THE WEDDING
CHAPTER 4
Despite what Celia wanted the wedding did not take place until 10 months later, a time considered by Don Alejandro and the Viceroy to be a respectable waiting period. Celia's mother did not attend the wedding even though it took place in St. George's Cathedral in Monterrey. She took a boat back to Spain five months before the wedding. The day following their wedding Diego and Celia were to leave on a boat to Spain for their honeymoon where he would meet Celia's uncle the King of Spain face to face. However, Senora Ricardo did give Celia the white wedding dress that had been worn by Celia's grandmother and her when they were married. The Pueblo de Los Angeles seemed like a ghost town on the day of Diego and Celia's wedding because everyone was in Monterrey for the wedding. Even Sergeant Garcia and Corporal Reyes attended the sacred event. The wedding was a happy yet solemn affair. Diego looked very handsome in a white wool suit with intricate gold embroidery that he ordered especially from Spain for his wedding. Celia was very beautiful in her grandmother's white lace over silk wedding gown adorned with pearls and a veil made of the finest Spanish lace that covers her head and face.
Don Alejandro burst with pride as he heard Diego repeat his wedding vows. A broad smile enveloped the Viceroy's face as he witnessed the affair. His daughter Constanza had arrived from Spain for the wedding. She grew up in Court with Celia and was a very good friend of Diego's. As the priest pronounced Diego and Celia husband and wife tears of joy were seen on many of the faces of the friends and acquaintances of Don Alejandro and Don Diego. Sergeant Garcia and Corporal Reyes wipe their eyes hoping no one noticed. The room filled with the sound of cheers and applause as Diego and his new bride descended the aisle. But Diego did not hear or notice anyone except Celia who walked beside him. My life is complete and I will never want for anything more than this he meditated. While Diego entertained thoughts of love and passion, once again the vision of that masked figure dressed all in black invaded his bliss and stared back at him. This jolted him back to the reality that everything may not be as perfect as he would wish. To make matters worse, there sitting in the last row was Commandante Rodriguez. The look that he gave the couple was not one of good luck and best wishes.
The Gobernador held the wedding reception for Diego and Celia at his hacienda. The reception was very lively and merry. Food and drink of every kind lay out on a long table draped with a snow-white tablecloth made of the finest linen. The servants diligently made sure that everyone, especially the newlyweds every need was attended to. Diego daydreamed of the many happy years to come with the love of his life. He would devote his life to her. Her every wish would be his command.
Gazing at her esposo Celia says, "Diego, mi vida".
Diego brought back to the reality of the moment once again responds, "I am sorry were you taking to me."
"Si, Celia replies, dance with me."
"It would be my pleasure, mi amor," Diego says.
As they stepped onto the patio floor and started to dance, everyone steps aside to watch the first dance of Senor and Senora Diego de la Vega. Don Alejandro just stood in awe of the whole turn of events that led up to the marriage of his son to the King of Spain's niece. What, he thought, does the future hold for Diego and especially the "Fox"?
"Don't they make a good-looking couple," the Viceroy remarks.
"Oh your Excellency, yes they do," Don Alejandro responds.
The Gobernador came over and says, "I want to extend my congratulations and best wishes for the couple to both of you."
"Muchas gracias your Excellency," Don Alejandro replies.
"Muchas gracias," the Viceroy joins in.
Lenore the Gobernador's daughter watched the newlyweds and admired how handsome and debonair Diego looked in his white suit. She came over to the couple, spoke to Diego and introduced herself to Celia.
"My name is Lenore. My father, the Gobernador and I spent a month at Don Alejandro's hacienda when my father was injured in an accident. Diego and I became very good friends during the time that I stayed there. I want to congratulate you and Diego," Lenore asserts with a knowing look aimed at Diego.
"Muchas gracias," Celia replies with a smile.
At this Lenore took her leave with wishful thoughts of her own concerning how this affair could have turned out differently. Celia gave Diego a questioning stare and glanced in Lenore's direction.
Diego glances at Celia innocently and rejoins, "it is a long story, mi amor."
"You must tell me this long story sometime mi vida," Celia responds with a look of amusement.
"Dance with me," Diego says.
As he whirled Celia across the patio, everyone else disappeared they saw only each other. As they gazed deep into each other's eyes, Diego bent down and kissed Celia's eager mouth. Everyone sighs at this. However, all the hopeful young women of the pueblo scoffed and frowned at such an outward show of affection between the two. Each one secretly wishing that they were in Celia's place. The kiss lasted so long that everyone thought the couple would suffocate. Don Alejandro had to step in and clear his throat to end the marathon kiss that Diego placed on Celia's mouth. After the reception ended, Don Alejandro thanked the Gobernador for allowing them to have the wedding reception at his hacienda.
"You are most welcome, it is the least I could do for the hospitality that you showed me when I was injured," the Gobernador replies.
After all the felicitations the newlyweds took a carriage to the Inn in Monterrey.
As Diego and Celia climbed the stairs to their room at the Inn Diego thought with a smile, now she is all mine. As they entered the room they noticed
that it was decorated with white carnations, red, and yellow roses. Candles were placed strategically to give the room a romantic and alluring glow. The bed itself was a huge wood four-poster, with three soft mattresses and a pristine white curtain draping around it. Diego held Celia tight in his arms.
"I love you so much mi amor. I could not be happier than I am at this moment," Diego murmurs.
Celia looked up at him and whispers, "nor I mi vida."
Diego bent down and pressed his open mouth to hers. The taste and feel of her soft tongue in his mouth ignited a raging fire deep within his loins. Celia glanced down and saw the bulge in Diego's pants starting to grow. She could not deny the wetness she herself was beginning to feel between her legs. Celia starts to undress.
"No, let me do that," Diego says.
He slowly unbuttons the bodice of her wedding dress to reveal her full breasts with nipples hard and demanding to be touched. He could not resist. He covered each one with his mouth and tickles them with his tongue.
"Ohhhhhh, Diego," Celia purrs.
He unbuttons the rest of her wedding dress and removes it. She has to help him remove her corset and underclothes because his hands are trembling from the uncontrollable desire that is consuming him. As she stands there naked he reaches for her, but she shakes her finger.
"Now it is my turn, mi vida," she teases.
She removed his jacket, untied his tie, and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. Then she affectionately touched his chest letting her fingers trail down it seductively. She next started to nibble and kiss his nipples causing him to moan in pure carnal delight. He cupped her face in his hands and pressed his open mouth to hers where he tried to devour her tongue. A burning hunger slowly engulfs his whole being. Never has a woman aroused him to the point of such fervor and ardor as he feels for Celia at this moment. Nothing else mattered but to feel himself inside her and experience her body moving in perfect rhythm with his as they both explode in sheer rapture together. Again he reaches for her.
"No, no mi vida I am not finished," she says.
She pulled his boots off. Next she turns her attention to his pants unable to ignore the enormous bulge on his leg. She untied his banda and unbuttoned his pants letting them fall to the floor. He immediately steps out of them, picks her up, and places her on the bed.
"You are mine, my love for now and always," Diego says softly.
He lay on top of her and with very short desperate breaths tries to enter her.
She pushes him over unto his back and says, "I want to taste you."
She starts kissing him from his navel down to his soft dark pubic hair. She lets her tongue linger there as his body shakes with overpowering carnal passion.
Diego yells out in raw ecstasy, "Ohhhhhhh, mi amor, don't stop," he pleads, this fuels Celia's hunger and yearning for her husband more.
She continues until Diego gasps, "no more mi amor, please."
She gives him a little teasing smile and lies on her back and says, "Come to me mi vida."
He lay on top of her and as he entered her, he moaned in pain from the madness of his lust and desire for her. They began to move slowly.
Then as the heat starts to rise, Diego begins making deep and deliberate thrusts that made Celia cry out, "Mmmmmmmm!" "Mi vida, more, more, more!"
Diego lets out a howl like a wolf at a full moon from the unimaginable pleasure he is experiencing. Soon Celia's body goes into convulsions from the orgasm that erupted from her. Diego feels Celia's insides tightened around him and at that very moment he throbs and quakes with the hot fluid that explodes from his own orgasm.
The next morning there was a knock on the door. It was Don Alejandro telling them that they were going to miss their boat. Diego and Celia were not
asleep. They had been caught in the grip of passion all night as they explored
and discovered new ways to give each other unbelievable pleasure. At that moment, missing the boat was their least concern. Diego put on his pants and went to the door and opened it.
"Diego, my son, wake up. You and Celia are going to miss your boat," Don Alejandro says.
"Si, father we will be dressed un momento," Diego answers.
"Very well then, I will wait for you down stairs," Don Alejandro responds.
The servants at the Inn brought in a large wooden tub and filled it with hot water.
"Muchas gracias," Diego says.
As Diego and Celia lowered themselves into the water they closed their eyes and relaxed in each other's arms.
Celia turned to face Diego and whispers, "I am the happiest woman in the entire world."
"And I am the happiest man," Diego replies.
They looked deep into each other's eyes and kissed ever so tenderly. There was a knock on the door it was Don Alejandro again.
"Diego it's getting late," he reminds his son.
"Si father we will be out at once," Diego answers.
They get out of the tub and dress hurriedly but not before Diego hugged Celia tightly and murmurs, "I will love you forever, mi amor."
"And I will love you always, mi vida," Celia purrs.
Their luggage had been carried on board the boat the night before. As Diego and Celia emerged from their room, they are surprised and humbled by the many friends who are there to see them off and wish them a safe trip.
Even Commandante Rodriguez has a word to say, "I am sure things will be a lot quieter around here with you gone."
Diego glared at the Commandante with anger in his eyes.
"What does he mean?" Celia asks.
"We will talk about it on board," Diego replies.
THE TRIP TO SPAIN
As Diego and Celia board the boat everyone waves good-bye. Diego
could not help but feel anxious and uneasy about leaving his father and his home. Especially after the cool reception he received from his mother-in-law who waited for them in Spain. As the coastline of California begins to disappear, Celia holds Diego's hand and squeezes it tightly.
"Is something wrong mi amor," Diego asks.
Celia did not answer. Diego took Celia in his arms and raised her face to look at him; there were tears in her eyes.
"I am just thinking about the first time I came to California after hearing of my father's death. I swore then I would never return to Spain," she whispers.
"Mi amor, Diego says, we will only be there for a short time and if it bothers you that much; we will take a boat back to Los Angeles at the next port."
"Oh, mi vida, I do love you so much, Celia answers with a grin. But I want my uncle to meet you and see for himself what a wonderful man you are."
"Muchas gracias, mi amor. Let's go to our cabin and rest," Diego replies.
"Do we have to rest mi vida," Celia purrs.
"I am at your command," Diego says with a smile.
Diego and Celia spent most of the time in their cabin as newlyweds do. However, they would have an early breakfast on deck each morning to enjoy the grandeur of the rising sun. After having dinner in the evenings they would go out on deck and watch the magnificent sunsets. One added bonus for Diego, with Celia's warm body next to his, he slept very peaceful and sound. Since he had become the "Fox" he had not been able to get a good night's sleep but he hoped to get some respite while on his honeymoon. He knew that as soon as he returned to Los Angeles there would be plenty of work for El Zorro and many sleepless nights to go along with it.
The trip was uneventful and long but Diego and Celia found many pleasurable ways to pass the time. As the trip neared its end, Diego became more apprehensive about what was waiting for him in Spain. He was even more worried about how Bernardo was doing as the masked bandit in California. Diego did not want to leave California he wanted to honeymoon in Santa Barbara or San Juan Capistrano. But Bernardo knew how much Celia wanted her uncle to meet Diego so he assured his friend that he could handle the task. As the boat headed into port, Diego and Celia came up on deck to get a glimpse of Spain as it appeared on the horizon.
They sailed into Santander, a Spanish seaport on the Atlantic Ocean. The boat docked within the Bay of Santander. It was a busy commercial seaport located north of Madrid. It was a city with many diverse cultures and people. The region consisted of a vast green landscape where agricultural goods were produced. Since this was the autumn time of the year the day that Diego and Celia arrived, the city was concealed by a continual fine mist.
"Diego, Celia queries, what did Commandante Rodriguez mean when we left California."
Diego turned to her with concern in his eyes, "he is sure that I am the "Fox" and this is the reason you hid the masked bandito."
She looks at him with horror in her eyes," if he can prove….oh…mi vida…he must never find out for sure, she exclaims. If there is no sightings of the "Fox" while you are gone… Oh Diego, what are you going to do," Celia pleads.
"Bernardo is riding as El Zorro while I am gone. Bernardo is an expert swordsman and I have trained him to take over if there would ever come a time when it was needed," Diego replies.
"But he cannot speak or hear, what if he is cornered, they will know that it is not really El Zorro," Celia responds with fear in her voice.
"I will tell you a little secret which you must share with no one. Bernardo can hear as well as you and me. He just pretends not to, in order to be the eyes and ears behind my back," Diego confides.
"Oh mi vida, what a wonderful idea," Celia replies.
Meanwhile back in the pueblo, every night as was scheduled and discussed between him and Diego before he left; Bernardo saddled Tornado
and rode the countryside making sure everyone saw him especially the
Commandante. He would ride by the cuartel and leave a warning message to
the commandante signed with a "Z". Bernardo had been trained well by Diego
to fence, ride, and do the stunts that Zorro was so well known for. So when
the people of the pueblo observed him riding there was no doubt in their minds
that it was "Zorro". Don Alejandro was aware of the instructions that his son gave Bernardo concerning the "Fox" before he left. But he could not help worrying about Bernardo and thanked the saints every night when he returned safely. He knew about Commandante Rodriguez's obsession with capturing the "Fox" and that even the real Zorro was not safe. The Commandante closely watched the unfolding events. He being cognizant of the fact that Diego de la Vega was the "Fox" and that Celia hid the bandito but he still could not prove it. He thought that as soon as Diego left for Spain sightings of the mask bandito would cease. But was he wrong? Or was someone else riding as "Zorro" for de la Vega. Who? His father? No. His deaf mute servant no, Bernardo neither speaks nor hears. But who, he would get to the bottom of this no matter whose head swung on the gallows.
"All ashore that is going a shore," the captain of the boat called out.
As Diego and Celia disembarked the captain says, "it was nice having royalty sailing with us even if we did not see that much of you."
Celia glanced at Diego and he blushed.
"Gracias, capitan," was all Diego could manage to say.
There was a carriage drawn by six elaborately adorned black horses and a luxuriously decorated coach fit for a king waiting for Diego and Celia. The passengers who had sailed with them gaped with open mouths for they recognized the seal on the coach. They were surprised who the young couple was that had sailed with them. Diego helped Celia into the coach and got in beside her. The cuchero and the footman loaded their luggage and then they were off. They traveled south from Santander through meadows and green fields with the Sierra de Pyrenees which separated Spain from the rest of Europe in the background. The entire trip to the castle took eight hours. The Fortaleza Alcazar Castle raised out from a white rocky crag above two rivers the Moro and the Rey, which flowed together near the Sierra de Tunez. The coach rode over the Segovia Bridge made of stone to the Puerta del Leon which is the main entrance located at the southern facade. Celia saw the anxious look on Diego's face.
She took his hand, squeezed it, and whispers, "I will love you always, mi vida."
He kissed her hand and murmurs, "and I will love you forever, mi amor."
As the coach made its way inside the courtyard, the servants ran out to meet it.
"So nice to have you home, Senora de la Vega," the servant Felipe says.
"Muchas gracias, Felipe. This is mi esposo, Diego de la Vega", Celia replies.
"Buenos dias, Senor de la Vega," Felipe responds.
Diego nods his head.
"Senora de la Vega they are waiting for you inside," Felipe says.
Celia's mother was waiting for them just inside the gold lined archway. She hugged her daughter and looked in Diego's direction but did not speak.
Diego in turn says, "Buenos tardes Senora Ricardo."
No answer. Celia looked at Diego with hurt in her eyes for him but stared at her mother with anger who acted totally oblivious.
As they entered the grand hallway the people lined up on each side and bowed as they passed. Diego felt very uncomfortable. He wanted to turn and walk back out the door. However, Celia's mother just smiled and waved her hand. The servants of the castle were on the right side and dignitaries on the left invited to greet Celia and her new esposo. Diego, Celia, and her mother entered the Grand Hall with a wooden dome ceiling carved in gold star patterns. A huge stone fireplace sets in the middle of the room with a roaring fire. The walls are whitewashed and decorated with a collection of family portraits. At the end of a long wooden table surrounded by twenty baroque style chairs sits King Ferdinand I of Spain. He got up and walked to where Celia, Diego, and his sister stood.
"Sister, I am sure that you and Celia have some time to catch up on while I have a talk with Diego," he says.
"Yes, we do," Senora Ricardo replies and looks at her daughter.
When Celia and her mother left the room, the King says, "Diego, I am very happy to meet you. My sister has told me all about you but I judge people for myself."
Diego took a deep breath of relief.
The King says, "Come let me show you the gardens."
As Diego and the King walked out to the gardens Diego saw Celia's mother frown at this turn of events. She grasped Celia by the hand and led her in the opposite direction. The layout of the castle is in a rectangular shape divided by two large courtyards. The gardens are located behind the castle. They have palm trees, white flower bushes, red rose bushes, and the stone patio is framed with green bushy hedges.
"Diego, I know of your family and a grand bloodline it is," the King states.
"Gracias your Highness," Diego answers.
"How did you and my niece meet?" the King asks.
Diego was once again unprepared to answer this question but knew he could not avoid it as he did with Senorita Munoz.
Diego smiled and declares, "just a chance meeting."
"Oh, just one of those love at first sight sort of things," the King comments half-heartedly.
"Si, your Highness, your niece has that magnetic charm that is impossible to resist," Diego answers gingerly.
"Ah, yes, the King asserts looking at Diego with a piercing stare. How is your father, well I hope?" the King asks.
"Si, your Highness," Diego replies.
"Did you know that your mother and my sister were very good friends. They went to school together," the King comments.
Diego opened his mouth but no words came out. His father talked very little about his mother. He assumed because her lost was still very painful for him. The King seemed somewhat surprised at Diego's lack of knowledge concerning his mother. Diego abashed somewhat at the fact that the King knew things about his own mother that he did not.
"Yes, that is how I know your father and your grandfather as well, the King states. Diego, son, is something troubling you," the King asks with concern in his voice.
"Excuse me your Highness but I know very little about my mother's past. My father has not told me much about it," Diego confesses.
"Oh, I am so sorry, still painful the memory of her lost," the King responds.
Diego swallowed hard.
"How do you like our gardens, the servants pride themselves on keeping them weeded and well watered," the King says trying to change the subject to a lighter topic.
"They are very beautiful your Highness," Diego replies happy to change the subject as well.
As the King and Diego come inside from the gardens, he asserts, "I will have the servants find Celia. I am sure that the both of you are tired and need some rest from your long trip."
The King went over to one of the windows and pulled a long green rope-like cord.
"Si, your Highness," a servant appeared as if from nowhere.
"Take Senor de la Vega to his wife," the King commands.
"Si, your Highness, at once," the servant replies.
"We will visit more tomorrow," the King says.
"Muchas gracias, your Highness," Diego answers.
The servant took Diego down a long hall of high ornately gold filigree adorned arches with large handmade tapestries on the walls. The servant stopped at two large doors with guards standing outside. After the servant whispered something to one of the guards he knocked on the door. The door opened and there stood Senora Ricardo.
She stared at Diego and told the servant, "wait here."
Within seconds Celia emerged, "mi vida, I have missed you," she purrs as she shut the door.
The servant led them back up the same hallway and then turned right down another hallway that is not as ornately decorated but did have carved wood ceilings and large tapestries but not as colorful on the walls. He stopped at a large door outlined in gold with golden doorknobs.
The servant took out a key and unlocked the door, "If there is anything that you need, please do not hesitate to ring," the servant said as he put the key in Diego's hand.
"Muchas gracias," Diego replies.
As Diego and Celia entered the bedchamber they immediately observed a large four-poster coronet bed in the center of the room. It had two large feather mattresses fitted with two pristine white sheets with one fur cover and two heavy blankets. There were thick heavy red brocade curtains draping down from the top of each tall poster cascading to the floor. On the walls encircling the room hang eight candelabra with five candles burning brightly in each. An immense fireplace with a roaring fire that warmed the whole room located on the middle wall. The ceiling is white plaster that had been elaborately carved into leaf-like ribbon designs inlayed with gold. Diego picked Celia up and laid her on the large bed.
"I love you Celia, more than life itself," he whispers.
"And I need you, mi vida, as the very air I breathe," she purrs.
Diego and Celia got undressed and into their nightclothes. The two servants assigned to take care of Diego and Celia's every need slept outside of their door. They had been advised that Diego and Celia were newlyweds and needed their privacy. Diego held Celia tight and kissed her long and hard. He untied her nightgown letting it fall from her shoulders. He then started to kiss her neck, her breasts, and wrapped his tongue around each one of her nipples. He proceeded down to kiss her stomach, her navel and lets his tongue enjoy her aromatic pubic area.
"Mmmmmmmm! She moans in pleasure and says, Diego I want you inside me now!"
He mounted her and inserted his aching and swelling bulge inside her and begun to move slowly. As Diego's lust pitched he groaned and his movements became more deliberate and more intense. He could not control the fire that rages deep within his loins. Diego felt his bulge throb and vibrate in her lake of fire.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, Celia," Diego yells.
He knew that his orgasm was demanding to be released but he wanted to make sure that Celia received her satisfaction first. Diego and Celia's bodies shook from the fire and hunger.
As her body quaked in pure rapture from the orgasm that explodes from her body, she cries out, "Yessssssss, Diego, yessssssss.
With this Diego let go and felt the hot rush as the liquid that demanded to be released flowed in waves from his body. Unable to speak they just looked deep into each other's eyes and fell sound asleep.
The majority of Diego's time was spent in the company of King Ferdinand I. From Diego's second day at the castle the King took him in tow giving him extensive tours of the castle and the grounds surrounding it. The castle consisted of 2800 rooms.
Diego was escorted down a very dark and narrow hallway. The walls were plain with no windows and no type of adornment.
"Can you guess what this part of the castle is used for," the King questions.
"No, your Highness," Diego answers.
"Lucky that you and Celia arrived at the cool time of the year but it can get pretty hot here in Madrid. This part of the castle reduces the effects of the heat and we use these private rooms for shade and coolness during that time," The King responds.
"Very ingenious," Diego remarks as he surveys each room.
Next the King guided Diego across one of the courtyards and into a large room with numerous paintings on the walls. He pointed out certain ones.
"This one painted by Velazquez, this one by Goya, and this one by Caravaggio. And these two are my favorites done by Giaquinto and Mengs," King Ferdinand I states.
"They all are quite excellent." Diego comments with a smile.
This pleased the King greatly that Diego had an exquisite taste for art.
Next King Ferdinand and Diego went hunting in his private deer park.
Diego who had no desire to shoot helpless animals for sport missed his prey every time.
"To bad your talent for the sword does not extend to the musket," the King comments.
Diego tried to hide his surprise at the King's words with a smile. They rode back to the stables at dusk.
"Have a good evening my son and tell my niece hello," the King calls over his shoulder as he walks toward the courtyard leading to his bedchamber.
Si, your Highness," Diego said as he walked in the opposite direction.
Celia woke Diego early the next morning for breakfast which consisted of cafe, tortilla de patatas, slices of queso de Burgos, strawberries and melon.
After eating Celia says, "my mother and I are going horseback riding and you are coming with us."
"Your mother doesn't like me and maybe it would be better if I did not come along," Diego replies.
"Diego, you are mi esposo. I don't care if she will be upset. Maybe she won't come and we can spend some time alone together. You have been spending so much time with my Uncle that you do not realize how you have been neglecting su esposa. When you get back to our bedchamber the hour is so late until you fall asleep." Celia says with a pout.
"I am sorry mi amor that your uncle demands so much of my time," Diego responds and kissed Celia on the mouth.
"That is all right, my mother probably orchestrated the whole thing I would suspect," Celia replies.
There was a knock on the door, "Celia are you ready?" Senora Ricardo asks.
"Diego and I will be right out, Mother," Celia replies.
There was a rustle outside the door and then in walked Celia's mother with one of the servants. Celia glanced at Diego.
"Mother do you mind," Celia retorts.
"I thought that we were going riding together Celia," Senora Ricardo glared at her daughter with anger.
"Mother, Diego is mi esposo, where I go he goes. Now if you will give us a moment we will be ready without delay," Celia replies.
"Con permiso," Senora Ricardo retorts as she leaves in a huff.
"Celia you are not endearing me to your mother," Diego says.
"I don't intend to after Saturday you will not see her again ever," Celia responds.
"Ever, Celia," Diego asks with a bewildered look in his eyes.
"Do you think that she will ever come to California again, I think not," Celia states.
Diego, Celia, and her mother went riding. Diego was amazed at the beautiful landscape that unfolded before him. The lush green forest and the tall verdant grasses that filled the meadows all framed by towering mountains with show capped peaks. A crystal clear river provided abundant irrigation for all the farmlands downstream. Diego could not understand how he missed it all when he lived in Spain before.
Celia saw the look on his face, and says; "only family are allowed in this part of the King's lands. What do you think mi vida?" she asks.
"It's magnificent, the trees, the mountains everything," Diego exclaims.
"Nothing like this in California I am sure," Celia's mother says with a smirk.
When they returned to the stables it was late.
"Diego, I would like some time alone with my daughter," Senora Ricardo says.
Before Celia could protest Diego replies, "con permiso," then bows and leaves.
He strolled back to their cuarto engrossed in thought when he overheard two servants talking.
"She hates her new son-in-law and has plans to send him packing back to California without her daughter," the servant says.
The sound of Diego's footsteps on the stone courtyard startled the two servants.
"Oh, Senor de la Vega….we did not know that you were there," one of the servants stutters.
The other servant just stood there staring at the ground.
Diego gazed at them and then went into the cuarto. What could his new mother-in-law have planned to get rid of him and keep Celia here in Spain Diego wondered. He undressed, got into bed, and soon fell asleep.
Meanwhile at the stables Senora Ricardo confronts her daughter once
more about her displeasure with her new son-in-law.
"Your plan failed," Senora Ricardo says with irritation.
"What are you talking about Mother," Celia asks.
"Your uncle the King is no more impressed by your husband than I am," her mother remarks.
"I do not believe you," Celia responds.
"He is a commoner, a haciendado, and that is all he will ever be. How is it that you cannot see this and you want him to be the father of your children and my grandchildren? You are an intelligent woman Celia. You can do much better. Live the kind of life that you were born to not in that barbaric place called California. I will not …." her mother states.
Celia stared at her mother with questionable eyes.
"It is getting late, I suppose su esposo is wondering where you are. Buenos noches, mi hija," Senora Ricardo remarks avoiding her daughter's eyes.
Diego woke to Celia caressing him between his legs. He opened his eyes and shifted his body to face his wife.
Diego sucked in his breath and let it out with a long loud sigh, "ahhhhhhhh Celia….ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
She grinned at her husband, kissed his lips and forced his mouth open with her tongue. Diego gently removed Celia's hand and held her tightly in his arms.
He untied her nightgown. She pulled Diego's nightshirt over his head. He mounted her, inserted his aching, and swelling bulge inside her and started to move slowly.
Diego's excitement and hunger rose causing him to moan,
"Mmmmmmmmmm…..Celia…Celia."
His movements became more passionate and forceful. He could not control the fire that had ignited deep within his loins. He felt his bulge throb and quiver.
Diego whispers, "Yo amor usted."
Celia coos, "Yo tambien."
As their bodies shook from the lust and hunger, Celia's insides gripped Diego's bulge and set it on fire.
Celia cried out in pure ecstasy, ohhhhhhhhhh….mi vida…mas…..mas as her body quivered from the orgasm that surged from her body.
With this Diego let go and experienced the hot liquid flow forth in gushes from his body. Thoroughly spent by ardent desire they lie in each other's arms enjoying the sexual glow just as the sun rises in the sky.
Celia had breakfast with her mother and Diego had breakfast with the King. Conversation between Celia and her mother was light and uneasy. On the other end of the hall things were different. The conversation consisted of the King telling Diego about the history of Spain and its people.
After they finished eating the King asks, "I also have more to tell you about the castle but showing is better is it not."
"Si tu magestad," Diego answers.
"Bien, bien," the King rejoins.
The King led Diego down a long hall with high arches and filigreed ceilings. He pointed out the many pictures of his family that line the walls. The King recounted feats of daring do as told to him by his father and his grandfather. King Ferdinand I guided Diego to the weapons room and pointed out to him all the armor for the knights and their majestic steeds. Diego saw some of the fine crafted swords wielded by the King's ancestors and the history attached to each. Then King Ferdinand called to Diego's attention the weapons captured from their enemies in battle and the location of each battle. The King and Diego paid a visit to the royal blacksmith.
"This is Jorge. He crafts some of the finest swords in all of Spain," the King boasted with pride.
Jorge gave Diego one of the swords and asks if he has ever wielded one.
Diego not wanting to reveal his ability was shocked when the King says, "I have heard about your skill with the blade Diego. Tell me was your father pleased when he found out that his son is the champion fencer of Spain."
All Diego could manage to say was, "I am honored your Highness."
The King seemed perplexed at Diego's response and decided that there is more to this young husband of Celia's than meets the eye.
"At one time I was quite a skilled swordsman myself. I was trained by my father who also was a great swordsman. Would you care to have a round with me, Diego," the King replies.
"Your majesty I have not wielded one of these, looking at the sword in his hand, since I left Spain six years ago," Diego responds.
"I am sure being a fine swordsman as you are…" the King went to say but was interrupted by one of his servants, "forgive me your Highness but the ambassador is here," his servant Julio says.
The King seemed perturbed but replies, "well Diego I guess we will have to save this for another time. Maybe this will give you some time to practice," the King says as he followed the servant out of the room.
Diego was visibly upset and unsure of what had just transpired but more so worried about how the so call future duel with his new uncle-in-law would play out. He thought to himself, what is the reason behind the King's interest in his fencing ability. Diego decided not to tell Celia about the invitation to a duel that the King had extended, at least, not until he figured out the motive behind the offer.
It was Friday morning and the last full day of Celia and Diego's visit to Spain so they decided to stay in bed and spend some quality time alone together. After being in Spain for five months both are looking forward to the trip back home to California tomorrow. Celia informed Diego that today was the King's birthday. Celia's mother had planned a celebration in his honor that evening. The servants were busy decorating, cooking, and setting up the grand hall for the King's birthday dinner. Every dignitary and noble from miles around had been sent a special invitation implying that their attendance was mandatory. Senora Ricardo personally supervised and made sure that everything was perfect according to her designs.
"My mother has always been the one for pomp and circumstance," Celia comments.
Diego smiled.
"My mother never does anything unless she can be in control or be the
center of attention," Celia remarks.
There was a knock on the door, "Senor de la Vega," it was the King's servant Julio.
Diego put on his nightshirt, robe, and opened the door.
"Forgive me Senor de la Vega but the King has requested your presence in the weapons room," Julio says.
"Tell the King that I will be there promptly," Diego replies.
"Con permiso," the servant said and left.
"Come back to bed, mi amor," Celia purrs with a tantalizing look in her eyes.
Diego comes over to the bed and holds her in his arms and says, "your uncle has requested my presence in the weapons room."
"What...why...what is going on Diego," Celia asks.
"I will explain everything when I return," Diego replies.
Diego dressed, kissed Celia, and walked out the door. Celia can see that Diego was apparently disturbed. As Diego entered the weapons room, he could see that the King was dressed in full fencing gear.
"Buenos dias, your Highness," Diego says with a smile.
"Buenos dias, Diego, ready to have a round with me," the King replies.
"Your Highness," Diego says.
"Julio, get Senor de la Vega some gear," the King orders.
Julio hands Diego the pants, jacket, mask, and sword.
"Muchas gracias….but," Diego remarks hesitantly.
From the look on the King's face Diego saw that he would not take no for an answer. So Diego went behind the screen and suited up. He came out and saluted the King with his sword. The King saluted back.
"Now let's see how good the champion fencer of Spain really is. En garde," the King says.
"En garde," Diego replies.
As the King and Diego start to fence, Diego hears someone scream, "Stop….Stop…..Stoooooopppppppp!"
Diego turned to see Celia standing there. "How could you, Uncle, how could you, Celia screams. And you Diego, how dare you take part in this."
"Mi amor I….," Diego stutters as the sword falls from his hand.
Celia ran from the room in tears.
"Con permiso your Highness," Diego says and runs after Celia.
Diego went to their bedchamber but Celia was not there. He threw the fencing mask across the floor and set on the bed with his face in his hands.
Celia went to find and confront her mother. She finds her in the grand hall giving the last instructions for the King's birthday celebration.
"Mother, may I speak with you," Celia asks.
Senora Ricardo looks annoyed by her daughter's intrusion.
"What is it Celia," her mother responds.
Celia motioned for her mother to follow her to the outside vestibule away from the ears and eyes of the servants.
"I know what you tried to do and it did not work," Celia retorts furiously.
"Whatever do you mean Celia," her mother replies calmly.
"I stopped it. How could you mother? I love Diego and neither you nor my uncle can change that," Celia declares.
"Celia, I am your mother, do not disrespect me," Senora Ricardo demands.
"You do a discourtesy to me, Diego, and my marriage. Look well on me mother for you will never see Diego or me again," Celia snaps.
"Not to see your husband ever again is a gift within itself, Celia," her mother confesses.
"We are leaving tonight," Celia says over her shoulder as she walks away.
"Celia, you would not dare miss your uncle's birthday celebration," Senora Ricardo calls to her daughter.
But Celia is so angry that her mother's words fall on deaf ears. After about three hours the bedchamber door opened and Celia walked in.
"Celia, I….." Diego stammers but Celia turned and stared at him in a way he never wanted her to look at him again.
"We have a birthday celebration to attend," Celia says quietly with her back to Diego.
"Celia, I want to….." Diego was cut short again by Celia, "we need to get dressed your suit is hanging in the chifforobe."
Diego went over and did a round-about-face to Celia, "Mi amor…..I am sorry…..I did not know what else to do…..he knows that I won the Royal Competitors Cup for fencing. I just didn't know what else to do," Diego pleads.
"You could have said no," Celia counters with disappointment.
"Celia, your mother hates me. I didn't want your uncle to be displeased with me also. But your happiness is the most important thing to me, I would gladly give my life….," Diego implores.
Celia glances up at Diego and takes his hands in hers, "I love you Diego, my uncle…this game…..this trick….it comes from my mother….I just do not want you to be used as a pawn in her game…..," Celia says.
"But your uncle the King appears to be an honorable man," Diego responds.
"He is but my mother has a way of getting what she wants. I am sure she made him think that this was his idea," Celia answers.
"Celia I am trying so hard to make your family like me, I….," Diego stutters.
"I know mi vida….I know, Celia whispers. We should get dressed so we can get this celebration over with," Celia says.
"Si, mi amor, I am at your command," Diego replies.
As Diego and Celia entered the Grand Hall they saw that the party had already started. King Ferdinand I was surrounded by nobles and dignitaries who were congratulating him on his special day. Celia noticed that her mother had a look of relief on her face when it became evident that she and Diego had decided to attend the King's birthday celebration.
Senora Ricardo comes over to the couple and remarks, "Celia, you and Diego go over and wish the King well."
"Come with me Diego," Celia says.
Celia and Diego headed over to where the King stood.
"Uncle, Diego and I want to wish you all the best," Celia says.
The King turned and looked at Diego and Celia, "Thank you, he says with a smile. He reached over and kissed Celia on the cheek. About today, I did not mean…..it was only for….." the King confesses.
Celia interrupts, "I understand uncle."
The King faced Diego, "I want you to know son that I have enjoyed the time that we spent together. Celia is very lucky to have met you. You are decent and respectful, an asset to your bloodline. Give Don Alejandro my best," the King declares and pats Diego on the shoulder.
"Mil gracias your Highness," Diego replies with a wide grin.
"Yes, uncle I am a very lucky woman," Celia replies as she squeezes Diego's hand.
"Go and have something to drink. Enjoy your selves," the King says to Celia and Diego.
"Come and dance with me," Celia asks Diego.
"It would be my pleasure," Diego answers.
As Diego whisked Celia out unto the dance floor, the King shook his head and smiled. Celia's mother watched the couple also but with anger and resentment.
The King's birthday fiesta was still in full swing when Celia and Diego
excused themselves to finish packing and dress for their trip home.
"It was so nice to meet you, your Highness," Diego says.
"I hope to see you and Celia again. Come sister, wish your daughter and Diego a good and safe trip," the King asserts as he hugged and kissed Celia.
Celia's mother kissed her daughter and glanced in Diego's direction but did not speak. The King glared at his sister with displeasure.
"Con permiso, your Highness," Diego says.
Diego took Celia by the hand and strolled out the door. As they approached their bedchamber Celia told the servant to call for the coach. Diego and Celia got out of their party clothes and dressed for the long trip home. Within an hour the servant returned to tell them that the coach was waiting in the courtyard.
"Please put our luggage on board," Celia asks.
"At once Senora de la Vega," the servant replies.
"Do you want to speak with your mother once more before we leave Celia," Diego questions.
"No," Celia replies.
"But Celia," Diego entreats.
"We are leaving, now," Celia ordered the servant.
"Your luggage has been put on board Senora de la Vega," the servant replies.
"Muchas gracias Felipe," Celia responds.
Diego helped Celia inside the coach and got in beside her. The cuchero and footman jumped on and they were off. A figure hidden in the shadows closely observed the couple's departure from a window.
"You have not won yet Senor".