Chapter 29

The chatter went on over a good meal served by Victoria, broaching other subjects: the de la Vegas therefore learned that after Barcelona, Luz settled in Mexico for one or two years before she then moved to California some time ago. Diego and Alejandro were also finally able to ask her one of the questions that's been bugging them for two days:

"Please forgive me this question Señorita, but how comes you have travelled such a journey to Los Ángeles on your own, without anyone to accompany you?" Don Alejandro asked.

"You mean without a duenna, I presume? Without a chaperone? I simply happen to think that I'm a little old for needing to be watched and supervised. And as, mercifully, there is no one to force one on me–"

"That's the farthest thing from my mind, Señorita" Don Diego lied, "yet what my father means is that it's not prudent to ride on your own on such a long distance. So much can happen along the way..."

"Like falling off one's horse?" she asked with a smile, giving Felipe a sidelong glance. "I admit that's a risk and I was lucky in my misfortune: had I have an accident in the middle of nowhere rather than near a town or village, the situation would indeed have been more problematic... But one cannot live in constant fear of imponderables, of accident or of misfortune in general, or one cannot call it live. As for duennas, chaperones or other: this is not my way of life. I do very well without one, thank you very much."

"Not even mentioning that," Diego replied, "why at all riding on horseback to Los Ángeles? For a several-days journey, why not just take the stagecoach?"

"And be subjected to the schedules of other people? Pile into a carriage with perfect strangers, half of whom feeling obliged to make small talk with me for ten hours without letting me read in peace? Unable to understand or imagine that some people could wish for a bit of silence and meditation?"

"You don't have of a much taste for company?" Don Alejandro asked.

"I have a taste for the company I choose," she said, elegantly gesturing to her dining companions as though to reassure them. "Much less of the one I'm subjected to," she added.

"A bit like Diego, after all," Don Alejandro said, speaking of his son as if he wasn't currently sitting at the same table. "He is often rather solitary, he even sometimes disappears for hours without my being able to know where he's hiding..."

"Father, please..." Diego grumbled at him, rather embarrassed.

"Oh, not that he's some gruff bear or anything, Señorita," Alejandro immediately said, suddenly afraid of the impression the girl could have of his son. "No, not at all, only he too sometimes likes a little bit of quiet time to think, don't you Diego?"

Felipe, who hadn't noticed the first thing about Señor Iturbide's manoeuvres, saw however perfectly right through his future grandfather's; admittedly, these were hardly subtle, truth be told! And it highly amused him, especially when his eyes landed on Diego himself who looked afraid, aghast, annoyed and irritated all at once. Felipe bit his lips to keep from downright laughing and sat comfortably back in his chair to watch the scene at leisure, like attending a show. Somewhere deep inside him a little voice was telling him that he shouldn't be having fun at his father's expense, that this was not very charitable of him, nor very respectful of a good son, but after the last two terrible and frightening days he's just been through he thought he deserved a bit of relaxation and entertainment. He therefore stifled his conscience's little voice and enjoyed the show.

"Diego told me you'll stay in Los Angeles for some more time," Alejandro said, "long enough for your condition to allow you to get back on the road..."

"It is true that I unfortunately cannot ride right now."

"All the less so that even walking causes her much trouble and pain," Diego told his father. "You shouldn't try to make more than a few steps," he then directly addressed her, "you could see how you just had to lean on the banister or on tables to get here! If your cut reopens or if you relapse, it will cause a lot of trouble to Señorita Escalante who already has much to do with running this tavern!"

He had seen the gratitude Luz had showed toward Victoria, so he decided – with a bit of a guilty conscience – to play the 'culpabilisation' card to persuade her to spare her own strength and take care of herself and of her convalescence.

"Yes," Don Alejandro added, "Diego is right: you cannot stay at the inn in your condition. On your own... with no help... and these stairs to go up to your room..."

Felipe grinned, casting a furtive glance at Diego before his eyes came back to Don Alejandro: he'd just understood exactly what the older man was getting at and thought that the show was only just beginning!

"Look..." Alejandro went on, "well, come to think of that, why don't you stay at our hacienda for the duration of your recovery?"

And here we are! Felipe thought, glancing at Diego. The latter was speechless and had a dismayed look tinged with a hint of exasperation. Oh yes, Felipe thought, savouring with a delectable and affectionate hint of ingratitude each second of his father's discomfort, surely this is better than any theatrical farce!

"Oh Don Alejandro," Luz protested, "I cannot accept... The bother it would–"

"Come on," he replied, "none of this, please! You absolutely won't bother us! You will have your own room, no stairs, all the peace and quiet you want, and the servants can help you for everyday activities made difficult by your injury... Please, say yes! We owe you so much, don't we Felipe?"

He nodded to express his gratitude, however looking a little embarrassed, and to completely convince and persuade her he mimed with both hands a book being opened and, spreading his arms wide, he made a gesture indicating something large.

"Yes, he's right," Don Alejandro told Luz. "You would also be able to enjoy our library, which Diego will be happy to show you... He is its main purveyor – and user, I must say."

Diego, defeated, cast a frustrated look at his son that Felipe had no trouble translating: Tu quoque, Brute! Out of sudden vindictiveness and desire of retaliation, Diego quickly started to reconsider his very recent promise and imagined setting up a 'random' meeting between Felipe and Beatriz Iturbide... just to show him what being tricked and trapped by your beloved ones felt like!

Yes, Felipe had quickly found out how to bait Señorita Alacen who couldn't resist this last argument. She accepted, much to Don Alejandro's delight and Felipe's utter amusement. Diego, for his part, was feeling more mixed; but after all his father was right, she couldn't stay alone at the tavern in her condition, which would require several days of convalescence, and after she had testified so quickly, so eagerly and so favourably to Felipe, they simply couldn't abandon her to her fate and all three of them had to take care of her.