Chapter 3

After dinner, the party moved back into the library, the gentlemen filled their wine glasses while the ladies drank water. "Don Alejandro that was a delicious dinner, you must thank your cook for me." Margarite complimented.

He was pleased. "Gracias Margarite, I will pass on your compliments to Maria."

"If you believe that Maria's cooking is delicious, then you should try Victoria's. Her cooking is well known for being the best in the entire district." Diego said smiling at Victoria.

Victoria felt another blush rise over her cheeks, Diego was full of compliments tonight, she thought and although he was drinking, it didn't seem to have any affect on him. "Gracias Diego." she smiled back.

"Well then, before we leave we must sample some of you cooking Victoria." Margarite promised.

"Your Alcalde is De Soto, isn't it, Ignacio de Soto" Miguel asked.

"Si, and not a worse Alcalde we could have." Don Alejandro blustered.

Diego noticed a strange look between Miguel and his wife. "Why do you ask?" he said.

"Well there are rumours about De Soto and they are not pleasant."

Victoria snorted. "He is not a pleasant man."

Diego hid his smile by taking another sip of wine.

"What rumours?" Don Alejandro asked.

Again Miguel exchanged a look with this wife, who shrugged. "It has to do with his university days. Diego what do you remember of him?"

Diego recalled what he knew. "Not a lot, he was three years ahead of us and I didn't have much to do with him, other than being in the dramatic society together. I knew that he was there on a scholarship and he was from a farming community somewhere near Cadiz. The one thing I do remember was that he was somewhat ambitious."

Miguel nodded. "Ambition is one thing but combine that with ruthlessness, well, anything can happen. While you were studying, I take an extra course in politics..."

Diego interrupted. "Let me guess Ignacio was there too."

"Si, he was. More wine Diego?" he asked as he held out the carafe.

"Si, Gracias."

"Don Alejandro?"

"Gracias."

After Miguel filled their glasses and placed the carafe back on the table, he continued. "Ignacio took the class as well. I too found him ambitious and ruthless almost cold-blooded in his pursuit of his ideas. But what struck me was that he passed his exams, without really studying and he didn't seem to have the intellectual brilliance needed, not to study."

Diego and his father glanced at each other, remembering the day that de Soto arrived, when he had admitted to cheating.

Margarite saw the look. "What do you know about it?"

"Well, when de Soto first arrived here he made a joke that he had cheated at university, but I always wondered." replied Diego.

Don Alejandro nodded. "So did I. Do you believe that he had cheated?"

Miguel nodded. "Just before we left Spain, a scandal broke out with one of the professors. It had been discovered that he had been taking bribes from students over many years in return for passing grades, the higher the bribe, the higher the marks. An investigation was started to see how wide the corruption was." He paused as he took a sip of his wine. "But a man like de Soto has a lot of friends in high and low places, so it maybe difficult to prove anything."

Margarite nodded. "Diego, the happenings here in this pueblo haven't gone unnoticed by those in power and this bribery allegation could just be the start of a much broader inquiry into de Soto's activities, both here and in Spain."

There was silence in the room as they all took in this incredible news.

"Dios, you mean that de Soto is in serious trouble, what would that mean?" Victoria asked.

"He maybe recalled back to Madrid to explain himself." Miguel replied.

"You're serious!" Don Alejandro was stunned.

Miguel nodded. "Si, very serious. Obviously what we have discussed here, must stay between us."

"You have our word on that."

Diego had been sitting forward on his chair, his wine forgotten. "Miguel, how do you know so much about this?" he asked seriously.

Miguel looked at his wife, who said. "My father was appointed Dean of Madrid University a year ago and is heading up the inquiry."

Diego smiled. "That's great news about your father, Margarite. What is the likelihood of De Soto's recall?"

"Oh it's very real Diego. Perhaps sooner than you think."

Victoria was trying to hold back tears of happiness, she knew if the news was correct, then her dream of Zorro unmasking and publicly declaring his love would finally come true after all these years. 'Please, please let it come true' she said to herself.

Diego had to clamp down on his own enthusiasm, of his wish to finally marry the woman he loved. He didn't want to raise his hopes only to have it dashed again. If he could unmask publicly, he would be able to marry Victoria sooner than he hoped for.

Don Alejandro fervently prayed that they would get a more compassionate and understanding leader and that finally, his son would marry Victoria and that he would get to see his grandchildren running about the hacienda before it's too late.

Miguel and Margarite smiled at their reactions. They had discussed, earlier in the evening, whether they should impart at least some of their news, as they realised that these particular people had to most to gain from a change in leadership.

The silence was interrupted by the soft wail of a baby.

Margarite rose quickly. "I'll go and see her."

"I'll come with you." Victoria said as she followed Margarite wanting to see more of the gorgeous baby.

They found Katherine whimpering in the crib that Don Alejandro had lent them. "Oh Katie, come here." Margarite said softly, her eyes bright with love for her little daughter, picked her up and gently rocked her.

Then both women giggled as they sniffed the air. "I think someone needs changing." Victoria said smiling.

"I should say so." Margarite placed Katherine on the bed and reached into a drawer for some dry cloths. She turned and watched as Victoria gently removed the baby's soiled clothing. "You're real gentle with her." she said with approval.

"Gracias, I have helped changed my friends babies before." Victoria smiled back.

Between the two of them, they cleaned Katherine and put her into dry nightclothes and she lay gurgling to herself on the bed between them, while the two women chatted. "You would make a great mother, you should have lots of children Victoria."

Victoria nodded smiling. "Si, we want to have four children."

"We?" Margarite asked curiously.

Victoria blushed. "Well… have you heard of Zorro?"

"Si, we have...are you and he?"

She nodded. "Si, we love each other and one day, when he can remove his mask, we will marry and have our own children."

Margarite watched as Victoria's blush deepened. "Do you know who he is?"

Victoria shook her head. "No but the news that you have told us tonight will mean he can unmask soon and then we..."

Margarite shook her head slightly as Victoria continued chatting. What was Diego thinking? Why had he kept this beautiful senorita at arms length? She understood that she was at risk of harm but if it was Miguel, she wouldn't care about the danger as long as they had each other. Perhaps it was the hurt Zafira had done to Diego, she thought, that he was fearful about committing himself again.

Victoria wanted to change the subject away from Zorro. "I've never seen Diego drink like he has tonight."

Margarite nodded as she placed the now sleeping Katherine back in her crib. "At university, when the other gentlemen, including Miguel, sometimes overindulged in drink, Diego rarely did. He was too busy with his studies but there was one time, when he did."

"You mean Diego got drunk?" Victoria was startled, she couldn't image her friend being intoxicated.

"Si." Margarite glanced at the other woman.

"What would cause him to become intoxicated?' Victoria asked curiously.

"Well...do you know that he was to be married?"

Victoria shifted uneasily on the bed. "Si to Zafira, she turned up here in Los Angeles over a year ago, with her rebel husband Joaquin Correna."

Margarite sat up straight. "What, she came here?" she said incredulously.

"Si, they were travelling in disguise as a small band of entertainers but Correna had been shot by the lancers." She paused, remembering rushing to the De la Vaga hacienda to warn them. "Zafira had bought her wounded husband here to the hacienda and I heard Correna telling Zafira to stay with Diego as he knew that she still loved him and that he was willing to let her go."

"Dios." Margarite said stunned at this revelation.

"Zafira said that she still loved Diego, but..."

"Madre de Dios, the nerve of that woman to think that she could start up their relationship again as if nothing had happened." Margarite said harshly. She had always known that Zafira was the wrong woman for Diego, there had been something about her that didn't appear right but she couldn't interfere in her friend's romance because of a feeling that she had. But to hear that she would abandon her sacred marriage vows as easily as you toss away garbage, just because it no longer suited her, made her blood boil.

"I take it that Diego didn't accept her offer." she said heatedly. Just wait until I tell Miguel about this, he will be incensed, after all, he was the one that introduced them together.

Victoria was surprised at her anger and shook her head. "No he didn't. What exactly happened between them Margarite, he never told me."

She sighed. "They had planned to marry the same day that she accepted his proposal and were to meet at the chapel after classes. He arranged the details with the priest and waited for her to arrive."

Victoria's eyes widened as she immediately understood what happened. "But she didn't turn up."

"No, she didn't."

"Did she send him a message?" Victoria couldn't believe it.

Margarite shook her head. "No. He thought that she had changed her mind. Her family and friends were mixed up in the rebellion and the cause would always come first for her even before a man like Diego." She paused, then continued. "Zafira hurt Diego deeply. That night he came to our house and he drank too much, I guess he was trying to forget his pain. It was several days later that he booked passage to return home."

"Dios." was all that Victoria could say, tears welled up in her eyes for the hurt that her best friend had endured. She began to understand Diego a little better. Perhaps his hurt was the reason why he hadn't married, even though he was the catch of the pueblo. He was handsome, wealthy, and compassionate, he could have the pick of any senoritas in the district as his wife, and yet he had remained a bachelor.

They sat in silence for a moment, each lost in their thoughts.

Then Margarite stood up and grinned. "I think we should check on our gentlemen to make sure that they haven't overindulged to much."

Victoria grinned back as she led them out of the room.

They found the two men relaxing in the garden. They were seated on a couple of chairs, their long legs stretched out in front of them, with a half empty carafe of wine between them, laughing and talking. They were clearly enjoying themselves.

Diego and Miguel both rose unsteadily to their feet as the two women came into the garden.

Victoria was shocked to see her closest friend affected by drink. This was a new side of him that she had never seen before and wasn't sure what to make of it. He was certainly full of surprises tonight, she thought.

"Ah ladies, welcome, welcome." Diego said, his voice was still clear.

"Si, come and sit with us. Have a glass of wine." Miguel grinned at his wife.

She smiled back. "No thanks Miguel, don't you think the pair of you have had enough tonight."

The two friends looked at each other, then lowered their gaze to the ground.

"Si Margarite."

"Si Senora."

The look on the men's faces almost made the two women laugh, as they shared a look of understanding. It was like dealing with children who had been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

"But just one more drink, for a toast." Diego said, nudging Miguel with his elbow.

"Si, a toast." the men grinned at each other as they picked up their glasses.

Victoria was again stunned by this new aspect of Diego, she never knew that he had such a mischievous streak, it seemed familiar somehow and she found herself liking this playful side of him. She couldn't help but grin at their antics. She knew that they were trying to have another drink before Margarite could scold them again.

"Right Miguel, what should we toast to?" Diego asked.

"Well..." Miguel looked at his wife, saw her amusement and grinned. "I know Diego, here's to the two most beautiful women in Los Angeles."

Both men raised their glasses and drank.

"To the most beautiful women in all of California." Diego grinned as they took a second sip.

"To the most beautiful women in all of Spain." Miguel grinned back, they took a third sip.

Both Margarite and Victoria were giggling at the sight of two men trying to out toast the other.

But it was Diego who toasted last and he looked straight into Victoria's brown eyes. "To the most beautiful women in the entire world."

Victoria felt another jolt of electricity as she gazed into Diego's blue eyes and again she was hit by that strange wave of familiarity, but Miguel's voice interrupted her thoughts. "I will drink to that Diego." both men saluted the ladies and drained their glasses.

"Well, have the two of you finished now?" Margarite asked, trying to sound stern when in fact she was highly amused by their actions.

Diego and Miguel nodded, grinning broadly.

"Good." Margarite took her husband's arm and they walked slowly through the garden. Victoria could see that Margarite was steering him, as Miguel's walk was a little unsteady.

Victoria turned her amused gaze back to Diego, he too was walking unsteadily towards the door. She walked beside him, ready to lend a hand if he needed one. She was still in shock at this side of Diego.

"You seem to be getting on well with Margarite." he said as he started walking her towards to her room.

"Si, I like her, she's a lovely lady and she definitely loves Miguel."

"Si, Miguel loves her too. They are crazy about each other."

Victoria didn't know how much Diego had to drink but at least he hadn't become aggressive, not like some of her patrons, who became violent as they consumed alcohol. In fact the wine seemed to make him more open in his feelings. He was such a reserved man, she never really knew what his true feelings were, never knew what he thought about.

Diego knew that the wine was indeed affecting him that it had loosened his control over his emotions and at the moment he didn't care. The woman he loved more than anything else was walking beside him and he wanted her to know how he felt.

They stopped outside her room.

"Well, I had a lovely evening Diego..." Victoria started to say but stopped as they both gazed into each others eyes and again they felt that pull of attraction to each other.

"You are the most beautiful woman in the world Victoria." He whispered as he leant closer to her.

She saw his eyes drop to her lips and her heart beat faster as she realised that Diego was going to kiss her, he was actually going to kiss her!

"You lips are like roses, ruby red and luscious, just waiting to be kissed..." he whispered as he lowered his head further.

She closed her eyes as she felt his lips brushed lightly against hers.

Just then, Diego was pulled away by his father. "Diego, my son, go to bed." Don Alejandro said softly.

He blinked several times to clear his head, then he realised what he had done."Dios, Victoria, please forgive me. I'm sorry."

"It's okay Diego." Victoria said, her voice shaken.

Diego nodded, turned too fast and would have stumbled if his father hadn't steadied him.

Don Alejandro turned back to Victoria. "Please accept my apology for my son's behaviour Victoria. It is inexcusable."

Victoria just nodded as she opened the door and went inside. As she readied herself for bed, she thought about everything that had happened, not only that night but over the last couple of weeks. She pulled the covers over her and settled down on the soft mattress but found that she couldn't sleep. That night's events kept playing in her mind.

Suddenly she sat up, as she remembered the looks that Diego had given her that night 'Dios, it can't be, Diego, my best friend, loves me' she realised with her heart pounding. She had seen the love in his eyes just before he kissed her but had thought it was the wine affecting him but that didn't explain the glances they shared earlier in the evening. Diego loves me, he loves me! she thought again. How could she have not known about this? Not that she would be able to return his feelings. The little voice inside her mind began to tease her...

What about his kiss?

Why didn't I push or turn away from Diego?

Because you wanted him to kiss you.

No!

Yes you did, you have wondered for a long time what it would be like to be kissed by Diego, haven't you?

No! No.

You have, you've wanted Diego to kiss you. Admit it.

No…..Okay...Yes, I did want him to kiss me.

And that you love him.

But I love Zorro.

And you love Diego too.

"Dios." Victoria sobbed quietly as she fell back onto the bed and finally faced the truth about herself. She realised that all those strange feelings she has had over the last several months, especially her strange reaction to Diego kissing Isabella, was in fact jealousy. Why was she feeling jealous? She asked herself

"Because I love Diego." She whispered. "But I love Zorro. How can I be in love with two men at the same time?" She had no answer. Sleep didn't come easily for Victoria that night.

The next morning Victoria found Margarite and her baby daughter in the library, who was crawling on the carpet, chortling to herself.

"Hola Victoria." Margarite smiled at Victoria.

"Hola Margarite. She's such a happy baby." she replied as she sat on the lounge watching Katherine with longing in her eyes.

"Si she is but the boys were the opposite, always fussing. It's wonderful to have a baby that sleeps right through the night." she said with a small smile.

Victoria smiled back. "I guess it would. How's Miguel?" she asked.

Margarite chuckled. "He is still asleep and I guess that Diego is too."

Don Alejandro came around the corner, smiling slightly. "Si, Diego is fast asleep and it's my guess they will sleep until noon." He sat next to Victoria and held her hand. "Victoria, about Diego's behaviour last night..."

"It's okay Don Alejandro, it was the wine."

Don Alejandro shook his head. "Perhaps but it's not how I raised him to behave, even if he had too much to drink. Please accept my apologies Victoria."

Victoria nodded her acceptance.

"Good. Good, I will leave you two lovely ladies to yourselves." Don Alejandro patted her hand before he rose and left the library.

Margarite was overcome by curiosity as to what Diego must have done last night to warrant such an apology from his father.

Victoria noticed and explained. "Diego kissed me last night." she said softly, her eyes on the floor. She was still uneasy about her feelings for him, she didn't know what to think or what to do.

"Oh." Margarite replied, and then she grinned mischievously. "What was it like to be kissed by Diego?"

"Margarite, really!" Victoria looked up sharply, shocked at her question.

"I'm sorry but I have always been curious. He is a very handsome man."

Victoria was flustered. "It was only a...very light kiss, I barely felt it. Don Alejandro pulled Diego away before...before it could...well..."

Margarite nodded in understanding, she was on the verge of telling the younger woman of Diego's love but she held back. It wasn't her place to say. Instead she said. "Victoria, Miguel and I have a surprise planned for Diego and we were hoping that we could hire your tavern to host a dinner party."

"A surprise party, that's a wonderful idea, but it's not his birthday." Victoria frowned slightly.

Margarite shook her head. "No, it's not his birthday, but it's something special and we need to celebrate it."

It was Victoria's turn to be curious, her eyes bright at the thought of a party. "Can you tell me what it's about?"

Margarite smiled and shook her heard. "All I can tell you is, it's something that Diego has wanted to have for a long time. So what do you say? Can we hire your tavern?"

"Absolutely, when do you plan to have it?"

"Well, since our gentlemen won't be feeling well today, and we are here only for a couple of days, is tomorrow night too soon for you to arrange?"

Victoria thought it over, knowing that she would need to hire more girls and to ensure that she had enough supplies. "It should be okay, how many would you be inviting?"

Margarite shrugged. "I'm not sure, perhaps we can make a list now of Diego's friends and take it from there." She paused then continued with a gleam in her eye. "I think you should include the Alcalde as well."

"What, after all that you told us last night, I would rather invite the devil himself." she replied heatedly.

Margarite laughed at her feisty spirit. "True but he should be there. After all he is the most important government official in the pueblo and it would be impolite not to invite him."

Victoria was not convinced but agreed to invite the Alcalde to the dinner.

They finalised their business and Victoria excused herself to begin the preparations for the party.

It was just prior to lunch when Diego finally emerged from his room. His head pounded as he dressed and then he remembered. "Dios." he muttered. "What have I done? Will Victoria ever forgive me." he said softly to himself.

He found his father in the hallway. "Ah Diego, how are you feeling?"

Diego winced. "Father, please don't shout." he pleaded.

Don Alejandro smiled slightly, he has an awful headache, he thought, remembering his own youthful indulgence. "I hope you don't make a habit of this Diego." he said more quietly.

He shook his head, wincing at the feeling of vertigo the movement caused. "Have no fear, father. I won't be drinking like that again."

Don Alejandro gazed at his son. "You better apologise to Victoria for your actions Diego."

Diego nodded. "I will."

"What were you thinking?"

He shrugged. "Obviously I wanted to kiss her." he replied as they walked into the library

"Son, you have to tell Victoria. She is feeling upset with not only you but also herself, but probably Zorro as well."

Diego groaned. "I will father, once this head stops pounding."

Don Alejandro nodded. "Rest my son, you need to feel better for dinner tomorrow night."

Diego looked up, puzzled.

"Your friends are entertaining at the tavern and we are all going." Don Alejandro said as he walked out of the library.

Shortly Miguel came out and found his friend sitting quietly, reading in the library. "Hola Diego."

Diego looked up from his book and smiled. "Hola, how are you?" He asked.

Miguel shrugged, then they both chuckled, each knowing how the other felt.