Chapter 5

With Felipe in tow Diego met his father in the parlor who confronted him at once. "There you are, Diego. I have been looking for you everywhere, but if someone is able to find you it's Felipe. Where have you been? Can you tell me if what I heard is the truth?"

"Since I don't know what you heard, I can't tell you," Diego said calmly, still in a good mood from his time with Victoria.

"Don't mock me, son. Are you married to Victoria? Did you force her into marriage when she looked for your help?" Alejandro interrogated him.

"It is true that we got married today. Victoria's reputation was ruined so I did what was best for her even when she didn't realized it then." Diego explained.

Alejandro stared at him as if he had lost his mind. "You did what was best? How can it be the best if you force a woman to marry you? Over the years there were enough women craving to marry you if you had only wanted. And what do you do? You force the only one who doesn't want you. Were you so desperate to get her that you had to force her? Where is the son I have raised?" Alejandro raised his hands in despair. "How could you even think of marrying Victoria now that..." Alejandro didn't finish his sentence.

"What do you want to hint at, Father?" Diego asked, sharply.

"I'm sure Zorro's nightly visit wasn't the first one. And I always thought that Victoria was an honorable woman and that Zorro only courted her." Alejandro voiced his opinion.

"Father, you can't really believe that from Victoria." Diego was shocked.

"Gonzalez has no reason to tell lies about Victoria and Zorro when he has never met them before!"

"You have known Victoria all her life and she was always like a daughter to you! How can you suddenly think of her so lowly."

"That was before I heard how far her relationship with Zorro went!"

"Father, you should give Victoria a chance. She is my wife now!" Diego demanded.

"Yes, that is true and now we have to live with the consequences. Congratulations, my son, you managed to ruin the de la Vega name in a scandal that won't be forgotten so soon." Alejandro said sarcastically. "Where is she now? The servant told me she wasn't in the guest room earlier."

"She'll be here in a few minutes," Diego said, hiding his emotions behind a blank face though he was furious inside.

"I'm sorry I have offended you, Don Alejandro," Victoria apologized, stepping into the room from the same direction as Diego earlier and the men turned around to face her. Diego noticed that she had changed into her best dress and rearranged her hair again. Reading her expression, he realized that she must have heard at least the final part of the discussion.

"What is done, is done," Alejandro said sourly without really welcoming her. "I'm sorry you lost your tavern, Victoria." It was the most pleasant thing he had said so far.

"Yes, I'm sorry too." Victoria bit her lips to suppress her tears. Diego touched her shoulder slightly, refraining himself from taking her in his arms. There wasn't the time now to explain why they were suddenly very much in love. At least for today they'd have to keep up the impression that this wasn't a love match.

Diego wasn't sure either if his father could be appeased by telling him that he was Zorro. In any case it was Diego as Zorro who had ruined Victoria's reputation with his nightly visits.

Z Z Z

The first visitors came trickling into the hacienda for the unofficial wedding reception and they needed to face them. The news of the surprise wedding of the eccentric de la Vega heir to the feisty Victoria had traveled quickly through the pueblo, attracting those wanting to verify the news themselves as well as those who witnessed the ceremony and expected a reception would follow.

Victoria didn't need to pretend unhappiness after the unfriendly reception by Diego's father and hearing the talk of the guests behind her back. Diego made clear that he didn't want to hear any talk questioning the reputation of his wife, but once he turned around, it started anew despite Victoria's presence.

Someone had organized musicians for the usual wedding dancing. Under the curious eyes of the guests who almost expected Victoria to refuse dancing with her unwanted husband, the newly wed couple started the dancing.

"I'm sorry, Querida," Diego whispered in her ear, "I'd never thought that this would be so bad."

"I know, Diego, but still it could be worse," she tried to cheer him up.

"How so?" Diego asked curiously.

"If I had to face it all alone and you weren't the man I love so much!" she whispered, happy to see a smile reappear on his face for a second.

"I love you too, Victoria." Diego drew her closer, not caring for the impression they made for the time being. As he couldn't stop the gossiping he wanted at least to enjoy this wedding dance with his wife. Her closeness and the fragrance of her hair made him think of their love making earlier and Victoria threw him a look, feeling his reaction.

The dance was over too quickly and Diego reluctantly released his wife, leading her over to the side where other dance partners were eager to dance with the bride. As custom required, Victoria danced with her new father-in-law next. She tried to start a conversation, but Alejandro's grim face made her stop after a few words.