Chapter 4 – Keep it to yourself

Zorro's visit to Victoria lasted longer than Diego had anticipated because he didn't want to risk bumping into his cousin on the way back to the hacienda. In that rare occasion —when nobody bothered them, and Zorro didn't have to leave in a hurry chased by the soldiers— he made the most of the situation enjoying a special time with Victoria for nearly half an hour.

That evening she had looked very pleased about the term fiancée, which Zorro had only used to make Esteban know without a doubt she wasn't for grabs, but now, back at the hacienda, Diego was having second thoughts about making it public. Victoria had kept the engagement ring a secret so far, and it would probably be better if their engagement continued to be secret. Otherwise, the alcalde could consider one more time to use her as bait to catch Zorro, or even worse, to prosecute her. As the only witness was Esteban, he decided to talk to him about it the next day.

In the morning, with his eye so swollen and dark only pinhead-size holes in Zorro's mask could hide the damage, he decided to confront his cousin and tease him a little. He found him in the library, by the fireplace, waiting for breakfast to be served.

"Diego! My goodness. Look at that eye! Are you all right?"

"Well, it hurts. A lot. But I'll survive, thank you. What about you? How are your ribs?"

"I am much better this morning, thanks. They don't hurt so much now."

"Where were you last night? Before I retired to bed, I came to check if you needed anything, but you weren't in your room. I searched the house and I couldn't find you."

"I couldn't settle because of the pain in the ribs, so after a while tossing and turning in bed I got up and went out star gazing."

"Star gazing? Really?"

Esteban nodded. "Yes, it is relaxing to look at the stars, you know? I was in the garden, sitting on a bench."

"It was cloudy last night, Esteban. I doubt you saw any stars at all."

Damn. I didn't think of that, Esteban thought. Sure it was cloudy, because I could hardly find my way back in the dark.

"All right, Diego. You are too clever for me. I'll tell you where I was, because I'm sure sooner or later you are going to find out: I went back to the tavern to visit Victoria."

"Really? On your own? How did you find your way there? You have only been at the pueblo once. I would have got lost in the dark if I was you."

"It was easy, no problem at all. I didn't need a trail of crumbs to follow," he bragged, laughing. "I took one of your father's roses for Victoria and she was quite pleased with the visit, at least until Zorro came along."

"Did he catch you there trying to woo his girlfriend?"

Esteban nodded, looking a bit embarrassed about it but not much, as if it was a joke.

"What happened?"

"Nothing. He thanked us for helping Victoria. And, by the way, they are engaged. Now we know for sure."

"Did they tell you that?"

"He called her "my fiancée." And then they kissed, very convincingly."

"I think you should keep that information to yourself."

"Why?"

"In the pueblo there has always been talk about their relationship, but Victoria has always denied they were engaged, or in a formal relationship, for that matter. The alcalde would probably take advantage and use their engagement to get her in trouble if it was public knowledge. After all, she would be officially linked to an outlaw then, rather than a rumour."

"Yes, it makes sense. I didn't think of that. I won't say anything about it to anybody, then. And, who knows? If they broke up, I'll be the first one in line to court her."

Diego was about to reply to that irritating comment when he heard a demanding cry outside.

"Diegooo! Diegoooo!"

What does he want now? Diego thought, annoyed by the untimely interruption.

"Excuse me for a moment."

Diego walked through the back door to find his father in the garden fussing over his precious flowers.

"Diego, did you touch my roses? Yesterday I noticed two spectacular ones in here, really beautiful, and now they are gone. See? Cut off," Don Alejandro said, showing Diego the cuts on the stems as if it was the proof of a despicable murder.

"I have no idea, Father. It wasn't me. Ask Esteban. I think he may know."

"Esteban? Wasn't he resting in his room last night? Why would he…" He stopped then, thinking with his eyes narrowed. "Is he already courting someone? Victoria, maybe?"

"I know nothing," Diego said, turning around to hide the smile he could not repress this time. "Ask him," he said, waving his hand as he walked towards the stables to get out of the way, trying once again not to chuckle.

ZZZ

"Esteban, how are you this morning? Feeling better?"

"Yes, Uncle, I'm all right. I'm feeling much better now, thank you. I thought one of my ribs could be broken, but I think they are only bruised, thank heavens. Diego looks much worse than me today, though. I am very sorry he ended up with a black eye due to my impulsiveness yesterday."

"Well, I have to admit I am somehow glad he got involved in some manly action for once in his adult life. He'll be all right, don't worry." Don Alejandro paused for a moment, a little bit embarrassed to look so concerned about a couple of roses, but then he continued nonetheless. "Can I ask you something? Did you cut two of my roses last night? I wonder who got them. Doña Angelines asked me yesterday if I could make a bouquet for her daughter's wedding this afternoon, but two of the most beautiful red roses are gone."

"I think I have a good idea who did that, yes."

"Who?"

"Zorro."

"Zorro? Did he? Why?"

"I think he has been helping himself to your flowers for a long time, to give them to his girlfriend."

"To Victoria? How do you know that?"

"Well, I have to confess: I took one of them myself for her last night. When I was at the tavern, he showed up with another one, a matching pair. I'm sorry. I didn't know you would be so upset about it," he lied with a straight face, one he could not maintain for long as the corners of his lips started to curve when he thought it was hilarious to see his uncle, a renowned action-man, decorated officer in the Spanish Army so worried about some flowers.

"Did you go back to the tavern last night? I thought you retired early to rest." Looking at his cheeky expression, Alejandro understood why Emilio was so worried about his son.

"I did, sorry, but then I thought I could pay her a quick visit to make sure she was all right. She appreciated your roses very much, by the way."

"I bet she did." Don Alejandro paused for a moment to find the right words and tone, but his temper chose for him, and he suddenly shouted: "Esteban, what the hell were you thinking?! You should behave like a De la Vega, like a caballero, and stop chasing women, for crying out loud!"

Esteban lowered his gaze then and kept silent, so Don Alejandro carried on.

"She is Zorro's girlfriend, for goodness sake! And, as much as I would like to see her becoming a member of our family, I don't think that is going to happen. For your own safety, you should leave her alone. Find your own woman to marry, please, and don't repeat the same mistakes you made at Madrid!"

"Yes, you are right. I'll do that. Thanks for the advice, Uncle," Esteban said, standing up to leave the library. The last thing he wanted was listening for hours to another De la Vega righteous man pointing at his flaws. It was too humiliating, and he already had enough with his father's speeches.

"Good. And, please, don't pick anymore roses without telling me first."

"Of course. Never again, don't worry." Maybe I'll try the geraniums next time. He didn't mention the geraniums...

ZZZ

At siesta time, Victoria looked at the couple of red roses she had placed in a vase in her room. They were especially beautiful, and very similar, like twins. She sat on her bed and smiled while thinking how upset Don Alejandro would be about it. He would probably be happy if Diego was the culprit, taking flowers to court a woman, any woman, but she doubted he would appreciate Zorro taking them for her.

Looking at the flowers, she didn't know which one was Esteban's and which one was Zorro's, as they looked almost identical. She caressed one of them, enjoying the soft touch of the petals, and then she lied in bed, looking at the ceiling while smelling the sweet aroma lingering on her fingers.

As so many times before, she pondered about her relationship with Zorro. She smiled for the umpteenth time since he had used the word "fiancée" last night. They finally seemed to be moving in the right direction, towards a wedding day, the glorious day when she could start a family with him. She fantasized about it one more time: a precious house full of children, with the man she loved by her side. But, as it often happened, the fantasy ended when the doubts started to creep in. Who is that man? Will I really love him when he finally removes the mask? Can such a man really settle, leaving a dangerous, heroic life full of good deeds and action behind to become a father and a husband? She didn't have the answers to any of these questions, and she was tired of waiting to find out.

She turned on her side then to look at the roses again, and then she wondered about Esteban. She couldn't help it but to compare him to Zorro. He was certainly handsome, attentive, and brave, and he looked interested in her. She felt bad, as if she was cheating on Zorro by thinking how different her life would be with such a man: in an open, public relationship, not hiding from view. Because she so desperately wanted to be a respectable woman and not an outlaw's girlfriend, she had to admit Esteban would be a very suitable option, as Diego would be as well if he could grow a backbone. At the moment, most of the citizens in Los Angeles would consider her "cheap" if it wasn't for the support of the De la Vega's, especially Don Alejandro. Without his approval, she would probably have a much harder time with her relationship with Zorro. However, one thing was to be nice to her, and another different one would be welcoming her in the family to become a Doña de la Vega.

She sighed and closed her eyes, pushing aside those thoughts that would get her nowhere, and tried to relax to make the most of her siesta break.

ZZZ

Diego didn't show up at the pueblo as Zorro for a few days while his eye was still black and swollen because he feared it would be easy to identify him in daylight, even with the mask on. Meanwhile, his cousin behaved well for about a week. His ribs were not broken, only bruised as he was hoping for, so after a few days he was healed and ready for action again.

Esteban had been itching to do something, anything, to get Victoria's attention and favour one more time, but nothing happened. He was about to give up and follow his uncle's advice to find another woman to court when a chance to shine in front of her presented itself when a travelling circus arrived at Los Angeles.

ZZZZZ