The newspaper that Diego put to bed that night was scant, and thin, but it would be out the next morning. It was better than no newspaper at all, he thought with a reluctant sigh.

He printed his usual run, resting in the middle of the tedious task. There had to be an easier way to organise his days, he thought, wiping perspiration from his forehead. Felipe was learning and took a share of the work, but the majority still fell on Diego. Today he had set his teenage friend up for a full day of study. Taking turns was not an option.

There was a knock on the door. Not the knock of an impatient person, more of that of a hesitant one. He strode over to the door, relieved to have a distraction from his task. The newspaper was important, but it was boring in the last stages when the text had been set. His arm ached from the lever action of the printing press.

He opened the door, and was faced by Victoria and a basket of refreshments. Diego glanced around the empty streets, and then back to her smiling face.

"It is siesta, Diego. You missed our appointment."

"The chaperone?"

Victoria shrugged. "She is busy and doesn't see much point in attending if we are just talking."

"Oh."

"I doubt you have eaten since your breakfast of tequila and tamales," she said, regarding him quizzically. "Any ill effects from that, by the way? I can make you something to drink for a headache."

Diego smiled a little. "I don't need anything. I don't know what possessed me. You know how much I hate tequila."

"Don't let yourself be led astray. MacKay is not a good man. For all his boasting."

Diego frowned, and nodded his head. "He has plans for Zorro."

Victoria's eyes widened, and she sat down on the spare chair. "Did he tell you the plans?"

"For the price of a shot of tequila, I thought it was worth it."

He began to pace the floor, a little restless, as he explained the planned trap that MacKay had in mind for Zorro.

"That monster. The tripwire might injure Tornardo, MacKay might actually succeed."

"I thought I'd mention it to you, as you are more likely to see Zorro. The man needs to be warned," Diego said, softly. He could imagine his beloved steed breaking a leg in such a trap, and without a mount he would be vulnerable as well. Such irritations were not out of the ordinary, but being told all the details was something new - and particularly unnerving.

"I will be sure to tell him," Victoria assured him, getting to her feet. She placed a hand on his arm to make him break from pacing. "Thank you for letting me know. Thank you for finding out about his villainy."

"You're welcome," Diego said, softly, looking down at her.

"Shall we talk about courtship?"

"Why not? We can eat our picnic in here, and see where it takes us," Diego said, shaking himself out of the doldrums that had descended upon him.

"I had my lunch a couple of hours ago. You must be famished," Victoria said, with a smile. "Chicken and rice, and a custard flan. With a bottle of lemonade, of course."

"Of course," Diego acknowledged with a smile. Lifting the pollo dish out of the basket, he could feel the heat from the dish. It would be just what he needed, something to distract him from his concerns.

He ate while he watched Victoria talk. He wasn't listening intently, and startled when she turned to him.

"You haven't heard a word I've said," she complained. "What was the last thing I said?"

He took the glove she had been demonstrating with, and examined it.

"This is far too small for me," he said. "Can I demonstrate what I believe you just said with my riding gloves?"

She nodded, some of the annoyance fading from her eyes. Curiosity was gradually replacing it.

Diego pulled his left glove on, and left the thumb exposed. Victoria stared at it for a moment before laughing.

"No, no, Diego. That was something I said about half an hour ago. You just signalled, 'do you love me?'. Where has your mind been?"

Diego smiled, and removed the glove. "Was it the other hand? The right hand?"

"No, that is 'kiss me'," Victoria said, a playful frown coming to her face. "If I didn't know you better I would think you were teasing me."

Diego placed the gloves on the desk, and shrugged. "I am afraid my mind was lost in your cooking, as usual. And the problem we have discovered. Zorro and his safety."

The laughter died in her eyes. "Yes. I have no way to get in contact with Zorro. I am becoming very worried indeed after what you told me. I have no idea where to look for him. He always finds me."

"Perhaps there is a need for that to change," Diego said, half to himself. "If only to put your mind at rest."

"Diego, I can't even bring it up. Zorro is always so much in a hurry, and leaves at the smallest sign of intrusion. Our time together is so short."

Diego stared at her as she turned away from him as if to hide her distress.

"Well, I have been thinking…"

"Yes?" Victoria turned around, expectantly. "Have you any ideas of who he might be?"

Diego shook his head silently.

"Perhaps if we sit together and discuss what is known about Zorro, maybe that will give us both new ideas? It is worth a try, surely?"

Diego sighed a little. "It is worth a try." He was going to be in so much trouble when he did finally unmask. Digging a deeper grave for himself, perhaps.

Seeing his beloved in so much distress, he felt he had to do something to alleviate it. Anything except the truth.

Zzz

Alejandro attended the tavern after siesta, and Victoria and Diego had made their way over there by then as well. In the breaks from her cooking and preparation for the evening meals, Victoria had discussed several traits of Zorro. She had made Diego write them down on a piece of paper with a stubby pencil she had found.

Alejandro glanced at the paper with some interest.

"What is that list you are writing, Diego?" Diego startled, and went to cover the words with his folded arm.

His father pulled it out regardless, and eyed it with growing interest.

"Is this a list for a future bride?"

Diego chuckled and shook his head.

"Well it says, black hair, blue eyes, noble birth, strong and educated. Spanish perhaps," Alejandro read, glancing back at his son. "It's a good start for traits for a prospective bride."

"I can see how you might think that, Father," Diego said, meeting his father's eyes.

"Excuse me, Don Alejandro. Please don't distract him. He has been so distracted these last couple of days. He is doing the list for me."

"A possible suitor?"

"Zorro," she whispered, although not many people were in the tavern at that moment. "We are trying to discover who he is under the mask."

Alejandro glanced at Diego with a raised eyebrow, and his mouth set into a frown. Diego knew that later there would be words between them.

"Yes, Victoria was so upset about some rumours going around that I had to do something."

"I see," Alejandro said. His frown didn't change.

"Perhaps you have some insights about the man? With all your experience with people, as a commander?" Victoria said hopefully.

Alejandro glanced over the list with interest and read through it properly. "The man is well trained. I see shades of Sir Edmund Kendall in his training. He must come from a wealthy family that was prepared to educate the man in Madrid. You might have even met him there, Diego, if your head wasn't so buried in books."

"Possibly. He might just as well have trained under someone in Mexico City. Several of those masters had their training with Sir Edmund."

"I see," Alejandro said, thoughtfully. "I can see your reasoning. Much more likely, really. There are not many men in our class that sent their sons to Madrid. We would realise much more easily. I think only you have trained under Sir Edmund in the last ten years, if it is a local man."

"I can't remember any of my peers training with Sir Edmund. Most of our circle have daughters anyway. No, it has to be Mexico City for the training."

"It's good to see you taking an interest, Diego," Alejandro said thoughtfully. "An interesting change from our recent conversation."

Diego watched his father carefully as he left the table and joined his friends at another table. Did he suspect anything? Did his words have any cryptic meaning that he couldn't understand? He was digging himself a trap of his own making, and it felt dangerous just being with those he cared for the most.