Chapter 2

"Father don't do this to me," Diego pleaded, his eyes wide with discomfort.

"Diego, it's well past the time for you to marry," Alejandro straightened his son's cravat and stepped away to give him an approving look.

"I know, Father, and I've been working on- "

"Not fast enough," Alejandro interrupted. "This hacienda needs a woman's touch, and the pitter patter of little feet once again."

Diego sighed. He would just need to convince himself that it was just a harmless dinner party because his father was not going to give in.

Alejandro prodded him out the door and smiled widely at his son. "I'm sure you'll find you have more than one thing in common with a few of the lovely ladies I've invited tonight."

"Father," Diego stopped abruptly, his father with him. "I won't let anyone force me into a loveless marriage."

"I would never do that to you, son." Alejandro admitted with a small sigh and rested his hand on his son's arm. "I simply want to introduce you. If a spark ignites, then I will be all the happier to accept whatever lady you choose."

Diego grinned wryly. "Would you accept a lady I choose if she were from the working class?"

Alejandro leveled a curious gaze at his son. Was there something about his son that he didn't know? Surely he wasn't referring to Victoria - they were good friends, certainly, but the woman was very much in love with Zorro. Yet - he had seen his son cast meaningful looks in her direction when he thought no one was looking. Alejandro simply had never mentioned it for fear of embarrassing his son. "Is there something you'd like to tell me, Diego?"

Diego released a heavy sigh. "Not yet, Father."

"Alright." Alejandro nodded apprehensively, suddenly feeling that perhaps this dinner party was not the right thing to do at this time.

"The guests should be arriving shortly. I'll go make sure everything is ready," Alejandro excused himself and walked toward the kitchen.

Diego nodded slowly and simply resigned himself to an evening of discomfort.

"All of this attention must be grating on your nerves, Diego." Victoria placed a comforting hand on her friend's arm when she walked around the corner and noticed him leaning very un-Diego like against the adobe wall.

"More than you could ever know, Victoria."

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at his tone. She hadn't thought this was his idea and the sad, despondent tone in his voice had just confirmed it.

Alejandro had invited the young señorita to the dinner party, but she couldn't fathom why. Everyone in the territory knew her heart belonged to Zorro. And everyone at the party tonight had been invited for the express reason of finding a suitable wife for Diego.

Victoria felt sorry for her quiet friend. While most of the women she had met this evening were, on the outside, very proper, pretty ladies, Victoria couldn't imagine her studious friend marrying any one of them.

They all seemed far too eager to please, agreeing with everything Diego or Alejandro said. And nearly all of them had stared unfavorably at her when she arrived. She wasn't a member of their social class, and they immediately knew it. Still, Alejandro and Diego had made her feel completely welcome, even going so far as to seat her next to Diego at dinner. This earned her more disapproving glances from the money-seeking señoritas.

Victoria could hear the whispers of some of the ladies as they passed by, eagerly glancing at Diego. The taverness huffed at the thought of her friend being only an object of wealthy desire for these women and laced her hand through Diego's arm and smiled sweetly as the señoritas and their chaperones walked by them. She could see their frowns hidden carefully behind elegant little fans and she chuckled at the daggers their eyes shot at her.

Diego's heart somersaulted as she looked at him and he smiled thankfully down at her. "Thank you for the brief escape," he said slowly.

"You're welcome, Diego." Her warm smile ignited the fire in his blood and he leaned closer to her, as much to put off the women walking by as to be near the woman he loved.

Victoria was suddenly very nervous. Diego's expression had all of a sudden changed from sad and despondent to one of – of – she couldn't quite place it. Was it longing? Desire? She blinked and shook her head. "As much as it pains me to release you into their hands, I should probably let you get back to your guests."

"I don't mind if they see us together and think I've made my choice," he whispered. His breath was hot against her cheek and she found herself trembling at the low timbre of his voice.

In the moonlight, his body shaded by the hanging roses and other foliage blooming in the fragrant garden, Victoria was stunned at the elegant, handsome picture he presented. Perhaps she'd been blinded to all other men because of Zorro. Victoria found herself staring rather long into Diego's beautiful eyes, noticing, for perhaps the first time, that he was a very, very good looking man.

She trembled as he shifted closer to her and she was very aware of the heat his body was generating. When his hands slid around her arms and pulled her back into the darkness, she gasped and dropped her hands to his chest.

"Shh," She felt him whisper against her ear and she trembled.

When the women had passed, he glanced down at her an apologetic look in his eyes. "I'm sorry. The last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable." He dropped his hands and leaned back against the adobe wall, clearly disturbed that he had caused her discomfort.

"No," she said a little too quickly and took his hand to reassure him. "You've had a long evening. Even I would have lost my temper long ago were I in your position."

He grinned and she realized that it was the first real, genuine smile to touch his lips since the evening began. "Thank you for coming tonight, Victoria." He squeezed her hand gently.

"Well, I admit I wondered why your father invited me." She glanced away and dropped her voice as another young woman, followed by her chaperone, passed by them.

He unsuccessfully tried to hide a grin and glanced over her shoulder.

"Diego – "

"My father invited you because I asked him to." Diego finally admitted after a few moments of silence.

"Ah." She nodded. Well, this made things even more curious. He knew she was all but betrothed to Zorro.

"For my own selfish reasons, I'll admit." His voice was low, barely above a whisper and she leaned closer to hear what he was saying.

"Oh?" She glanced up at him out of the corner of her eye.

"I really wanted some familiar, and comfortable, company tonight," he admitted with a reluctant sigh. "I hope you can forgive me for using you in such a manner."

She turned to him and rested her hands on his chest. A very intimate gesture but she didn't realize it immediately, too concerned about the melancholy and sadness in his voice. "Diego, I've had a lovely evening. And if I've been able to deter any of those women from their pursuit of you, all the better." Her eyes twinkled and she only noticed the position of her hands when his came down and held them in place, flattening them against his chest so that she could feel the frantic beating of his heart.

She inhaled sharply, completely ignoring propriety, by leaning into his chest when he dropped a gentle kiss to the corner of her mouth.

"Thank you," he whispered, his warm breath causing gooseflesh to pebble her arms.

She had a brief flash of being caught in such a compromising position moments before one of the chaperones walked around the corner and stared straight at them.

Diego was slow to react to the woman's withering stare and Victoria instantly dropped her hands to her sides as the chaperone's charge came around the corner and stared at them with a shocked expression.

"Well, it didn't take you long to make a choice, did it, Señor de la Vega?" The young woman's shrill, disgusted voice echoed around the garden, drawing the attention of others who were outside enjoying the night air.

Victoria's eyes widened and even Diego opened his mouth to speak, but the chaperone stared hard at the handsome caballero.

"I anticipate we'll be hearing a betrothal announcement by the end of the evening, then?"

"Oh!" Victoria gasped but Diego's hand slid to her wrist and he stepped forward, hiding their joined hands.

"Victoria and I will make that decision together," Diego said with a serious tone to his voice she had rarely ever heard. "And make an announcement when we see fit."

Victoria glanced at the back of his head in shock. Why was he fueling their already incorrect assumption?

"Now if you will excuse us. We need to speak with my father." Diego slid his hand into hers and led her out of the garden, amidst a flurry of heated whispers and withering glares.

"Dios, Diego!" Victoria whispered as they stepped into the hacienda. "Why did you let them think . . ."

He whirled and placed a finger to her lips. "Just a moment. Please. Come with me."

Diego led Victoria through the entire hacienda until he found his father. Unfortunately, the chaperone who had caught him with Victoria had already reached the man and was conferring with him on the proper etiquette of such behavior.

"I see," Alejandro said slowly and he leveled a stern gaze at his son as he approached. He turned his attention back to the concerned chaperone and bowed ever so slightly. "If you will excuse me. I think there are a few things I need to discuss with my son and - " Alejandro stumbled over the correct, seemingly unbelievable word betrothed, and settled on, "– Señorita Escalante," hoping it sounded believable.

Alejandro held out his arm and led the two down the hallway and away from prying eyes and ears. When they'd arrived in Alejandro's private sitting room, he whirled on his son. "What is going on?"

"Father," Diego released Victoria's hand and raised his own, "please, let me explain."

"You'd better do it fast. Word is spreading that you and Victoria are betrothed! I can only imagine what compromising position you were found in to make people think this!" He glanced at the woman, who had gotten paler as the minutes passed. He grasped her hands as if to reassure her. "My dear, if this is true, I will happily accept you into our family! And if my son has compromised you in any way -"

"Don Alejandro . . ."

Diego turned sad eyes on the woman he loved. "Victoria, let me handle this. I've wronged you tonight and I need to correct it before word spreads."

"It may be too late for that, Son." Alejandro sighed heavily.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because a few of the ladies and their chaperones have already left. No doubt news will be all over the pueblo by morning." Alejandro's eyes flitted between Victoria and Diego. Something had transpired between the two of them tonight. Otherwise, they would not be so nervous.

Diego groaned and ran a hand through his dark hair. If Victoria hadn't been so shocked over the evening's events, she would have thought the nervous gesture endearing.

"Do you mean-" Victoria couldn't bring herself to say the words.

"That you may have to marry my son or face some very shameful repercussions?" Alejandro leveled a hard stare at his son before turning a soft gaze to the pale woman standing beside him. "If we cannot undo this, I'm afraid so. Otherwise, Diego, and this family, will not only have dishonored you, but every other woman here this evening."

Diego quickly caught her as her knees buckled and he gently led her to a chair and knelt beside her. "Victoria, I'm so sorry." He took her hands in one of his and with the other he brushed the backs of his fingers across her cheek.

Even through her distress, the familiar gesture did not go unnoticed and Victoria stared at her friend with wide eyes.

Alejandro watched his son in stunned silence at the romantic gesture. What had happened between them tonight?

"I'll right this if I have to endure another painful, embarrassing evening like tonight to do it." He pressed her hands to his chest so that she could feel his thudding heart. "I promise you."

"Diego, I-" Victoria's mouth was suddenly dry.

"I will fix this, quer- Victoria." Diego inwardly winced. The distraught look that had not passed from her eyes told him she'd missed his slip. But his father hadn't missed a single word. And Diego knew it. He avoided looking at his father.

"Diego, I'm going to have Miguel escort Victoria home and then we are going to talk." Alejandro held out his hand to Victoria and she hesitated for a split second before taking it.

"Father, I would prefer to escort-"

"And fuel the flames?" Alejandro whirled on his son. "Do not disgrace yourself and this lady further, Diego. Not until some decision is made."

"Don Alejandro," Victoria finally found her voice. "It's not Diego's fault. Please. We did nothing improper. Everything has been blown completely out of proportion." She turned sad eyes on Diego but was not comforted by the ashamed glance she found radiating in his normally cheerful blue eyes.

"I can imagine it has, my dear," Alejandro soothed. "But my son needs to correct this mistake or you will be expected to marry him. I'm sure the rumor mill has already begun."

Victoria nodded slowly, her eyes downcast.

"I'm sure I would be cut down by Zorro for even suggesting such a thing," Diego muttered, clearly agitated with the evening's turn of events. His tone sounded far harsher to those listening than it did to himself.

Victoria's eyes flashed at the mention of the man she loved and Alejandro narrowed his eyes in his son's direction. So, Diego did have some kind of feelings for Victoria. The endearment that Diego had not completed and his son's tone when he mentioned Zorro confirmed it.

"He would never-"

"Diego, stay here." The tone in his father's voice left no room for discussion. "Victoria, dear, let's get you to your wagon."

Victoria nodded wordlessly as Alejandro moved to lead her out of his sitting room. She cast her own apologetic look at Diego before Alejandro ushered her out of the room.

Victoria squared her shoulders and held her head high as Alejandro escorted her out of the hacienda amidst some rather pointed stares. She stood close to the man who had been so like a father to her as he made the announcement that would end the evening's event. She refused to answer any questions as a few chaperones approached Alejandro to inquire as to the timing of a betrothal announcement.

Amidst a majority of harsh stares and rude comments uttered behind delicately waving fans, Victoria was surprised to see a few of the young women approach her and offer their congratulations.

One particularly shy young woman whom Victoria recognized as having spoken as well as danced with Diego earlier in the evening, smiled kindly at Victoria and whispered, "Congratulations. Don Diego is very handsome and very kind. You're a very lucky woman."

Victoria found herself smiling at the young lady. If there were any woman here worthy of her friend's hand, it would be this shy lady who was very obviously smitten with the handsome caballero.

Very quickly, the guests had all left and Victoria was the only one who remained. Alejandro turned to her with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, my dear. I couldn't get away and I was not going to let you simply walk out the door without an escort."

"Oh, Don Alejandro," Victoria had relaxed a bit more since she was no longer the object of so many intense stares. "Don't worry. I'm sure this misunderstanding can be cleared up in no time." She turned and took his hands in hers. "Please don't be upset with Diego. He did nothing improper."

Alejandro smiled slightly. "My dear. It warms my heart at your willingness to defend my son's actions this evening. I should probably take some of the credit for his - whatever he's done! I rather forced him to participate this evening."

"I know." Victoria smiled at her shoes. "He told me."

They walked to the wagon and Alejandro assisted her into the seat. "Victoria?"

"Yes?" The young lady held the reins in her lap and smiled down at Alejandro.

"It would make me incredibly happy if you did decide to join this family."

Victoria blushed and glanced at her hands. "Thank you."

She slapped the reins and her mare began to trot down the road. Alejandro stared after her for several long moments before taking a deep breath and turning to go confront his son.

TBC