Chapter 15

On the evening of the party Victoria felt nervous as never before. It was the first time in their marriage that she was hosting a big party with all the caballeros in their wives present. She knew that the scandal about her and Zorro and her subsequent marriage were still discussed throughout the pueblo.

"Diego, I don't know, maybe you should go to the party alone," Victoria said nervously with trembling lips.

"Aren't you feeling well because of the baby?" Diego asked, concerned.

"No, it's not because of the baby, it's because of the party," Victoria admitted. "I don't think I will be accepted by your peers. For them I will still be the tavern wench with the ruined reputation."

"Victoria, you are my wife now and I expect the other caballeros to accept that. You're now a de la Vega and I'm not without influence. The situation has changed now that it's my hacienda and they have to deal with me and no longer with my father." Diego took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. "You look beautiful in that new dress and I love you. You managed to cope on your own for so long and you can be proud of yourself. You were brave enough to face the alcalde on many occasions and it takes more courage to do that than to host our party."

"I'm not sure, Diego. I think I'd rather face the alcalde than some of those caballero's wives who look down on me."

"Do you regret marrying me and becoming the wife of a caballero?"

"No, Diego, I'll never regret marrying you. I have always loved you and I didn't care about your status when I accepted your ring."

"You can't hide from these people for the rest of your life. And it's our party, we can always make sure we won't invite them again if they don't respect you. I need you at my side, Victoria. Together we will manage it and we won't run." Victoria remembered their dancing at their wedding when Diego had faced the scandal with her and had made her enjoy the dance despite the circumstances.

Diego took her hand and kissed it, looking deeply into her eyes. The way he admired her, made her feel as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world and she started to blush. "Coming, Querida?" Diego offered her his arm.

Still a bit insecure, Victoria accompanied Diego into the parlor to receive their guests and have them seated at the large dinner table. Victoria knew most of the guests from their visits to the pueblo and could greet them by name. Among them was also Don Enrico, a rich middle aged caballero with his much younger wife Doña Carolina Ruiz who had always tried to order her around in the tavern, treating her as her own servant.

After the guests were all seated with her and Diego at the head of the table, the dinner was served and they started to chat with those seated next to them. On Victoria's right sat Don Pablo and Doña Isabella, a younger couple close their age who moved to Los Angeles recently, and the women soon talked about the baby Victoria was expecting and found many topics of mutual interest.

Diego talked with Don Emilio, an old friend of his father who was interested in Alejandro's travel reports, when Doña Carolina suddenly addressed Victoria. "Victoria, would you please serve me more wine? Your servant forgot to bring me more."

Out of habit Victoria wanted to rise from her seat, but Diego held her back, putting his hand on her arm. She saw the anger flashing in his eyes as he rose himself. The other Dons stared at him and Doña Carolina, waiting for his reaction. They couldn't believe that Doña Carolina had tried to insult Victoria so openly in her own house, treating her like a servant.

Diego took the bottle of wine nd walked over to Doña Carolina's seat. His feelings under control, he smiled at Doña Carolina.

"You must excuse, Doña Carolina, that my servant neglected you. As you can see, my wife is a bit indisposed at the moment, so allow me to serve you in her stead." Carefully, he filled her wine glass to the rim, bowing a little before he sat down the bottle on the table. Suddenly the wine glass tumbled over, spilling its content over Doña Carolina's dress. Shocked and surprised, Doña Carolina rose from her seat to see the wine dripping down the length of her dress, leaving big red stains on the light silk. "Don Diego, what have you done? My dress, it's ruined!" she exclaimed, appalled.

"I'm sorry, Doña Carolina," Diego apologized immediately. "I don't know how this happened, but you must know I'm a bit clumsy sometimes. Of course, I will replace the dress." For a moment Doña Carolina didn't know what to say as she looked at her ruined dress and the puddle that was forming at her feet. Diego took the chance to address her husband. "Don Enrico, maybe you should take your wife home and try to save part of the dress. I don't want to be responsible for her catching a cold in that wet dress."

Don Enrico understood the message and furiously guided his wife out of the room, waiting for the servants to bring their carriage. As if nothing happened, Diego returned to his seat and continued his conversation with Don Emilio and his guests followed his example. Victoria saw the respectful glances thrown in Diego's direction and for the rest of the evening everyone treated her with respect, making her relax.

After dinner the men retreated into the library to talk business while the women remained in the living room. She continued to talk with Doña Isabella and when other women joined them, she began to enjoy herself, happy in the company of other women of her age.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Diego asked Victoria after their guests had left.

"Yes, I made friends with Doña Isabella," Victoria smiled. "She will visit me soon."

"Then it wasn't so bad as expected," Diego smiled.

"No, except for that incident with Doña Carolina." Victoria made a face in remembrance. "Thank you for handling that. I didn't know what to do. At least I couldn't have stayed so controlled. Do you think the other caballeros believed your explanation that it was an accident?"

Diego grinned mischievously. "So you don't believe that it was an accident?"

"Of course not. I know the precision you're able to handle a sword. You can't fool me, Diego." Victoria grinned, too. "But now you have to buy her a new dress."

"That was worth it. I don't think she'll try that again." Diego admitted that he had intentionally spilled the wine. "I won't allow anyone treating you with disrespect."

"Besides that, her husband was surely angry with her," Victoria added.

"I think he'll be even more angry when he finds out about the business deals that were made after dinner. Don Pablo bought the prize bull from Don Francisco that Don Enrico had counted on."

"Then it was a successful evening for you, too?"

"Yes, one or two caballeros thought that I was inexperienced at managing the hacienda, because I never showed interest in it, until I took it over. But they were surprised that I do know the bull prices and they couldn't take advantage of me."

"Even your father was fooled by your disinterest," Victoria grinned.

"It wasn't complete disinterest," Diego corrected her. "I didn't like to go to these bull auctions when I preferred to spend the time in the tavern with a certain beautiful señorita."

"Who could that have been?" she teased him.

"I don't know," he feigned, "but maybe a kiss from my beautiful wife works wonder on my memory." He drew her closer to savor her lips.