Chapter 8
December 18. Hacienda de la Vega, the garden.
"Doesn't matter, don Diego. We'll try again."
Diego stooped to pick up the beginner's sword he had dropped from his hands during an attack made by de Soto.
"Ignacio, I don't think this is of any use."
The alcalde had launched a new attack without warning, Diego clumsily holding his sword to parry.
What followed was a to Diego soporific duel. It looked ludicrous. De Soto made a few simple basic moves that Diego could now knock off after several lessons and many hours of instructions.
Diego had to admit de Soto persisted. Despite his frantic attempts to wield the sword as lousy as possible and twice failing to show up at an appointment, de Soto did not give up.
The lessons were boring, seemingly going on endlessly.
"Again!" De Soto uttered.
Diego awkwardly parried de Soto's predictable attack. De Soto's sword flew in the air and landed with the tip down inches beside his boot. De Soto let out a cry in fear.
"Oh dear, Ignacio. I hope you didn't get hurt." Diego asked worriedly.
"No, no, it's fine." De Soto regaining his breath. "But I think we'd better return to using the practice swords. Just to be on the safe side."
"Eh, good idea. I don't want to injure you. Shall I go and get the practice ones?"
Diego knew that from behind the curtains, Felipe was watching them. He dared to bet the boy was bound to roll over the floor, laughing.
De Soto swiped away some sweat off his forehead. "Actually, I was about to call it the day. What do you think shall we continue your lessons on Thursday?"
"Gladly," Diego said in what he hoped was a grateful and eager manner.
De Soto nodded. "At eleven again. And please, try not to oversleep this time."
"That only happened twice. Ignacio, I will ask Felipe to wake me in time. You don't know how much I appreciate all the effort you put in. Although, I still don't understand why."
That was the worst part. De Soto kept pestering him with suggestions on how to get Victoria's attention and bragging about how he wanted to make a man out of him. He did not let on about his real motivations.
De Soto uttered. "How many times have I explained to you? Because I want to help, you court Victoria Escalante."
De Soto slid the sword back into its sheath. "After everything that has happened, your father deserves to have grandchildren. Since you are his only son and you said you only want señorita Escalante, I'm trying to help you. That's all there is to it."
"And it has nothing to do with Zorro?"
De Soto let out an irritated sigh. "For the hundredth time, no. That man is an idiot. The only thing you and I have to achieve is to make Señorita Escalante sees that as well. And she's a thousand times better off with a man with your eh.., qualities. Simple as that."
Meanwhile, the men had walked to the horse, and de Soto mounted his mare. After a wave, he rode towards Los Angeles.
Diego watched as de Soto disappeared into a cloud of dust. He heard how Felipe came standing beside him. "Simple as that. Why is that so hard to believe."
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December 20, El Rancho Sanchez.
Victoria seriously wondered why she how allowed herself to get persuaded.
Don Horatio had come to her, asking if she was interested in catering a dinner party. It frequently happened that a nearby family gave a dinner party, and Victoria got asked to cater it. It was a welcome form of extra income. The earned money she always kept aside for her mortgage and taxes.
Furthermore, it was common knowledge in the pueblo that the cook of the widow Sanchez was too old to prepare a nice meal for larger parties.
Just after noon, Victoria had arrived at the Rancho to start with the necessary preparations. The dishes which doña Francisca and the old widow had selected were complicated, and the number of guests was large.
Victoria had to work hard to have everything ready on time.
All the noble, wealthy families in the area were invited.
Especially those with unmarried sons.
Doña Francisca left no doubt that she hoped at least one or preferably all of her daughters would hook up with a suitable husband in California.
The woman had a rather piercing voice. And Victoria could hear in the kitchen word for word how doña Francisca had her eye set on don Diego for one of her eldest daughters.
Well, Victoria thought. Doña Francisca was not the only one in recent years who had tried in vain to interest the eternal bachelor and heir in her daughters.
The old widow had tried to temper her resolve by telling doña Francisca that don Diego had never shown interest in even one woman.
"Nonsense!" A deafeningly shrill voice echoed through the hacienda. "All my daughters are decent, brought-up girls. It isn't possible to find a girl more pretty than Juanita, more cheerful than Lucia, more charming than Catharina, or more intelligent than Magdalena. At least, not in this part of the world. That man should be grateful I allow him the first pick.
Victoria noticed that doña Francisca didn't mention her second daughter. She felt a hint of pity for Isabella, the girl Victoria appreciated the most.
"Surely a man as refined as don Diego, and having his age and status, must be inn need for a proper wife! The poor man must wish for the continuation of his family name! Mark my words, the only reason that man isn't married yet, is because there are no suitable girls to get found in this barbaric area!"
The eldest daughter, Victoria had to confess, was indeed the most handsome. She had flaming red-brown hair and a kind, gentle face. Juanita seemed someone who not easily shares her thoughts and feelings with others.
However, Victoria had also seen how Carlos Ortega had tried to get the woman's attention in several ways over the past few days. And Juanita seemed to be pleased by the attention don Carlos gave her.
The second, Isabella, was less pretty than her older sister. But not unattractive. Her hair was darker and reached in long wavy curls halfway down her back. She had an open attitude. And was a lot more verbally adept than her sisters and could make witty remarks.
The middle one was the grey mouse of the bunch. Magdalena would probably fit in best with don Diego. Victoria had heard that she loved to read and spent hours a day practising playing the piano.
Victoria could not imagine Diego feeling attracted to either of the younger two. Both behaved as if they had only barely outgrown the nursery. The girls were frivolous, busy, rude, and mostly very loud. Giggling, and you could not get rid of the idea those girls constantly insulted people from behind their fans. Victoria had seen, and mostly heard several times this afternoon how the eldest two sisters tried to keep the youngest two within the bounds of decency. The father did not seem to care at all how his youngest daughters were behaving highly inappropriately. And the mother mostly encouraged the debauched behaviour. Victoria clamped her jaws together.
If one of the five did get chosen as the new señora de la Vega, she hoped it would not be one of the two youngest..., Or the oldest..., and especially not the second oldest. Isabella had something about her that made her attractive to all men. And the middle sister? Victoria hoped don Diego would make a better choice.
Besides, the widow claims that Diego not being interested at all in women. It was not accurate. Not many people knew it, but when Madrid was at the university, Diego de la Vega was engaged to a young Spanish beauty. He would not have been far off returning to Los Angeles married. What Victoria had heard of it, the girl had left Diego at the altar due to circumstances.
Sighing, Victoria cut off a piece of butter to stir through the mashed potatoes. she had to hurry if she want everything finished on time. She went outside carrying a bucket. She needed more water, and at the Rancho, this had to get fetched from the well in the courtyard.
From one of the open windows, the screams of several bickering women echoed over the courtyard.
"It's my ribbon! Mother, you tell her! You saw I bought the ribbon in the market!"
"The ribbon is not even the right colour." It was the indignant reply coming from one of the other sisters. "And I only want to borrow it!"
"It's my ribbon! I want to wear it in my hair tonight!"
"Why? You think it makes you attractive?!"
"Mot-hhher!"
"Girls, Girls, stop it! Have some compassion on my poor nerves. Magdalena, let Lucia have the ribbon!" Victoria cringed at hearing doña Francisca's loud, shrill voice.
"But it's my ribbon! I bought it!"
"Lucia is right. The colour does match her gown better. So let her have it. It is of the utmost importance that we all make a good impression. I hope I don't have to remind any of you we are entertaining the wealthiest men in California! A marriage to don Diego will be most fortunate. I hope I don't have to remind any of you the de la Vega's are of noble birth and rich. And I do mean very," The mother articulated every syllable. "very rich!" She lowered her voice a little. "Words have it the rancho alone is worth over fifty thousand pesos. That is without all the jewerly, art, horses and other possesions."
Victoria closed the kitchen door to shut out the screams. Bickering among siblings. As children, she and her two brothers had many differences of opinion. For instance, about chores that one felt the other should do. She missed her brothers, especially around this time of the year. Victoria even missed the bickering over nothing. Then again, hearing the Sanchez girls, Victoria felt glad she only had two brothers.
With an experienced hand, Victoria poured some extra water into the soup and a generous pinch of salt. It was only four o'clock. And it was going to be a long evening.
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By half past nine, for the first time that day, Victoria had some time to rest. Dessert had been served, and soon, the men would redraw in the salon. The girl employed by the widow Sanchez would finish the dishes and serve the men their liquor.
Victoria was glad the evening was almost over.
The flirting, especially by the two youngest girls, was intrusive and nauseating.
Furthermore, it turned out that Magdalena's piano and singing qualities got grossly exaggerated by her mother. Even a sick crow sounded better. Listening to it felt like torture.
The only bright spot in Victoria's evening had been don Diego complimenting her on her cooking skills.
Doña Francisca had mostly uttered her disapproval by repeatedly saying that the dishes served in Madrid were much more refined.
Victoria had been close to turning the bowl of flan over her head, telling the woman, for her next dinner, she better asks someone from Spain.
The promise of earning seventy pesos for one day of work had been the only thing that had stopped Victoria. The amount was so exorbitant because Victoria had wanted to refuse to provide dinner. So she had asked for a price more than double her usual rate. She had not considered the possibility that the amounts in Madrid were many times higher. And doña Francisca had even found the amount requested most reasonable.
Victoria went outside and sat down on a bench. It had been a long day. The morning she had worked in the tavern. And the rest of the day, she had worked to prepare a five-course meal for over twenty-five persons.
Victoria heard soft voices approaching. The male voice was the timid voice of don Diego. Whose was the female?
"Please, don Diego. Allow me to make my apologies for the behaviour of my younger sisters. I noticed how uncomfortable Lucia and Catharina made you feel."
Victoria heard Diego utter. "I know most of the Indian tribes living in the area. Most of them I consider friends."
"The way you speak about their way of living sounds fascinating."
The voices faltered away. Victoria got certain don Diego was walking in the garden with señorita Isabella.
Victoria didn't want to risk them seeing her. So she rushed back inside. She took off her apron and smiled kindly at Maria.
"Can you manage the rest on your own?" Victoria asked the girl.
"Si, señorita Escalante. You better go home. It's a long ride back to the pueblo."
Tired, Victoria walked to the stable to get her horse and wagon. She did not like having to ride in the darkness. Danger always lurked on the roads around Los Angeles. The alcalde barely did anything about it. Zorro did his best to catch as many bandits as possible. Zorro was just one man. Despite all his tremendous efforts, it made little difference.
The moon had been full four days ago and still gave plenty of light.
Victoria was about half a mile away from the Rancho when she heard horse hooves approaching. For a moment, fear flashed through her heart. Immediately afterwards, she reassured herself. They were probably guests who, like her, were returning to their haciendas from the Sanchez Rancho.
And indeed they were. Not much later, Victoria heard the voice and horse of Ricardo Ortega. The father of don Carlos.
"Señorita Victoria, are you all alone?" The man asked, his voice sounding worried.
"Don Ricardo." Victoria greeted the man, feeling relief. "Si, I have to get back to Los Angeles."
"And no one on Rancho has offered to accompany you? Or thought of sending one of the men with you? The roads around Los Angeles are dangerous enough during the day. Let alone at night."
Meanwhile, several riders accompanying don Ricardo had slowed down their horses.
Victoria greeted don Carlos and his younger brother, don Juan. He was holding a lamp. Don Alejandro and don Diego had also restrained their horses and were now riding alongside the wagon.
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Over an hour later, Victoria sent her horse and cart into the stable. Don Diego had jumped off his horse to open the doors, and don Alejandro was holding the lamp, so everyone could see what he was doing.
Victoria jumped off the buck. Diego was already unhitching her mare.
Victoria uttered. "Thank you, don Alejandro, don Diego for accompanying me back home. There was no need."
Don Alejandro said evenly. "Nonsense. It was our pleasure. And it was lax of widow Sanchez not to offer that one of her men to bring you back."
The men helped Victoria to stable her mare. Diego fetched a bucket of water from the fountain in the plaza. Don Alejandro insisted on walking with her until Victoria was in the tavern.
After the men accompanied Victoria back to the tavern, the men said goodbye to her and wished her a good night.
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I worked hard to have this story finished on time so the last chapter will be online by Christmas. There are eight more chapters. Meaning from this day there will be a new chapter online each day till boxing day. So make sure you don't skip one.