Chapter 3

He felt much better, after he had spent most of the previous day in bed. Refusing to stay in his room any longer, he had spent the morning in the library, trying in vain to read a book. He had slept a little after lunch, and now he was back in the library. Somehow he couldn't concentrate on anything, and he heard his father talk with a woman in the hallway. They were talking loud enough for him to overhear every word.

"Hola Victoria, it's nice of you to visit Diego," his father said.

"Of course, I need to look for Diego," the woman replied. "He's always there for me too, Don Alejandro. I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier, but the last days were so busy with the market. How is he? I heard that he has lost his memory?"

"Yes, Diego doesn't remember anything about his past. Yesterday, he asked me about his mother."

"It must be scary to be unable to remember your past."

"Yes, it's scary, but not only for Diego, Victoria."

"What do you mean by that, Don Alejandro? "

"I always thought I knew my son, but somehow he's a stranger now. And I am starting to think that I never really knew him and never saw his true self after he returned from Spain."

"That sounds terrifying. But how can he be different? He's still Diego, even if he has lost his memory."

"I can't explain. You'll see for yourself when you meet him. He's in the library if you want to see him. I have to go to the stables now to look for the new foal. Do you want me to introduce you to Diego first?"

The woman laughed a little. "Why would you introduce me? I've known Diego all my life. That's about the silliest thing I have heard. Don't let me keep you, Don Alejandro. I know my way around."

He heard the woman's light steps come closer, and he rose from his seat to greet her. He didn't know who to expect, but her sight had him speechless. His heart was beating fast when he saw the stunning woman enter the library.

"Excuse me my staring, Señorita. You must be Victoria. I heard you talk with my father in the hallway. You are the most very beautiful woman, I have ever seen," he took her hand and kissed it. "Are we engaged?"

Victoria only stared at him. "No, we aren't," she stuttered.

"I wish we were. Even if I don't remember you, I can't believe any man wouldn't want to marry you at first sight."

Victoria gaped at him. "I don't know what to say, Diego. You and I are just friends. And besides that, there is another man in my life."

"That's too bad. It that the reason we aren't married?" Victoria looked at him scared, but he wasn't finished yet. "Then why aren't you married yet? You say there is another man, but why didn't he marry you? Who is he? Did you only meet him recently?" Victoria couldn't stand his questions anymore.

"Please excuse me, Diego, but I have to go now."

He realized that he had shocked her somehow. "I'm sorry, Señorita, I didn't want to upset you." He looked at her and deep inside he knew that he loved her with all his heart.

"I think I didn't start this conversation very well. Will you please forgive me?" He took her hand and placed another kiss on it. For a moment they looked straight into each others eyes, before Victoria turned her eyes away. She wanted to leave, but he didn't let go of her hand. "You didn't answer my question, Señorita. Will you forgive me?"

"I will, but only if you let me go now." Victoria's voice trembled, and he could see that she was very nervous.

"No, you can't go yet," he stopped her. He was still holding her hand, and he kissed it once more. "Please forgive me my bad manners and stay for dinner." Taking her hand and holding it between both of his, he looked at her intensely. "Please stay, and I promise I will make up for it with polite conversation." He smiled at her charmingly, pointing at the seat opposite to his own. "Please?"

He reluctantly let go of her hand when she sat down. "Please tell me about yourself, Señorita, or may I call you Victoria? I heard you say that we have been friends all our lives?"

"Yes, we have been friends, or at least I thought so," Victoria said reluctantly.

"Then you will forgive me my manners in the name of our friendship?" he asked sincerely and was relieved when she nodded. "I'm sorry I have been so direct earlier, but your beauty really surprised me. I really can't remember anything of my life. Will you help me to remember?"

"I can try, D... Diego." She stared at him as she nervously pressed out his name.

"Maybe it would have been a good idea if my father had introduced us properly, but since he's not here we're on our own." He smiled. "Since I can't add anything that you don't know already about me even if I remembered my past, this leaves the introduction to you. My father mentioned a tavern in the pueblo. Are you working there?"

Feeling comfortable with his question about the tavern, Victoria relaxed a bit into her chair though she still continued to stare at him. Why was everyone staring at him?

"Yes, I own the tavern in the pueblo," she said confidently.

"My father said yesterday that we eat there regularly. Are you cooking too? You must be a good cook if we prefer your cooking to that of our own cook who knows how to prepare excellent food." Victoria blushed again a little as if she wasn't used to him making her compliments.

"Yes, I cook and serve in the tavern, and you and your father have always liked it. I learned much of my cooking from your cook Maria when I took over the tavern."

"When was that? How long have you been working there?"

"It was nine years ago, shortly before you went to the university in Madrid."

"Madrid? I was at the university in Madrid?" he exclaimed. "I'm sorry for interrupting you. I don't know anything about myself. But you wanted to tell me about your tavern. Nine years ago? How old were you? Fourteen? And you took over the tavern while you were still a child?"

"I was fifteen," she corrected him. "And I wasn't a child anymore. I became an adult the night my mother died."

"What happened?"

"My mother unknowingly helped a revolutionary, and she was executed for it. My father and my brothers left me to join the army and take revenge." She fought hard not to break out in tears.

"They left you to fend on your own at fifteen? How did you manage?"Compassionately, he reached for her hand.

"Your family has always been there to help me, and I don't know if I could have done it without you and your father." She retrieved her hand from his to wipe a tear from her face. "For that you can always count on me."

"And you can always count on my family, and I thank you for being here today and helping me when I need someone to talk to." He smiled again. "Would you mind telling me more? I don't remember anything about the pueblo. Tell me about it, and the people who live there."

"It must be scary not to remember anything, but this is quite a lot you are asking me. I don't know where to start." Victoria sounded relieved at his change of topic and began talking about the patrons in her tavern, especially Sergeant Mendoza with his insatiable appetite. Her stories about the sergeant made him laugh.