Diego slept for most of the afternoon, peaceful with his family reading quietly around him.
"What is going on with him?" Victoria asked softly, confident that he was asleep.
"I want to form a group of men to help with Zorro's work," Alejandro said with a sigh. "He overheard my difficulties recruiting them. Last night, he rode out to try to convince someone who couldn't be convinced."
"I don't like the sounds of that."
"I am going to try to convince Diego to back down, it was a foolish idea. I am an old man, who dreams of heroic escapades. Unrealistic," Alejandro said with a sigh. "I could have lost him so many times, without even knowing. Last night I could have lost him again. If he had run into a bandit or a lancer out there in the dark, with that arm?" He shrugged.
"He would have no hope of defending himself," Victoria murmured. She glanced at Diego's relaxed form, noticing he had rolled onto his healthier side to rest his injured shoulder.
"I love him so much," she whispered, mostly to herself. A tear came to her eye, and she flicked it away with an angry gesture. "How could I not have known about this - from the very beginning? Diego has always meant more to me than I thought. I should have worked this out."
"I'm his father, Victoria, I should have known my son much better than anyone."
Pablo approached Alejandro, and whispered into his ear.
"Really? What on earth is he doing here?"
Victoria glanced at the older man with alarm.
"The alcalde!"
"A social visit?"
"Well, allow him into the foyer. I'll go out. No point in waking Diego."
"Good afternoon Don Alejandro," the alcalde said, as he strode into the library.
"My son isn't well," Alejandro said, gesturing to the sleeping Diego. "He fell awkwardly and injured his arm."
"I see," Ignacio said. He glanced over at the sleeping man, and nodded.
"Let's take this conversation out onto the patio, Alcalde."
"Of course, I don't mean to disturb anyone. Afternoon Senorita," Ignacio said, acknowledging Victoria with a nod before following Alejandro outside.
Victoria watched him carefully, and stared at Diego thoughtfully. He seemed so vulnerable, and the alcalde's visit unnerved her. Her hands shook as she lifted up the book to read while she waited for Diego to stir and wake.
Pablo walked across the room, glanced at the men talking outside and paused at Victoria's side.
"Don Alejandro's lawyer has arrived. Do you think he is needed out there with them?" He gestured to the men on the patio. "I can send him out there in case, if you want."
Victoria nodded, and shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "Yes, that may be the best idea. I don't want to disturb Diego if we can help it. He needs his rest."
Pablo nodded, and left the room. Victoria was left in peace to read her novel, as the servants guided the men through different parts of the hacienda as they left after some time.
Victoria assumed that Alejandro would return to the library after the alcalde's departure, but no one joined her before the lights were lit at sunset.
Zzz
Victoria was deeply engrossed in a novel, sitting by the window when Diego finally woke. He yawned and stretched, careful not to move his injured arm too much. He rolled over, and stared at her for a while before she realised he was awake.
"Good afternoon, Diego. That was a good sleep."
"I doubt it. I'm sure I will be stiff later. A bit cramped on the sofa."
She chuckled a little. "I'm sure you were. You are very tall, Diego."
"My father was here before," Diego said, easing himself into a seated position. "Where did he get to?"
"Not sure. I think he wanted you to rest as much as possible. I hope he is alright…"
"Why wouldn't he be?" Diego said. His eyes grew more alert, and he stood up. "Come with me to find him, Victoria. He might have gotten an idea into his head that could get him into trouble."
"Of course," Victoria said, rising to take his arm. "I'm sure that he is fine."
Zzz
Alejandro was at his desk, engrossed in writing a long letter. He turned at the knock on the door frame, and smiled tightly at his son. He covered the letter with blotting paper, aware that his son's curiosity was already heightened. Diego didn't have to know what was going on, not all the details.
"Still tired?" Alejandro asked, seeing how Diego was leaning a little too much on the door frame. He was sparing Victoria his weight, concerned about her comfort.
Diego shrugged and glanced at Victoria. "I'll go to bed. I'm feeling a little tired."
"You said you were fine," Victoria said, with a hint of anger in her voice. "Am I ever going to be able to take you at your word."
"It is going to take time to get used to being open with you both. I have had a lot of experience keeping thoughts, plans and feelings to myself."
"Give each other space to get used to this new situation," Alejandro said thoughtfully. "I want you to rest until you are at full strength. You lost quite a bit of blood, and some men would have died up there on the cliff edge. It's only been a couple of days, Diego."
"I can't promise to rest," Diego said, an edge coming to his voice. "If there is a need for Zorro, there is a need for Zorro. I am the only one who will do anything. I am not going to allow you to risk your life, Father. You are not in training, and your skills are…"
"Choose your next words carefully, Diego," Alejandro said tightly.
Victoria stepped between the two men. She shook her head slowly.
"This conversation is not helping any of us. Diego is tired and probably in pain, and we are all exhausted from the last few days. We are all on the same side. No one is going to risk their lives in the next few days, I forbid it."
Diego smiled despite himself. "You forbid it?"
"She is a powerful woman, Diego." Alejandro smiled. "It's only a few days?"
"Are you going to tell the alcalde this as well?" Diego said softly.
"The alcalde will keep to the law while the lawyer is in town. He is the lawyer for many powerful men and is not afraid to tell people what he hears and sees. He is untouchable. The governor would come down here personally if something happened to him."
"Is he related to the governor?"
"The governor's wife, actually. Some sort of cousin. I was going to tell you before we started to get heated."
"How long is he staying?"
"I asked him to stay for a week. The alcalde may feel like arresting us again, without cause. He was here earlier. When the lawyer arrived, he became as meek as a kitten."
"Before that?"
"No, don't answer that, Don Alejandro," Victoria said. "I didn't hear any raised voices."
"Threats aren't always delivered with shouts," Diego said with a sigh. "Father?"
"Nothing you need to worry about right now," Alejandro said firmly. "Let's help you get into bed, before you get too restless."