Ramon Escalante greeted them as the coach pulled up at his door.
"Diego, Diego…It's been a long time, old friend," he said, shaking Diego's hand with two hands.
"Easy on the 'old', young man," Alejandro said, dismounting nearby. "If he is old, what am I?"
"You look well, Don Alejandro," Ramon said, respectfully.
Ramon eyed his sister thoughtfully.
"Was it that tedious? Riding in the back with Don Diego, Victoria?"
She blushed a little, and he shot his old friend a serious glance.
"The road was rough, Ramon. We were jolted into each other's arms more times than we would have liked."
Ramon noticed the way Diego wouldn't meet his sister's eyes, and nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, that, that is tedious for all concerned. No injuries, I trust?"
Nothing more serious than a breaking heart, Victoria thought crossly. She had thought he was warming up to her slowly, and the way they had been jolted out of their seats…well, it felt comforting to have his arms around her, protecting her from knocks. Now, Diego was playing at being the scholar of old, and moving to stand more with Alejandro than herself, and she hated him for it.
"No, no, we're alright," Diego said after a moment.
"Congratulate these two, Ramon. They are engaged," Alejandro said enthusiastically.
Ramon glanced at them in surprise. For an engaged couple they were very intent on ignoring each other.
"Not a…enforced marriage?"
"Enforced marriage!" Diego said. He was deeply offended. "As if I ever would…"
Ramon laughed a little, and patted Diego on the back gently. "Joking?"
"Not a nice joke, Ramon," Victoria said softly.
"You must be tired, the journey can be fatiguing. We'll let you rest for a few days, and then I want to show off my new in laws."
"I'm sorry we missed the wedding, Ramon," Diego said softly. "All my fault, I can assure you. Victoria was making wonderful time."
"You must tell me all your adventures, Diego. Come and meet my beautiful wife, she is looking forward to meeting you, Victoria. Diego, Alejandro, we may as well walk to the new tavern, if you'd like."
Diego nodded, and watched Victoria enter the little house.
"The house is not as grand as yours of course, Diego. We're comfortable though."
"Yes, of course," he murmured. If he was honest, he hadn't even noticed the tiny hacienda. He felt like he was being ripped in half, and wanted to make an excuse to stay.
"You miss her already? Come now, Diego, eight hours in the coach wasn't enough for you?"
"He's been ill," Alejandro explained. "He really is not himself lately."
"Well, we'll soon sort you out, Diego. It'll be fun to have you as a brother, that's for sure."
Diego startled a little. "What was that?"
"This way, Diego. Mind you don't wander into the street. It gets busy," Ramon said, leading the way.
"I really don't know what's gotten into you, Diego. I was thinking you would act inappropriately in the coach, but not like this…"
"Inappropriately?"
"I thought I would have to separate you to protect Victoria from your kisses, but you barely look at her. Your ardour is cooling as soon as the lady is won?"
Diego sighed. "She doesn't want me. She always wanted Zorro, not Diego. Maybe she is regretting her decision."
"Don't be ridiculous, Diego. You'll feel better after a bath and an early night."
Diego nodded vaguely, and kept his eyes at the ground. Normally he would have admired the quickly growing city, and taken in the sights, but he was too deeply in thought to care very much.
Ramon found a table and they all sat. "Madeira, gentlemen?"
"A little won't hurt, Diego."
"What's this? Diego was the worst for drink? Who would have thought it?"
"Not happening again, I can assure both of you," Diego said quietly.
"What did you do? Kill someone?"
The silence made Ramon uneasy. "Good grief, man, you didn't?"
"Joking?" Diego said softly, with a twinkle in his eye.
Ramon breathed again. "You almost had me there."
"Came close, actually," Diego admitted, paling at the memory.
"Diego? Why?"
"Jealousy," Diego whispered. Ramon gave him a hard look.
"You took on Zorro?"
Diego stared back at him. For a moment Ramon thought he had his answer.
"You almost killed Zorro?"
"Ramon, you are easily led," Diego said with a smile. "My reputation? Come now, a harmless scholar against the best swordsman in the territory?"
"Harmless scholar? Ha! I remember you as a child, Diego. Nothing harmless about you then, and I bet not much harmless about you now. I can imagine it."
"Zorro seems to have backed off. No one has seen him for a while," Alejandro said, to change the subject.
"Is that why Victoria agreed to this crazy marriage?"
"What?" Diego said, a little irritated.
"She was unlikely to choose you while Zorro was still at large, Diego. You know that well enough."
"Diego managed to save her from some bandits not long ago. They discovered certain things trapped in a cave in, I believe."
"Really? You must tell me all about it, Diego." Ramon saw his friend yawn deeply. "After the drinks, we'll walk back. Just why were you delayed?"
"Diego was seriously ill," Alejandro said softly. "We were worried…"
"What is wrong with you and Victoria, Diego?"
"There are certain constraints," Diego said with a frown. "We can't get married in the near future."
"Constraints?"
"I can't tell you. I'm sorry," Diego said.
"Drink your wine, Diego." Ramon folded his arms, and glared at Diego. "We will discuss this later, and I'm afraid, you'll have to tell me."
"Or else what?"
"We could duel of course," Ramon said with a twinkle in his eye. "I would beat you this time."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Diego said slowly.
"Come on, come on. You are not school boys anymore," Alejandro said softly. "This sort of thing between friends is always unwise."
"Of course it is, but Ramon is being very provocative, Father."
"I was always having to separate you and your fights always left someone bloodied. One of you had better be joking."
"I won't give up my secrets, Ramon," Diego said. "I am quite prepared to fight for them."
"Victoria knows them?"
Diego met his eyes.
"Easy, then. She always tells me everything, Diego."
Zzz
Victoria was overjoyed to find that her sister in law was just as lovely and gentle as Ramon had said in all his letters. She was a little younger than her, and soft, doting on her brother more than he deserved.
"How are you and your suitor, Victoria? I believe you are to be married." Victoria stared at her. "I must admit to listening closely. Do you think it bad of me?"
"No, Carola," Victoria said gently. "All the Escalantes are known for it."
Carola smiled and giggled a little.
"Diego is very handsome."
"Yes, he is."
"Do you love him very much?"
"Yes," Victoria replied. "I love him more than I could love anyone. But he is just so stubborn!"
"Stubborn?"
"He has these issues in his life. He doesn't want to marry me until there is peace in California," Victoria said softly. "As if there will ever be peace in California!"
"I see," Carola said softly. "He is trying to keep you safe."
"Yes, but we need to be together. We are safer together, Carola."
"Does he love you, Victoria?"
"I thought he did, Carola. I really thought he did."
"How would we know for sure?"
"What?"
"Could we trick him into thinking something bad had happened to you?"
"No, he's too smart. He'd save me, and then we would go back to this…"
"If he thought you were dead…"
Victoria shivered. "Diego read me a play, it didn't end well, Romeo and Juliet. No thank you, Carola. If we were clever enough to trick him, it might kill him."
"Then you do think he loves you."
"If only we could talk to one another, we've always been friends, Carola. We could always talk to one another, even if he hid his feelings, he'd still talk to me."
"I know a few things, Victoria. We can go to dances, and my mother lives in a larger house. She could host a ball."
"She is that wealthy? Surely she must have complained about your marriage to Ramon."
"She couldn't fight us forever. Ramon is working as a law clerk, and one day he will be a lawyer. That is something."
"I have never been to a proper ball," Victoria murmured thoughtfully. That might just be fun.