Part Eleven: Flights of Fancy
"I am glad you will go to Monterey, Diego. Your promise to do so is most, uh, promising." Alejandro said, taking a sip of wine; his best Madeira.
Diego shrugged, moving his pawn. "Check."
Alejandro sighed. "I am trying to speak with you of Monterey. Pay attention."
"I am, father. I am merely placing you in check at the same time," Diego protested, spreading his hands wide.
An exasperated snort came from Alejandro's direction. He reached forward and moved his bishop three spaces, taking the pawn. Diego raised his eyebrows at the move, but said nothing.
"Diego, Don Gregorio and I were indeed good friends. But I know how people can change." His eyes briefly flicked to Diego, as if to give a living example of change, and his son's jaw tightened. "Gregorio could indeed be gathering the gold for his own gain. It is good, your plan to not travel with it, to have soldiers bring it after you."
Diego moved his rook all the way to the other side of the board. "And checkmate. You walked right into that one, father."
Alejandro slammed the glass down. "Concentrate! Listen, try not to come off as too, uh, wary with Gregorio. He is a very proud man. Almost," he spread his hands around, searching for the word. "Haughty. Oh, he is a good enough man, but if your words carry but a hint of insult…you must tread carefully, my son."
Diego leaned back in his chair, and steepled his hands. "I know, father. I will be—I will tread with care. In other news, the Viceroy's daughter is said to be in Monterey, without her father. She has been, for some months. It's rare for them to be apart for so long. Usually, they always traveled together. You remember how they would visit us over the years?"
"Si." Alejandro reluctantly let the subject be changed. "Constancia used to be quite the little devil."
Diego's eyes lowered. "Si." Completely dropping the subject of Monterey, as he poured another glass, Alejandro spoke. "Don Francisco called earlier."
Diego's hand twitched rather violently. "Oh?"
"Si. Just a short visit. We discussed cattle. I got the feeling he had actually wished to speak with you, but was relieved anyway that you weren't here. It made me wonder at his message for you."
"Indeed," Diego said softly, reaching now to pour his own glass of Madeira. "You just spoke of cattle?"
"Mostly. He did mention Inez, briefly, and then Magdalena." Alejandro frowned into his glass. "Wouldn't it be trying to have to take another ship voyage so soon after the first? Magdalena's heart must be made of gold for her to hasten so swiftly back to her father's cousin's side. What is her name? Do you recall?"
"Valentina." The lines around Diego's eyes tightened. "If I am leaving in the morning, I should get some sleep. Con permiso, father?"
Alejandro nodded distractedly. Diego bounded from the room with only a few long legged strides. He soon reached his room, pausing a bit before going in. Bernardo was packing a saddle bag, and he jumped in surprise when Diego entered, quickly shoving the bag out of view.
"You know, I'll be glad to be in Monterey." Diego announced, flopping onto the bed. Bernardo stood, walked over and signed, why?
"Frankly, because my father won't be there." Bernardo's eyes widened and he chuckled. "See, you understand. Lately, he has been dropping too many hints about senoritas. And he persists in thinking I am too incompetent to go to Monterey alone. The number of times he has told me of Verdugo's pride…does he really think I will go around throwing insults at him like balls?" Diego gave a frustrated growl.
Bernardo shrugged, again moving his hands swiftly. "I know, he is just cautioning me. But his cautions come too close to insults. Doesn't he worry about my pride?" Bernardo shook his head in faux mournfulness. Diego rolled his eyes and let out a loud laugh. He picked up his pillow and threw it at Bernardo, who was laughing too.
"He doesn't, and neither do you! What a family I have!" He turned over, letting his back show to Bernardo as his mozo resumed packing, even more happy now that Diego had called him family.
Then one day Constancia started forcing the question of Los Angeles and that led to a bitter quarrel between them.
"If you want me in Los Angeles, you should never have made me leave!" Magdalena said angrily and Constancia sighed.
"We have been over that. Si, we could have had a more solid plan. But it was the best we could do under such circumstances. Our informer saw that things were getting alarming between you and Diego and that he had to arrange for your departure from Los Angeles. This was what we had arranged with him. If anything happened that could harm you, then it had to be arranged that you left immediately."
"Alarming!"
"You know what I mean!" Constancia snapped back.
Silence settled over them, broken by Constancia. "It is time for you to return to Los Angeles. I never meant to displace you and I wish to mend that." Constancia's tone was soft but Magdalena only left. She swept up the stairs, to her small room in the servants quarters. She let her hair down, pulling the pins from it and feeling it fall down her back. She strode to the tiny wardrobe and from it pulled the orange dress she'd been given on Capitan Criado's ship. She took the cloak, also, laying it over the bed. She changed as quickly as she could, pausing to look at herself when the dress was on. She was already looking more like her old self. She took her hairbrush and brushed her hair thoroughly, not leaving one tangle.
She bit her lips to give them color, and pinched her cheeks, no longer playing the part of the colorless maid. She looked herself over, making sure she looked as beautiful as she knew she could. She smoothed the skirt, then reached for the shoes provided on the ship. She placed them carefully on her feet, fastening them tightly, and stood again, studying herself. She had never looked better. She took the cloak, placing it over her arm, and walked out the door of her bedroom.
She strode downstairs and back into the sala.
Constancia didn't bat an eye but she did ask, "You are traveling in that?"
"Si. Don't be insulted but I don't wish to wear anything you bought me."
Constancia sighed. "That is fair enough, considering what a mess I made of your life. But Magdal—"
"I think the name was Miranda." The words were spoken softly, with only a hint of bitterness. Looking back, Constancia had helped and the decision to kidnap her wasn't hers alone, or maybe not hers at all. Magdalena fought hard to recognize that.
"Adios," she told her, and Constancia returned it softly.
With that, she swept from the room, throwing her cloak over her shoulders as she headed to the stables and had the boy saddle Luz. It would be awkward, riding in a dress like this, but she ignored that. At least she had the cloak covering it, so any passersby would not stare. She rode into Monterey, tied her horse in front of the inn and walked inside.
"I'd like a room, por favor." The innkeeper looked rather surprised.
"Of course. You must sign the book, then." He picked it up and placed it on the counter. She hesitated, pen in hand, and finally wrote, M. Herrera. The innkeeper seemed to sense her hesitation and frowned. She straightened quickly.
"I will send someone to get your things," he began.
"Oh, no, I do not have any. But you could tend to my horse?"
His eyes widened. "No things, senorita? No servants? Were you robbed, Senorita, eh, Herrera?" He glanced at the book and again frowned. He didn't recognize the name, and it annoyed him.
"Something like that," Magdalena hurried. "Si, no things, no servants. Could you tend to my horse? It is the Arabian out front."
"Si," he said, and then led her to her room. "Would you, uh, pay now?"
He didn't trust her. She wasn't sure whether to feel thankful for that or bitter. She gave him his pesos and he gave a half smile, counting it when he thought she wasn't looking.
She entered the room and closed the door.
His third day in Monterey, he spent a morning at the Verdugos, during which Anna Maria lied and her father showed himself to be suspicious yet again. Diego came back to the inn exhausted. He had ridden out to meet Garcia and Reyes, then seen them off again when they had given the gold over to him.
I am glad there was no incident with the gold. I was expecting a need for Zorro, and I am very happy there wasn't. But something Don Gregorio had said stuck in his mind. "There are still dons coming to deliver gold." That had surprised Diego.
He had purposely, with his father, planned for his coming with the gold from Los Angeles to be when everyone else had already donated, so he could see Verdugo with his gold already in his possession. Who else was coming? With a sigh, he started to the innkeeper. This afternoon he had to go back to the Verdugos.
"Pardon. Did anyone claim a room here this morning?"
"Si!" Agitation showed in the man's voice as he wiped the counter. Diego immediately raised an eyebrow.
"Who was it, if I may ask?"
"You may! In fact, I ask for your help. This person was not entirely trustworthy, and I have suspicions. But if I question her myself, she would think it very impertinent. But you, a handsome—"
Diego waved his hand to indicate that he understood the man's point. "It's a woman, then?"
A quick nod. Getting a slight sense of déjà vu, he continued, a gleam in his eye. "Beautiful?"
"Oh, exceedingly so. She matched even Senorita Verdugo." Anna Maria was said to be the most beautiful woman in Monterey, so this woman must truly be stunning.
"What exactly was strange about her?"
"First, she was dressed in a dark cloak, and under it, from what little glimpses I got, she wore a beautiful gown, very elegant, but a gown for fiestas, dancing, not traveling. Second, she had no belongings with her, or servants. She was very rich looking. What young, rich senorita travels alone, si? Oh, she tried to pass off on me that she had been robbed but she didn't fool me. She just had a horse. And she hesitated so long signing her name that I though it must be fake. She didn't give her first name, see? And I do not know of any Herreras." He showed Diego the book: M. Herrera was written in excellent penmanship.
Well bred, this senorita. "All right, I will investigate tonight. There is much I still have to do today."
The innkeeper nodded. "Si, muchas gracias!" And Diego went up the stairs to change back out of his riding outfit.
"Of course he wasn't!" Anna Maria's voice was the first he heard as he was shown into the sala. He saw that she was speaking to a man, and it wasn't her father, so he expected it to be Romero. But the man stood.
"Ricardo!" Was the outraged gasp that escaped from his lips.
"Oh, hello, Diego. Anna Maria said you might be returning. Well, have no fear. I will accompany the gold to the coast with the Verdugos." Ricardo's voice was deeper but still had the annoying intonations he'd used in his youth. Diego shook his hand as if in a trance.
"What about Romero?" He asked, propriety momentarily escaping him.
"Oh, I chased him out long ago!" Ricardo announced jovially. "You know, I'm surprised that you didn't know. Romero is—" He glanced at Anna Maria, who looked strangely flustered, and finished the sentence in a whisper. "He planned to steal the gold for himself."
"Oh, really?" Diego asked. "I can hardly believe it. He was such a charming gentleman. Can you believe such a thing, Senorita Verdugo? I mean, he was such a friend of yours!"
Anna Maria's eyes were angry as they met his, but then they faltered and returned to her lap. "We were all fooled." She snapped and Diego regretted his sarcastic words.
"Well, you are right, Ricardo. I need not worry if you are there."
"Oh!" Anna Maria's outburst surprised the two and they quickly jumped out of her way as she strode to the door and escaped.
"You know, she doesn't seem to like you, Diego," Ricardo said quietly.
"That's because she doesn't. Just as well." Diego smiled. "Never mind that. I will get the gold." He turned to go, then paused on the steps. "I never thought that the day would come when I was happy to see you!"
Ricardo's loud laughter followed him to his horse.
"And that's all there is to it," Diego explained to Bernardo. "I know that Ricardo is—well, you know. But he is no gold digger. His father leaves him a very handsome inheritance, and even if he wasn't, Ricardo has no real use for money. No, he gets his pleasures in laughter and jokes." He paused, then continued in a thoughtful voice. "I heard that the Governor is not in Monterey at the moment, so I won't be able to visit him. I called on Constancia and she wasn't receiving. I think, that after I call on Rosarita, we could go back." He raised an eyebrow. "Well, what do you think?"
Bernardo shrugged and made a series of signs in quick succession.
"You think it is very soon? Perhaps. But as I said, Ricardo is to be trusted. And I don't really like the feel of Monterey." He picked up his hat. "I'm off to see Rosarita. Care to come?"
Bernardo made a face and pointed to the bags. "You don't need to start packing already!" Diego exclaimed and, grabbing his friend's hat, deposited it on Bernardo's head and pulled him out the door.
Rosarita met him in delight. "Oh, Diego! How nice to see you! Come in, please!"
She was practically dancing as she walked, those were how light her steps were. "How are you? Is everything well in Los Angeles? And your father, is he well?"
Diego was surprised she didn't ask after Zorro but hid it well. "My father is very well. Los Angeles even better, and I am the best of all. I am the one visiting you."
She playfully swatted his arm. "You always were a charmer!" She exclaimed. "But you must not talk that way."
"Why not?"
"I am engaged to be married! Oh, and here is Mateo!"
A tall, thin man entered then, with very dark hair and solemn eyes. Rosarita stood up to go to his side.
"Buenos dias, eh, Mateo. I am Diego de la Vega."
"He is an old childhood friend of mine," Rosarita murmured to Mateo. "And Diego, this is Mateo del Arbol. We marry in the Spring."
"I wish you much happiness."
Rosarita beamed and she and Mateo spoke swiftly, and, bowing, he left again. Diego looked at her questioningly.
She had sat down again and gestured for him to do so as well. "He was just telling me that his mother is still not well." A slight cloud passed over her face. "They are new to Monterey. They came here from Santa Barbara so that his mother could be nearer to her sister Lucia. His mother is very ill. I have not actually met her yet, for as yet, she has been too weak for visits."
"Ah. So he was telling you this..."
"Oh, because I was to dine with them tonight, if her health permitted. It didn't," she concluded sadly. "I do so wish to meet her."
"Tell me about Mateo. For instance, is he like, oh, Zorro?" Diego couldn't help tossing that in, considering her parting words to him.
Rosarita flushed. "He is not Zorro, that I must admit. He is actually a bit like you. Oh, Diego, I must apologize! When I visited you in Los Angeles, I was terribly rude to you! It was only when I met Mateo that I realized that you can fight for a just cause without bearing a sword."
"And how did he bring about that realization?"
"With a sword, of all things!" She laughed aloud then sobered. "I mean, we first met when I was trying to make the Commandante see me. He had just arrested poor Angelica Modesto, who was so frail then."
"Was?"
"Let me continue, Diego. I saw one of his lancer's arresting her for misconduct. Diego, this woman is eighty years old! All she had done was block the way of the soldiers horses, just for a moment, as she walked across the road. Well, they carted her straight off to the jail! And I knew that if her daughter found out it could turn ugly. So I went to see him immediately. And he would not see me!"
"Very reprehensible of him."
"It was. Well, I was trying to force myself into the cuartel when along walks Mateo with a request to see the Commandante and he was let in immediately! I took the chance and followed him, telling him the tale as we walked to the office. He has such dark eyes, Diego, you must have seen. Well, he just looked at me, and suddenly I felt very silly indeed. Getting angry wasn't going to solve anything, and I had been very angry in my messages to the Commandante." She sighed.
"It took him moments. Just some well phrased requests and he didn't have to pay bail or anything. He escorted Angelica home to her daughter, with me tagging along, and then he turned and looked at me. And he just pulled out his sword, for he did wear one, and said to me, 'What would have happened if I had gone in as you were wishing to, with my sword drawn and ready to strike?' And I said, 'You would have been arrested, maybe, or at the very least your requests would have been ignored as they kicked you out.' And he said, 'Yes. Remember that, my fierce senorita.' I was never so angry, Diego. He was so forward, and yes, I was grateful, but he had never met me before! He didn't know me and he couldn't censure me like that!" Rosarita paused a moment to draw breath. "I was very rude then and I vowed very sincerely that I hoped to never see him again. I did. That incident also involved a sword, but not his."
With the end of her tale, Diego considered the changes in Rosarita. She always been very brash, forthright, unafraid to speak her mind.
"All sorts of things happened, Diego, and I'm afraid several were humiliating. But Mateo, I realize, was worth all the humiliation." Now she was speaking her heart. "Oh, Diego, I'm just afraid I won't be patient enough to wait until Spring!"
Last he'd seen her, she was a girl. Now she was a woman.
A/N: A quick note is that I am writing Alejandro with no knowledge that Diego is Zorro. He has decided to even stop hoping. A bit harsh, but it was simply the way it fit with the Sweet Face of Danger Alejandro, who is very frustrated with his son's cavalier manner, impatient with his reluctance and disappointed with his refusal to let the engagement be announced.
I enjoyed writing Ricardo and you can look to see more of him from me.
Other characters who I know I will write for are Lupita, Moneta from the Iron Box and Margarita, and lots more of Magdalena. There are just so many possibilities for her! This was just exploring one.