Chapter 23

Don Pablo watched the little drama from a distance. Victoria was quite upset by Rosalinda and Diego's harmless little display. He could tell by how the man had behaved toward him the other day that he was still in love with Victoria and she evidently felt the same way. The caballero knew exactly where he stood with the feisty señorita that he had escorted to the party. He hoped to have a harmless flirtation with Senorita and annoy de la Vega at the same time.

ZZZ

"I am so sorry to interrupt you, Senor de la Vega. I was looking for Don Pablo. Have you seen him Senorita Rosalinda?"

"Victoria, I was looking for you, my dear. If you will excuse us, Don Diego...Senorita Espinoza," the caballero steered her over to another corner of the room, "Can't stay away from de la Vega. Can you?"

"We are friends. Nothing to concern yourself about..."

"You were keeping company with him not too long ago..."

"Diego is quite enamored with that child he is seeing at the moment. Besides, it is none of my business who Diego is seeing." Men could be such imbeciles.

"I don't what you see in him but I will not play second fiddle to the likes of de la Vega."

"Why did you consent to this arrangement?"

"I enjoy irritating him. I cannot think of a better way to pass the time than irritating de la Vega."

"Then we understand each other, Don Pablo...Excuse me for a few minutes, I would like to find Senorita Franco." Maybe, she was having more success with Ramon...

The Espinoza garden...

This is the perfect place to get away from Maria and her adoring glances at Ramon, Aria thought. "What are you doing here, Ramon? Looking for Maria? She seems to be a wonderful girl, Ramon...a sweet child."

"Your concern for me is touching. I thought you were occupied with that boy that you have been seeing. Using him to make me jealous is beneath you!"

"What about you and Diego? He loves Victoria and she loves him. Why would he consent to such a thing?"

"We had no choice but to agree to Don Alejandro's matchmaking scheme. The man wants grandchildren. There is no harm in testing the waters? It seems to be working for you or is it? You know that you miss me. I can see it in your eyes," Ramon embraced Aria who responded with a gentle kiss.

"Am I interrupting something? I see that all is well."

"You have terrible timing, little sister. Your plan worked. We have resolved things between us'"

"I wish I could say the same for myself and Diego…We argued about Rosalinda and Don Pablo. I stormed off but not before I saw Diego kissing her hand. She is more suitable for Diego than I could ever be."

"You don't believe that, Victoria."

"He is a caballero…I own a tavern."

"That had never been important to him… Do you really want to lose Diego to someone else?"

"No. I love him. This has gone on long enough. I will not let Rosalinda or anyone else have the man who I love."

Don Alejandro watched Victoria walk past him. It seems as though someone has finally had enough. Well, my son. It looks as though my plan is working. The old don saw his son quietly conversing with his companion for the evening near the patio doors.

"If you will excuse us, Rosalinda. I would like to have a word with Diego."

"Are you just going to stand there, my daughter and let Victoria commandeer your escort?"

"This is between the two of them, Mama. We have interfered long enough! Let us attend to our other guests, por favor."

The Patio...

"What was so important that you practically had to drag me from my date this evening?"

"What I have to say is more important than your evening with Rosalinda!"

"You found time to tear yourself from Pablo to talk to me. I am honored, Senorita."

"You are the most infuriating man I have ever met, Diego de la Vega!"

"I learned from the best, Senorita. That is beside the point. I am tired of all this drama!"

"Don Pablo is merely a friend. I wanted to make you jealous..."

"And so is Rosalinda. Do you really think that my affections could change so quickly?"

"I saw you kissing her hand!"

"You are upset about me kissing a woman's hand? Zorro kissed your hand on many occasions but you have not heard me complain about that, Victoria!"

"You are being ridiculous, Diego! You know how I feel about you!"

"Rosalinda wants to marry for love and so do I. The problem is that we do not love each other. I am in love with someone else."

"And who might that be."

"You and only you!"

"Then prove it!"

"Gladly." Diego wrapped his arms around Victoria and kissed her quite thoroughly until they had to separate for lack of oxygen. "Is that proof enough?"

Don Alejandro quietly opened the door to the patio. His son and Victoria had been out there a little too long for his taste. He needed to intervene before they killed each other or…."I would say so, my son," Alejandro interrupted, "I will leave you for a few moments and then you will announce your engagement, my children."

"Well it is settled then, Victoria," Diego bent to kiss Victoria once more.