Diego sighed, as he sank into the bath. He didn't want to admit it, but he was feeling weak, and he really should get out and into a bed. It was so nice to be in warm water again, and to be clean. He applied some soap to the false beard and eased it gently off his face, pleased with the way it had held up over the last couple of days.

He sighed and grabbed the nearby towel. He had insisted on a fire in his room, even though the servant raised an eyebrow. Obviously it was inappropriate for the surrounding temperature. He rubbed himself dry, and concentrated on his hair. He had washed it to get the grey powder out.

A steaming stew greeted him on a tray, but he stared at it for a while, wondering why he wasn't hungry. After a while he thought of Senor Hunter, and tried some. It was delicious as usual, but he had no appetite. He drank the cup of coffee.

He thought about going downstairs. It seemed a lot of bother, and getting up the stairs again might be an issue. He crawled in between cool sheets, and rested his head on a soft feather pillow.

A knock rapped on the door, and he glanced towards it.

"It's Hunter, Don Diego."

"Come in," Diego said softly.

"I made your favourite, Senor," Hunter said thoughtfully. "Are you well?"

"Of course I am," Diego said, crossly. It was probably only exhaustion and a mild temperature hardly hurt anyone.

Hunter came across to the bed, and placed a hand on Diego's forehead. He shook his head and bit his lip.

"Really, Don Diego. What will we do with you?"

"Hunter, don't do anything stupid," Diego protested. "I just need a rest."

"You just need a doctor. I'm contacting your father," Hunter said.

"I'm not a child, Hunter."

"I've known you since you were a child, Diego. I feel responsible for you. The senorita…the coachman says you are engaged…"

"You are not to tell her I'm here, and especially not to tell her I'm ill. This is hardly the way I wanted to approach the issue…"

"Diego, I am acting in your best interests," Hunter said calmly. "Close your eyes and sleep."

Zzz

Diego woke to find a cool cloth on his head, and a hand over his. He stayed as still as possible, and watched her. She was asleep, and the room was dark. Obviously, he had slept for some hours. He felt a little better already.

Victoria Escalante had fallen asleep on her knees, holding his hand, almost as if pleading for him to be well. He hadn't even been that sick, he thought. He reached out, and covered her hand in his, and slowly pulled himself up into a sitting position.

She slept on, and he smiled. She seemed exhausted. The door opened a crack, a tiny creak made him turn his head.

"Diego."

"Father," Diego whispered. "She's asleep."

"How do you feel?"

"How should I feel?"

Alejandro moved across the room slowly and silently. He placed a hand over Diego's forehead with calm deliberation, and Diego sighed a little.

"As cool as it should be. I should never have let you leave in that fashion," Alejandro whispered, eying Victoria with concern. "You may already have been feverish."

"I wasn't," Diego said.

Alejandro huffed a little, and turned away for a moment. "According to Tom, you were denying your illness all day," he said thoughtfully. "Just as a stubborn de la Vega would."

Diego frowned a little. "I am a grown man," he mumbled.

"What was that, a man?" Alejandro said. "Ha!"

Victoria stirred a little, and shifted her hand.

"Look what you've done, father," Diego whispered crossly.

"Diego, I'm here. It's alright…I'm here," she murmured, and drifted off to sleep again.

"She needs to be in bed herself," Alejandro murmured.

"Leave her alone. You'll only disturb and upset her," Diego whispered.

"At this rate, you'll both miss the wedding. You've been feverish for three days, Diego."

"Three days?"

"And you are not travelling by horse again for a week. Doctor's orders, and not Hernandez, who you can trick so easily. A young man who assessed you without bias, and without hearing your reputation."

"Surely the coach is alright," Diego began.

"Yes, if you follow certain recommendations. For one, I am travelling with you, and so is Victoria. You have to deal with that. We are going to treat you like a child for the week, and you have no right to get mad with us."

"Very well."

"All I get is a 'very well'? I will have to watch you like a hawk."

Zzz

The trip to Mexico was tiring, but Diego insisted on travelling, and they all thought he would recover quicker if given his own way.

Victoria watched him carefully, while Alejandro decided to ride, close enough to check on his son whenever he felt it necessary. Diego could hear his father talk with Tom every now and then. He was a little jealous…the coach was cramped, and he had been thrown towards Victoria more than once. He wasn't sure if the driver had meant it at the time, but it made it hard to be standoffish, when thrown into your loved one's lap.

"Diego, I have never been so frightened in my life."

"Really?" Diego asked, looking up from a book his father had brought with him. "Surely the fever wasn't that bad. I was riding most of the day with a mild one."

"It reminded me of the other week, when we almost lost you. The relapse could have been much worse."

Victoria watched as Diego shrugged a little, and she shivered. Diego went back to his reading, and she glanced out the window, lost in her thoughts.

Zzz

She had been resting in her own room when Hunter had come to her. The look on his face was serious and stern, and it frightened her before he even opened his mouth to speak.

"Forgive me for disturbing you, Senorita, but you are Victoria Escalante? The fiancée of Diego de la Vega?"

"Yes," she squeaked. "What's happened?"

"He's ill. In the room next door."

She was on her feet before he suggested anything further. She had rushed to the bedside, and sat staring at the pale face of the man she loved more than life.

"Diego," she said softly, flicking hair from his peaceful face. His forehead was much too warm.

"I'll get a bowl of water, and a cloth, Senorita. He'll be alright," Hunter assured her with a slight smile.

"Diego, I'm sorry," she breathed, and reached for his large hand. She hoped he would wake up at her touch, but she was disappointed.

She began wiping the sweat from his brow as soon as the water arrived. He was sleeping deeply and peacefully despite the rising temperature, but that was how it had been the last time. When it started to rise further she would have a difficult patient.

Alejandro arrived early the next morning. Hunter was surprised to see him so fast, but Alejandro was more concerned about seeing his son than answering any questions.

"Victoria, have a rest," Alejandro said softly, standing in the doorway of the room. "You look exhausted."

"I can't leave him," she murmured. "The fever will rise, and he will need me."

"I'll call you, Victoria. Please, he would insist if he was awake."

She nodded, and rose from her position in the chair near the bed. "Promise me you will, Alejandro."

He nodded, and sat in the chair she had just left. "My word as a de la Vega."

She smiled and left the room, happy that someone was with him.

She returned after a few hours' sleep, to find that the doctor had been and assessed him thoroughly. He had no doubt that all would be well, but the fever was building again, and it needed to be dealt with. He had assured everyone that Diego was very strong and able to withstand the illness, and they were relieved. Victoria was plagued by the memory of almost losing him – and was determined to care for him properly.

The fever built to its full height, peaking at a concerning level. Diego became delirious, and called out to her.

"Victoria…I'm sorry…Come back…Come back to me," he murmured, making her feel devastated and guilty. "I'll marry you…whenever…wherever…"

"Diego…I'm sorry…I'm here….I'm right here," Victoria said softly, as she wiped his forehead. "Please be alright…Oh, Diego…please," she begged.

"Victoria," he murmured, a hand reaching out blindly. She grabbed it, and held it to her lips, and stroked his face gently with the cloth.

"I'm right here, Diego. Everything will be alright." She was never leaving him again. Even if he never married her. She would always be close. She would wait forever if she needed to.

Zzz

She sighed, and felt Diego's eyes on her, as they rode in the coach together. She knew if she glanced at him, he would be engrossed in his stupid book. He was worried about her, but they were back to not talking about what bothered them, and that was bad. Would it always have to be a delirious declaration of love? Would they ever apologise while both of them were awake?

Diego really seemed to be avoiding her eyes. The idea of a discussion was laughable. She would have to get herself together and demand a conversation.

Zzz

Diego watched her face in profile, as she stared out the window, marvelling at the light playing on her beautiful face. He had treated her badly, and she had nursed him anyway. He did owe her his life in more ways than one. He had to talk to her, to tell her what he really felt. He would have to get himself together, and apologise to her. Then he would have to stop being stubborn and get her to name the date for the wedding. It wasn't just stubbornness now, it was fear as well. What if he had hurt her too badly, and she didn't want him anymore?