Chapter 5.

Three days later, Felipe entered the tavern through the back door. Victoria was filling two plates of soup for an order.
"Felipe," she greeted the young man, looking up to see who was coming in.
She set the plates on the work table. "What can I do for you?"

Felipe pressed a note into her hand, which she immediately began to read. A broad grin came to her face. "Will you let Diego know I have time and will gladly come?" Felipe nodded that he understood and started to leave.

"Would you like a bizcocho?" Victoria pointed to the platter of sweet treats on the other side of the table.

Felipe nodded and took one from the bowl. He thanked her and disappeared out the door.

Now Victoria had found out the bond between the two men was far more than she could ever have imagined. Felipe had become even dearer to her than he was before.

The rest of the morning crept by, and it was later than usual when the tavern finally closed for siesta.

Victoria was well away from the hacienda when the front door swung open, and Diego came out. Apparently, he had been on the lookout for her arrival. As soon as she rode through the gate, Diego took the reins off her mare and helped Victoria dismount. By doing so, he took the opportunity to take Victoria in his arms and greet her with a long kiss.
After he uttered. "I had almost given up hope."

"With de Soto gone and not watching everyone like a hawk, it's a lot busier during lunch," Victoria explained her late arrival. "And today, the tavern was crowded. It seemed like everyone had decided to eat in the pueblo today."

"It is your cooking. It simply is irresistible. Let's sit in the garden. I've asked you to come because I want to discuss something."

"Oh," Victoria looked crestfallen. "I was hoping it was because you wanted to see me."

"Especially that."

Together, they first walked to the stable to give her mare a cooler place in the shade and give her water. Victoria pulled a package from one of the saddlebags.
"Bizcocho. I know you like them, and I baked them this morning."

"You taste so much better." Diego pulled her back into his arms. Victoria resisted by pushing him against his chest.

"Diego, what if someone sees us?"

"Not going to happen." He assured her. "Father has taken Manuelo to don Emilio. Maria is visiting her daughter and has asked for the afternoon off. And I'm not sure where Felipe is, but he has promised not to disturb us."

Victoria threw her arms around him now. "So we have the hacienda for us alone?" Her eyes were shining.

"At least for the next few hours."

"In that case."
Victoria put the bag on a barrel of food for the horses. Diego took two steps forward and Victoria in his arms. Her back got pressed against the cool stone wall of the stable.

It had been three days, she had missed his touches, and it felt so wonderful to be hugged, kissed, without the bothersome gloves or the fear of being disturbed.
Victoria clung to his large, muscular body, and suddenly she began to hate his jacket.
It prevented her from feeling his body. His hand slid up from her waist under her blouse, encircling her feminine curves. Diego smiled as though the fabric of the chemise, he noticed how hard her nipple had become under his touch.
He leaned forward. Victoria opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to circle hers.
One hand slid down to her buttock.
With her back against the wall, Diego was so close that his chest pressed against her breasts. Her mouth was hungry for his kiss. Victoria enjoyed the feeling and moaned.

"Victoria." Diego stammered in a brief moment when they didn't kiss, both gasping for breath.
How did she do it? For years, his self-control had been tested and trained. This woman only had to come into his field of vision, and it melted away faster than ice in the sunlight.
He was willing to marry her today, risking exposure the moment the alcalde returned. Diego even questioned for a minute whether it would be worth it when the reward was he could just let himself go in a stable. It was insane!
He had even briefly considered killing de Soto. The pleasure she gave him by holding her in his arms was well worth it.

Victoria whispered to his lips. "Diego, we have to stop meeting like this."

He smiled. "Then stop being so darn tempting, mi querida."

"You wish," Victoria placed her hands on his cheeks and pulled his head toward her mouth.

There was the annoyingly tiny voice in the back of his mind that was slowly taking over. In the end, his mind won the fight. "Victoria, I've asked you to come and discuss something important. For our future."

At this, Victoria uttered. "It is the ever sensible don Diego speaking here, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid so. I've been thinking, and I think I know how, with a little luck, we can get married in a week."

"I'm all for that. As much as I like having you so close to me, enjoy these moments, I think I can appreciate the comfort of a bed."

"Let's get to it then." Diego gave her butt a playful tap.

A little later, Diego and Victoria were in the part of the garden where the shadows kept the worst of the heat away. Diego had set down a jug of juice and two glasses before. Victoria filled them, while Diego pulled a bizcocho from the bag Victoria had brought and took a bite.

Victoria sat down next to him, looked expectantly after taking a big gulp of juice, she said. "Tell me, what have you come up with?" She placed the glass back on the wooden table.

Diego took his glass in his hand. Although, this gesture was more to have something in his hands. And thus prevent him from taking her in his arms again. "I've been thinking. I want to tell my father I'm Zorro."

"What made you change your mind? I believe you still have your doubts that I found out."

"It is a risk," Diego admitted. "Father does not always pay attention to what he is saying, but it is an acceptable risk. And," he confessed. "That you have unravelled the secret, besides fear, fills me above all with joy. Victoria, my fear for your safety is greater than my fear that you will jeopardize my identity."

"I will never betray Zorro," Victoria assured him.

He grabbed her hand with his free hand. "And therein lay my fear. That someone hurts you because of Zorro. That if I ever get caught, you will suffer for it too. I have accepted the risk of getting hanged or shot every time Zorro makes an appearance. I will never accept someone hurting you on my behalf."

Victoria reacted lightly. "Then all we have to do is make sure you never get caught."

Diego just smiled.
"If it were that simple. Listen, I love my father, and I know he is very fond of you. As much as he longs for grandchildren, the idea of either of us trapped in an involuntary marriage will break his heart. Nor do I want you to feel compelled to lie to him."

"Diego." Victoria saw how much pain these words cost Diego. And she felt guilty for not supporting the man behind the mask sooner. At the same time because she had heavier his burden.

"No, I know what you want to say. Marrying me will definitely ask sacrifices from both of us and most of you. We need a place to be ourselves, and I want it to be in your new home. I've been thinking about confiding in him for some time. It's not because of you that I think it's time to tell my father. It is despite you knowing."

"Diego, I love you. And if you are sure, I will, of course, support you. It is your secret and up to you to decide how and when you tell it."

"You don't say." His thoughts were in a mill a few days earlier.

Slightly offended, Victoria reminded Diego of why she had started talking. "It wasn't my fault. You insisted on talking. I wanted to keep your secret. I told you, you didn't want to."
Victoria couldn't get the idea out of her head. What if she hadn't said a thing. Had kept the secret safe, perhaps it would have been better. "Diego, it must have been hard at times. And I only made it more difficult for you, as I still do."
The way Diego looked at her with his ice-blue eyes that seemed to shoot sparks made Victoria blush.

"Victoria, the reason I have been able to be Zorro all these years was you. So, don't you dare think me knowing you found out my secret makes it any harder on me."
With his free hand, he raised her hand to his mouth. "I wouldn't want to change one minute of anything that happened in the mill." He turned her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm. A hand kiss was a sign of courtesy. And Victoria had always felt special when he kissed her hand dressed like Zorro. The gesture that Diego now made, Victoria didn't know how to react.
The kiss in her palm was so romantic and loaded with sensuality.

When Diego also ran his thumb over the veins of her wrist, a moan escaped her throat.
"Please, say you stay for dinner? It will be a simple meal of several cold dishes because Maria is not home. The advantage is that we can certainly talk undisturbed." Diego grimaced briefly. He did not look forward to the moment his father would realize who his son was. "There's no point in procrastinating. I'll tell him tonight."

"Diego, he will be so proud of you."

"I hope he will someday. At first, he will be furious because he is tricked, deceived and outsmarted many times."
After this, Diego explained the idea to have a quick marriage. Victoria was sceptical, but he convinced her.

A glance at his pocket watch told Diego they were running out of time. He took Victoria to the cave. Toronado looked up to see who was entering. Diego tried to feed the horse an apple. Toronado paid more attention to Victoria and pressed his nose to her shoulder.
"I think he accepted you as an accomplice."

Victoria stroked the animal's neck, and Toronado whinnied, satisfied.

"You wrap all the men in this hacienda around your finger. Felipe likes you too, and my father already sees you as a kind of daughter."

Victoria took a piece of apple from Diego's hand and placed it on her outstretched hand. Toronado snapped the apple right off her hand.

"And you can't do wrong by Toronado either."

Diego went over to the clothing rack and took some old clothes of Felipe off it. These should fit you and prevent your clothes from getting dirty."

Just before five o'clock, Diego and Victoria returned to the cave, using the back entrance. At the same time, Felipe came in through the door on the side of the library. Felipe started signing.
"My father is coming?" Diego said, understanding the signs he was making. Felipe nodded.

Victoria's hair was a mess, the clothes she was wearing were full of dusty stains, and she made a somewhat heated impression. Diego, not wearing his jacket, and vest was wearing a dirty shirt. He walked to a corner of the cave and came back with a glass of water. "Have a drink. You must be thirsty."

Gratefully, Victoria took the glass and emptied it in one gulp.

"Felipe, can you keep my father busy outside for a while. Victoria and I will be playing chess in the library in a few minutes."

Felipe turned around and went back to the entrance.

Victoria changed back to her own clothes. Diego stood with his back to her. Though the man had seen every inch of her, this felt different. Victoria closed the last button on her skirt and said. "Done."
She glared in a small mirror and did what she could to make herself look as usual. At the same time, Diego had put on a clean shirt, his vest and jacket and buttoned them up.
After both looked representable, Diego took her hand, and together they went into the narrow passage that connected the cave with the secret door to the library.
Diego turned one of the candlestick holders on the wall, and the door swung open.
He quickly slipped out through the opening and walked over to the chessboard. He placed some of the beautifully carved pieces on the board.

Victoria sat down in the left seat and said slightly panicked. "I don't know how to play chess." Diego looked at her.

"As soon as father enters, move your tower, this one, three steps forward." Quickly, Diego sat down in the opposite chair.

A moment later, Alejandro came in. Victoria did as Diego had said. After that, he picked up the black queen.

"Victoria, what a pleasant surprise." Don Alejandro greeted her.

"And that's checkmate. Hello father," Diego said as he placed the queen in the middle of the white and black chessboard.

"Are you playing chess?" Alejandro approached with interest and examined the board.

"Yes, Victoria asked whether I wanted to teach her," Diego mentioned casually.

In an apologizing smile, Victoria uttered. "I don't understand very much of it. All those different pieces."

Alejandro nodded understanding. "In the beginning, there is a lot to remember. You'll see that after you begin to understand the basics, soon enough, you get the hang of it. And Diego, don't you make it too complicated for her right away. Victoria, if Diego gives you a hard time, I'll be happy to explain it to you in a more simple way. Maybe that will be better anyway. Don't forget who taught him to play chess."

Diego got up in a slightly hesitant manner. Victoria suspected it had become an ingrained habit that came with his role as don Diego.
"I have invited Victoria to stay for dinner."

Don Alejandro looked angry at his son. "Diego. You know Maria isn't here today. I gave her the day off. I told you yesterday! Weren't you listening?"
Alejandro turned his attention to Victoria with a broad smile. "Victoria, don't think you are not welcome to stay. We're always honoured when you come by and visit us. I um..." Alejandro coughed. "I'm just afraid you'll find out how miserable the meals are in this bachelor house when there isn't a woman around."

Victoria laughed. "I am sure the meal will be fine."

"Thank you, señorita, for such undeserved faith." Don Alejandro made a bow.

Don Alejandro may have described the meal as miserable there was a wide choice of various cold dishes, all prepared to perfection.
After enjoying dinner, where Diego was a bit quieter than usual, he took an orange from the fruit bowl, took a deep breath and said.

"Father, there is a reason why I invited Victoria tonight. I need to tell you something, and since it concerns Victoria too, I asked her to stay." There was silence. Of course, Diego had rehearsed this moment in his head countless times. All this practice didn't make it easier. If any, it made it worse. Having thought of many variations of every possible reaction of his father. From extreme anger through immediate acceptance to frenzied joy and everything in between.
Diego felt a soft hand on his thigh and glanced to his left, where Victoria was sitting. She smiled and looked at him encouragingly. She pressed her hand more firmly on his leg and stroked.
"Father, I have something important to tell you. And I don't know where to begin."

His father grumbled. "Then start at the beginning. That's usually best."

Diego put the orange back on the table and took Victoria's hand under the table. How she managed to keep smiling was a mystery to him, he nearly squeezed her hand. She must be in pain, but he couldn't let go.
Victoria placed her other hand on his and pulled the fingers loose, one by one. His hand clenched into a fist. Then she took the fist in her hands and gave him a small smile. Victoria began to stroke his fist, and Diego relaxed slightly. As long as he was beside him, he could do anything.
Diego swallowed. Just start at the beginning.
"Father, I have lied to you. Not once but many times. To tell you the truth, I have been lying to you almost every day. Ever since I returned from Spain."

Don Alejandro, who had slumped a bit until now, sat up and turned pale.
"I know, son. As a father, you feel when something is wrong. And I have denied it for far to long."

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