It was a day like any other, nothing special, no plans, no agenda. A lazy warm day at the end of Spring, and Diego felt restless.
He had slept in too long, he decided with a stretch. It seemed late in the morning, but the time on the mantle clock was earlier than he expected. Nine o'clock. Later than he had planned, but earlier than it seemed. He glanced out the window, his ears listening keenly for conversation outside. No one about, and it was late enough for his father to be in the fields with the men.
Some of their heifers were late in calving, and it always brought concern. Diego shrugged. Nature would sort that out, eventually. For the better or the worse, but he hoped it would be for the better. Their futures relied on the cattle after all, and his father's worries would be soothed a little.
He stretched his arms above his head, feeling every little tinge of soreness from the day before. He had a large bruise on his thigh from a mistimed leap, and a niggling headache, that caused him to pause and take a few deep breaths. Coffee, he decided. A fresh cup of coffee would chase that away, and maybe a good gallop on Esperanza. Out of sight of his father of course. The palomino did have a soft calm nature, but she was as fast on her hooves as any of the de la Vega horses, and could be feisty at times - for strangers.
He smiled a little at himself in the mirror, examining the new stubble on his chin. He could do with a shave and a quick wash before any socialising, even with horses. The stale sweat that still clung to him from the night before would be noticed by friends. Diego de la Vega was always well groomed, and the scent of sandalwood had been commented on before, and it would be commented on if it wasn't surrounding him.
He sighed, and rubbed his forehead thoughtfully. He was playing a part, a role, and like any other actor he needed his props, his costume. If he went to the tavern smelling like any other man, people would wonder why. He couldn't afford to slip. Questions would be asked, stories would have to be woven even more. Stick to the stories you already know by heart, he told himself.
Struggling out of his nightshirt, he used the jug of cooled water and the porcelain basin to wash his chest, arms and underarms. A quick shave completed his morning routine. After hastily dressing in his green suit, and making sure everything was perfect, he headed out of his room.
"Good morning, Diego." His father greeted him in the main hall with an uplifted eyebrow. "Up before noon?"
"I do have errands to run and the newspaper to attend to," Diego replied, adjusting his sleeve cuffs to hide the pain in his eyes. His father had no reason to be kind to him, of course, he knew he was a disappointment to him, but it still hurt.
"I would appreciate your help tomorrow," Alejandro said. He seemed tired from his morning's efforts, and Diego felt a twinge of guilt.
"Of course, Father. I hope the estates are running well. I am happy to offer whatever help I can," Diego said, trailing off in his characteristic way. His smile was genuine, and he left his father with a hug and a nod. His father shook his head a little with a grin, as if he was wondering why he had even bothered asking his son for any help whatsoever.
Diego went out to the stables to collect Esperanza, slapping his hand against his bruised thigh in irritation with himself. It was still tender enough to make him wince.
"Don Diego," the stable hand greeted him.
"Pablo," Diego said. "How are the horses today?"
"Your liniment worked wonders. I don't know how you come up with these things, Patron."
"I told you. Read the right books, and the world opens up before you," Diego said with a smile. "Have you read the books I loaned you?"
"Getting through them, senor."
"You must practice to become proficient, just like riding," Diego said, frowning a little and then relaxing. "I know you are very busy, Pablo."
"No I read a little every day, like you told me," Pablo said with a laugh. He watched as Diego saddled Esperanza and arrange the bridle perfectly.
"I could do that for you, Don Diego, as befitting your position."
"No. Esperanza is my horse, I like to keep in practice," Diego said thoughtfully. He patted her neck gently, and slipped her a sugar cube secretly.
"Have a good day, Don Diego." Pablo farewelled him with a wave.
Diego started a genteel trot out of the gate, then a canter as he joined the road to town, and then a spirited gallop, before reversing the order when reaching the pueblo.
Esperanza had earned her drink and hadn't raised a sweat. No questions about a tired horse to answer, Diego thought gratefully, as he tethered the mare at the tavern.
He eased quietly into his usual seat in the corner. He was glad that most of the regular customers were hard at work in their occupations. His headache had decided to reappear in the closed quarters of the building. At least it was quiet, with one or two others sitting in the still cool but warming room.
He wondered not for the first time why he felt it necessary to always drop in at the tavern before attending to his more pressing responsibilities. He did have errands to run, and stories to write and edit for the newspaper.
As he saw Victoria enter the room from the kitchen, his heart skipped a beat, and he knew. It was getting harder to go without seeing her - even a break for sleeping was too long. Love was making him obsessed with her. He had left without breakfast, without even thinking of food, just thinking of getting to the pueblo. To see her. To be in arms length of her. Maybe he would tell her today - no, of course he wouldn't.
She saw him within a few minutes, a smile lighting up her face. "Would you like a cup of coffee, Don Diego?"
"Yes please," he said with a smile. "You look happy today, Victoria." He thought he knew why.
She blushed and tried to flatten the smile without much success. She laughed. "I suppose I do," she said cryptically.
She went back into the kitchen to make the coffee and attend to her other duties. He was tempted to follow her, scoop her into his arms and whisper his secret into her pretty ear. He shook his head to try to clear the foolish ideas and brought out his journal and a small pencil. At least he could try to focus on the newspaper articles for the week, and put impossibilities out of his mind.
The tavern was empty when the coffee arrived at his table. She sat opposite him with her own cup.
"Everyone is so busy, Diego. And even you are scribbling away," she said, placing the coffee near his elbow. "You didn't even hear me approaching, did you?"
Diego smiled slightly, and raised an eyebrow. "Just what I needed, thank you, Victoria."
"You look a little tired," she said, after a few moments of thought. "Are you well Diego?"
He stared into her eyes for a moment, almost drowning in their depths. "Just a little tired," he admitted with a shrug. "And a bit of a headache," he admitted, despite himself.
"Did you have a decent breakfast?"
He sighed. "I am alright, I don't mean to make a fuss."
"Did you?"
"Could you make me some toast?"
"I said a decent breakfast. I'll fix some for you. It is not as if I am busy," Victoria said with firmness. She rose, and he felt abandoned in a strange way.
He followed her into the kitchen.
"Diego?"
"I didn't want to trouble you, bringing it out to me, when I can sit with you in here."
She raised her eyebrow, but said nothing. Soon the smell of bacon filled the kitchen, making Diego realise he was starving. Eggs joined the pan, and a glass of orange juice was placed next to him.
"Is something wrong?" She asked after plating up the food and placing it before him. "You seem out of sorts."
Diego quickly ate a mouthful of food, chewing slowly to think his way through her question. What was wrong? He was dressed impeccably, he felt just as always. Maybe something was wrong on this ordinary day?
"Is it that woman?"
Diego almost choked on the food, and spluttering, took a gulp of the juice.
"Do you need me to thump you on the back?" Victoria said with concern, getting up to do whatever was needed. Diego shook his head vigorously, taking another calmer sip of the drink.
"I'm...fine. Perfectly...fine," Diego said with a coughing fit.
Victoria had her hands on her hips as he eased off.
"Is it that woman?" She repeated.
"What woman?" Diego said, pretending he didn't know what she was talking about. "There's no woman."
"Remember Zefira? You told her that there was another woman. That you were in love with someone else."
"I said that to…," Diego began. Why had he said that to Zefira? To let her down easy? To be honest with her? Zefira knew him well, she would have known if he wasn't telling the truth. What was the truth anymore? He shook his head, and coughed a bit more.
"Why did you say that?" Victoria asked after the coughing subsided. She wasn't going to give up on him today. Why was the pueblo so calm today? Where was the Alcalde and why wasn't he causing problems? He could always deal with Victoria so much more confidently with his mask on.
"Because there was no future for us."
"You could have just said that...why didn't you?"
"The other woman, there is no future for us either. She doesn't know my feelings, and she won't."
Victoria stared at him, frowning. She had a sharp intelligence, more practical than imaginative, which had saved his skin a few times, but he was coming very close to the truth now.
"Can I eat my breakfast now, Victoria?" Diego said, his voice getting a slightly unfamiliar edge to it. He was going to have to be firm with her to come out of this conversation with his identity intact, firmness which he usually struggled with.
She shrugged, a sign that the conversation was postponed not dismissed. She busied herself with kitchen tasks as he ate in silence. She poured another coffee for them both and together they sat in silence for a few moments after the plate had been washed.
"I can tell you are in love. Pining for her. Not eating, not sleeping."
"It's not that…"
"If you can't tell her, why can't you? You are the son of the richest man in the district. Her father would be happy for you to court her."
He was silent for a few moments. "She loves someone else." He winced at the truth. It hurt a lot more to say aloud than to just think and know it.
"You can be charming when you want to be. And rich. That can sway a lot of women's hearts," she said. "You are a good man, Diego."
"Thank you," he murmured. He sipped his coffee with contemplation.
She was looking closely at him. "You are quite handsome."
His hand shook a little in surprise, making him place the coffee cup back on the table.
"Now that is flattery, and hardly true," he said, recovering himself with a smile. "I doubt I am not nearly as handsome as Zorro."
She shrugged. "Zorro is masked, all anyone sees of him are his eyes and a few curls."
And moustache and a few other things, Diego realised. He cleared his throat. She was searching his face, scrutinising him.
"Never mind about him," Diego said. "It's not about him."
"No," she agreed. "It's about you. Your happiness and your future."
"That is my business, Victoria. I have to work it out myself."
"I can coach you," Victoria said, dismissing his attempt at ending the conversation. "I can teach you how to court a woman."
He raised an eyebrow. He was starting to tire of the general conversation, and his patience had been wearing thin. She could teach him how to court a woman? That could be something interesting.
"Are you sure you have time for that?" He said, without much thought. Her eyes lit up, and he wondered if he would regret not dismissing it immediately.
"I could start today."
The day had started out so lazily and so normal, Diego thought. What was he getting himself into?