustrated groan. She might be struggling to dress herself, but he was definitely not assisting her.

"Are you alright, Victoria?"

"Fine, fine. Tell that coward that I could do with some help back here," she growled.

Diego grimaced a little. Alejandro chuckled, and shook his head.

"We can wait a while. There's no rush, we have all the time you need, Victoria."

Alejandro winked at his son. "Well, well."

"No more champagne, Father. Promise me…"

"We can't cancel any orders now, they are in process of being delivered shortly. Far too late to change our minds now."

"It's turned her into a whole different person, Father."

"No, that's the real woman. Alcohol, especially champagne just lowers their guard, Diego. She's a little more determined, that's all."

"That's not all. She is trying to tempt me."

"Good." Alejandro laughed at the look of fear that flashed across Diego's face for a moment. "The legendary Zorro afraid, shaking in his boots at the sight of his beloved's eyes alight with passion?"

"Not afraid of her…" Diego said softly. "What might I be capable of? What might I have done with her like that?"

"You were raised a gentleman, and she is most definitely a lady, regardless of her birth. You would have done nothing to be ashamed of. You would have acted with propriety. Zorro must have had his temptations in the past, and he contained himself….Didn't he?"

Diego smiled at his father's suddenly suspicious glance his way. "Of course, Senor."

"Don't do that, Diego. I don't like it when your voice changes so dramatically."

"Oh, is Zorro back? Tell him to help me with my blouse," Victoria said hopefully.

"Get dressed!" Both men yelled at her. "Now!"

"I was only trying to get some help," her voice came back through the blanket. "It would be quicker."

"Victoria, you get dressed every morning without any help from anyone," Diego said a little more calmly. "The quickest method is to realise that you need to do so right now, and we can go back to the hacienda."

"Oh, yes, boring old Diego…"

Diego smiled a little, and nodded. "Yes, querida, boring old Diego….At your service…"