Alonso was well enough to leave his bed and join the other men for dinner that night. He was still pale and obviously tired, but his strength had returned. He regarded Diego with mild curiosity, but as Alejandro and Sebastian were basically ignoring him, Alonso treated him likewise.
Diego toyed with his dinner for a while, sitting at the table as manners dictated until the glasses of port were handed around. His plate had been removed and dessert waved away, and after a few toasts to Alonso's continued good health and success at finding the children safely, he admitted to a headache and left the table with apologies.
Sebastian watched him go and frowned.
"Your son has early hours, it's barely 9pm."
"Diego's health is fragile, he is often ill."
Sebastian frowned even more. "That doesn't concern you? He seems quite a capable and strong young man."
"His ailments come and go, they are never serious."
"The fact that he is often ill would concern me."
"It would be concerning if he was seriously ill," Alejandro said. "He is easily troubled. The other day's exertion would have exhausted him. Appearances are deceiving. Everyone knows he is not strong."
"Appearances are often deceiving," Sebastian agreed, his frown clearing with a sudden flash of understanding. "Tell me, Alejandro, what would you do if you knew the identity of Zorro?"
"Zorro? The man is dead, surely?"
"Hypothetically, Alejandro."
"Well, he has been a great hero, and saved many people for many years. Myself several times."
"He is a criminal, an outlaw…"
"Outlaws out here need to be judged by their doings, not the fact that they work against the legal guardians of the land. Our alcaldes have had a lot to be desired, both in competence and in morality. The governor paid no heed to my letters, or anyone else's. If Zorro was running for alcalde most of this pueblo would vote him in. Even without knowing who he is. Or was. The man is dead, everyone knows that. He would have appeared to Victoria at least if only to reassure her."
"I see."
"The man was a veritable genius with both the horse and the sword. If he had joined the military we would both be serving under him."
"Perhaps…" Sebastian ran a finger over his long, narrow scar, an unconscious movement.
"He sounds like a fairytale, not like a real person," Alonso said. "If he was fighting against the corruption in this area, he must have been a patriot."
"Yes, I would say he was," Alejandro said with a sigh. "What a disappointment that he is no longer able to help. He would find those children and bring them back before tomorrow night. No trouble at all."
"A murderer is determined to stop them reaching your hacienda, Alejandro. He might have had more trouble than you would expect with those men."
"I was too late to save anyone that day," Alonso said slowly. "I saw the retreating gang and covered William as he took the children and ran. I let off several shots before they retreated. I may have killed one or two."
"You tried your best, Alonso. That is all we can expect," Sebastian said, glancing at him with concern. "There was blood on your clothes when you were brought here, where had that come from?"
Alonso went as white as a sheet, and glanced down at his port. He downed it quickly, as if desperate to steady himself.
"I was too late, but Margaret...she was still alive…"
"You didn't say," Sebastian said after a moment to process the information. "She saw a doctor, of course."
"Sebastian, the boy said 'was' alive. It implies that she may be no longer so."
Sebastian stared at his brother for a moment, and then turned to his son slowly. "Alonso, you mean…?"
"My wife is dead. She took the shot meant for Elizabeth but it went through both of them," Alonso said, woodenly. "She was still alive when I got there, but she wasn't when I left."
"Scoundrels," Sebastian said, and swore under his breath. "And the child?"
"Carlos is with his nanny at the house, he's fine," Alonso said, dismissively. "She only went to visit her sister, Father. I didn't accompany her, because I was intent on my work. If I had known the danger she had walked into, perhaps I could have saved them all…"
"You are not to blame for this, Alonso. You cannot blame yourself," Alejandro said, placing a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "The ones on whom the blame belongs, are the scoundrels that pulled the trigger."
"It is connected. I know it is connected. The instigators are behind this, if only I could keep up with the reports, I would have known they were in danger."
"They were all in military intelligence, Alonso. They knew the risks, both in service and in retirement. None of them would blame you. Especially Margaret," Sebastian said, gently. "She always acted first and thought afterwards. Perhaps if she had been a man, it would not have been that way, but she was the best decoder I had ever seen, woman or man."
Alonso pushed his chair away from the table, and rose. "I am going to bed, Father, Uncle. I am exhausted, and I wish to travel with you in the morning to find these children."
"Rest up, Alonso. We are leaving at daybreak," Sebastian said, thoughtfully. "If you are unwell, we may have to leave you behind. I won't endanger your health for something in which you don't need to be a participant."
Alonso shook his head. "I promised Margaret I would find the children, and I will be there when they are found. My health is nothing to that of those children."
Sebastian watched as his son stormed off, his face tinged with his anger.
"Our sons," Alejandro said with a half smile. He was shaking his head with resignation.
"Yes, indeed." Sebastian said. He thought of Diego's strangely silent behaviour at dinner, and Alonso's hidden grief that had spilled out in self recrimination. Communication was a trifle hard with those two at the present.
"I am retiring, Alejandro. Early start in the morning."
"Yes, indeed. I will be heading that way myself shortly. Sleep well, brother."
Sebastian nodded and left the room, heading towards the guest quarters. He glanced up towards the landing where Alejandro's and Diego's quarters were. Perhaps he could talk to Diego before he truly went to sleep? He would be reading far into the night himself, and a scholar would be doing similar.
He turned and made his way to Diego's door. He hesitated, and decided not to knock. What would he see that he hadn't before? Even if there was a young servant in the bed with his nephew, it was not outside his experience. It wasn't as if he could be shocked, especially after raising his own son to manhood.
Sebastian eased the door open, as silently as he could. The shutters were open, allowing moonlight to spill in like milk. The bed was empty, there were no young girls in the bed, there was no young man in the bed. It had not been touched that night. Not yet, at any rate.
Where was Diego? Should he alert Alejandro? Running a finger over his scar, he decided not to alarm anyone. Diego was a grown man. Whatever he was doing was his own business, but it was worth considering the possibilities.