Chapter 23

The Market…

Diego laughed heartily as Marisol stomped off enraged at Lolita's little set down. The young woman had shown that she had backbone after all. "Well done, Lolita," he said, "you really told her."

"Good for you, Lolita…That woman deserved everything you said to her," Victoria agreed, "it could not have happened a more deserving person."

"I am tired of her antics. She deserved it. It was about time that I stood up for myself."

"It is good to see you, Rafael. Father tells me that things are going well for you at the Quintero's."

"Victoria…Cousin, good to see you. Welcome home. You are looking well. Things are going well…even better than I could hope for…"

"That is wonderful, Rafael. I am glad to hear that," Diego responded sincerely. Something seemed different about his cousin. There was no trace of envy or bitterness in his tome. He seemed almost content with his situation in life…

"I hope that you will come over for dinner at the hacienda one night, Lolita. It would be nice to catch up on things."

"That would be nice, Victoria. I would enjoy that…"

"Would Friday night be convenient? It would just be a small gathering of friends and family…my brother, Francisco…nothing too formal…"

"That sounds wonderful…I have no fixed engagements."

"Then it's all set," the dona smiled, "good seeing you…Lolita…Rafael."

Minutes later…

"I can see the wheels turning in that complicated brain of yours, my love," Diego stated suspiciously, "I thought that you promised there would be no matchmaking."

"There won't be, Diego de la Vega. I just wanted to have some of my friends for dinner. That's all there is to it."

"Right…this is the perfect opportunity for you to see if Rafael and Lolita are making progress or if there is still an attraction between Margarita and Rafael. I know how your mind works…Victoria de la Vega or do you still want to deny it."

"Well, it would be a good opportunity, but it would be my first dinner party as your wife…I would feel more comfortable around people I already know…Francisco…your father…Felipe. I am certain that my brother will want to bring Margarita and that Lolita will probably bring someone…it could be Rafael, but it could be someone else…"

"Do you think that Lolita still has feelings for my cousin despite everything that has already happened between them?"

"Are you saying that someone who is so opposed to matchmaking is interested in knowing such a thing," Victoria smirked, "Diego de la Vega, I am surprised at you…"

"Having been the target of numerous matchmaking attempts by my father…you know why I am generally opposed to such a thing. Lucky for you that some of his attempts did not succeed."

"Yes, I probably would have been upset if your father had succeeded. None to the caballero's daughters would have been right for you anyway."

"Do I detect a note of jealousy, Victoria?"

"I am not jealous just…just concerned for your well-being…"

"None of them would have been right for me. Besides, I only had eyes for you…"

"You kept it hidden very well but you are right. We were made for each other…whether you were Zorro or not…"

The tall caballero smiled. It felt good to know that she truly loved him for himself. "I love you, Victoria de la Vega with all of my heart…"

"The feeling is mutual; Senor and I would love to see those feelings translated into action…"

"And so, you shall, my dear." As soon as we are alone, he thought…

"I am happier than I have ever been in my life…I want to share my happiness with everyone."

"I know that you do but playing with people's lives can be dangerous…sometimes, it can backfire on you."

"It will be an informal dinner party. I have no intentions of playing matchmaker even though I am sorely tempted. It has been too long since I have enjoyed my brother's company and he can come alone or he can bring someone, if he chooses. It is up to him. don't want anyone playing with his feelings…"

"It is a little too soon to be concerned with something like that…he is friends with Margarita and nothing more."

"There is an attraction there, Diego….I can feel it. I have seen the way they look at each other…they seem awfully close to me…"

"You can tell that after only a few days watching them together. Maybe, you are reaching, Victoria."

"I just have a feeling…that's all. I can't explain it…I just think there is something between them…they may not even be aware of it…but I could be wrong…or maybe, I am a helpless romantic, after all."

"I think you are not a helpless romantic but a hopeful romantic. I suppose stranger things have happened. Look at us…who would have ever guessed that we would be together. The fiery, opinionated tavern owner and the confirmed bachelor…:"

"There has always been more to you than meets the naked eye….even when you pretended to look on me only as a brother…"

"If it is meant to happen between Margarita and your brother, then nothing can change it. The same can be said of Lolita and Rafael. I will admit that I want my cousin to be happy and I think that Lolita would be good for him. As for your brother, maybe Margarita is the one for him…"

"We will see. Won't we? I promise that I won't meddle in my brother's affairs, but I will be there if he needs me…."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you and I trust you to keep your word. Who knows what may happen?"

Friday Night…

The carriage made its way to the de la Vega hacienda. Francisco expertly held the reins as Margarita sat watching him. It would be fun to spend some time at the hacienda talking to friends and enjoying a night of easy camaraderie and friendship…She had missed dressing up but most of all she missed socializing with people her own age…It was going to be a fun evening…good friends…good food and spending time with a man she was becoming increasingly attracted to….