Chapter 4
Alejandro and Victoria both got to their feet, and because they were standing on the porch, both had a good view of the plaza and where the alcalde stood.
De Soto paused until he had full attention before he began to speak.
"Beloved people of Los Angeles. It is with great pleasure that I can announce California will be a safer place to live from this moment on!"
Victoria looked anxiously at the don. No, this did not bode well. In the past, it had often turned out to be the merrier de Soto was the worst news it meant for the pueblo.
The tension was tangible. Everyone in the plaza felt that the announcement of the alcalde meant bad news for them and wanted to know how bad it was.
De Soto continued. "The alcalde of Santa Maria has informed me by letter that the dangerous criminal and revolutionary Joaquin Correna is dead! On his flight to the North, he got overpowered by a brave Californian. His dead body got handed over to the local authorities."
Victoria was shocked to hear this news. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. She hoped the trio would succeed in bringing much-needed change to California. Victoria noticed Don Alejandro. Despite his loyalty to the King, the news affected him. Many of those present began shouting boo to express their dissatisfaction.
De Soto waved his hands and waited for the crowd to calm down before continuing. "Unfortunately, his accomplices are still at large. I have full confidence the royal colonial army will do anything to capture these rebels, and they will not escape their punishment. Soon they are dangling from the gallows!"
De Soto spread his hands to receive applause. If he had actually believed the people would react happily to this announcement. He was proved wrong. The first thing that hit him on the shoulder was an apple. Then a tomato followed on the back of his head, and soon more fruits and vegetables flew in his direction.
De Soto started screaming. "Lancers, arrest them! Arrest them all!" Before he made his way towards the cuartel, followed by almost everyone present.
Victoria felt a hand on her shoulder. The second of touch, she knew it was don Alejandro. "I'm going to tell Diego. He wants to know this."
Victoria nodded, lost for words.
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Diego and Felipe were working in the cave when they heard a door slam, followed by his father's voice. "Diego! Diego! Ah, Maria, have you seen Diego?" The voice faded, and Felipe looked at Diego.
"Yes, we better find out what's going on." The don agreed.
With a brisk step, Felipe ascended the steps while Diego peered through the peephole to see if the coast was clear.
The hidden door swung open. The men hurried out the front door, sprinted to the side of the hacienda, and plopped into a chair just in time.
Don Alejandro emerged through the French doors.
"Diego? Here you are. Why didn't you answer?" Alejandro, shaking his head, turned to Maria, who was walking behind him, and asked her." Eh, Maria, be so good as to bring us something to drink."
"I am sorry, father. I didn't hear you. Is something the matter?" Diego rose out of the chair he'd plopped down on mere seconds ago.
"You can say that." Alejandro moved close to his son, sensing that his news could come as a shock.
"Son, de Soto, has just announced the death of Joaquin Correna."
Diego closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his father gave him a sympathetic glare. "He was arrested near Santa Maria."
With a sore voice, Diego asked. "Do you know how it happened?"
"No, only that he was dead before the authorities caught him. De Soto also reported that the accomplices are still on the run."
The don took another step towards his son and put a hand on his shoulders. He hesitated a moment before he said. "Victoria told me you know his wife from your time in Madrid."
"Si," Diego confirmed to his father, giving himself a moment to let the news sink in.
There was a long silence.
On the way home from Spain, Diego soon realized Zafira's leaving him at the altar hurt less than expected. And every time he thought of Zafira, it didn't take long before he heard a long-forgotten laugh echoing in his head.
He started rereading the letters his father had sent him. He kept telling himself he was looking for clues as to why his father asked him to return. And each time he caught himself his eyes were searching for a woman's name.
So by the time he had returned to Los Angeles, he was grateful that Zafira had, deliberately or not, kept him from making a mistake.
And when he saw Victoria again after all these years, he knew for sure any feelings he believed to have felt for Zafira had not been half as intense as his love for Victoria.
Zafira had enchanted him. Victoria broke that spell with one smile. At the time of his proposal, he was certain he loved Zafira. He had never forgotten her.
Her explanation of why she never went to the church only reminded Diego how different his life could have turned out. Diego had sincerely wished Zafira and her husband the best. Zorro had done everything possible to ensure the three could escape their pursuers.
Alejandro cleared his throat and said gently.
"Victoria said there was more between the two of you."
Diego felt a wry smile come to his mouth. It should be no surprise Victoria had spoken to his father about Zafira. Victoria made little effort to conceal her curiosity. The discovery that Diego de la Vega had been betrothed and left at the altar had caused genuine astonishment. Fortunately, Victoria had kept the details to herself, and she didn't let the whole pueblo know about his past love interest.
"Do you want to tell me what happened?" His father asked cautiously.
It didn't hurt to tell his father what had happened in Spain. Diego waved his hand and invited his father to sit down. He waited until Maria had withdrawn after she placed three glasses and a large jug of lemonade on the table. Felipe filled the glasses and looked timidly at Diego. Diego glared at Felipe, indicating he preferred to discuss this with his father alone.
Diego began to speak of what happened in Spain. "Zafira was indeed my betrothed. We were madly in love and planning to get married. Something came up."
Diego told his father how he had met one of her two brothers. Ricardo had studied at university in his year. The two men had got along well from the first meeting. So well that Diego got invited to meet the family. He was immediately charmed by the beautiful younger sister. Zafira was a charming, cheerful young lady. As the months passed, Diego became a welcome guest at his friend's house. And he had been thinking more and more about Zafira and how she would be a good wife. On a sunny day, he had proposed to her. Zafira accepted almost immediately. He had wanted to wait to get married in California. Zafira, with her contagious enthusiasm, hadn't much trouble persuading him to get married as soon as possible. Inflamed by the idea, he had become just as excited and determined to get married. So Diego had travelled to Colemar to ask the padre to marry them that same day. Coincidentally, he had spoken to the padre and told him about the proposal. After some persuasion, the padre had agreed, and all that seemed to be left to do was wait for Zafira to arrive at the church.
"I waited for hours, but she never came."
Diego's throat was dry from all the talk, and he paused to take a sip before continuing.
"I went to her house. But her parents were also gone, and the servants who stayed behind could not or would not tell me where or why the family had left so suddenly. I only heard that last week why she stood me up."
"And then?" His father asked when he thought the silence had lasted long enough.
"Zafira told me she never changed her mind. She and her family got called to the monastery in Segovia. Ricardo, her eldest brother, like many young men of noble blood, had joined the rebels supported by the Spanish court. I knew that. He was seriously injured. They went there hoping to get him out of town safely. Unfortunately, they were just too late. Segovia was under siege by the French, and escape proved impossible. Zafira and her parents had no choice but to stay there and take the best care of him. Ricardo died not long after. When she returned to Madrid, I was on my way home. In Segovia, Zafira met Joaquin and developed a sympathy for his ideas. I don't know her exact reason, but she eventually married him."
After both men sat in silence for a while. Diego stared thoughtfully into the distance. Alejandro played with the glass in his hand. Hesitantly he asked his son. "Why didn't you ever tell me this before."
Now Diego had to be on full alert and watch his words. "By the time I got to California, my heartbreak had partially subsided, and it no longer mattered. Being left by the altar is not something to be proud of.
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The conversation she had with don Alejandro had given Victoria food for thought.
Zafira was a beautiful woman. Victoria needed little imagination to imagine how Zafira could win over every man crossing her path. Even don Diego proved not to have been impervious to her charm in his younger years. Quite an achievement, as the young don was especially notorious that no woman could charm him. Was this Zafira's fault? Had she broken his heart so severely it was damaged beyond repair forever?
Oh no, Victoria had heard the don herself say that another woman had succeeded in stealing his heart. Victoria pondered who it could be. Talking to Don Alejandro had helped little. Although, the don had a suspicion he hadn't told her. There were only a few young unmarried women in Los Angeles. And even fewer fit to marry a don. Then love was blind, so perhaps the girl in question was the daughter of one of the many peons. Still, Victoria had never noticed that Diego paid special attention to anyone.
And then there had been Alicia and Pilar.
Her helpers were cleaning the kitchen when Victoria came in. Her hands were full with the remaining dishes from the main room.
"You can hand them to me." Alicia stretched out her arms to receive the dishes and put them into the large basin, where more dirty dishes and glasses were waiting for a thorough cleaning.
"And I think you're wrong," Pilar announced to Alicia before turning her attention to her employer.
"Victoria, what do you think? Pilar says don Diego is a coward. I disagree with her."
The argument between her two helpers had apparently been going on for a while, as Pilar responded before Victoria could say anything.
"He doesn't do anything but read books and chat with the caballeros and the sergeant here in the tavern. I've never seen him do anything brave."
Alicia shrugged, then placed a wet plate on the counter and tossed Victoria a towel, expecting her to come to help her with the dishes. "Ah, what is being brave?"
Pilar, meanwhile, was busy tidying up the work table and said. "Zorro, for example. He fights against injustice. He stands up against the alcalde when needed. Nothing is impossible for him or too much effort. Singlehanded Zorro dares to fight eight lancers or more at once."
Alicia responded by saying, "And you call that brave? I think it's reckless."
"How can you say that? Zorro knows what he is doing." Victoria uttered.
"Yes, reckless. What if Zorro ever makes a mistake? Once the alcalde catches him, Zorro will hang faster than he can whistle for Toronado. Does he actually believe the alcalde will ever change? Dream on. It will never happen. And we all know it."
Victoria dried one plate after another to arrange a slowly growing pile of dry dishes. She decided to listen to every word and said nothing herself. She was curious about what her helpers had to say regarding Zorro and don Diego. It didn't hurt to find out Pilar's thoughts on the don.
Alice said. "Don Diego takes a much more cunning approach to things."
"Don Diego?" Pilar let out a mocking laugh. "Cunning? Are you sure we are talking about the same person?"
Pilar picked up a heavy sack of dried peas and returned it to the pantry shelf.
.
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In the conversation Alejandro and Diego had I tried to give it some historical accuracy. All we know is Zafira's brother joined the rebels and died.
According to the series, Diego was born in 1788.
(Season 4, episode 'the arrival'.)
That makes him 22 in 1810. At that age, I presume Diego was at university, most likely in his third or fourth year. A quick peek on Wikipedia informed me 1810 was a turbulent time in Spain. The Spanish war of independence was in full swing. (1808-1814.)
The Spanish King was deprived of the throne by Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon made one of his brothers, Joseph, the King of Spain. Spanish people and the army supported the Spanish King rebelling against the French authorities.
In 1813 the convention of Valençay was signed, and in 1814 the former King Ferdinand VII was reinstalled with less authority. It was a response to the French Revolution. Spain tried to prevent becoming a republic after seeing how things turned out in France.
During the war, Spain's influence on the colonies was less. It resulted in the independence of Venezuela. Triggered by this success, more colonies wanted their independence revolutions started.
This is my interpretation of what I read online and tried to summarize. Of course, matters were more complex, and this information misses a lot of details. I am not even sure what I read I interpreted correctly. Should you want to know more about the subject I advise you to do your own research.