Most of the week passed quickly in Los Angeles as the tailor and dressmaker had never been busier. By Sunday evening, everyone was looking their best, though none seemed to shine brighter than Victoria Escalante, who, in a dark-green dress, looked absolutely breathtaking.
Gilberto himself was stunned by her beauty as he saw her descend the stairs from her room that evening. Due to head for the count's hacienda together with his mother, he had decided to stop by the tavern in the hope he might convince the innkeeper to accompany him and, at least when he saw her, he was certain he had had the right idea.
"Señorita! I was hoping you might have anticipated my invitation to escort you to the party…" Risendo said with a charming smile, offering her his arm.
"Ah…" Don Alejandro intervened as he passed by him, and offered Victoria his arm instead, "I do believe the lady agreed to allow me the honor of escorting her…" he said as Victoria chuckled at accepting the elderly caballero's invitation to accompany him, not even granting the young man a second glance.
"I knew you must have had something to do with my invitation…" she said as they were passing by him.
"The count's man had asked me for a list of the most prominent citizens of Los Angeles, so that they might be invited to the fiesta. Of course I added your name, my dear! Though, I am rather certain to have omitted Risendo's," that the elderly caballero said just loud enough for the young man to hear as they reached the front door, and Don Alejandro smiled to himself as he noticed, from the corner of his eye, the frown on Gilberto's face.
Stepping on the terrace, the don signaled for his carriage, then helped Victoria up.
"Is this new?" the young woman asked admiringly as she noticed the purple velvet seats of the caballero's means of transportation.
The elderly man shook his head. "It's the count's. He insisted I take it when I told him I was to bring back with me the most beautiful woman in the territory."
Again she smiled, her face turning slightly red. "Then I fear you might have given him false expectations!" she answered.
"On the contrary, my dear! Tonight, you look absolutely splendid!" he answered, then suddenly saddened at imagining how Diego might have reacted at seeing her like that.
ZZZ
Don Alejandro and Victoria, just like the Risendos, De Soto, and Sergeant Mendoza arrived at the hacienda as the sun was setting, and had to wait in the long line of carriages disembarking their passengers outside the sumptuous residence. That lasted for some ten minutes, and, as they approached the house, it seemed to Victoria that she had never seen it before.
The alleyway leading to it, once a simple field of overgrown grass and weeds, now consisted of a true road, large enough for two carriages to pass by each other with enough space between them and at their side to accommodate a third. They were also bordered now by palm trees the likes of which the innkeeper had never seen before.
As for the house itself, besides having grown to double its original size, it had acquired a large, covered terrace and columns both on the ground floor and at the second one, where large balconies allowed the new owner to survey most of his estate, his view only limited by the far-away hills.
Amazing as that seemed, considering she had last visited the hacienda but a few weeks earlier, before it was ready, now roses were rising on the columns to scent the air with their delicate perfume.
All that, however, she remarked for herself at descending from the carriage, was just part of the marvels the count's men had accomplished for that day.
Entering the house, Victoria glanced at the several rows of veils and silk curtains, used to keep the insects away from the house, and the sweet Oriental scents inside it. Passing through them seemed to the young woman like passing into another realm, one where champagne-glass towers rose tall, guarding the entrance to an impossible-grand ballroom, where a richly decorated Venetian candelabra shone over the room like a sun. On the margins, tables filled with all sorts of strange-looking, colored foods were already being devoured by the guests.
They stopped by the entrance so that Victoria could take it all in. Her senses invaded by the lavish decorations and colored flowers, the young woman could hardly understand the transformation the house she knew so well had gone through, for it seemed like it was old and new at the same time; familiar and completely strange.
A servant soon offered her and the don wine, and they accepted it gratefully just as three resounding clangs, called everyone's attention to the flight of stairs leading to the second floor.
A good-looking man, over six feet tall, was standing at their top, studying his guests. He was black-haired and wore a fashionable beard and mustache. He wore a dark suit over which he had an oriental, open kaftan that gave him the air of a true king. As he glanced around, his eyes met Victoria's for a few moments, and she found herself mesmerized.
"Welcome to my humble hacienda!" he said, still looking at her, and the people, who were all staring appreciatively at him, started to applaud and chuckle at the same time for the house was by no standards a humble one.
The count signed for them to stop before continuing, this time, glancing at the rest of the people there. "I decided that the best way to meet my new neighbors was with a party, and I am profoundly honored to see that so many of you accepted my invitation. Please, help yourselves to the food, dance, and enjoy yourselves! My home is yours," saying that, he again found Victoria's eyes, "for the night" he finished, glancing towards the Risendos and De Soto, who were standing together.
Everyone applauded again as the count climbed down, and, even before reaching the ground floor, he found himself surrounded by the people there, all eager to properly introduce themselves.
Victoria frowned at seeing Risendo among the first to greet the new arrival, then turned to Don Alejandro.
"It will be a miracle if he remembers the name of even one person after tonight!" she said with a chuckle as the two of them remained watching from the sidelines.
"That is quite true, Victoria," the don replied. "Well… At least the tables are mostly empty… Shall we?"
The young woman smiled and accompanied him to where only Sergeant Mendoza had remained to continue sampling the count's food.
"Hola, Sergeant Mendoza," the don greeted, smiling at the very full plate the younger man was holding.
"Buenas noches!" the sergeant replied with a half-full mouth. "Isn't this magnificent?"
"It surely is impressive. The count has brought with him some amazing cooks!" he agreed.
"I envy you, Don Alejandro!" Mendoza remarked. "Living here, you must get to eat like this every day!" at that point he froze at noticing Victoria. "Not that your food is less exquisite, Señorita," he uttered, "it's just that… That…"
"You have to pay for it?" she suggested.
Don Alejandro hid a chuckle.
"Well…" he replied. "Yes… Thought it could be free… For your most faithful customer, at least…"
"You would put me in the poor house if I'd let you eat for free, Sergeant!" She replied, folding her arms across her chest.
"Of course not, Señorita!" Mendoza shook his head, wondering how to appease her. "But did I already mention that you look like a seven-layer cake, Señorita?"
"Like a cake?" she asked, dumbfounded.
"Si! Absolutely wonderful." Mendoza remarked with an innocent smile, and she couldn't help but chuckle, at the same time wondering whether that was truly a compliment or she had made a truly horrible mistake by putting on that particular dress she was wearing.
"You should try these!" Mendoza pointed towards some strange-looking colored sweets that resembled jelly.
ZZZ
In the meantime, the Count had politely shaken hands and made the acquaintance of all those rushing to greet him and did his best to treat Gilberto as anyone else there, not even noticing Inez Risendo, who was sat in a corner of the room. As the crowd dispersed, the young man tactfully refused the idea of dancing with any of the señoritas whoo had been already introduced to him, while he slowly made his way towards the food table where he had spotted Victoria and his father.
"That would be lokum," he informed the young woman as she wondered what it was she was about to taste. "Very sweet, and very popular with the Turkish sultan and his harem."
Victoria turned towards him at hearing his voice, and, for a moment, as she looked him in the eyes, trying to recall why his voice seemed so familiar to her. He stared back at her and, for a few moments, both of them seemed lost in the other's gaze.
It was the orchestra's decision to start playing that extracted the count from that state. "Señorita Escalante, I assume," he said as he bowed, and took her hand to kiss.
"Si… You've been there? To Constantinople?" she asked, unable to think of anything else to say.
"My travels have taken me to many places. Constantinople is one of my favorites," he replied. "Though, right at this moment, I can't imagine a place more fascinating than Los Angeles."
"Really? How so?" she inquired, confused.
"Well, never before have I seen such beauty as yours, Señorita," he said, producing a red rose from his large sleeve, and offering it to her.
She took it and smelled the flower's sweet scent while smiling at the young man who towered over her.
"Perhaps you will grant me the honor of this dance," the count said as he offered her his hand, and signed for the musicians to play a waltz.
Victoria hesitated for a moment, but her hand soon rose to rest in his.
As they danced, alone on the dance floor, for the first time in a very long while, Victoria felt joy; true, unhindered, perfect joy. Her smile came natural to her, as if all the pain she had lived with in her heart, for years already, had simply vanished the moment the count had taken her hand.
"You are a truly marvelous dancer, Señorita," the young man told her as the music paused before another melody began.
ZZZ
"They put on quite a show," De Soto told Gilberto. "I do think Zorro might not be your only competition for the young woman's heart…"
"Why don't you keep your ineptitudes for yourself," Risendo retorted as, grabbing a glass of wine, he headed outside.
De Soto smirked wickedly, petted his beard for a few moments, then headed for the food table.
"I return to you this beautiful rose to you, Don Alejandro," the count said as he and Victoria rejoined the elderly caballero.
"Thank you, Your Excellency," the man said, offering the young woman his arm.
"Oh, I think we are way past the honorary titles by now," said the count.
"What should I call you then, Señor?"
"How about Sebastian?"
"Very well, Don Sebastian!"
The count smiled, bowed his head as he parted with Victoria, then left them to head for De Soto.
"A fascinating man, is he not?" Don Alejandro asked her.
"He really is…" Victoria replied. "And a marvelous dancer!"
"You seem a little flushed, my dear. Perhaps some air would do you good." Don Alejandro said after glancing at her and offered to escort her towards the gardens.
ZZZ
"I don't believe we were properly introduced, Señor," the count said as he neared his old schoolmate, who was dressed in his best blue uniform.
"It was rather packed around you earlier…" De Soto replied.
"Indeed."
"I am Ignacio de Soto, the alcalde of Los Angeles."
"Sebastian Enrique Alvaro de Murrieta, Conde de Dragonera."
"Oh, I know who you are, Your Excellency," De Soto said with a rather charming smile.
The count offered him a grin. "Well, now, I also know who you are," he said in a certain tone of voice, as if meaning much more with those words than he was actually saying. "Have you been alcalde for long?" he then asked.
"About a year now. I arrived some eight months after the death of my predecessor, Luis Ramone."
"I see... Then tell me, Alcalde, is it true that a masked man calling himself Zorro has been terrorizing this territory for over a month now?" he continued.
"Yes, but you needn't worry about him, Your Excellency! He won't be terrorizing the pueblo for much longer."
"Really? You have a plan to capture him, then?" the count asked, pretending to be only slightly interested in what the white-haired man had to say.
"Somebody has to! And I always have a plan at hand! Don't worry! The man will soon realize he's messed with the wrong alcalde."
The count put on that knowing smile. "I am looking forward to finding out what you have in store for him." He said.
De Soto nodded. "You will! You most certainly will… And soon, I guarantee you'll be able to see the man hang."
"I wouldn't miss that for the world!" the count assured him, then slightly nodded his goodbye at noticing Gilberto heading for a woman with her face covered by a thick, black veil. She was sitting all alone by the entrance to the room as if wanting to make sure she had an avenue of escape, so, curious, he headed toward them.
"Señor… Risendo, if memory serves," the count nodded his hello.
"Your Excellency!" the man said, standing proud. "May I introduce you to my mother, Señora Inez Risendo?"
The Count sized her up before offering a polite bow, not reaching to kiss the woman's hand. "Señora," he said.
"Your Excellency!" she greeted back, slightly offended yet unwilling to let it show.
"I hope you are enjoying the fiesta…"
"We are. It is very… animated." The woman answered. "But allow me to satisfy a curiosity I have, Your Excellency…"
"Of course…" he answered, seeming hesitant.
"I was wondering, Señor," the woman replied, "why would a man like you come to live in a place such as this?"
"Well… Let's say this is the best place for me to be in order to protect my investments." The count replied.
"You have many investments to protect here, in California?" Gilberto inquired innocently.
"Not exactly here as much as from here," the count explained. "My investments have always been rather… diverse. As they say, it's best not to put all of one's eggs in one basket. However, one thing I have discovered rather recently is that, on occasion, under the right circumstances, of course, placing a large amount of said eggs in the same basket might, in fact, bring huge rewards. Far greater than diversification. That is, of course, if one is willing to make sure the basket is sturdy enough.
"But," the count continued, visibly trying to change the subject, "since we are on the subject, what about California captured you, Don Giberto? I was informed you came here as the King's Emissary, yet decided to return after having taken the money you had collected no farther than Mexico City..."
"My son decided to return to Los Angeles for personal reasons, Señor," Inez replied at noticing her son hesitated.
"Indeed," Gilberto chuckled awkwardly, inwardly wondering what the man knew about him and why. "Besides, I admit to have been captivated by the wild beauty of this land… as well as by a certain beauty in particular," he said as he glanced through a window, towards the gardens where Victoria was bending to smell a yellow rose.
The count followed his glance and smiled.
"I see what you mean, Señor Risendo. In fact, while dancing with her, I couldn't help but remark that the señorita would make a wonderful countess. Don't you think so?"
Gilberto frowned, wondering if the man was simply so accustomed to getting whatever he wanted that he had simply forgotten that he might be forced to fight for it. "I rather think she'd be better suited to be the wife of a future General," he replied.
"Really? But she doesn't strike me as the type who'd even give an army man a second glance," the count retorted, feigning to be confused.
"Perhaps a don's wife then…" Gilberto retorted.
"Maybe… Still, Countess does sound better than Doña," their host said as a young servant came to bring him a glass of what looked like white wine. "Thank you, Fariz," he said, accepting it.
"I would also like one…" Gilberto muttered, but the boy paid him no attention.
"Fariz," the Count said, and the boy looked at him carefully. "Please bring another for the Señor here!" saying that, he also signed at his glass, then pointed at Risendo. The boy nodded and headed away. "I fear he doesn't speak any Spanish." He then explained to the mother and son.
"What use could you have with him then?" Inez asked.
"Actually, he's quite gifted." The count answered. "He knows precisely when to bring me food and drinks," he said that pointing at the glass in his hand, "when to make sure I am not disturbed… Frankly, he's the best valet I have ever had. As for the communication issue, he understands my signs. I did have one of my men try to teach him some Spanish, of course, but I don't believe he's bright enough to learn it... He doesn't much like to talk, either, and I prefer it that way…"
Gilberto and his mother smiled their agreement, trying to seem polite.
