Chapter 3

For several moments there was complete silence before Don Alejandro spluttered. "This isn't one of your practical jokes, is it Teodoro? Because if it is, then it's in very poor taste to use the King like that."

Teo chuckled; he must have really shocked his friend if he had to revert to calling him by his full name. He shook his head. "No, it's no joke. I give you my word on it Alejandro." he replied.

"A...a...Marqués?" Diego muttered, not believing what he heard, while Victoria's jaw dropped and Felipe just stared uncomprehendingly at Teo.

It was hard for Teo not to laugh at their expressions of disbelief, of their shock, of their lack of understanding, all of which was perfectly understandable; it wasn't every day that you became a member of the nobility. "Yes, that's right Diego, the King has decided to make you a Marqués." he paused as he turned his attention to Don Alejandro. "You do understand why the King chose your son and not yourself for this honour." he said kindly.

Don Alejandro nodded. "Because Diego has royal blood from his mother and I do not."

Teo nodded. "That's right."

"I...I...don't understand." Victoria finally found her voice, even though it reflected her total confusion. "Isn't that a...royal title...but...how...why?" she stuttered as she looked between Diego and Teo.

Diego was slowly recovering from the initial shock but he still couldn't think. "Actually it's a Noble title, not a Royal one. Royal titles are only for the King and his immediate family." he said absently.

She frowned. "But...but if you become a...Marqués ...what does that make me?"

It was Teo who answered. "You would become a Marquesa."

Victoria's jaw dropped once more as she stared incredulously at Teo. "But...but...that's ridiculous...I can't...I mean I'm just a commoner...I was born at the tavern. Why would I become a...a...Marquesa if Don Alej...I mean father, can't be the Marqués because he doesn't have royal blood, then I obviously can't either..." she said unbelievingly as she gripped her husband's hand as though it was a lifeline.

Teo smiled re-assuringly at the young woman. "I know it seems strange Victoria but the wife of a Marqués automatically becomes a Marquesa regardless of the circumstances of her family. The title is for the man, not the woman."

She shook her head. "But...but...my father died in prison and my mother was executed by the representative of the King, the previous Alcalde, so my family isn't exactly what you call noble." She heard her voice rising in panic and she forced herself to calm down.

Teo frowned slightly as he looked at both Diego and Alejandro and received their nods of confirmation of her family. "Mmmm, well, perhaps it would be best not to mention it, not that it would matter except for those rather ghastly women who would love nothing better than to spread gossip." he added.

Victoria became even more worried by that remark. She had concerns about becoming Doña and how the wives of the local caballeros would treat her since she had married into the wealthiest family in the district, perhaps in the whole of California but now the thought of becoming a Marquesa, a Lady of the Nobility, began to frighten her. This wasn't some party being held at one their neighbours, this was high society, the highest in Spain. How would the other women react to her, knowing that she was a commoner, someone who had been born in a tavern in a small pueblo in the colonies, someone who hadn't been raised in the proper ways of behaviour. She doubted that they would accept her.

Felipe had sat still listening to them with growing anxiety; he too was worried about how it would affect him. He knew from his studies that the nobility titles were hereditary, so did that mean that he would become a Marqués too or would the adoption make that invalid because he wasn't his father's own flesh and blood son. Would they accept him or not, especially as he couldn't speak.

Diego gazed thoughtfully at son and wondered how this news would affect him. "What about Felipe? Would my adoption of him affect the title in any way?" he asked.

Teo shook his head as he shifted in his seat. "I don't believe so but we can confirm that at a later date. Legally Felipe is your son and so therefore he has every right to succeed you as Marqués."

Don Alejandro frowned. "So it's to be a hereditary title then?" he asked.

"Yes, that's right, it's hereditary but as with our system of nobility, it doesn't automatically go to the firstborn and it doesn't have to be to a male heir either. The title could go to a daughter as well." Teo said as he gazed at the younger man with a wry smile. "I won't bore you with all the formalities regarding succession except to say that after the death of any member of the nobility, the senior heir makes a formal petition to the King requesting permission to take over the title and it is up to the King to grant it. It's just a formality and it's rarely rejected. The senior heir has two years in which to make the petition and after that time, other heirs may come forward to claim the title."

Felipe swallowed hard, at the moment he was the only heir until his father and Victoria have children on their own. He didn't know what to think about the possibility of becoming a Marqués; he just couldn't see himself in that position, either now or in the distant future. If fact, he knew that he didn't want the title at all; it just wasn't him.

There was something playing on Victoria's mind but she didn't want to offend anyone, however Diego saw the slight frown on her face and knew something was bothering her. "What is it Victoria?" he asked kindly.

She sighed. "We're a part of Mexico now and not Spain and therefore we are considered to be Mexican citizens. Why would the King of Spain give Diego this title if we are no longer under Spanish rule and is this something that he must accept or does he have a choice in it?"

Don Alejandro frowned. "The King doesn't give out these honours just for the sake of it Victoria." he said a little heatedly.

Diego frowned at his father's anger; not everyone had the same loyalty to the King that the older man did. "Father, I think they are good questions, even I would like to know the answers." he said, defending his wife.

Teo held up his hand once more to stop any heated discussions. "Actually they are legitimate questions Alejandro but you are also right. It is an honour that the King rarely gives and it's not to be dismissed lightly." He turned to Victoria and Diego. "Even though you are living here under Mexican rule, you are still considered to be Spanish with your strong ties back to the mother country and of course with Diego having been born in Madrid. Although it's rare for the King, of any reign, to give a title to someone in another country, it has been done before." He paused to consider his next words.

"Yes, you could decline it but you must think very hard and very long before making that decision because if you do, you will more than likely to offend the King and there would be any number of repercussions to your family, including any family members who are still living in Madrid; they could be snubbed or at least politely ignored by people in power and in social gatherings. You could lose the contract for your beef and horses, you may never be able to travel to Spain or her colonies again or any of hundred other things. I'm not saying that the King himself would do this but others may take offence on his behalf and act according to their own beliefs and then there will always be the jealous or spiteful people who will hate you just for being in favour with the King and would do or say anything to hurt you or your family, regardless of whether you accept the title or not. I just want you to understand the possible consequences of both accepting and declining the honour."

Diego nodded thoughtfully. "Of course Teo and I thank you for your candour. What would accepting it mean for us?" he asked.

"It would mean a permanent move back to Spain for you and Victoria and Felipe and you too Alejandro, if you so desired it." Teo confirmed.

Victoria exchanged a startled look with Diego. "Move permanently to Spain? But why? I mean I can understand that we would have to go to Spain for awhile but I thought we would be able to come back here to live."

"Of course you can return occasionally, to see to the ranch but you would be required to have your main residence in Spain. Oh don't worry, you won't be bored, you will have duties to attend to." he added with a smile.

Diego frowned; he wasn't sure if he liked that idea. As much as he enjoyed his time in Madrid for his studies and his holiday in France, he always knew that his home was here in Los Angeles, with his father and their ranch. And then there was Victoria; this was her home too, he couldn't just take her away from everything she has even known. "Is it something that can be changed Teo? I would prefer to make Los Angeles my main residence and go to Spain when necessary."

Teo sat back in his chair, steepled his fingers together and thought deeply for a moment. "That would be difficult Diego, I mean California is not exactly two or three days sail away from Spain. It just wouldn't be practical to keep travelling the long distance between here and Spain every year or even twice year."

Diego nodded. "I understand that but is it possible?"

Teo saw that the younger man wasn't giving up on the idea, although for the life of him he couldn't understand why he was so against living in Spain; he himself couldn't imagine living anywhere else. "It's not for me to say but it might be possible Diego but not straight away." he paused as he stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I shouldn't be telling you this but the King does have a special job for you to do which could take some time."

Don Alejandro exchanged a glance with Diego, who was equally curious "A job. What kind of job?" he asked, wondering what kind of task the King could give to his son.

Teo shook his head. "I'm sorry Alejandro, Diego but I can't go into any more details. I want you to decide this on its own merits and not because of what you may or may not do for the King."

Diego sighed and ran his fingers through his dark hair. "How long do we have to decide?" he asked as he gazed at Victoria, not knowing what he wanted to do.

Teo shrugged. "We would have to be back in Spain by the end of September and allowing for the fix or six weeks sailing time and another week travelling by stage to Madrid, it leaves you with a couple of weeks to decide." He paused as he leant forward. "Take your time to decide this Diego, talk it over with each other. I'll be here for another two, three weeks at the most, to answer any questions and explain anything you don't understand before I need to get back to Spain, with or without you."

Later that night, Victoria sat in front their dressing table gazing down at the hair rush in her hand without really seeing it; she was still very much in shock from the news. Never in her wildest dreams, could she ever have imagine that she would one day become part of the Spanish Nobility; it was like one of those bedtime stories that her mother used to read to her when she was a child, the ones with heroic knights and beautiful maidens but that only happened in books and never in real life. Now she had to face the real possibility of it happening and she didn't know what to do or what to think.

Diego entered their room and smiled softly at the vision of his wife sitting at his dresser; it was a sight that he never thought he would ever see but he couldn't help notice that the slight frown on her face and all the news of the day came rushing back to him. He sighed as he closed the bedroom door. "I certainly wasn't expecting this when we returned from San Francisco." he said as he removed his jacket and placed over the armrest of a chair.

Victoria shook herself out of her thoughts and gave her husband a small smile. "Neither did I but I'm beginning to realise that our life together is not going to be dull." she teased him.

He chuckled as he sat on the bed. "I never believed it would be." he relied as he bent down and removed his shoes and socks.

She sighed. "What are you going to do?"

"You mean, what are WE going to do? We are in this together querida." He replied as he straightened up and he held out his hand.

She rose from her seat and crossed over to him and settled down onto his lap. "So what are WE going to do?" she asked as she placed her arm around his shoulders, while her other hand rested lightly on his chest.

He sighed. "It's a great honour..." he stopped, unsure of what he wanted to say.

She nudged him. "But...?"

He shook his head as he shifted to a move comfortable position and rested his hand on her nightgown clad thigh. "After all these years as Zorro, I just wanted some peace and quiet in my life, to marry the woman I love, to raise a family and to take over the ranch from father, to give him some peace of his own. But now..."

She nodded. "But now that peace and quiet will disappear if you accept this." She said understandingly. "I know you Diego, you may want peace and a quiet life but I also know that you have a somewhat...restless nature."

Diego frowned at that. "No, I don't..."

Victoria gently placed a finger against his lips. "You are the kind of person who needs to be doing something for others, you can't stand by and do nothing, which is why you became Zorro, to help others in need. Will you be satisfied with just running this ranch or will you be involved in the community as well?"

He took her fingers and laced them with his. "I can't run the ranch without being involved in the community." he said gently, not wanting to insult her intelligence.

She nodded. "I know that but not everyone has the same dedication that you and your father have to the community. There's our weekly paper that you still do and then there was the time that father stood in as Alcalde and signed off on the pueblo's irrigation system, not many others would have done that."

"Perhaps, perhaps not." He paused for a moment before he smiled. "You know, it sounds like you want me to take up the title of Marqués." he said with a teasing gleam in his blue eyes as his fingers gently stroked her thigh.

A hot tingle shot through her body at his touch. "Not at all, I'm only saying that you need something else in your life besides the ranch and even myself. I don't mean that in a terrible way, only that I think you would become bored if you didn't have something to fight against or to fight for...Oh I don't know if I'm making any sense."

Diego sighed. "You seem to understand me better than I do myself."

She smiled softly. "Don't forget that I've had several years watching you fight as both Diego and Zorro." She replied as she slipped a finger between the top two buttons of his shirt and gently teased his flesh.

He gave a low moan as his skin burned at her touch. "I still can't believe that you worked out my secret when I was away in France. I should have known with all the hints you gave me." he said as he moved his hand further up her leg, pushing her nightgown up as he went.

"Perhaps I should have just thrown myself at you, then I'm sure you would have got the message." she replied with a gleam in her own eyes as she managed to undo several buttons on his shirt but before she could do anything else, she let out a squeal as she suddenly found herself on the bed with Diego laying half across her, nuzzling her neck.

"Yes that definitely would have gained my attention, not to mention an immediate marriage the next morning." He whispered hotly in her ear before he claimed her lips in a long, sensuous kiss that made her forget everything about the Marqués, Zorro and holidays to France as they gave themselves over into the dance of lovers the world over.