Chapter 21
Victoria turned as she saw Diego, his father and Ramon enter her establishment. "What can I do for you, gentlemen?" she smiled glad to see them despite what had happened the other day.
"We are meeting some friends for breakfast...Good day to you, Aria."
The old don was a bit too cheerful for Aria's taste. He's up to something. I can feel it in my bones...
"Don Alejandro, May I present Senoritas Rosalinda Espinoza and Maria Hernandez," the matchmaker said as she approached the gentlemen.
"Charmed, I am sure Dona Maria. Ladies, May I present my son Diego?"
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Senorita Rosalinda and Senorita Maria. My friend, Ramon Escalante."
"I am honored," Ramon said with a sweeping bow much to Aria's chagrin.
"Victoria, show the ladies to your finest table, por favor?"
"Right this way, ladies?" Ramon and Diego are certainly pouring on the charm...A little too much, if you ask me... The women the old don had chosen were certainly beautiful...Of all the nerve...Rosalinda Espinoza and Maria Hernandez...Why did those names sound so familiar?
ZZZ
"Take your time getting acquainted. Dona Maria and I have much to discuss."
"Did I not tell you that they were suitable, Don Alejandro?" the matchmaker smiled at the laughter coming from the table.
"They seem quite charming...My son has been a bachelor for much too long. I want grandchildren, Maria."
"The entire pueblo knows that...I thought that you preferred Victoria as a daughter-in-law. Has something happened to change that?"
"This will give my son and Ramon the chance to explore other options...if things don't work themselves out, Maria."
"I hope things work out as you hope."
"Gracias, Maria...Let us go and join the young people."
ZZZ
Pilar watched with amusement as Victoria attempted to gently put the plates on the table...The young woman was definitely upset with Diego and his lovely companion but she was determined to be professional. To invite the daughters of two women that Victoria and Aria despised was a stroke of genius, Pilar thought. Don Alejandro is a crafty old fox. I hope it doesn't backfire.
"Can I get you anything else?" What I wouldn't give to dump this food all over their heads!
"The meal looks wonderful. Don't you think so, Rosalinda?" Diego smiled. If looks could kill. The two men would be dead already.
Rosalinda blushed at Diego's brilliant smile. "It looks delicious, Diego. My mother said that Senorita Escalante is the best cook in the entire territory."
"That will be all, for now, Senorita Escalante," he smirked. Father's plan is working...
"De nada, Senor de la Vega." Senorita indeed.
"That will be all, Senorita Escalante. We will let you know if we need anything else," Diego consumed his meal. Thankfully, it did not seem poisoned.
ZZZ
Aria wanted to tear the other woman's hair out but she would not give Ramon the satisfaction. He actually seemed to be enjoying himself... Don Alejandro was behind this...He had to be...Diego was too much of a gentleman to come up with something so underhanded..
"Aria, can we talk for a moment," Victoria said as she joined Aria at her table.
"If you wish, Victoria. That little scene we witnessed earlier was Don Alejandro's idea, no doubt. I hoped that he would not go through with it but it seems that I was mistaken..."
"Of all the nerve! And for Diego and my Ramon to go along with it. I...I don't know what to say!" I thought that I meant more to him than that...
"Those women are the daughters of those two busybodies who caused trouble for us in the past!"
"You are right! Of all the devious underhanded tricks."
"I will not let them get away with this! I won't give those meddling senoras the satisfaction either!"
"Do you have a plan?"
"We fight fire with fire. Interesting, don't you think?"
The Plaza...
Dona Maria was finishing her shopping. It had been a most interesting day. The little scene in the tavern had been every amusing...If I know Victoria as well as I think I do, then she will not take this lying down..Right on queue, the older woman thought. "What can I do for you, ladies?"
"Dona Maria, Senorita Franco and I would like to talk to you for a moment...You did such as good job for Don Diego and my brother. Aria and I would like you to do the same thing for us."
"Victoria, I know you...You are up to something. Does this have anything to do with a certain caballero, perhaps? Are you trying to get back at Don Diego and Ramon?"
"The thought has crossed my mind, Dona Maria. Maybe there is someone else out there...Diego de la Vega is not the only fish in the ocean."
"Dona Maria, is it not true that...they say that what is good for the goose is..."
"Is good for the gander," Victoria supplied, "Will you find suitable candidates for us, Dona Maria?"
"We would be willing to pay," Aria continued.
"No payment is necessary, ladies. Watching the spectacle that unfolds will be payment enough."