Chapter 4
Ignacio De Soto grabbed the packet from Sergeant Mendoza eagerly. He opened the small bundle and ravenously read the paper inside it. "Ah hah!" He looked to the rafters as if to give thanks and said "I will have him now!"
"Who? Mi alcalde?"
"Why, that nefarious outlaw, Zorro, of course. This," he tapped the paper in his hand, "this is exactly what I've been waiting for. A sure-fire trap! Oh, this will be beautiful!" Pounding the desk with his fist, he laughed heartily. "Now, Sergeant, we have work to do!"
Sergeant Mendoza had led a small contingent of lancers around the pueblo all afternoon. Every door in the pueblo now had a sign nailed to it that proclaimed the Alcalde's latest edict.
The hammering at the door of the tavern had even managed to draw Diego's attention momentarily away from the sight of Victoria bending forward to refill his glass.
"What is all that about"
"I have no idea, but I intend to find out!" She slammed the jug on the table, marched over to the door and flung it open wide. "Corporal! Just what are you desecrating my tavern door with now?" She stood with both hands on her hips and arms akimbo. "It can't be anything good!"
"Sí, Señorita, I mean… no, Señorita!" Corporal Sepulveda was very much in awe of the young tavern owner. "It is a notice calling for all the citizens of Los Angeles to register for the Alcalde's new census."
"Census!" But we just had a census taken last year!"
"Indeed!" Diego had come to stand just behind Victoria and was reading the notice over her head. "How many do we need?" he asked. "And why is this being ordered by the Alcalde and not the Governor or the King?"
"Don Diego, I can never answer all your questions. You must—"
"Oh, do not worry, I will!" Diego immediately set stride across the plaza, heading straight for the Alcalde's office. He slowed as he saw the rows of tables and benches that had been set up in front of the quartel gates. The tables were scattered with writing paraphernalia and the Alcalde himself sat behind one of them.
"Don Diego! So good of you to lead the way for all the other good citizens! Come, be the first to register." De Soto held out a quill that had been freshly dipped in ink.
Diego looked suspiciously first at the Alcalde, then at the quill, and then at the papers spread before him. He picked up one but said nothing as he skimmed the questions listed. "Most unusual," he finally commented. "These questions will require rather involved answers, don't you think?"
"Oh, this census form has been specially designed to help us anticipate the needs of the pueblo for the future. Some of the questions might sound unusual, but they all have a unique purpose, I can assure you." The Alcalde sat back in the chair, playing with the quill.
"But it does look like it will take a bit of time to complete, and unfortunately I don't have any to spare just now. I have business to attend to, so if you will pardon me?" Diego smiled and turned to go.
"Of course, but be sure to return later. Anyone who has not filled out the form within the next fourteen days will be thrown in jail."
"Jail! You are joking, of course. I did not think a census was mandatory." Diego crossed his arms and tilted his head to show his disapproval.
"This one is! We will have one hundred per cent cooperation from the people." De Soto's keen eyes leveled on Don Diego. "No exceptions, de la Vega! Understood?"
"Yes, I think I am beginning to, Alcalde. Now, if you will excuse me."
Diego headed back toward the Tavern and Victoria walked out to meet him.
"Did you find out what he's up to this time?" she asked as they made their way across the street.
"I am not sure. But that census form is more than intrusive. He is asking for far more personal information of the people than he needs to for a normal census. Some of the peons that cannot read or write are going to have some difficulty filling out such forms. Could he be counting on that so he can confiscate their properties?"
"Well, if he is, Zorro will have something to say about that!" she said with conviction as she looked back at the sight of the Alcalde sitting at his tables.
"Yes, he certainly will," Diego agreed.
The next day, Victoria looked up to see Diego and his father coming through the door of the tavern. "Diego, Don Alejandro! Ready for refreshments?"
"Yes, please. I must say you are looking lovely today, Victoria," Don Alejandro said while Diego remained silent. She stole a look at him as she filled their glasses. Was he now belatedly embarrassed about their afternoon lessons? She wondered about it as he remained silent while she and Don Alejandro caught up on news. But she did notice that he looked about the room three or four times as if checking for someone as they talked.
"Are you looking for someone, Diego?"
"Oh, no, not really." He did seem nervous today.
"Well, I am just about ready for a break in a little while. Want another lesson?" She smiled and raised a delicate eyebrow.
"Lesson?" Don Alejandro was curious. "And just what are you trying to teach my son?"
"Well," she smiled at Diego and winked at Don Alejandro, "why don't we let that be our little secret for now."
Diego ran a finger along the inside of his collar. She laughed at his reaction and then excused herself to go take the order of the lancers who had just ambled in and sat at the table near the door.
"Lessons from Victoria, eh? Whatever could they be?" he teased his handsome son. Diego had been a little more forthcoming lately with his father as to his feelings for the young tavern owner. It would have been shocking to him indeed, had he not already guessed his son's secret. Zorro's love for Victoria was well known. Alejandro could only wonder at the frustration he must feel when she rejected him as Diego and pined after Zorro. "Lessons" sounded interesting. Perhaps this was the answer!
Diego countered his father's questions by turning their conversation to political issues.
"Ah, yes, Diego, I fear things are about to change. The news is so sporadic from Spain these days. It's been weeks since I've heard from anyone back there."
"Change is not always a bad thing, Father. It can be a way to move forward to better times for all. We shall just have to wait and see. I only hope any radical changes will not prompt any violence. I do not think our garrison is fully equipped for that."
"No, indeed. And our Alcalde is only good at dreaming up new taxes!"
About twenty minutes later, Don Alejandro had struck up a conversation with some other cabelleros about the current beef prices on the market. Diego quietly slipped unnoticed through the curtain separating the kitchen from the dining room. Minutes later, he and Victoria were strolling together down the street toward the church and the Padre's garden. Both had been secretly looking forward to another pleasant hour or so locked away from the world in that luscious setting.
Diego had brought the basket with him and he set it down just inside the gate as Victoria went straight past him. She spun around twice, her skirt swirling in the sunlight, as she drank in the sweet fragrance all around her with joy. Diego leaned against the vine-covered stone wall and smiled at the vision of her. The wall was even taller than Diego and it made a perfect, private meeting place. Except for that one window! He hoped there were no prying eyes behind it today.
"Is this not the most beautiful sight you have ever seen?"
"That, it is!" He said it with enthusiasm, but he was not speaking of the garden, but of the girl. "You seem to appreciate it more today."
"Oh, yes. I was hoping you'd bring me back again. We had such pleasant times here last week." She walked back over to him, swaying her hips in a slightly exaggerated manner. "And did you practice your lessons?"
"Practice! And who would I have practiced on?" He opened his eyes wide in mock indignation.
"That is a problem. And they say that practice makes perfect. So how about a review of lesson number one?"
"Whatever my teacher requests." He stepped in close to her, but stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His sudden, apparent nervousness surprised her for just a moment, but she smiled up at the handsome cabellero and continued her teasing manner.
"In our first lesson…" she began, and saw his smile change to a smirk that quickly spread into his eyes, "I believe we were practicing the art of kissing. Do you remember where to place your hands?"
"Here and here, I believe." He demonstrated by placing his left hand on her waist and his right hand along her upturned cheek.
"Very good! You know, we should try a dance lesson— Do you know how to dance?"
"Well, I—" But, as usual, she spoke before he could answer.
"Yes, that would be excellent! The Beltano festival is coming up pretty soon. There will be a dance in the plaza. You could bring your—"
"Victoria, aren't we getting a little far ahead? After all, we should perfect one lesson before going on to the next, shouldn't we?"
"Well, yes, but Diego, a well-rounded person is always impressive. So we will need to work on dancing too. What did you say her name was?" She tossed the question at him oh-so-casually, tilting her head to the side.
He turned his head to the side too, mimicking her, and looked at her strangely through narrowed eyes as he said, "Victoria."
"Oh, very well, don't tell me then! But it was worth a try! Some day you'll slip and tell me."
She laughed pleasantly while he muttered, "What good would it do?"
"Well, for one thing, I could prepare her for you."
"Prepare her? Are you going to serve her up to me like one of your delicious enchiladas?"
"Oh, Diego, be serious. You said she doesn't know that you are… attracted to her. Maybe she just needs someone to open her eyes to that fact."
"I am trying, but—"
"But what?"
"But… it is very difficult to get her to listen to exactly what I am saying." He laughed heartily at the puzzled look on her face. "Let's try something! Let us pretend that it is you I am trying to court. Just what would it take to get you to take me seriously?"
There was silence for several long seconds. He held her gaze steady and didn't waver. "Diego?" A question was on the tip of her tongue, but she held back. One hand was still on her waist and he held her firmly to keep her from backing away from him. "Well, I suppose you would just need to show her how much you cared. Make her know that."
"If she were you, how would you prefer to be shown?"
"But I… I'm involved with Zorro. Everyone knows that, and this would be impossible. If she were me, I mean I, then you'd know that, and—"
He placed his right hand back on her cheek, and as he pulled her into his kiss, he whispered, "Not even this would convince you?"
The kiss was cut short by an eruption of laughter from her lips. "But I taught you that!"
"So you did." Diego did not even try to disguise the momentary irritation he felt. "Obviously, it is not that effective then. Show me something else."
"Well, it can be effective. You probably just need more practice."
"But if it doesn't work on you, what good is it?" he teased. "Or are you purposefully teaching me something to which you are immune?" He arched his eyebrows at her suspiciously.
She dissolved into a fit of laughter. He sighed and began to turn away from her. "I probably should just get a book on the subject—"
"Oh, no you won't! You spend too much time with your head in a book as it is! I will not let you learn this sort of thing from a book! Now come here!" she snapped authoritatively.
"Yes, Señorita!" He did as he was told.
They practiced the kiss several more times. And each time, Victoria could swear that he added some little nuance. Her concentration was blurred and she had difficulty each time with seeing Diego's face when she opened her eyes instead of another's. He was definitely a very apt student.
"It's rather warm," she said huskily. "Why don't we go on to something else? I don't think you need any more instruction in this area. Now, we just need to get you to this step with your señorita."
"And what is that going to entail?" he asked eagerly.
Diego seemed almost a different person in this setting. She was astonished at the change in him. Not for the first time, she found herself secretly envying the unknown woman. He was certainly willing to go to a lot of trouble to find out how to win her love.
"How about conversation?" she suggested. "I mean, you can't just start kissing her right away. You will have to let her know through words that you desire her. You should be good with words, Diego."
"Words? Yes, usually, but sometimes they don't come as easily as at other times."
"Then maybe you should plan what you will say to her ahead of time. Think up some compliments."
"Compliments, I have no trouble paying her. But I have seen very few results from them," he confided.
"So, what sort of compliments have you paid her? Do you tell her she's beautiful?"
"Yes, and I always take note of what she is wearing and her moods. I even compliment her cooking quite frequently. It just never seems to make much difference."
He kept talking and didn't see the immediate response on her face to the 'cooking' comment. So she had actually cooked for Diego! That was a revelation! Victoria seethed inside. When Diego looked up and saw the anger, he was nonplussed. What had he said?
"Well, if you're going to continue to be so secretive about her, I'm not so sure I want to continue this. How do I know she is …right for you?"
"She is exactly right for me. Take my word for it." He laughed. "I promise you, she will keep me on my toes!"
"But you keep avoiding answering any real questions about her!"
"I promise I will answer any question you put to me if you will answer but one for me about your relationship with Zorro." He was completely serious now.
"What would that be?" She eyed him suspiciously. She wasn't at all sure she liked the direction this conversation was heading. And why on earth was Diego so curious about Zorro all of a sudden?
"It is just this." He held up a forefinger and began to pace back and forth in front of her as he laid out his case like a lawyer before a jury. "The Alcalde is pressing down on the pueblo with his tyranny more than ever. A pardon for Zorro is more remote than it has ever been. The price on his head stands at six thousand pesos, a very substantial sum. It is an enticing reason for someone to turn him in for it at any time. Spain has her hands full with her own problems and wars on every front. Mexico's armies may be at our doors at any moment. The governor has chosen to ignore our pleas for help. But Zorro is committed to his fight for justice and it seems like it must continue, at least for the time being. My guess is that he has promised to marry you when his fight for justice is needed no more, but you have grown weary of waiting for that day. Any marriage between you and Zorro is impossible as the situation now stands."
"Diego, if this is your way of cheering somebody up, you have a lot to learn!" She almost spat out the words. "What is your question?" She was growing impatient and his assessment of the state of her love life was irritating, even if it was true.
"I am getting to it." He smiled and began his nervous pacing once again. "Zorro obviously lives another life. As that other man, he could marry you right now." He felt, rather than saw, her eyes lock onto him as he stated his last sentence. He slowed his pace so that he would end up right in front of her as he prepared to ask his question. "But there would be one major problem. If his identity were ever discovered or if he were caught, he would be hanged. And his wife would be hanged right alongside of him!" He stood still and studied her face intently. "So my question is this." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Are you willing to accept such possible future consequences in order to be with him as a wife now?"
She opened her mouth to speak and he placed his fingertips lightly across her lips to stop her. "No. I do not want an answer just yet. I want you to really think about it. Think through all the possibilities and then tell me. I can wait." He let his hand fall to hers and held it. He could tell his words had had his intended effect. She was thinking about the ramifications her dream would really mean for the first time. He could tell the tears were threatening to spill from her eyes and he wanted so much to take her in his arms, but he resisted. No, the time would come, but now, she just needed a diversion from her thoughts..
"So! Now, what is your question for me?"
She was jolted back from her tumultuous thoughts not so much by his question as by his complete change to a teasing tone. "Oh… well…let me think." She didn't want him to see just how much his little speech had unnerved her. Of course, she had thought about discovering Zorro's identity and marrying the man behind the mask. But that image of a double set of hangman's nooses had never really invaded her thoughts. Was she really willing to die for her love? But Diego was waiting. She turned away and began to do a little pacing of her own. She wanted to find a question equal to the serious one he had just presented. "I know! Señor de la Vega, I want to know just how far you're willing to go with this girl." She had approached him slowly as she had spoken. "If she were to be moved by all this newfound … charm… then, would you be willing to go as far as marriage?" She poked a slender finger into his chest on each of the last four words and felt a prick of surprise when it met with hard, firm muscle.
"Yes!" Diego said emphatically. The shock on Victoria's face was instantaneous.
"You would?" she asked weakly. Her mind floundered as he smiled down at her. Why did this bother her so?
"What would be the point otherwise? I love her." He said the words so simply, as if explaining why he preferred sunshine to rain. "And if I can determine that she really loves me, and not her idea of me, then I will be certain it is the right thing to do."
"Her idea of you? What are you talking about?"
"Well, I just do not think she has a true picture of me. She sees what she wants to see and not the man who stands before her. But someday, she will know me for myself. I promise you that."
"Well, I hope so." But Victoria was having a hard time seeing Diego's point. Diego was the most open person she knew. Or at least, he had been. Until this unknown woman of his had come along and changed everything. Sometimes, he was difficult to understand, but she chalked that up to the fact that he was far more intelligent than anyone else she knew.
Their pleasant afternoon of lessons this time had ended on a somewhat disturbing note. Hopefully, lesson four would go better.
