Diego caught up with Victoria, finding her outside sitting in the weak winter sunlight. She greeted him with a smile, and he sat on the chair next to her.

"No ill effects from our adventure yesterday?" Diego asked. He had worried slightly that he had exposed Victoria to too much of the fierce winter weather. "Do you think you caught a cold?"

"No," Victoria said with a smile. "The blankets were so warm and soft, and I forgot that it had been so cold earlier. I feel so lazy this morning."

"Have you had breakfast?"

Victoria's eyes widened. "Have you?"

"I asked first," Diego said.

"No, I thought everyone would have had breakfast hours ago."

"Not me, and not you."

Diego felt hungry. They were likely to be eating alone, together. The kitchen staff would fuss, but they would find them something to eat. And the servants would busy themselves in the lunch preparation. Eyebrows might be raised as when he had bought brushes, combs, sweet smelling soaps, and other accessories to serve her needs. If the servants gossipped he had never heard any stories.

Once settled in a corner, out of the way of rushing servants, they were treated to eggs and buttered toast. Diego watched Victoria eat with a smile, before starting his own. She was hungry too, it seemed.

She met his eyes, and flushed. That was unlike his friend. He raised an eyebrow, not sure what to say. He'd embarrassed her somehow.

"I am sorry," he said gently. She flushed more, and he placed his large hand over her small one. "What have I done?"

"You must think that I eat like a peasant, I have no manners."

She hadn't been concerned about manners before, Diego noticed. What did that mean? Did she think he sat in judgement of her?

"I think you have beautiful manners, senorita."

"Now you are a flatterer."

He smiled and they met eyes again. She smiled back this time, and laughed a little.

"What's so funny?" Diego asked. "I meant it."

She stared into his eyes, aware of the seriousness of the tone of his voice. Her gaze took his breath away, and he felt trapped in time for a moment. She seemed to see all of him in an instant, and heat rose to his face in the confusion.

"Are you well, Diego? You are as white as a sheet," Victoria said, breaking the strange silence between them.

Maybe he was not well, Diego thought. It was just as unlike him to react that way, as it was for her to blush. Maybe he was feverish.

"Oh, Patron! There you are, Don Diego. We have a visitor. I have taken a gentleman to the library. He wants to talk to Don Alejandro," a young servant said, ridding them of any chance of future conversation.

Diego stood, slightly disappointed and slightly relieved.

"If you will excuse me, Victoria. I think I would like to see this strange gentleman first. I might be able to solve his problem without bothering my father."

Victoria smiled. "I have to get back to the tavern. It goes to pieces without me. I can visit tomorrow if you like."

"That would be wonderful," Diego said, as he watched her leave the room, knowing that she was on her way to say her goodbyes to Alejandro.

Diego turned back to the servant. "Did he give his name?"

"Yes, Don Diego. He says he is Sebastian de la Vega."

Diego was stunned into silence. The world seemed muted, and all he could hear was the ticking of the nearby clock. He took a deep breath to steady himself. His father would need to be warned before encountering the other man. Diego wasn't sure what the brothers felt or thought about the other, and due to the fact that Alejandro had chosen to tell him of the man now instead of as a boy, suggested the relationship wasn't great.

"Can you find a way to keep my father out of the way until I can see what's going on?"

Pablo paled and hesitated. Diego knew the question had been an expectation too much. He patted the young man's shoulder.

"Don't worry. Forget I asked. I'll deal with it."

"Yes, Patron. Thank you Patron." Colour quickly returned to Pablo's face, and his breathing deepened. Diego felt a little guilty for trying to shift his responsibility to someone else, even though other wealthy people regularly did such things, without qualms.

"Have you offered him a drink? Go and make him comfortable. I will be there shortly."

"Of course, Patron."