Chapter 5
December 7. Hacienda de la Vega during the evening
"What was de Soto doing here?"
Alejandro and Diego were engaged in a game of chess.
Diego said. "I don't actually know. He offered to give me fencing lessons so that should the need arise, I might be able to defend myself."
Alejandro cackled in laughter.
"De Soto is teaching you how to fence?"
Diego nodded as he thoughtfully pushed a pawn forward.
Alejandro wiped a tear out of his eye. "That's something I never thought to hear."
Diego shrugged his shoulders. "Oh well, it keeps him off the streets, and maybe I'll learn something. It might be useful someday."
"I highly doubt it." Grinned Alejandro. "Diego, just do me one favour. Please only use practice swords. I hate to see you get yourself or others, even de Soto, get hurt."
With a furrowed brow, Alejandro peered at the chessboard.
Diego had been trying to figure out why de Soto was so interested in his love life.
Probably so that should Victoria chose Diego, it would hurt Zorro. The man had no idea. According to de Soto, Diego's main asset was the immense fortune he would one day inherit.
That had to get brought to Victoria's attention, along with more manly behaviour.
Diego didn't know what bothered him more. De Soto making every effort to make Diego popular with the women. Or his father, who had so little faith in his son.
"Aha." Shouted Alejandro, causing Diego to be startled out of his thoughts. Alejandro picked up his bishop to capture the pawn Diego had just moved.
Diego picked up another pawn and moved it forward one place.
His father mentioned. "I'm going to invite de Soto to the Christmas soirée this year. He did save your life, after all."
Shrugging his shoulders, Diego indicated that he was fine with it.
De Soto had indeed saved his life by shooting Gilberto. What would de Soto do should he ever find out that by doing that, he had also saved Zorro's life?
His father sat staring at the chessboard with a troubled expression.
Diego's mind wandered again to what de Soto's motives could be in wanting to help him win Victoria. And his absurd plan of how to achieve it.
Diego watched how his father, as expected, took his white queen and shoved it in front of the black king.
"Check!" The don enjoyed his triumph.
Diego took his knight and hit the white queen. "Checkmate."
"How, but, how?"
Alejandro half got up, stared at the chessboard bemusedly, let himself fall back into the chair, toppling his king.
"Well played, son." His father reached out his hand towards him to admit defeat.
"Will you come with me tomorrow to bring the invitations to our guests? I also plan to invite the old widow Sanchez. She has family over from Spain."
Diego nodded in agreement and promised to show up at the breakfast table on time in the morning.
.
Around the same time in de Soto's bedroom.
That evening, de Soto retired early. What on earth had he got himself in on? It was like pulling on a dead horse. It had taken hours for Diego to master the fine art of saluting your opponent. And the actual fencing instructions hadn't even begun.
Perhaps it would have been easier to go to the Escalante woman. And mention to her that should she want an easy life, married to a man with more money than she could ever spend. De Soto knew how much taxes the de la Vega's were annuel paying. Which was a lot! All she had to was was forget about Zorro and wink her eyes twice at Diego de la Vega.
Yet de Soto did not want to give in so easily.
What he did want was to get rid of that annoying feeling in his stomach that he owed de la Vega a favour. And for that to happen, don Diego had to believe he had it in him to conquer the woman's heart.
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December 8, Rancho de Sanchez.
Diego was sure the visit to the old Sanchez widow had been a preconceived plan. His father knew that the old widow had a family visiting from Spain. Despite his nonchalantly surprising reaction, he must have known these guests were her son, daughter-in-law and their five daughters.
Señora Sanchez had been a widow for over a decade. She was thrilled that her second son had come over for the first time in over twenty-five years to introduce his mother to his wife and children.
Horatio Sanchez was a cheerful man. He was getting bald and slightly overweight. Diego estimated him to be around fifty years old.
His wife, Francisca, was the daughter of a wealthy merchant. She had an irritatingly loud voice. Her black hair had interspersed with grey locks, revealing she was older than she tried to appear. The couple had five unmarried daughters ranging in age from sixteen to twenty-three.
The second eldest, Diego, believed to remember her name was Isabella, offered to fill his cup with coffee again. As soon as his father found out that the old widow was currently offering accommodation to no less than five young marriageable women. He had forgotten he and his son still had to visit at least twelve haciendas to hand out invitations.
The youngest of the bunch, a loud and naive girl, hid her blushing face behind her fan and giggled in a rather annoying manner at something one of her older sisters had said.
The eldest sister noticed this and tried to correct her younger sisters without drawing attention. When she failed to do so, the girl rolled her eyes.
Juanita, Isabella, Catharina, Magdalena, and Lucia Sanchez. His father was delighted with so much unexpected female beauty and, without hesitation, had invited don Horatio and his family to the Christmas soirée in a few days.
Diego had always hated it when his father organized these parties, hoping that a señorita would catch his son's eye. Every señorita in the Los Angeles area knew that the de la Vega heir was not in the least bit interested in any of them.
Now there would be no less than five more young girls than usual to avoid. All five determined to charm him. Although the eldest two were actually above the age to be called a girl. Perhaps he could pretend to have a severe cold? It had worked before.
"What do you think, Diego?"
He had not been listening. What had his father said? "Sorry, father. I was distracted. What did you say?"
"I merely suggested, tomorrow, you come with the buggy to pick up the lovely señorita's and show them the area."
Catharina cried and clapped her hands. "Can we go see some Indians?!"
Isabella seemed to be feeling elated.
One of the other younger girls asked. "They're not actually dangerous, are they?"
"Well, the Indian tribes nearby are not hostile." Diego patiently explained.
"Oh, I would love to see real Indians." Crowded Lucia. "Is it true that they never wear clothes?" Catherine giggled as all the other sisters turned fiery red.
"Lucia!" Her mother corrected the girl.
Alejandro said. "They wear clothes different from ours. Most are made of leather. The Indian tribes near Los Angeles live in peace. In the past, that used to be different." Alejandro started smiling as an old memory surfaced back to him. "My eldest brother, unfortunately he died several years ago, used to tell my younger brother and me that our grandfather had a secret hiding place built in the master bedroom. Because he used to fear an Indian attack."
Diego stiffened. If his father knew and remembered the cave's existence, inviting people to come and see, it would be disastrous.
Lucia clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Oh, that sounds so exciting. I would love to see such a hiding place. Don Alejandro, may I come to your hacienda to see it?"
"Lucia," Snarled her mother. "How dare you ask, don Alejandro, such a rude question. Forgive my daughter, señor. And Lucia, you would do well to consider my poor nerves. All these talks over those savages do not serve them well."
Her nerves? No one paid any attention to Diego and noticed his heart pounding in his throat.
Alejandro laughed. "Doña Francisca, let me reassure you. My brother told the most amazing stories. It was mainly to make us curious and scared.
My brothers and I searched not only the master bedroom but the entire hacienda for years and never found anything. So, señorita Lucia, I am afraid I have to disappoint you. My hacienda contains no such thing."
Doña Francisca came to stand next to don Alejandro.
"That offer you made for a buggy ride does sound nice. My daughters would love to see more of Los Angeles and its fine surroundings. Their father has told them about it all their lives. Of course, I insist on accompanying them." She spoke in a shrieking tone.
Spending an afternoon with five unmarried women and a mother whose sole goal was to make every effort to get any or all of her children married. Diego could think of better ways to spend his days.
Even de Soto's ridiculous plan to spend tomorrow afternoon with Victoria suddenly sounded more appealing.
Diego uttered. "Um, sorry. I'm afraid tomorrow I'll be indisposed."
His father narrowed his eyes. "Whatever it is, I am sure you could spare some time to do our new friends a favour."
"I have an appointment with the alcalde. You know how sparsely his time is." Diego explained.
"Phh." Alejandro expressed his dissatisfaction.
Diego felt a cheer of relief when don Horatio spoke up for him.
"Perfectly understandable, don Diego. You cannot cancel an appointment with a man as important as the alcalde at the last minute. My daughters will have to remain patient for a little while longer. Or allow their old man to take them for a ride."
"Oh, señor Sanchez!" Dona Francisca cried indignantly.
.
As expected, his father started to grumble even before they rode through the Sanchez Rancho gate.
"Diego, what is the matter with you? These señoritas are all nice young ladies from a fine family. I would welcome any of them with open arms as a daughter-in-law." His father cleared his throat. "Though I must admit that the youngest two seem a little too silly for my liking. Doña Francisca told me that Magdalena, that's the middle one, is very well-read and loves to play the piano. A buggy ride would be the perfect opportunity to get to know the ladies better. And what is this, you have an appointment with the alcalde? Don't tell me you continue those ridiculous fencing lessons. You know I am more than willing to teach you some basics."
His father didn't wait for Diego to answer. Instead, he went on to praise each of the ladies' individual qualities. The eldest was undoubtedly the most beautiful. A quiet, somewhat shy girl with a gentle nature.
Isabella, who was two years younger than Juanita, was her father's favourite. She was the smartest one. The youngest two, Catherine and Lucia, got praised by their mother for their cheerful, happy natures.
Diego regretted that he had promised to accompany his father on this day.
The rest of the invitations were delivered quickly, as they were all for nearby haciendas.
For the last invitation, the men went to the tavern, as it was for Victoria.
Victoria accepted the invitation and promised to attend.
Diego and Alejandro ordered some drinks, thirsty as they were after spending most of the morning and part of the afternoon in the saddle.
Felipe, who was also in the pueblo, joined them.
Diego couldn't believe his luck. Victoria took the time to talk to them and looked dazzling.
She wore a bright red skirt with a crisp white blouse that left her shoulders bare.
Victoria had her hair pulled up, giving a perfect view of her beautiful face and slender neck.
Sipping his glass of lemonade, Diego promised himself Zorro would pay his beloved a visit that night.
.
Promises could turn out differently than planned.
It was well past midnight before don Alejandro withdrew to his room. He had continued to talk about the Sanchez ladies and how he believed his son had reached the age of getting married years ago.
The tavern had been closed for hours, and Victoria would surely be asleep.
Diego knew that Victoria worked long hours and granted her much-needed sleep.
Therefore, he got left with no other option but to lie in bed, dreaming of her smile, beauty, and soft lips.
.
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For the characters of the Sanchez family, I have taken in mind some of the most cherished characters of British literature. I am not going to use their plot. So this is not a crossover. The character traits of the Sanchez family did get inspirated by Jane Austen's, Bennet family, from the book 'Pride and Prejudice'.