A/N: Thakns for all reviews!

Usually I post the whole story at one time, this time I'm going to do it in parts. So, if you have some suggestions please let me know (However, I don't promise I will hear of it :-) )

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Chapter 1

Victoria had overslept. She knew that she should get up and go to work. However, today she just didn't feel up to it. Pilar, alarmed when she wasn't in the kitchen, came upstairs to see if she was alright. Seeing that Victoria wasn't feeling good, she offered to take care of the few guests herself today. Gratefully, Victoria accepted her offer. A few minutes later, Pilar came back with an herb tea. She said that Don Diego, hearing that Victoria didn't feel well, asked Pilar to take this medicine to her.

Victoria thanked her, and after Pilar left the room, her mind went back to the previous night.

Last night... it wasn't unpleasant. On the contrary, it was nice...even if a bit weird. Victoria couldn't stop herself from wondering. Is it possible, that the best wife for Diego is... herself? That couldn't be... or could it?

Victoria took the list from the place where she had hidden it, and studied it. There were some very nice girls on that list. Is it possible that she and Zorro crossed them out too fast?

Victoria thought hard about these girls. Finally she came to the conclusion that, yes, these girls were nice, but... they weren't perfect... for Diego. And Victoria had decided that if she was going to try to find Diego a wife, that woman must be the woman who would be the very best one for him.

Considering all of the names on the list, she herself was undeniably the best choice. Victoria wondered – didn't Zorro see her faults, or did he really think she would be the best wife for Diego? Why didn't he cross her name out? Why did he even put her name on that list at all?

"How did I get myself into this whole situation in the first place?" she asked herself, her thoughts racing.

Victoria thought about the betrothal party for Don Amand, the younger son of don Hector. Diego asked her to go there with him. She agreed to go, explaining that she would do it only because she didn't want to see him be the only man there without a date. She would never tell him that she liked to go out with him. Diego was a good compadre. Sometimes Victoria didn't really feel comfortable at these parties, because she didn't think that she belonged to this class, but Diego always made sure she had a good time.

This time, as well, she enjoyed herself. She joked with Diego, until Don Alejandro came over to speak with her. Some time later, one of the dons called Don Alejandro, and he excused himself. Victoria was standing alone, looking for Diego, when a few young dons approached. They didn't see her standing near them.

"I heard Don Alejandro de la Vega tell my father a few minutes ago, that he hopes this big party makes Don Diego think about getting married himself," Don Amand said to his friends, and they started laughing. It was well known that Don Diego had been refusing to marry ever since he came home from Madrid four years ago.

"Someone ought to persuade him to marry. It's a pity that such a wealthy and good-looking caballero like Don Diego is still single.

There are some very nice girls who are interested in him, though."

"Yes, I saw those girls eying him, too. However, are they interested enough to persuade Don Diego to get married? You know how blind Diego is to a woman's physical attractions," said one of Amand's friends. "The only woman to whom Don Diego has paid any attention is Señorita Escalante."

"And she is already in love with Zorro," pointed out another one.

"Unfortunately, you are right. It would be interesting, though, to see them together."

"I think they'd be perfect for each other," Don Emilio, brother of don Amand said thoughtfully. "They both are good-looking, kind and cheerful. And they are already good friends."

"Yes, and they will never quarrel each. All Señorita Escalante would need to say is "I want it", and Don Diego will jump," Don Amand said. All of the dons laughed, except Don Emilio.

"I wonder about that, little brother," he said. "After all, Diego has been surprisingly stubborn for four years in his refusal to marry, and you know yourself, how persuasive Don Alejandro can be. I would like to see Diego and Senorita Escalante get together," Don Emilio said thoughtfully. "Maybe we could help them along a little."

"That would be a hard job. As unromantic as Don Diego is..." Don Amand said, but Don Emilio disagreed.

"Hey, he once almost got Sergeant Mendoza married."

"You're right. Only it turned out that the woman was married already."

"If you need any help getting Don Diego married, just say the word," another man offered.

"Thank you. Though I don't think Diego will marry any woman unless he's really in love with her," Don Emilio said, looking thoughtfully in Diego's direction. "Come on. Let me tell you how Diego helped me to win the heart of my wife." The disbelieving caballeros followed him from the room.

Victoria was a bit irritated that they were talking about her private life. But then she caught sight of Diego. She just stood where she was for a minute and watched him, considering. She had never thought of her friend as either stubborn or romantic. Nor had she ever really noticed before, just how many girls flocked around him at parties...like tonight. He looked very uncomfortable. Victoria walked nonchalantly over to him and took his arm. She spent the rest of the evening with him. She had a good time, too.

Only later that night, after Diego had conveyed her back to the tavern, she began to think. The young dons had been right. Diego needed to be married. Of course, not to her. She is in love with Zorro, and will wait for him for as long as it takes, despite the passing of time.

Could Diego be a good husband? she asked herself. Yes, she decided. He is kind and gentle. He's wealthy enough to take care of the woman he would marry. It's really a pity that no woman catches his attention, that he doesn't know how it feels to love and to be loved. Victoria sighed a bit sadly. However, if I don't want to find myself being matched up with Diego by Don Emilio, I have to find a wife for him myself.

Just then she heard Zorro's voice. She thought that a talk with him would ease her mind; but by the time he left, she was more confused than ever.

TBC