I like to thank those who take the time to leave a review. Know that each one is appreciated.
My special thanks to PamZ. Her transcripts contribute significantly to the creation of this story.
Every word you recognize from the series isn't mine.
Chapter 17
Victoria and Diego decided to share the joyful news with Don Alejandro and Felipe just before dinner. Felipe pretended to be happy. Don Alejandro struggled to express his overwhelming joy. After warmly welcoming Victoria into the family, Don Alejandro embraced Diego tightly, showering Victoria with two kisses on each cheek.
They took their seats at the mahogany dining table later than planned. Don Alejandro unfolded his napkin and placed it on his lap before asking with genuine interest, "Have you set a date yet for the joyful occasion?"
"Father," Diego chuckled, "Victoria and I got engaged just an hour ago. You can't expect us to set a date this soon. We still have plenty of time to discuss the details. We're not in a hurry. Besides, Victoria will want to invite her brothers. Since they are in Venezuela, it will likely be well into the new year," Diego began his rehearsed speech in response to his father's anticipated question.
"Oh," Don Alejandro responded, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Diego could almost see the word 'grandchildren' flashing above his father's head like a signboard.
"I wouldn't mind it happening this year," Victoria casually remarked.
Diego choked. That wasn't the plan. The plan was to get engaged to Victoria and then prolong the engagement until Zorro was no longer needed. Felipe gave him a glance that said, 'I told you it wouldn't work.'
"I haven't heard from Ramon or Francisco in months. I don't even know if they're still in Venezuela. They could show up at my doorstep tomorrow for all I know. It could take weeks, if not months, for a letter to reach them. And then several more months for them to travel all the way here. As far as I'm concerned, we don't need to wait that long."
Victoria would have preferred to get married today. She was convinced that once she was married, she could banish thoughts of Zorro from her mind and heart. A respectable married woman surely wouldn't fantasize about what it would feel like to be kissed by a masked outlaw, no matter how attractive he was.
"Victoria, I don't mind waiting until you hear from your brothers. You could write to them and wait until we know when they can be here? If you want, we can start with the preparations without setting a date. You could even order a dress in advance," Diego suggested.
"Not necessary. I still have my mother's wedding dress. I share her figure. It might need a few minor adjustments, but I like the idea of using it. It will feel like she's there with us. And about my brothers, I really don't see the need. Yes, I would like them both to be there. I realize, all too well, the chances of both of them coming are limited." Victoria replied.
"We could at least give it a try?" Diego answered her.
"I always believed October is a nice month for a wedding," Don Alejandro casually suggested.
October! Diego thought, alarmed. That's only three months away! Unless a miracle happened, his task as Zorro wouldn't be over that soon. He planned to wait for at least a year.
October! Victoria thought, alarmed. That's almost three months! She needed to convince Diego to get married sooner. There was no way she could ignore Zorro for that long.
.
Diego's frustration surged inside him as he swept all the papers off the desk. His carefully crafted plan had failed miserably.
Felipe stood silently behind him, likely feeling just as disappointed.
"Yeah, I know. It was stupid of me," Diego sighed with resignation, sinking into the ornate chair and resting his head in his hands. "Who would've expected this?" he asked, frustration evident in his voice. "Damn it, all I wanted was to bind Victoria to me without putting her life at stake."
Felipe hesitated before asking if Diego planned to break off the engagement.
"No, I can't break off the engagement. It would break Victoria's heart, and then..., I'd lose her forever. There's no other option but to marry Victoria earlier than planned. And hope that Zorro won't be needed much longer."
The thought of losing Victoria pierced Diego's heart. He felt trapped in a web of complex emotions and an uncertain future. Why had his father been so insistent on suggesting October?
If it had been up to him, he would have proposed to Victoria on the day he returned from Spain. If only things were less complicated.
.
The day after his proposal, things even got worse. His father received a letter from his cousin, Rafaël, requesting permission to visit Los Angeles at the end of August to introduce his fiancée. This prompted his father to suggest moving the wedding date even further forward.
Excitedly, his father shared the news. "Rafaël expects to arrive in Los Angeles on the twenty-fourth of August. You and Victoria could get married on the twenty-sixth, which was, as you know, your mother's birthday. She would be honoured if you chose to honour her this way. Besides, it would be convenient since you can ask Rafaël to be your best man."
Victoria had immediately expressed her enthusiasm for advancing the date and loved the idea of getting married in August.
Diego had stumbled over his words, overwhelmed by the rapid turn of events, as his mind was running wild to find solutions to postpone the wedding as long as possible. Naturally, his father just hadn't listened. "Actually, I wanted to ask Felipe to be my best man."
His father reacted with surprise. "Felipe? But we don't know his age. He might be too young."
"We're not certain. There's a chance Felipe is fifteen, perhaps even slightly older. I wanted to consult with the padre to see if he approves of Felipe serving as my best man at the ceremony. We're certain he's older than twelve. And if we wait to hear from Victoria's brothers, we can get married next summer without any issues. By then, Felipe will definitely be of age."
His father appeared bewildered. "But I thought you had decided to marry in October? Where did this sudden change come from? You almost make me think you don't want to marry. Besides, one or two months earlier or later won't make much difference, right?"
For some reason Victoria's face had paled at his words, though his father didn't notice.
"I understand that you want Felipe to be your best man. You two are close. However, Rafaël is family, and we know his age for certain."
Diego reiterated his desire for Felipe to be his best man. His father raised his hands apologetically. "It's your decision, of course. But consider that Rafaël might be planning to ask you to be his best man during his visit. It seems only fair that you grant him the same favour."
.
Three days after Diego had proposed, his father returned from the pueblo and proudly informed him everything was arranged. Unbeknownst to Diego, his father had visited the padre to inquire when the banns could be read. Padre Benitez had no issue performing the ceremony on the twenty-sixth of August. His only demand was the banns were read for the first time the following Sunday.
"Well, what do you say?" Don Alejandro said, glowing with happiness. "Good news, right? I discussed it with Victoria, and she completely agreed. She's glad our family can be present, even if her brothers won't make it on time. Unless, of course, Ramon or Francisco happens to be on their way over here as we speak."
When Diego mentioned it was all happening too fast, his father responded with a grin. "Son, that's just how these things work. You got to choose the bride. Now it's Victoria's turn to pick a date." His father patted him on the shoulder a little too forcefully.
Diego crossed his arms over his chest. "I got the impression that you chose the date, though."
The don had chuckled. "Already nervous, right? Son, don't worry so much. It will all work out. Just ask any married man. All you have to do is make it to the altar on time and on the right day. The rest will be taken care of for you."
Doubtfully, Diego wondered how a seemingly reasonable plan had turned into such a complete mess in just four days.
.
It had been a long, arduous night. The rumours about the bandits hiding near the Tres Equinas, the crossing upon the road to the North and Santa Monica, turned out to be true. Zorro had tracked them down, courageously subdued them, and now they were bound on their horses, heading towards the gates of Los Angeles with their hands securely tied behind their backs.
Diego longed for a refreshing glass of water and his comfortable bed. Fatigue weighed heavily on his body. But as he observed the spectacle of the rising sun in the east, a mix of fear and excitement coursed through his veins. He spotted Victoria's cart approaching Los Angeles from a distance. He had no idea where she was heading so early in the morning. Where had she been before seven o'clock?
A sudden thought flashed through his mind. This might be the perfect moment for Zorro to have a conversation with her. He could attempt to soften Victoria's opinion of him. With determination, urging Toronado from a trot to a gallop. And once he was close enough, he slowed his pace until he rode alongside her.
Victoria looked up in amazement as she saw Zorro appear next to her. Her eyes widened as she took the man in his iconic black costume, mask, and hat.
She was speechless, captivated by his presence. She couldn't tear her gaze away from him. There was something magnetic about him that made her heart beat faster. Why had he come to her? It was well known that she questioned his actions.
"Hola, señorita Escalante," Zorro greeted her with his distinct voice. Its resonance echoed through the morning air, startling Victoria. "Forgive me, I didn't intentionally startle you. I saw you riding, and given the early hour, is everything alright? I offer my services to assist you when needed."
Zorro knew her name! Victoria quickly recovered from her surprise and blushed as Zorro gazed directly into her eyes. Her voice trembled slightly as she replied, "Everything is fine. I'm on my way to the tavern. Thank you for asking." With a gentle flick of her whip, she urged her horse to pick up a slightly faster pace.
Zorro rode up beside her again, his imposing presence felt. "Please, señorita. Allow me to seize this opportunity to have a brief conversation with you."
Victoria halted her horse and looked at Zorro curtly. Her heart pounded like a wild beast in her chest. She dared not look at Zorro, her cheeks glowing like coals. "I don't see any reason for such a thing."
"Señorita, I can understand you doubt my motives and actions," Zorro said sincerely.
"I... I do see that you are committed to the people in the pueblo. And... and..." Overwhelmed by the unexpected encounter, she stammered on. What were the chances of running into Zorro this early on a Saturday morning in the vicinity of Los Angeles?
Zorro quickly interrupted her. "Señorita, you need not explain yourself or apologize. I have taken it upon myself to protect the innocent, needed, and try to bring justice to a pueblo oppressed by a tyrant. I only ask that you reconsider your judgment of me and allow me to prove I have the pueblo's best interests at heart." He knew it would take time to earn her trust. Right now, he just hoped to smoothen her opinion over Zorro. "I do hope that in the near future, I can convince you I have the best interest at heart. That I fight for justice and freedom. I beg you to give me a chance and let my actions speak for themselves."
Victoria looked at Zorro, her thoughts muddled in a mix of fear, admiration, and something that felt like desire. "I will try," she finally managed to utter.
"I could not ask for more. Word has it you are engaged to Diego de la Vega? Allow me to congratulate you. He and especially his father are prominent members of this small community. Their opinion of me carries weight within Los Angeles. I value the public support I receive from them."
Victoria suddenly smiled, but it was a sad smile. Her voice sounded broken as she said, "Don Alejandro and don Diego are perfectly capable of forming their own opinions. I will think about what you said about reconsidering my judgment. I won't make any promises," she quickly added.
Zorro nodded in understanding. "Gracias." He tipped the brim of his hat before setting his horse in motion. "Adiós, señorita Escalante."
With a swift motion, Zorro rode away, his black figure slowly fading into the distance.
Victoria watched him, her eyes fixed on the spot where he had just disappeared. A mixture of confusion and a storm of emotions rushed through her heart. She was torn, and the realization dawned on her that her feelings for Zorro might run deeper than she could have ever anticipated.
.
As the wedding day drew nearer, the burden of her secret grew heavier. Victoria feared that her inner struggle would overshadow the chance of happiness in her marriage.
A deep sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes. "Why can't I just get Zorro out of my head?" she whispered to herself. "Underneath that mask, he is just a man like all others. Besides I really do love Diego." The question remained unanswered, a source of frustration that tormented her from within.
The wedding was only nine days away. The banns had already been read by Padre Benitez two times. She couldn't ask Diego to postpone the wedding, so she had time to reconsider. It would ruin their reputations for sure.
The inner battle overwhelmed her, making her feel insane. Victoria knew she had to ignore her true feelings about Zorro. She had to forget them. But how could she do that when Zorro occupied her thoughts more and more?
In silence, Victoria decided to bury her feelings even deeper inside. She had to suppress and ignore them. Despite the strange sensation, she felt that continued to haunt her. She wanted to be a loving and faithful wife to Diego. After the wedding, so Victoria believed she would quickly forget all the emotions that Zorro stirred within her.
Till then, she had to fight this battle alone, in silence and with shame. Victoria was determined to win. She hoped, no, she knew, that her love for Diego would be strong enough to overcome the unwanted longing for a man she could not possibly have genuine feelings for. All she ever wanted was a secure, happy future with the man she loved and respected her. And in a couple of days from now she would have that.
.
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Oops, there goes your grand plan, Diego. In this story summary, it gets mentioned that by flirting with Victoria almost from the beginning, Zorro didn't act very cleverly. After all, he excluded Diego from doing so.
However, I never claimed that Diego would behave wisely throughout the entire story. As we all know, love has the tendency to fry a man's brain like a crisp tortilla. ;)
I would have liked to give Diego extra time to postpone the wedding by having Felipe pose as the best man. However, it turns out that according to the colonial Spanish law that applied in California at that time, the best man in a marriage ceremony conducted in the colonies had to be at least fourteen years old. I find hard to believe Felipe is twelve- or thirteen-year-old in the first season.
In 1820 in Spain, there was an age limit of 21 year. That's quite a big difference. Those were different times, I suppose.
I have been looking forward to the following chapters. As you might have guessed, they are inspired by the episode 'The Best Man.' S1E5.
Get ready for those rotten tomatoes!
And while you're at it, why not write a review?
