Deceptive Hearts

Victoria smiled widely as Diego took a quick bite of flan. The pleasure that crossed his face as he slowly munched the sweet desert was enough to make Victoria's ego soar.

She knew he loved her cooking and knew that he especially loved her flan. She hated to admit that she gained great pleasure from his reactions to her cooking. She rarely had anything to boast about and she knew the handsome don took her ribbing in good stride. For this reason, she took great pleasure from scolding the handsome don as well.

"Diego De La Vega," She admonished, trying desperately to hide an impish grin. "Were you never taught to save desert for last. Eat your meal first!"

Diego stopped, the spoon mid-way to his mouth, and grinned. Teasingly, he quickly shoved the spoon into his mouth and closed his eyes, savoring the sweet taste.

Victoria shook her head disapprovingly. "You are hopeless."

Diego grinned, his eyes dancing. Something about her scolding was enticing.

"No," He mumbled around the spoon. "I’m hungry."

A little more serious he said, "Thank you for bringing my lunch today. I would have come for it."

"Sure you would have," Victoria smiled, leaning forward over the table. "When you finished working on this weeks article. Which could be tomorrow or the day after."

Diego smiled thoughtfully. "True. I do have a lot of type to set. Articles to collect."

He stared at her expectantly and she giggled.

"I have it for you. I forgot it on my way over here." She admitted. She loved writing articles for the paper. It made her feel like she was contributing something, more than adding to the combined weight of the military, to the pueblo.

While many suspected who wrote the Doña Corazon column, Diego would never reveal the author of his articles if they did not want to be named.

"Your articles are always so- " Diego took another mouth watering bite of flan, causing Victoria to stare at him in anticipation. He grinned innocently at her, knowing that her curiosity at his unfinished comment would eventually win out.

She shoved her hands into her hips and stared at the tall caballero. "So, what?"

"So - eye opening." He laughed and she swiped at him with a nearby napkin.

"Why you!" Her eyes narrowed as he doubled over in laughter. "What is that supposed to mean?"

His laughs became more unbearable as he struggled to get a deep breath. Her volatile reaction to his comment was more than he expected.

She stared at him expectantly until he realized he was going to have to give her some kind of an explanation.

"A young, single woman giving advice on matters of the heart," Diego grinned. "What do you know about romance?"

He knew he was treading a thin line here and could tell that she was about ready to explode. This comment might just set off the chain reaction.

Her eyes widened and he took a step back.

"What do I know about romance? Well, "She took a step closer to the proper caballero. "Much more than you do, Diego De La Vega!"

Diego nodded but remain silent, sending her into another fit. His knowledge on the subject would just have to remain his secret for a bit longer. Perhaps he would show her at a later date just how much he really did know.

She calmed herself and waved her hand at him in an air of disgust. She was certain she knew a bit more about love and romance than the dull caballero but she was not in the mood to argue the point with him.

"Just eat," She ordered, and leaned over to take a mug from the basket to pour him some lemonade.

As she did so, her low cut blouse revealed a little more of her skin that he thought it was ever intended to do. He found himself unable to look away, as a proper caballero should have done. Instead he was mesmerized by the way the blouse hugged her slim form. His eyes traveled down the blouse, causing a blush to crawl along his neck. When she looked at him and extended the mug of lemonade, he turned away sharply.

Victoria's eyes narrowed. "What is wrong now?"

"Uh, nothing," He didn't look at her, simply began arranging papers on the desk next to him. "I – need to get back to work."

Victoria shook her head. He could be so strange sometimes. One minute he could think of nothing but feeding his face, the next, he has no interest in the food. Their earlier 'discussion' had been forgotten.

"Well, I hope it wasn't my cooking," Victoria muttered and turned to step out of the office.

Her comment shook Diego back to the situation at hand, rather than the view he had just received first hand.

He couldn't let her think it was her food. He was a little too determined to make her believe his comments. When he stepped quickly around the table separating them, and reached for her arm, she turned around sharply and found herself nose to – his chest.

Her reaction to the abrupt closeness brought a soft chuckle to his lips.

He grasped her shoulders to keep her from stumbling and, much to his surprise, she did not tear herself from his grasp. She simply stared up at him, amber eyes voicing an unspoken question through dark eyelashes.

"It's definitely not your cooking," He smiled down at her upturned face. The rosy lips pursed as he stared at her and all he would need to do is bend over and press his lips to hers. The invitation was there, and he would have done it had he been sure she would not run screaming from the office. To hell with his secret life. There were times when his need to love her as himself overwhelmed everything. But then he would recover his senses and realize that would do more harm than good right now.

Victoria stood unmoving for a few seconds. She was fascinated by the strange emotions she was experiencing standing so close to the handsome caballero. Fascinated and confused by her own body's reaction, she stared into his clear blue eyes. She had been furious with him a few moments ago. He could get her all riled up for the strangest reasons.

He held her tightly, but gently. He towered over her, causing her to look up almost as much as she did when she stood beside Zorro. Something in his eyes drew her to him. That same something prevented her from tearing her eyes away.

Only the sound of the arriving coach, the wheels grinding the stones and dirt beneath them, was able to break their gaze.

"Oh, the coach," Victoria turned away quickly. She was suddenly uncomfortable and she couldn't understand why. "I am expecting some - packages. Enjoy your lunch."

Victoria skittered out the door and Diego stared out the front window, watching her departure.

Diego's gaze slowly shifted from Victoria to a woman, dressed in finery that the queen herself would have been embarrassed to wear, stepped from the coach.

He blinked one, two, three times before his mind could comprehend what he was seeing. The clothing she wore was nothing like he had ever seen in the Spanish Colonies. It was bright red, laced with gold ribbon. She wore a corset that barely covered her ample bosom. Lace fell from her shoulders and her hair was swept up in a very becoming style.

She was smiling the minute her feet hit the hard packed sand of the plaza. Diego shook his head. Her beauty was stunning. Every man, woman and child in the plaza turned to the fascinating sight before them.

When Victoria escorted the stranger into the tavern, Diego shrugged himself out of his stupor. Without concern for the food now cold on his desk, or the papers scattered about the office, he rushed out the door and over to the tavern.

The minute she walked into the tavern, every male eye in the place turned to her voluptuous form.

Victoria made the woman feel as comfortable as she could, pouring her wine and setting a scrumptious plate of food in front of her.

Victoria was taken aback when the young woman turned, wine glass in hand, and seductively drank from it. Men who were watching her, caballero’s and peasants alike, were taken aback by the slow, methodic way she sipped the wine.

Diego stepped into the tavern and caught the tail end of the sip, stopping in his tracks at such a suggestive movement; subtle but suggestive to every man and woman in the room. He forced himself to look away when he noticed Victoria's offended stance.

Victoria turned when he entered, noticed his reaction, and was immediately disgusted by it. She had never seen Diego display interest in any woman before, much less one with an obviously colored lifestyle.

Victoria shook her head and introduced herself. "Victoria Escalante. I am the owner of this tavern."

The young woman smiled sweetly at Victoria, "Aria Franco." She said in a heavily accented voice. Her grasp of the language was perfect, it was just heavily accented, making her a little harder to understand.

"You are not from the colonies." It was not a question. Victoria threw Diego an intrigued look as he leaned against the bar next to Aria.

"No, I just arrived in California a few days ago. It is quite different from my homeland." Aria batted her eyelashes at the handsome caballero, exacting a frown from Victoria.

"By your accent, I would guess that to be Italy." Diego smiled politely.

Aria gave Diego a slow, teasing look, her eyes traveling down his body and back up to his handsome face.

;"Yes, indeed?" Her eyes beamed, "How did you know?"

"Oh, Italian is very close to Spanish," Diego smiled politely. "It is not difficult to tell the difference. The accent is unmistakable"

In a move Victoria had never seen Diego execute, he pressed a finger to her lips and whispered to Aria. Victoria had to lean closer to hear what he said.

"I don’t believe this pueblo is anything like what you are used to."

"Yes, I can see that."

Diego stepped back when her suggestive movements became more than he wanted to handle. Her breath was hot against his cheek as she spoke.

"Would you like to show me around this fine pueblo?" She batted her eyelashes at Diego.

He heard Victoria's sharp intake of breath and resisted the urge to chuckle. He should be completely insulted, but he did find her invitation flattering.

"I am quite busy this afternoon, Señorita, I do apologize. But I am flattered for the 'offer'. " Diego grinned at Victoria and smiled politely at Aria.

Victoria huffed in disgust and left the bar to tend to her other customers.

"What has brought you to Los Angeles?" Diego asked. He was truly intrigued by the woman’s presence.

Victoria's disgust grew when she noticed every one of her customers eyes were trained on the strange woman. Even more disgusted when the ever proper Diego De La Vega was engaging her in conversation.

"With the political unrest in my country, the wars and the pressure of the church, I decided that exploring California and its people would be an interesting venture." Aria smiled.

"You sound like a very educated woman, Señorita." Diego praised. "Many women here are not as well educated."

"As it is in Italy as well." She nodded. "Someone once said to me that we were among the most educated in the world."

Diego leaned closer to her so that his voice would not carry. Victoria noticed this and hurried back to her position behind the bar. She wanted to hear what Diego was whispering to this stranger.

"And so you are. I believe, however, that the need for courtesans has diminished over the centuries."

Victoria's eyes widened as she set the bottle of wine on the counter. She had heard of these women; woman who sold their bodies to rich, powerful men for money. Never would she have thought she would ever meet one face to face. This woman certainly was beautiful. And Victoria realized that, given the chance, this woman would have every man in the pueblo under her spell.

What was a woman of this profession doing in Los Angeles? And why was Victoria jealous of her presence?

"I plan to settle here. In a little cottage perhaps."

Diego eyed her suspiciously. What would a woman of this caliber be doing in Los Angeles? And why would she ever want to settle in the pueblo?

"What about our pueblo could possibly interest such a beautiful young woman?" Diego asked, carefully wording his sentences so that she would not interpret them as an invitation to his bed.

"Diego," Victoria interrupted, a little more forcefully than she intended. "She must be exhausted after her journey."

She turned towards Aria, "I do have rooms for rent upstairs if you would like one for the night."

Aria's eyes lit and Diego could tell what she was thinking. She needed a private room to conduct her business and Victoria had just handed it to her on a silver platter.

"Why, yes, thank you. I do believe I would." Aria bent to gather her belongings and two men immediately offered their services. Aria bent her head in respect and Diego could see her lashes flutter as she followed Victoria up the stairs.

"Oh it's a good thing that the alcalde is away for a few days," Mendoza slid beside Diego, his eyes following, like every man's in the tavern, the woman sauntering up the stairs behind Victoria.

Diego found that he, too, had to tear his gaze away from the beautiful woman. There was something about her. Something that Diego could not quite place his finger on. Something enchanting.

"I have to agree with you there, Sergeant." Diego nodded, turning his gaze toward the soldier.

Diego could hear the whispers around the crowded tavern. Word had spread about this new woman in the pueblo and many had come to see what all the fuss was about.

Alejandro pushed through the patrons to his son’s side. "What is going on in here today?"

Diego chuckled, "Well, Los Angeles seems to have gained the attention of a European courtesan."

"A what?" Alejandro was aghast. "Diego do you know what…"

"Yes, father. I do. I'm not sure how well received she will be once the pueblo discovers what she does for a living." Diego commented with a sigh.

"Diego, she could be hung for witchcraft, " Alejandro turned to his son, concern for the young woman’s well being clear.

Victoria returned with a heavy sigh. She turned curious eyes on Alejandro as she caught the end of his comment.

"I think we need to take every precaution that we can so that does not happen." Diego agreed. "I think that might be why she left her home. The Inquisition was suppressed by Napoleon over ten years ago but there are still lingering effects. King Ferdinand restored it again in 1814 but there have not been many executions since the end of the century."

"Executions?" Victoria questioned.

"Inquisition executions," Diego answered casually.

"You think they will execute her?" Victoria admonished. "Whatever for?"

"Do you realize what she is, Victoria," Diego leaned toward her and whispered.

She was taken aback by his concern but stood still to hear what he had to say.

"She is a courtesan. Which means that she …."

"I know what that means, Diego!" Victoria whispered fiercely.

"While the Inquisition is not prevalent in the colonies, there are those here that would call her a demon sent by satan to damn men." Diego recited a familiar passage from one of his history books.

Diego looked toward the balcony. One of the men, who had helped her with her bags, had not re-appeared. Diego shook his head and sighed.

"Well I think men do enough to damn themselves, they don't need a woman to do it for them," Victoria countered and Diego chuckled.

"I might have expected you to be of similar opinion." Diego chuckled. The fiery señorita would not be silenced nor would she sit back and let another woman be unjustly harmed.

Victoria didn’t agree with what the woman did for a living but there had to be some reason why she had chosen this profession. Victoria was determined to discover that reason.

"I will talk with her."

"I would wait a little while," Diego muttered absently and it took Victoria a moment to understand. Her eyes widened and she stared at Diego’s back as he walked out of the tavern.

"Humpf, what would Diego know about such things?" Victoria muttered, looked toward her patrons and then back toward Diego’s back. "What indeed?"

"I don’t think I can condone the business you are bringing into my tavern," Victoria explained uncomfortably to Aria after the tavern had closed for the evening.

Aria sighed, leaning against the bar as Victoria cleaned the counter. "Why is that? Your tavern is busier than many have ever seen it."

"True. But the kind of business you are bringing into my tavern is not the kind of clientele that I need." Victoria continued with her tasks, looking up occasionally. She was genuinely interested in the woman and her profession, but she couldn’t justify her curiosity enough to allow the woman to remain in her tavern.

"So I cannot remain here?" She asked bluntly.

Victoria examined her reasons once more for turning the woman away. She did not approve of Aria’s way of life. That was it and that was all, wasn’t it? Maybe not. She was used to the men in the pueblo trying to court her. Now, all of a sudden, all eyes had turned to this stranger. Even the mild-mannered Diego had been caught staring at Aria Franco. Why did that bother her so? Victoria pushed thoughts of jealousy out of her mind.

"I’m sorry," Victoria stopped what she was doing and looked the woman square in the eyes.

"Then perhaps she can stay with the De La Vegas," A deep voice suggested.

Victoria’s mind reeled at the thought of the woman staying with Diego and his father. Two men who had not had a woman in the hacienda for a long time. That would be a very bad idea, Victoria decided. Especially after seeing Diego’s reaction to Aria earlier in the day.

Victoria’s biting comment was lost on her lips as she looked up to find the masked man staring down at her. Aria took a step forward and Zorro held up a gloved hand.

Wordlessly, Zorro reached for Victoria’s fingers and pressed a light kiss to the palm.

Victoria smiled widely, forgotten was the anger at his comment.

Aria noticed the young woman’s reaction and smiled. She would have no chance with this masked stranger. And that was too bad as well. He was the kind of man that attracted her.

"Ah, so Victoria has captured your heart, hm?" Aria asked, fishing for a confirmation of her suspicions. "I do not capture or keep hearts."

"I do." Zorro smiled and bent to press a kiss to Victoria’s cheek to reinforce his point.

He turned to address the two women. "I have already spoken with Señor De La Vega and he has agreed to allow Señorita Franco to stay with them for as long as she needs."

Aria’s eyes brightened and she took a step forward.

Zorro again held up a gloved hand, halting her progression. "Providing that you do not entertain while you are their guest."

She lowered her eyes. No matter how much she struggled to pout her previous life behind her, it would follow her to the ends of the earth. The behavior was in her blood. It would be hard to break.

"You have chosen a pueblo that, given the chance, has been known for attempting to execute a woman for a less offensive crime." Zorro explained. "I do not fault you for your lifestyle, Señorita, but those who control this pueblo will if you give them the chance."

Aria nodded, "I understand. I did come to California to settle into a new life."

She chuckled. "I guess old habits are hard to break."

"Well, good luck in your search for happiness, Señorita," Zorro bowed over her hand but did not kiss it. "Felipe is waiting outside to escort you to the De la Vega hacienda."

Zorro turned back to Victoria and pressed an elegant kiss to her hand before taking his leave.

"Welcome, Señorita," Alejandro bent over her hand and kissed it gently.

Aria smiled at the elder man. Respect was something she was not widely given. And if it was, it was attached with a greater price.

When Diego rounded the corner, Aria shuddered with delight. She had not expected to see the elegant caballero who had greeted and spoken to her with such kindness earlier in the day. Now she was staying in his home. Perhaps this was a fortunate happenstance indeed. After all, she did come to California to look for a husband. And this young man was handsome, wealthy and certainly respectful.

"Well, Señor," She slid next to Diego. "I most certainly did not think I would again have the pleasure."

She rubbed the inside of his arm suggestively and Diego cast a trapped look at his father.

"Let us get you settled into your room, Señorita," Alejandro pulled the young woman away from his son and led her down the hallway.

Diego's eyes rolled back into his head and he sighed. Felipe began to chuckle and Diego reached out a long arm to slap him upside the head.

"It is not funny." Diego muttered, casting a look down the hallway. "I don't know what I was thinking."

When Alejandro returned, he cast an exasperated look at his son. "Whatever possessed you to take Zorro's suggestion and allow her to stay here?"

&Diego shrugged. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

Alejandro rolled his eyes. "She is going to have every one of our vaqueros in her bed if she has her way."

Diego shook his head and muttered. "I don't think so."

Alejandro stepped closer to his son, ignoring the remark, "And I do hope that she will not have you in the same place."

"Father!" Diego was horrified. "I would never think of such a thing."

"Good," Alejandro smiled. "Because as much as I would greatly appreciate you giving me grandchildren before I am dead and buried, that is not the way I want to get them."

"Don’t worry, father," Diego struggled to calm his racing heart. He hated to admit it but Aria did make his blood simmer. But the thought of touching her, when so many others had gone before him, repulsed the thought right out of his head.

He was starved for a woman's touch, all right. But it was Victoria's touch he craved above even the most talented of lovers. Just the thought of her could set his blood boiling and he found himself reigning in his passion more and more each time he was with her.

Even as Zorro, his passions were beginning to overcome his rational mind and he found the restraint draining.

"I have no interest whatsoever." Diego muttered and his father stared.

The comment was not backed with emotion and Alejandro narrowed his eyes. His son showed no passion when it came to members of the opposite sex and that was quite unnerving to the elder don. Something had to be done. Maybe something good could come out of the courtesan's appearance. Maybe she could awaken his son's desires. As long as he didn't act on them.

"Diego, is something going on that I should be aware of?"

"No father," Diego forced a small grin. He yawned and bade his father a quick goodnight. This was a topic that Diego was definitely not comfortable speaking with his father about.

"You are curious about me," Aria plucked a rose from its vine and sniffed its fragrant scent. She narrowed curious eyes on Victoria and smiled.

"I can see you are nervous. What do you want to know?"

"What do you mean?" Victoria peered at the woman through drooped eyelids.

Aria chuckled. She could guess what the young woman wanted to know and decided not to tease. "Would you like me to give you some secrets on how to tease that masked man of yours?"

Victoria grinned. She took a deep breath and stared at the woman in front of her. "Yes, I would. My mother died when I was young and she didn’t have the time to teach me – to tell me about…"

"Well I could see in the man’s eyes that he loved you very much."

"What do you know of love?" Victoria’s pointed question brought a stinging tear to Aria’s eyes.

She lowered her head and turned away. "I once knew love like you. But he was taken from me by a society the sees station as a way of life. As a duty to the people."

"He was a wealthy man?"

"Yes. And I came from a poor family. There was no way that we would have ever been permitted to marry."

Victoria’s heart beat tripled. She had often thought that Zorro must be a man of wealth to be so educated. But she had not given much more thought to it. On the frontier, station was not of the utmost importance. Many fathers wanted their sons married and usually that would be to the first woman they found suitable. There were not many women brave enough to live in New Spain and this limited the choices. Victoria was one of the few single women left in the entire territory.

"Surly you must know that is not the way things are done on the frontier?"

"I don’t know how things are done here. All I know is the customs of the country in which I was born and raised." Aria forced a small smile. "There, a peasant would not marry a noble man, or even a man in a station above her. It would disgrace his family."

"Italy is indeed a strange place."

"But very beautiful." Aria smiled and changed the subject back to Victoria. Her prior life was too painful and best not discussed in too much depth. "Now, what would you like to know?"

Before Victoria could open her mouth, Aria answered the question for her. "Why don’t I teach you what my mother taught me and let you take from it what you will."

"I would appreciate anything you can teach me."

Aria laughed. "I hope you are not weak-kneed."

"I own and operate a tavern, Señorita," Victoria was insulted to be thought of in that way. "I think I can handle whatever you have to say."

Aria walked away from Victoria, "Walk toward me."

Victoria blinked. Walk? What was this woman planning? She complied after a few seconds and walked toward the woman who had seemingly become a confidant overnight.

"No. That's not right." Aria chided. "When you walk, sway your hips a bit. Show the man you are a sensuous woman."

"I cannot be something that I am not." Victoria sighed.

"Sensuality is in every woman. Some just know how to exploit it better than others. How you carry yourself creates an impression that they will not soon forget."

"I cannot change over night."

"I don’t expect you to. Work on it. I know you run a tavern. I know you need to be forceful with patrons who are not orderly." Aria smiled contentedly and stepped closer, brushing the back of her hand against Victoria’s smooth cheek. "All men dream of a temptress or an untouchable maiden. Use your body, your eyes, your lips, your hands, to seduce him."

Victoria lifted her eyes to the clear blue sky, a gratified look spreading across her lovely features, "Kissing him is the most wonderful sensation in the world."

Aria smiled widely, "But wouldn't you like to do more? Wouldn't you like to feet his heart beat next to yours, feel his hands on your body, his lips on your neck?"

Victoria’s eyes slid slowly from the sky to look Aria in the face. "Yes."

"Desire begins in the mind, Victoria. When you show a man how to desire you, his body will surly follow."

"He does."

"Then what restrains you?" Aria’s question was laced with amusement. Victoria certainly had many more morals than what she had been brought up with.

"Because we cannot be together, intimacies must be within the sanction of a marriage." Victoria sighed. "And then there is children. He is a wanted man if I were to get pregnant…."

"Oh, there are ways around that. I can show you a formula to mix that will prevent most pregnancies. It tastes terrible, but it does the job. It is not fallible, but nothing is."

Victoria’s mind was whirling. She wished that she could take Aria’s formula and use it. But that would be wrong. Without that band on her finger …..

Aria turned to pick up an apple lying in the basket that had been left outside for the two women.

"Show him that you want him in everything you do," Aria sliced the apple and ran the juicy piece over her lips, licking it, sucking it.

Just the suggestive motion made Victoria blush.

"See what it does to you?" Aria grinned, biting the slice and holding it between her teeth. "Think of what it would do to a man. A man’s body is programmed to mate. Holding back such processes is not natural."

The next fruit she picked up was a strawberry. Aria licked it, then her lips, stared at Victoria and batted her eyelashes. When she finally bit into it, she closed her eyes as if it was the one and only thing in this world and it was giving her the most intense of pleasure.

Diego stepped through the door just in time to see the event with the strawberry.

Victoria turned sharply, his appearance surprising her, and noticed the astonished look in his eyes.

Aria smiled around the strawberry and wiggled her way beside the handsome don.

"Try it, Victoria," Aria arched her neck toward the basket of fruit. "We seem to have acquired a man to practice on."

Her alluring smile made Diego a bit nervous. What was she going to have Victoria try – on him?

"No, I couldn’t," Victoria shook her head. "It wouldn’t be the same. Diego and I are friends and …"

"Stop making excuses," Aria chuckled and bent to pick a strawberry out of the basket. "He is perfect to experiment on."

Diego raised a curious eyebrow. He wasn’t sure anything that Aria had been teaching Victoria would be good to experiment on him. He was afraid that they would get more of a reaction than they were prepared for.

Victoria took a deep breath. "How can I create a mood like this without having any romantic feelings towards the man? I don’t know how you do it."

Victoria’s words hit Diego like a slap across the face. Aria noticed his reaction before he quickly masked it.

Aria narrowed her eyes at him and then glanced at Victoria. She smiled seductively and put the strawberry into Victoria’s hand.

"You act. Here I’ll show you again."

She recreated the act and Diego did his best to stand there unmoving. She was sensual and he had never seen something so luscious performed with a piece of fruit. He hated to admit that he was really interested in seeing how Victoria performed the same task. He leaned against the wall and grinned.

"Very nice, señorita."

What Diego didn’t notice was Victoria’s reaction to his calm, amused voice. He wasn’t as embarrassed as she had thought he would be and that made her even more uncomfortable. He had seemed to enjoy it! Men!

Aria noticed Victoria’s agitation with seducing her friend.

"You don’t always make love with your body," Aria smiled at Diego once more before turning to Victoria. "Desire begins in the mind."

Aria winked at Diego, "And once you have their mind is consumed by it, the rest follows like a homeless puppy."

Diego struggled to keep his gaze steady. He couldn’t allow the ladies to see his body tense. But every muscle twitched in anticipation.

Victoria sighed. This would be hard to do in front of Diego. Or, maybe, it wouldn’t. She had never seen him interested in a woman before. Maybe it would be fun to tease and taunt the always so proper don. He had apparently enjoyed watching Aria perform the tease. Victoria wondered if Diego would enjoy seeing her do it as well.

Diego noticed the twinkle in Victoria’s eyes a moment before she took a step towards him.

His heart stumbled over itself when she rolled the edge of the berry along her lips, covering them in its sweet juices.

He struggled to keep his body completely still. For if he moved, the women would notice his shaking hands.

She licked the juices away, slowly sliding her tongue over her rosy lips.

She cast an approving glance at Aria who nodded.

Aria could see the struggle to keep still brewing in Diego’s eyes. She had seen the same reaction before. This man desired Victoria, that was plain as day. Why he had done nothing about this desire, was beyond her capability to understand.

When Victoria wrapped her lips around the strawberry and bit teasingly into it, Diego turned away.

"Victoria, this is not…." His voice was shaking. He said no more. He had already endured too much for one day.

Victoria narrowed her eyes at his reaction. She had never seen her friend so uncomfortable. She was intrigued that such simple gestures could exact this type of reaction from her friend. She felt guilty but at the same time excited that she could induce such a reaction in the man. What she could do to Zorro!

"I’m sorry, Diego," Victoria apologized. "I shouldn’t have used you for this."

"Thank you," He breathed, slowly turning back towards the woman. "I think I’ll be going now. The reason I ventured out to the garden has been blown from my mind."

He couldn’t meet Victoria’s eyes and this reaction only further drove home Aria’s belief that Diego was in love with Victoria.

Victoria giggled and Diego met her eyes with a hint of amusement. His nervousness was fading quickly as he smiled at the young woman. "Well thank you for a most interesting afternoon, ladies."

His nervousness at the situation was still present as he struggled for a way out of the garden as quickly as possible. Aria was examining him a little too closely for his taste. She was bound to notice what effect Victoria’s little test had on him.

Diego executed an elegant bow, which shocked Victoria and brought a satisfied smiled to Aria’s lips, and left the ladies alone in the garden.

He was gone so suddenly that Victoria blinked several times before saying anything.

"I’ve never seen him do that." Victoria breathed.

"Ah, you now see the power a woman has over a man." Aria smiled and gave a soft chuckle.

Victoria cast a confused look toward the door Diego had just entered, "Yes. I guess I do."

"He’s in love with you."

Victoria laughed off her statement. "Oh, I don’t think so, Aria. Diego hasn’t been interested in anyone since he returned from Spain."

Aria nodded and Victoria could tell that the courtesan didn’t believe her. Victoria couldn’t understand why Aria felt this way. Why, Diego was no more in love with her than she was with him.

"Not that you have been able to tell."

Victoria narrowed her eyes. "What do you know that I do not?"

"I know men, Victoria," Aria grinned. "I know their wants, desires, feelings, emotions. It is written plain as day across their faces if you know what to look for."

"Oh."

As an afterthought, Victoria added as curiosity got the better of her, " And what was written plainly across Diego’s face just then, oh wise one?"

Aria grinned, "Other than lust and desire written across more than just his face?"

Victoria shook her head. True, Diego had been uncomfortable but she was sure it was because a woman had never done anything like that in front of him, much less that person being a long time best friend.

Aria laughed for a moment as Victoria digested this information about her friend. "The clothing of this territory is quite revealing. If you had known what to look for, you would have seen his desire quite apparent for you."

Victoria’s eyes widened and she shook her head to relieve it of the image. She just couldn’t picture Diego that way. It was, it was, well it was like a sister staring at her fully grown naked brother! It was obscene!

Alejandro called to his son as he strode quickly past the older man. He was surprised when his son ignored him and continued down the hallway toward his room.

Alejandro’s eyes narrowed and he turned toward the direction his son had just come from.

The door to the garden had not been shut tightly and was hanging slightly ajar.

Alejandro stepped out the door and smiled at the two women, who cast him an innocent look.

Alejandro grinned. "What did you two do to my son?"

Victoria blushed and Aria smiled widely. "I was just showing Victoria how to tantalize a man without a single touch. Diego interrupted our lesson and I chose to use him as an experiment."

Aria turned back to Victoria and gave her an approving pat on the back. "She did remarkably well."

Alejandro sighed. "I would say so, judging by how uncomfortable Diego looked a moment ago."

He was silent for a moment, trying to decide how to say what needed to be said.

"I can appreciate the business you are used to, Aria," Alejandro began. "But the customs in California are completely different than what -."

"I know what you are saying," Aria interrupted the don. "I do not plan to continue my practices here. As soon as I settle down, I want to have children and live my life like a normal woman." Her eyes fluttered toward her shoes. "If any man will have me, that is."

Before Alejandro could speak, he eyes flew towards him. "I was showing Victoria how she could capture her masked man’s heart even more than she already has."

"Showing her how to seduce Zorro?" He turned to Victoria. " That may not be a very good idea. You don’t know how he will react and," he sighed. "You don’t want to get yourself into a situation that will be tough to explain."

The women understood his suggestion and Aria responded with a quick, "That is something on which I can instruct her."

Alejandro shook his head. There was no way that he was going to be able to change Victoria’s mind about seducing the man she loved. He just hoped that this honorable man would not be tempted by whatever Victoria had in store for him.

What was he thinking? Zorro was a warm-blooded man just like everyone else. Of course he was going to be lured by the sight of the woman he loved performing tasks that only the most experienced of courtesans would attempt.

Alejandro shook his head and walked slowly back into the hacienda, hoping the two woman would see in his posture just how much he disapproved of this situation.

Maybe he would see just how much damage to Diego the two women had done.

Diego stepped into his room and shut the door behind him. Walking to the mirror, he stared at his rattled reflection. He brushed his hand nervously through his hair, noting that it still shook from Victoria’s little demonstration of a woman’s sensuality.

He grasped the top of the dresser and leaned against it, expelling a deep breath.

His emotions had not been the only thing to become agitated. He shifted uncomfortably, noticing that his trousers had become a little tighter.

He leaned forward, resting his head on the polished wood. He needed to calm his boiling blood. What was he going to do when Victoria did this to Zorro? Kiss her? Touch her? Would she allow him to roam his hands along her soft curves. No! Even that would be pushing the limits of honorable decency. As much as he resisted the decision, he was going to have to stay away from Victoria for a little while.

Diego’s vow to keep Zorro out of touch for a while had no chance of succeeding when the alcalde returned and learned what kind of woman was staying at the De La Vega hacienda.

When DeSoto demanded that the woman be turned over to him so that he could try her for witchcraft, Alejandro had refused, landing him in jail and Aria at the whipping post.

People cheered as the alcalde read off a list of uncorroborated charges. Many of the women demanded that she be killed for witchcraft. Some were jealous that their husbands looked on this strange woman with sinful lust.

Even many of the men turned against her when they were told just what her kind did for a living.

"She will be publicly flogged and then," DeSoto turned to the stake in the middle of the plaza, "She will be burned in the tradition of all offenders of such crimes."

The punishment seemed cruel even to the most offended, but the euphoria surrounding the execution caught the people in its vice-like grip. They cheered for accusations made against her that had never even been proven.

"Have you proven these crimes, alcalde!?" Zorro called from the church rooftop as the people, lancers and alcalde turned toward the sound of the deep voice.

"Zorro, this is no concern of yours!" DeSoto called, motioning to his lancers to take aim at the masked man.

"The execution of a woman, whose only crime was to come to a pueblo full of corrupt officials, is my concern, alcalde!" Zorro called, slipped his knife from its home in his belt, and flung it towards the ropes that held Aria to the post.

The knife sliced cleanly through the ropes binding her and she was instantly freed.

"Lancers, after him!" DeSoto ordered as the masked man launched himself off the rooftop with a crack of his whip.

The lancers lined up and took aim as Victoria pulled Aria out of harms way.

Zorro grinned as the soldiers raced towards him. He twisted out of the way of one blade, while at the same time bringing his down hard on another, spiraling the unsuspecting lancer into the sand.

Soon, the alcalde was the only one left standing as Zorro approached, blade at the ready.

Zorro turned quickly to Victoria and saluted her with an elegant bow. At his ascent, he took her hand in his and pressed a quick kiss to her palm.

Victoria blushed most perfectly.

Aria’s eyes narrowed in recognition, but she was forced to forget any further thought as

Victoria pulled her into the tavern and locked the door behind her while the alcalde’s attention was diverted.

They rushed up the stairs to Victoria’s bedroom. "Stay here, you’ll be safe."

Victoria pulled open the window to watch the struggle below.

"I suggest you leave the woman alone, alcalde," Came the stern warning, "Or it will be you that is tied to this post and whipped."

DeSoto’s eyes flared. "You have no right to dictate to me what I can and cannot do in my own pueblo, Zorro."

DeSoto raised his blade and swung. He misjudged the distance separating him from the masked man and his swing missed by several feet.

Zorro stepped back and honored DeSoto in a most authentic Spanish salute; his blade extended horizontally at shoulder length.

As DeSoto advanced, Zorro stepped back and completed the salute bringing the blade vertical with his face. With an elegant sweep toward the ground, he brought the deadly blade to the ready position.

The two women watched as Zorro parried and sidestepped every attack the alcalde made.

"He certainly is a very brave man," Aria cooed, her eyes never leaving the man’s form.

"Yes, he is."

When the masked man enveloped the alcalde’s blade with his own and wrenched it from the enraged officers grasp, Aria turned to Victoria. "You are a lucky woman to have such a man love you."

Victoria turned to look at the woman, a solemn look on her face. "I know. Sometimes I wonder if I am worth of his love."

Aria whirled on the younger woman. "Never doubt your worth to a man, Victoria."

Victoria’s response was cut short by the loud whickering of the masked man’s stallion. The women turned to peer out the window as Zorro rode quickly around the plaza and out of sight.

Victoria leaned against the window and sighed.

"You don’t know who he is, do you?"

Victoria shook her head. "No."

"Do you want to know?"

"Yes." Victoria whispered. "I want to be able to tell him that I love him, I want to be able to hold him, I want him to be able to hold me without constantly looking over his shoulder for lancers who would shoot him in the back."

"I can find out for you." Aria whispered.

Victoria’s eyes widened and she cocked her head.

"This Zorro is a very passionate man to risk his life to cast you even a glance in the middle of a firefight, much less kiss your hand or cheek," Aria observed with a smile.

Victoria looked at her shoes and smiled. "Yes, he is."

"I will discover his identity for you," Aria bounced out of the room before Victoria regained enough sense to stop her.

;Aria rushed out of the tavern door - and straight into DeSoto.

He grasped her wrist and pulled her out of the tavern, "Now where were we?"

He proceeded to tie her wrists to the stake once more but was stopped by a razor sharp toledo blade.

"Back." Came the deep warning voice.

DeSoto stepped back slowly as Zorro’s blade sliced the ropes cleanly.

As Victoria reached the door to the tavern, she watched Zorro reach down and pull Aria into his arms.

She wrapped her arms around his waist as Tornado tore off across the plaza at a gallop leaving the lancers in his dust.

Victoria quietly untied Dulcinea, convincing herself that she was only going to borrow the De la Vega stallion. She had to find out where Zorro was taking Aria. She wanted to know by what means Aria was going to discover Zorro’s identity.

No one noticed Dulcinea gallop after Tornado at a substantially slower pace.

"Please keep your hands around my waist, Señorita," Zorro commanded as he felt Aria’s fingers slide to his belt.

"Ah, that’s right, you are a one woman man," She chuckled and leaned away, allowing the wind to caress her long hair. "You can’t fault me for trying."

She could feel his chest heave with a small chuckle and she flattened her hands against his chest, her fingers sliding between the buttons to touch his hot skin.

"Please do me the courtesy of remembering that," Zorro grinned, relieved when he noticed the windmill in the distance. Her fingers lightly touching his skin were becoming unbearable and he actually had to concentrate to keep still in the saddle.

As much as he hated to admit it, her caress was intoxicating.

He gripped Tornado’s reins in one hand and held hers tightly with the other to prevent further investigation.

"Here we are," Zorro slid from Tornado’s back quicker than he normally would have and reached up to help her from the saddle.

She slid down into his arms, wrapping her own around his neck. She pressed her body against his as he set her on the ground.

He was unable to pull away when her fingers locked behind his neck.

"Señorita…"

"I can see why you are so well loved in this pueblo," She played with the strands of hair sticking out from beneath his mask, "The mysterious, masked man who rides in and saves the day. Whispers sweet nothings in the tavern owners ear and then leaves her trembling for more."

Zorro chuckled. Did his touch, his kiss leave Victoria trembling? Just the thought excited him.

"Do I?"

She leaned into him and brushed her lips lightly against his.

He stood completely still as her lips brushed his cheek, jaw and slid to his neck.

"Enough." He pushed her away a little rougher than he intended.

She slid away, and before he could catch her hands, she snatched his sombrero right off his head. His sharp intake of breath and subsequent reach for the black sombrero, caused her to take a few steps away from him.

"Why such a secret?" She asked, turning over the well-made black sombrero. "Don’t you know how excited she would be if you would just tell her who you are?"

"And do you know in how much danger she would be if that were to happen?" He asked, taking a step forward.

She chuckled, "Well, as I once believed – and do no longer – doesn’t love conquer all?"

"Not if you are six feet beneath the dirt."

He turned away and all she would have had to do was rush him and pull the mask away. She could see that his anguish, over not being able to tell Victoria his real identity, weighed heavily upon his shoulders. She could see his nervousness, his indecision.

His reaction was familiar but she couldn’t place it. She thought furiously, she hadn’t seen many men in the pueblo, at least not closely. Who could he then remind her of?

Her sharp intake of breath turned his eyes back to her and he cocked his head.

"You love her." It wasn’t a question.

"I would think that is obvious."

She took a few steps forward, reaching her hand out to brush along his face.

His quick step back hurled recognition at her like a snowball.

"I don’t believe it," Her astonished gasp sent his heart plummeting into his stomach.

She stared at him, her eyes searching what of his face she could see, looking for similarities.

She found them, now that she knew what she was looking for.

"It is amazing what a different personality and a few inches of black silk can do to hide a man’s identity," She smiled mischievously, her eyes dancing. So much for her interest in the elegant don. His heart already belonged to another.

Zorro shook his head and opened his mouth to speak when he noticed a horse galloping toward them.

He flinched only once before realizing that it was Victoria, riding -- Dulcinea?

"Victoria?" He stepped forward to help her from the saddle but she jumped down before he could render assistance.

"The lancers don’t know that I followed you," She breathed and smiled at Aria, "I thought you might come here. I’ve – been here before. It will provide good shelter."

She failed to mention that she had spent a cold, wet night in this windmill with Diego De La Vega.

"Lady Aria needs to leave the pueblo." Zorro turned to the young woman. "The alcalde will not permit you to live here now that he knows about your past."

Aria nodded slowly. It appeared that her colored lifestyle would follow her everywhere. She would not be free of it, even this far from Italy.

"The alcalde will very likely be watching the De La Vega hacienda so I cannot take you back there." Zorro frowned.

"Victoria, can you ride back to the hacienda and ask Don Alejandro for the use of one of his stallions for the lady." Zorro asked the lovely dark-haired beauty.

She nodded uncertainly. Her eyes searched Aria’s noticing that the woman held Zorro’s sombrero in her hand. For a moment Victoria wondered what Aria had discovered.

"And ask him to bring the lady’s things as well." Zorro asked, extending his hand toward the entrance to the windmill. "We’ll have to get her out of the territory quickly."

Victoria nodded but did not turn to leave immediately. Zorro took a step towards her and cast a look back at Aria, who was standing in the doorway to the windmill. She grinned and stepped through the door as Zorro bent to press a deep kiss to Victoria’s parted lips.

"Please hurry," He whispered against her mouth. "If you could follow us here, I don’t want the alcalde to get lucky and do the same."

Her hands slipped around his neck and his senses reeled with the intoxicating fragrance of her hair, her body, the taste of her lips pressed tightly against him.

When he pulled away, her lips traced his as they had done with the strawberry.

His body trembled but was still tensed from the chase and Aria’s reaction to him. There was no time for Victoria’s teasing and he was relieved when she realized this.

He grinned and she smiled nervously before turning from him and mounting Dulcinea.

His eyes followed her until her form disappeared over the horizon.

"I’m afraid you are not going to be welcome to settle in this pueblo," Alejandro checked to make sure Aria’s bags were securely fastened to Grandes’ back.

"I’m sorry for all of the trouble I have caused you," Aria sighed. "I guess old habits are harder to break than I thought they would be."

Victoria embraced the woman who had helped her in so many ways, given her an insight into men that no other woman would have ever been able to.

"Where will you go?" Victoria turned to Aria and asked.

"I will escort the lady to Monterey," The masked man nodded toward Aria. "So that she is not assailed along the way."

Victoria jerked. He was going to escort her all the way to Monterey? A tingling in the back of her mind began to overwhelm her and she opened her mouth to voice her objection.

"Thank you, Sir." Aria bowed before Victoria could speak.

Aria turned to Alejandro, " And thank you for the more – modest – clothing."

Alejandro smiled. "If you wish to blend in with Californians, then you must attempt to dress like us."

Zorro noticed the strange look on Victoria's face and he stepped away from Alejandro and Aria. Taking Victoria’s arm he led her a few steps away.

"Do not be jealous, Querida," He held her hands gently, squeezing each finger.

" What could I have to be jealous about?" She whispered sarcastically. "You are going to personally escort her to Monterey. You will be spending more time with her in a week than I feel I have spent with you in five years."

Zorro’s hands immediately cupped her cheeks in an affectionate embrace. His head bent as if to kiss her.

She wasted no time in wrapping her arms around his waist, the silk of his cape caressing her arms.

"I will endeavor to spend more time with you," He whispered before dropping a soft kiss on the corner of her lips. He didn’t dare do more with an audience standing behind them.

He could feel her deep sigh and could tell that she would not be satisfied with his simple answer.

"What more would you like me to do?" He whispered. He didn’t want to leave her like this.

"Kiss me," Was all she said. Her eyes were closed as she stretched her neck, her lips, toward his.

She could see him smile, feel his soft chuckle as he bent over her to capture her lips in a caress so deeply passionate that if she had been a bystander, she would have had to turn away in embarrassment.

He knew she wanted the two onlookers to see the love and the passion between them. She wanted there to be little doubt that Zorro belonged to Victoria and no one else.

When they parted, Victoria swayed and he held her until she steadied. "I belong to you, and only you." He whispered into her ear as he trailed a line of soft kisses from her lips to her ear.

"Go safely," Victoria smiled. "Hurry back."

He smiled and cupped her cheek in a gloved hand. "Knowing what I have to come back for, be sure that I will grow wings."

Victoria and Alejandro watched the two ride into the sunset, the waning light casting it’s shadows against their bodies and their bodies casting misshapen shadows on the ground.

"Thank you for not revealing my secret," Zorro said quietly, after a few miles of silence.

"It was not my place," She responded with a small smile. "I should be thanking you for saving my life."

"The alcalde is fearful of change and knowledge, both of which your brought in abundance. I’m sorry that you could not stay."

"I was able to teach your young lady a few things before I was forced to leave, however," She grinned when he cast her an exasperated look.

"I’ve noticed."

He sounded disappointed and she stared at the set jaw.

"You do realize how hard you have now made my life?"

She laughed. "She asked. I told."

The masked man shook his head and changed the subject. He wouldn’t get anywhere by continuing on this subject.

"There is a young captain from Los Angeles who now resides in Monterey. He’s a kind man and I believe he will look after you until you get settled."

"Already setting me up with a man, hmmm?" She batted her eyelashes at the him and it was his turn to chuckle.

"Well turnabout is fair play, lady, considering what turns you have caused in my relationship with Victoria, you are quite deserving."

A few moments of silence ensued and she asked, "So, what is this man like?"

He chuckled. He knew her curiosity would get the better of her. He was discovering this was a fact about most women.

"You’ll meet him when we reach Monterey….."

"Dinner was wonderful, Alejandro," Victoria wiped the sweet sauce from her lips, smiling affectionately at the Don.

"Well, Maria does her best to rival your cooking, my dear," Alejandro smiled and Diego grinned.

"Yes, Maria is a wonderful cook, but there is just something about how you prepare your meals…" Diego avoided Victoria’s eyes as they turned to take in his comment.

Even after two weeks, the stinging sensation of her words in the garden haunted him. She hadn’t believed that he would have any reaction to her taunting because he was her friend. He shouldn’t have those kinds of feelings.

He found it difficult to look her in the eyes, but things were getting better. He had managed to find a good excuse to invite her to dinner tonight. And he had convinced his father to extend the invitation.

Thankfully, his father adored Victoria. He thought of her as a daughter. Hopefully, one day she would become that daughter. Diego swore that he would make that happen.

Alejandro noticed the tension between the two and suggested a drink in the garden. The fresh blooming blossoms filled the lush, green, cultivated landscape.

He poured some wine and extended the glasses to Victoria and his son. They ambled toward the garden and his father politely excused himself with the reason that he had more paperwork to approve before a cattle auction next week. He could sense the tension and rather than interfere with the solution, he decided that the young people would be better off if they were alone to solve the problem.

It was a few minutes before Diego and Victoria noticed that Alejandro was gone. Each were lost in their own thoughts and memories as they took in the sights and smells of the beautiful garden.

Victoria immediately began to smell the various flowers that dotted the large garden. Smiling, her fingers brushed across a rose blossom with her fingers, reached out to caress a creeping white Clematis bud, and finally knelt to pluck a bright yellow Chrysanthemum from it’s stem.

Diego could tell she was uneasy but so was he and they needed to work through what had happened.

When she stood, she looked innocently up into his eyes.

They both began to speak and Diego relented. "Please go first."

"Well – I," She didn’t know where to start. "I.."

Diego couldn’t stand it. "I hope you learned all you wanted to from Señorita Franco."

Victoria smiled and turned away sheepishly. She had indeed. More than he would ever know.

She was surprised when warm hands rested themselves on her shoulders and he leaned over her to whisper in her ear.

"Just promise that you will not use me as an experiment again."

Alejandro chose this time to take a peek out the window to make sure his son and Victoria were doing well. His eyes widened when he noticed that his son had his hands on Victoria’s shoulders, he’d never seen the boy touch another woman before. He couldn’t make out the looks on their faces but he could tell it was more of a serious discussion than Alejandro had thought his son would discuss with the beautiful woman. Perhaps there were some feelings there that Diego was just beginning to realize.

Alejandro shook the thought away. His son could not compete with Zorro’s dashing exploits, his talent for the blade, his romance of the beautiful señorita standing in his garden.

The elder De La Vega sighed and turned back to his paperwork, leaving the young ones to handle whatever problems they had on their own.

Victoria chuckled. Diego could always make her laugh. She turned around and smiled up at the handsome Don and said a little too quickly, "You have my word."

"Thank you," He pressed a soft kiss to her cheek that she found strange. He had never done such a thing.

He had been acting strangely ever since that day anyway. She blamed herself but she did notice that he had been changing a bit, becoming a little bit more bold.

"I am sorry for doing that to you," She pressed on. She was curious about his reaction and what Aria had observed about that reaction. "but….."

"But what?" Diego’s own curiosity got the better of him before he could think through the chances he was taking by standing here and discussing the subject.

"I’m just curious…" She turned away uncomfortably once more. This was such a difficult subject to discuss with her friend.

"A fault of all women, I am beginning to notice."

She whirled on him, angry at the sexist comment, but noticed that he was smiling widely. He had made the comment knowing that it would get under her skin. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately, now that she thought about it. Well, she would just have to put an end to that!

"Well I seem to remember that you rushed out of this very garden for a reason I have yet to understand," She shoved her hands into her hips and took a step closer to the man.

He chuckled away his own nervousness. "Then perhaps that what she was telling you was not something you were ready for."

She huffed. "How could you possibly know what I am ready for?"

He grinned and turned away from her piercing gaze. She was so beautiful when she was angry. He only hoped that one day the simmering fire in her eyes would burn for him.

"I wouldn’t even presume to know, lady," He whispered and she was taken aback by his words. Something about him calling her a lady. There was a respect in that she never would have expected to hear from anyone, even Diego.

"As well you shouldn’t," She whispered back. Her temper abated for the moment as another question rushed to her lips without her thinking it through. "Did I really cause an uncomfortable reaction?"

When he tried to turn away, her arm reached out and stopped him. Her eyes searched his and he nodded slowly.

"You are a very beautiful woman, Victoria. Any man would be blind not to notice that. " Diego admitted easily, not thinking about the questions his admission would raise. "Zorro is a very lucky man."

His honest comment unnerved her. She had not really ever thought of Diego as a man with feelings that could be hurt or with feelings that could be aroused.

She smiled nervously. Why that comment, coming from Diego’s lips, caused her nervous reaction, she would probably never know. Her throat tightened and she stared into his kind, blue eyes. They were piercing and she had to turn away from the intense gaze.

"Thank you for your honesty," Victoria whispered and released his arm.

She didn’t know what to say. An uneasy feeling settled between them and several more moments of silence passed.

"I didn’t mean to make you nervous," She heard him say quietly.

"I’m not!" She turned toward him a little too quickly, "I just – I don’t know what has happened in these last two weeks. Something – something has changed and I’m not sure I like the change."

Diego smiled wryly and stared at his boots, "Every relationship has to change at one time or another or it becomes stagnant."

He caught his words too late and shifted his gaze to her shocked face. He should have used the word friendship rather than relationship and he could see by her look that she realized his mistake as well.

"Our friendship has changed, Diego," He noted her correction but kept still so she would not notice. "But I don’t know if it has changed for the better."

"Why do you say that?" he asked quietly. He was suddenly afraid of her answer. He knew there had been a significant change since Aria had visited the pueblo but he had not discussed these changes in depth with Victoria. Nor had Zorro visited her in those two weeks. Instead he had avoided the topic, driving complications deeper into their friendship..

"I guess - I don’t know," Victoria was as nervous as he and that calmed his racing heart somewhat. "Maybe I - "

He needed to do something to alleviate the stress on their friendship. Laughter was the best medicine to relieve stress and he struggled to find something funny in this situation.

That struggle in itself was funny and he chuckled.

"Went a little overboard in your teasing?" He finished her sentence for her. He knew that she would not have admitted that on her own, so he took the chance and pegged it correctly.

She became incensed but she knew he was right. She went beyond all proper protocol in her teasing of her friend but she didn’t want to admit it to him. "I don’t think that I - "

His piercing gaze stopped her thoughts cold. "Oh, ok, You’re right. I did go overboard a bit."

"A bit"? He chuckled, his eyebrow raised in mocking question.

She giggled and swatted at him with her hand, "Yes! You will get no more apologies out of me."

"Good," Diego yawned. "Now that everything is settled, I am off to bed."

He wanted to continue this line of conversation as Zorro and used this lull in their discussion to make his escape. He also had to admit to himself that he was craving her touch, her kiss, her soft body pressed tightly against his own. And he certainly would not get that as Diego.

Standing this close to her, discussing the things they had been discussing, and not being able to hold and kiss her, was beginning to overwhelm him a bit.

Victoria’s eyes narrowed. "What? You are not going to be a gentleman and escort me home?"

Diego smiled at the ground and then back at her, his eyes serious, "Do you need an escort?"

She huffed. What would the pacifist Diego De La Vega be able to protect her from? She could protect herself.

"No." She straightened. "I will be fine."

"Somehow I thought you would say that," Diego grinned. He honored her with a small bow and took his leave. "The stable boy will bring your mare when you are done examining the garden."

She sighed and turned back to another side of the wall where the climbing roses covered everything in sight. She bent to caress a rose with her fingers, remembering the countless times that Zorro had held one out to her, laid them on her bed, fastened one to her hair. She smiled contentedly, wishing that he was here with her now.

She carefully snapped a rose from its vine and brought its fragrant blossom to her nose. Breathing deeply, she marveled at the freshness of the blossoms. The De La Vega’s must have the best garden in the territory. They certainly had the most fragrant flowers. There were always colorful, plump blossoms in bloom no matter what the season.

Maybe Zorro got his roses from the De La Vega garden! She grinned at the thought. The flowers that he brought her were certainly the freshest, largest she had ever seen.

;She became lost in thought when she felt a presence behind her. She whirled, clenching her fingers into fists.

"Whoa, Bella," Zorro held up his hands and smiled. "I am not a panther in the night stalking its dinner."

She grinned at the analogy. "Then what brings you to the De La Vega garden?"

"To fulfill my promise," When she cocked her head, he continued. "You wanted me to spend more time with you."

She smiled widely and leaned into his open arms. She sighed and breathed deeply.

His arms tightened around her when she melted against his chest.

"You followed me here from town?" She murmured, not really caring. He was here now, that was all that mattered. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if he could read her thoughts.

She didn’t see his wry grin. Would she never figure it out? He had given her far more clues than should have been necessary. Obviously he was a better actor than he had given himself credit for.

When he didn’t answer, she lifted her head from his chest and watched his eyes search the night.

She looked around as well, fearing that he had sensed someone watching them.

When he looked down at her and captured her lips in a gentle kiss, her fears became unimportant.

"Do not worry, mí bella," He whispered against her lips. "No one will ever capture me."

As his lips trailed a line of sweet kisses down her long neck, he murmured, "Except you, who captured my heart the moment I saw your beautiful face."

A soft sigh escaped her lips and he could feel her shiver in his light grasp. He held her firmly to steady her swaying form. When he pulled away, he was taken aback by her determination as she wrapped her arms around his neck and enticed him into another mind-boggling kiss.

They didn’t notice Alejandro look out the window in search of his son, only to find the masked man holding Victoria tightly in his arms.

A brief question of how his son had disappeared, and Zorro had taken his place, crossed Alejandro’s mind but he shook it off as he watched the couple kiss. He wanted to see his son’s childhood friend married and happy. And if that meant that she pine after a man wanted for crimes he did not commit, then so be it.

Alejandro was about to turn around and go back to his paperwork but something caught his eye. He didn’t know if it was the moonlight casting shadows against the couple, the black slimming Zorro’s form and adding height, but for a splitting moment, Alejandro could have swore that is was Diego kissing Victoria in the garden.

Alejandro sighed and went back to his paperwork. If only Diego would find a nice woman like Victoria to settle down with. He wasn’t getting any younger and Alejandro wanted to live to see his grandchildren.

"Ah," Zorro pulled away from her demanding kiss with a groan. "Bella, please."

She smiled up at him and took his gloved hands in her own, caressing the supple leather with her fingers. She could tell that he was shaking and she wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or nervous.

"Why, Señor Zorro," She teased, playing with the dark hair that touched his collar. "Are you a bit uncomfortable?"

Her assumption surprised her and she stopped short. That sounded like a description that she would give to Diego, not to Zorro.

He chuckled softly and held her waist in his gentle grasp. He couldn’t resist bending to press a short kiss to her lips.

"Only the thought of what you learned with Señorita Franco has me worried, Bella."

"Ah," She turned away from him quickly and he could feel the emptiness in his arms without her.

Slowly, she turned back to him and took a gloved hand. "Would you like to know what she taught me?"

His eyes widened and he chuckled. "You know I would, but…"

Her hands caressed the leather and slowly removed it. She did the same with the other and they never even noticed the black gloves slip to the ground, resting atop a lovely jacaranda bush.

His heart beat strong in his chest as she swayed toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He shuddered as her hands slid up his back, caressing softly. When her hands slid to his chest and began to continue the caress, his bare hands captured them and brought them to a stop.

"I get the picture," He breathed.

She chuckled nervously. She hadn’t really had the time to think of how she would use what she had learned on the man she loved. She had been too preoccupied with Diego’s strange reaction.

She had certainly not thought of Zorro as a nervous romantic. Perhaps he was just better at the fleeting moments he had been given to spend with her. Maybe he really didn’t know how to do more. Although, a true gentleman, would not go any farther. He would properly wait for his wedding day.

Her eyes twinkled and she pulled her hands from his grasp. But he stepped away causing her to stop in mid-motion.

"Victoria this is not…" He stuttered.

The hurt look in her eyes when he stepped away tore at his heart. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he also couldn’t embarrass himself by allowing her to notice what affect her teasing was having on him. Luckily the black pants were loose and hid a multitude of sins.

He could see her body shake, from the night air, or from a sob, he wasn’t sure. But he lost his resolve and enveloped her in a tight embrace.

"I’m sorry," He whispered as he pressed light kisses to her hair, her cheek, her lips. "I don’t want to hurt you but – you have to understand that we can only go so far."

"I know," She whispered, leaning into his kiss, deepening it. "I know."

Suddenly, Indian war cries tore the two lovers apart and Zorro immediately looked toward the gate separating the garden from the front of the hacienda. In the moonlight, he could see horses gallop past the hacienda. He could have sworn he had seen several on foot as well, but he could not be sure.

He grasped Victoria’s hand and pulled her toward the hacienda back door. Alejandro greeted them with two primed pistols as Felipe took Victoria into the back rooms away from harm.

"Felipe, prepare more muskets just in case!" Alejandro called and Felipe nodded.

Victoria was led down a hallway, she had only been down once or twice before, and left inside a darkened bedroom lit very low with an oil lamp.

After she had turned up the lamp, she realized that she was in Diego’s room. The dark, mahogany stained wood was beautiful. An ornate dresser and wardrobe adorned the room and the two large windows, whose curtains were drawn closed, accentuated the very masculine look of the room.

A small blush crept along the length of her neck. She didn’t feel right being in another man’s room, even if she was taking shelter from danger.

A fleeting thought caused her eyes to focus on the bed. Diego said he was going to bed when he left the garden, but the bed didn’t look like it had been slept in. Even if Diego had been awakened suddenly, Victoria doubted that he would have taken the time to make the bed.

As musket fire disturbed her thoughts, Victoria pushed the questions to the back of her mind for a closer examination later.

She could hear the indian’s inside the hacienda now. What could have caused them to want to attack the kind and generous De La Vegas?

She grasped a long metal object off Diego’s dresser as she heard pounding footsteps coming closer. She slid against the far corner of the bed just as the door flew open and several Indians stepped through, their painted eyes searching the semi-dark room.

Victoria held her breath. These markings were like none she had ever seen. Whatever tribe these indians had come from, they were not one of the peaceful race that occupied the outskirts of the pueblo.

Before one could step into the room, Victoria noticed two black gloves grasp their shoulders and pull them roughly from the room.

Victoria peered over the bed and watched Zorro’s iron fist impact with their faces sending them sprawling into the expensive De La Vega carpet.

Soon the large man in black stood over the unconscious natives and Victoria vaulted from her hiding place and into his arms.

"Querida," He whispered, burying his face in her hair. "Are you all right?"
"Yes," She breathed, relaxing into his strong arms. "Who are- ?"

She felt something impact into Zorro’s back, sending them crashing into the wall. He was able to shelter her from his weight but immediately turned around to face the offending intrusion. She noticed, with a soft gasp, that he was holding his side as he dodged a knife aimed for his chest.

"Get back!" Zorro cried, pushing Victoria toward the back of the hacienda.

The end of the hall was not more than a few feet away and she was grateful that no one would be able to sneak up behind them.

As the other brave raised his knife, a shot echoed through the halls and the indian slumped to the floor.

Zorro quickly disarmed the other indian and sent him head first into the hard wall.

Alejandro rushed to Victoria and embraced her. "Are you all right, my dear?"

"Yes," She breathed, searching Zorro’s eyes for any indication of an injury. "Thanks to Zorro."

Zorro bowed gracefully and whirled around, "I must make sure there are no more in the hacienda. Querida, you are in safe, capable hands now."

With that he was gone and the two stood silently, wondering why he was in such a hurry to leave.

Victoria kept the thought of his injury to herself. Perhaps it was something else and she was worrying needlessly.

Alejandro checked to make sure the indians would not be getting up any time soon and then rolled one over. He examined the unconscious man closely and frowned. This was not a tribe that he recognized.

Alejandro stood and led Victoria towards Diego’s room with a stern, "Stay here until I know it is safe."

Several minutes later, Diego appeared from the other end of the hallway, blood covering his rumpled white shirt.

Alejandro’s attention was immediately drawn to his injured son.

"Diego!" Alejandro searched for the source of the wound. "What happened? Are you all right? Where were you? What - ?"

Diego held up a silencing hand. "An indian jumped me. It’s just a small cut."

"Small?" Alejandro gasped. "There is blood all over your shirt. Come now. Into the kitchen and let me take a look at it!"

Diego grumbled all the way and neither man noticed that Victoria was left standing in the hallway, her mind reeling as if she had been slapped.

Concern for the man’s safety propelled her to follow and she stepped around the two bodies that lay still on the floor.

Before she entered the kitchen she could hear Diego’s protests.

"Father I am fine. I can take care of it." Diego tried to push his father’s hands away from his side but the man was too insistent.

Diego rolled his eyes as his father ripped his shirt to look at the wound.

"Lean back Diego and let me get a better look at it!" His father ordered. He was annoyed that his son would take his injury with such a calm composure. He wasn’t worried about infection, nor did it appear that he was in any pain.

Diego sighed and sunk into a bench beside the table. He rested his arms on the table behind him and closed his eyes. The wound hurt but he had been able to stop most of the bleeding while he was changing in the cave. He needed to make sure the blood soaked his shirt to give the illusion that the knife had pierced his white shirt rather than the black one. He had even taken his own knife and cut an appropriate size slice in his linen shirt.

His father knelt in front of him and peeled the bloodstained shirt away from the oozing wound.

"You tried to stop the bleeding?" Alejandro looked to his son for confirmation.

" I think I did a pretty good job of it."

"Probably not good enough and you don’t want it to get infected," Victoria strode into the kitchen, took a pot of water, a rag, some spices from the rack on the wall, and knelt beside his father.

Victoria mixed the spices into the water and sloshed them around to dilute them. She dabbed at the wound, causing Diego’s muscles to tighten at the stinging pain.

Alejandro moved away as Victoria worked, systematically stopping the bleeding, medicating the wound and bandaging it.

When Victoria finished, her eyes traveled across Diego’s bare chest. She could tell he was tense because he was shaking. She couldn’t tell if it was from the pain or from nervousness. She was surprised at the muscled skin that lay before her eyes. Nothing like she had expected Diego to look like at all. But then again, how much did she really know about a man’s body? Maybe all men were so built.

Victoria shook her head. She doubted it. Several plump pueblo residents popped into her mind and she resisted the urge to chuckle. No, Diego would have to work at a body like this. She wondered, for a fleeting instant, what he did to keep in such good shape. Was there something about his life that she did not know? Again, she doubted it. He was such a simple man.

Before she could say anything, the alcalde burst through the kitchen doors.

"Where is he?"

Diego, Alejandro and Victoria looked up sharply at the intrusion.

"Who?" Diego asked, relieved to have Victoria’s attention diverted from his very muscular chest.

"Zorro, of course!" DeSoto sighed.

Alejandro’s eyes narrowed in anger. "My son is injured because of an indian attack on our hacienda and you can think of nothing else but capturing Zorro!?"

"He was aiding those damnable indians and I plan to- "

"He certainly was not!" Victoria stood, her eyes simmering. " You know better than that, Alcalde! Zorro would not attack two men who have been friends to him from the beginning. He rescued me when two of those savages were going to do heaven knows what to me!"

"Yes well, that is not what I’ve heard," DeSoto muttered and turned to Diego and his father. "And that is another subject that I have been meaning to discuss with you two."

He took a step closer to drive his warning home. "You have tread dangerously close to treason. Don’t give me any more reason to arrest you. Be warned."

Diego sat straight, ignoring the pain in his side as he did so. Victoria turned to Diego, expecting him to wince in pain like someone unused to it would have done. She noticed the violent storm brewing in his normally soft, azure gaze. But as she expected, he said nothing. Rarely did he speak out against the alcalde and he was proving just now, why she was so easily disgusted by the cowardly caballero.

But Victoria was surprised by what he did manage to say. She noticed the words slip through clenched teeth.

"Instead of running around trying to catch a simple bandit, maybe you should be trying to find out who these indians were and why they attacked us."

DeSoto took a step forward, shaking a warning finger. "Don’t ever presume to tell me how to do my job, Diego."

Victoria was taken aback by the fire simmering in Diego’s eyes.

"I do worry when how you are doing your job directly compromises the safety of my family."

Alejandro watched the exchange with a critical eye. His son was displaying a rare temper and, he knew from experience, that once the De La Vega temper exploded, it would be very difficult to rein in his son. He decided to interfere now before something else happened that would give DeSoto a reason to arrest Diego. He could see that an argument between the two men was coming to a head and he wanted to avoid such an encounter. But he was proud of his son for finally standing up for something. Diego should do it more often.

Alejandro stepped in between the two men. "Gentlemen, Diego was injured and needs to rest. "Alcalde, I Don’t know why those indians would have attacked the hacienda. Juan is outside with the two we captured during the attack."

DeSoto huffed and stepped back, glancing at Diego and then back at Alejandro. "You and your son are coming dangerously close to treason with your support of that nefarious bandit. I would take heed in your dealings with him."

"We do not call on him, Sir," Alejandro began. "He always has a way of finding us."

"Then the next time he finds you, I would suggest you let me know immediately."

Diego stood and Victoria could see the rising ire with the alcalde’s comments. "We will do so only if he harms or threatens our safety, alcalde."

Victoria beamed. She was pleasantly surprised to see her friend defending Zorro so staunchly. She decided to add a few comments of her own. "And you can be sure he will never do that!"

"Careful Señorita," DeSoto threatened. "I can just as easily arrest you for treason as well."

"Alcalde," Alejandro interrupted before things got out of hand. He could see Diego take a step forward and wanted to avoid the blows that he was sure would follow if Diego was allowed to speak. "It has been a long night - for all of us. Perhaps we can discuss this in the morning?"

"Fine," DeSoto turned on his heel and stalked out of the room.

Diego stood, and stalked out of the room behind DeSoto.

Alejandro and Victoria cast exasperated looks at one another and followed the injured Don out of the kitchen.

Diego turned suddenly and addressed his father as if Victoria was not in the room. "Perhaps Victoria should spend the night here. She would surely be much safer here than alone at the tavern."

"Do I not get a choice about this or have you made the decision for me?" Victoria quickly asked Diego.

"I’ve made the decision for you," He said simply and continued on toward his room. He was not going to let anything compromise her safety and he would lock her in one of the De La Vega guest rooms if he needed to.

Well," Alejandro grinned. "It looks as if something has Diego’s feathers ruffled."

"A life threatening injury can do that to a man." Victoria muttered as they followed Diego down the hall and Alejandro showed her to a guest room that just happened to be across from Diego’s bedroom.

Over breakfast the next morning the De La Vega’s received an unexpected visitor. The Dons and their beautiful guest turned as the house man escorted the lovely lady, Annaliza Turrón into the dining area.

Alejandro was the first to stand and offer her a seat. Diego and Victoria noticed this with knowing smiles as the lovely woman took her seat next to Victoria.

A sense of nostalgia settled over Alejandro. Seeing two beautiful women sitting at the table, where none had sat in a very long time, made him quite happy. If only Diego would fall in love and marry. Then, at least, the hacienda would know the feel of a woman’s touch once again.

"To what do we owe this pleasure?" Diego asked Annaliza, his eyes twinkling.

Victoria took note and resolved to ask him about it later.

"Always the proper gentleman, Diego," She smiled warmly and turned to Alejandro.

"I wanted to voice a concern that I have had over the past several days."

All eyes turned to listen to the young woman.

"There has been a strange tribe of indians watching my hacienda and I am starting to get a little nervous. They have not taken any cows, or harmed any of my vaqueros, but I don’t want to take a chance."

"Have you informed the alcalde"? Victoria asked and then realized that the alcalde would probably not do anything about it.

"I have, when I first noticed them. He sent two lancers out every day since then. They have seen nothing nor would they be able to do anything about an entire indian raiding party."

"You have a point there," Diego nodded and cast a sidelong glance at his father.

"Indian’s attacked the hacienda last night and the alcalde now has two of them in custody," Diego informed the lady. "We don’t know why and no one was badly hurt."

Upon that reminder, Alejandro looked at Diego. "Except my son. How is your side?"

Diego grinned. "It’s fine, Father. I can hardly feel a thing."

Alejandro shook his head. His son was downplaying the seriousness of his injury and he didn’t like it. "Then you have a body made of steel, my son, because that knife penetrated your side quite deeply. You’re lucky that we were here to treat it. You might have bled to death."

Victoria stared at Diego’s reaction to his father’s deduction. She realized that Diego would not have bled to death. In fact, his wound had all but stopped bleeding by the time Alejandro had even noticed. Which means, Diego had taken the time to treat his wound before he had stepped into the hallway where Victoria and Alejandro had first seen him.

As expected, Diego did not try to counter his father’s assumption. There were times when Victoria was just frustrated that Diego would not stand in to defend himself. But she needed to step back from the situation a bit. Something had changed with Diego and she wasn’t quite sure what that change was and how it would affect her and their friendship.

"You say they just watch you?" Diego asked curiously.

"Yes. I don’t know what they want. But since they don’t come to talk with me, I am guessing that they are not one of the friendly tribes that have settled around the pueblo."

"I would take that as a fair guess." Diego nodded. "I also don’t think the alcalde is going to do much about this. Except maybe try to run them out of the territory like he has tried to do with the other tribes."

"That would be a bad idea. Especially if they react as badly as the ones last night." Alejandro sighed. "I believe any other farmhouse would not have been prepared to defend against their attack."

"How many were there?" Annaliza asked.

"About six or eight," Diego answered. "More than enough to overpower a less populated hacienda."

"We may have to try and take care of this problem by ourselves." Diego noted, his eyes looking over his father’s shoulder and out the window.

Alejandro was deprived the necessity of speaking when Felipe rushed into the hacienda.

"What is it?" Diego asked, correctly interpreting Felipe’s signs.

"Soldiers on their way here?"

The household filtered out the door to see the largest display of military might they had seen in this small pueblo, pass the hacienda and gallop toward the foothills.

"We’ll take care of your indian problem, De La Vega," DeSoto called over his shoulder as he led his troops into a battle that he was certain he would win.

"Oh, I think he doesn’t know what he is getting into," Diego sighed. He needed to find out what was going on, who those indians were, and why they had attacked the hacienda. And he couldn’t do that as Diego De La Vega.

He rubbed his forehead in an overdramatisized gesture that was sure to get the attention of everyone present.

Alejandro, used to coddling his weak son, was at Diego’s side immediately, his arm around the much taller man’s waist.

"I’m just feeling a little faint, that’s all, " Diego muttered, playing the sick injured man to the hilt.

"Then you must get back to bed and rest," Annaliza was concerned as well. "If you lost as much blood as your father claims, you shouldn’t be on your feet so soon anyway."

Victoria stood rooted in place, her eyes daring from Diego to his father. She couldn’t reconcile the image of the strong-willed, hot tempered Don from last night, with the weak, delicate man that now stood before her.

"I do believe you are right," Diego said softly, rubbing his head. "I’ll just go lie down for a while. See if I can clear my head"

Victoria followed his lean form out of the room until he rounded the corner and disappeared from sight. She sighed. He was just Diego. Strange, unpredictable, docile, Diego.

Minutes later the black-clad form of the masked avenger of California was riding after the soldiers at a determined pace. He wanted to catch them before they made a big mistake by attacking an unpredictable indian camp.

Tornado kept up his grueling gallop until Diego could no longer take the uncomfortable pain in his side. He slowed the stallion to a smooth trot and leaned over, searching for the lancers tracks. He was nearing the foothills and he wanted to be cautious.

These indians that had attacked last night would post watchers so that no one could come into their camp unnoticed. Zorro knew that. He didn’t know if DeSoto did.

Zorro came upon several sets of tracks. Some were obviously horse tracks, others had been made on foot, and still others looked like a wheel or like something that was being dragged. These indians had probably just migrated into the territory because Zorro recognized the later tracks as those made by a teepee when being pulled behind a horse.

A steep incline greeted Zorro as he rounded a small hillside. He dismounted with a soft grunt, his side was burning now, and began to lead Tornado up the incline.

His eyes darted to and from the hilltops, watching for a surprise attack. If DeSoto had known he was coming, this would have been a perfect place for an ambush. Zorro grinned. Thank God for small favors.

Rounding a few more smaller hills, Zorro came upon the lancers. They were crawling up another hillside in an effort to make a surprise attack on the indian camp.

As Zorro’s eyes searched the hills around the lancers, he noticed the well hidden braves watching silently.

Zorro shook his head. Would DeSoto never learn. Before Zorro could raise the alarm, an ear piercing war cry sounded and the indians attacked.

The lancers were suitably caught off guard and they scattered immediately, making it easier to take them down one by one.

Zorro reached his first opposition and ducked underneath a very sharp tomahawk that flew toward his head. Zorro’s quick reflexes caught the indian by surprise and a granite fist landed squarely on the side of his jaw, knocking him to the ground.

"Alcalde!" Zorro cried. "Regroup and defend together! They are scattering your troops!"
The alcalde sneered at the masked man as he discharged his pistol into a young brave’s chest.

Zorro shook his head. This attack was going to bring down the wrath of this tribe upon the pueblo.

He needed to do something about it. He unhooked his whip and struck at an indian who was sneaking up on Mendoza. The leather snapped and wrapped its tendril around the indian’s legs. Zorro pulled and the indian slid down the other side of the small incline.

"Mendoza!" Zorro called as the man breathed a sigh of relief. "Get back to town and warn the pueblo to be ready to defend itself! Then go tell Don Alejandro what has happened!"

His father could rally the people. He had done it when Zaragosa threatened the town and he could do it with the threat of indian attack as well.

Mendoza nodded nervously and rushed toward his horse. An indian cry tore his gaze from his goal and he stumbled.

A spear raised above Mendoza’s head and the cowardly Sergeant closed his eyes, resigning himself to his fate.

The crack of a whip could be heard and the spear slipped from the indian’s hand and landed centimeters from Mendoza’s face. Blood ran from the small cut on his cheek as Mendoza quickly got to his feet, eyes widened in surprise.

The indian turned to Zorro, his attention diverted from the weak Sergeant, and pulled the spear from the ground.

As Mendoza mounted his stallion, he didn’t look back at the destruction that lay behind him.

"Alcalde!" Zorro called to the stubborn man, "Look around you. Your lancers are being cut to pieces! Get out of here while you still can!"

With one last thrust of his sword into the belly of a young brave, DeSoto turned to see the truth of Zorro’s words. More of his lancers were hurt and dying than the indians he had come to destroy.

He made the command decision to pull his men out while he still had a military garrison.

"Retreat!" He cried to his remaining lancers. "Get to your horses!"

Zorro landed a left hook into another indian jaw and whistled for Tornado. He could feel that his wound had opened again and he needed to stand still for a while to clear his head. He was already beginning to feel weak and he needed to be careful. Loosing more blood could seriously harm him.

He watched the lancers mount faster than he had ever seen them move, and gallop down the small path toward home. Several misjudged the steepness of the incline they had to climb and their horses stumbled.

As Zorro turned, he noticed several long-haired women peering over the hillside to watch the battle. Young boys, too young for battle, watched from a distance as well. One of the onlookers caught Zorro’s attention and when he turned back to get a better look, she was gone.

"A white woman living among the indians?" Zorro thought, but the thought was driven from his head by an arrow flying by his head. Maybe he had been mistaken. He must have been seeing things.

Zorro shook his head and mounted Tornado with one smooth motion. He sheathed his saber and reached into his saddlebag. Taking several small jars, he carefully lit a small fuse and tossed them toward the indians. As soon as the jars impacted with the ground, they exploded into a large ball of flame, sending sparks across the bare landscape. The indians scattered at the noise and the sudden flame.

"That should delay them a bit," Zorro muttered and galloped over to where a lancer was struggling to mount his injured horse. He held out his hand to the frightened man and pulled him into the saddle.

He tossed one more hand-made bomb behind him just to show the indians that he was not expecting to be followed all too closely.

When DeSoto and the garrison, minus a few, returned to the pueblo, they were greeted by armed residents. Mendoza had reached Alejandro and the experienced Don had readied the people as best he could.

DeSoto bit back a biting comment and stomped over to Mendoza, "You deserted your men, Sergeant!"

"But I- I – Zorro told me to come back and warn the pueblo." The man gripped his injured arm, his eyes still wide with fear.

"Is Zorro your commander!?"

"His commander led him into a battle that he was ill prepared for, alcalde!" Zorro called as Tornado skidded to a halt. The injured lancer slid off Tornado and was immediately taken by two pueblo women into the tavern.

Victoria stood on the porch, watching with keen interest. She gripped her pistol tighter, she would be prepared to defend herself and her property if the indians decided to attack the pueblo.

She stepped off the porch to listen to Zorro’s biting words.

"They are on their way here now, alcalde! You didn’t realize that these are not a tribe we are familiar with. Who knows what they want, or how many there are!" Zorro breathed deeply, he was getting faint but he needed to keep going, He needed to stay conscious.

"You never even got close enough to their camp, did you?"

"We were ambushed - "

"Yes, you were. Now you have damned us all by your inability to lead. Many of your men died today and many more are likely to. You are not fit to lead this garrison!"

DeSoto was enraged. How dare this fiend declare him unfit to lead!

"Lancers!" He called for his men. "Shoot him!"

"Save your ammunition, alcalde!" Zorro called, extending his hand to point down the plaza to the gates.

The crowd gasped as they saw the dust and dirt kicked up by horses hooves.

"Your time of reckoning is at hand!" Zorro trotted Tornado over to Victoria and sighed. "Please take shelter in the tavern."

The soldiers scattered at the sight, taking cover where they thought they would be most safe.

Victoria shook her head wildly. "I will defend my home just like every other man, woman and child in this pueblo."

Zorro dismounted quickly, ignoring the pain in his side, and took her hands in his own, "Please, my love. I can’t - "

She blinked. He had never once mentioned words of love to her, even in fear. She embraced him tightly, wrapping her arms around his waist.

He gritted his teeth as her arm brushed against his open wound. He lifted her face and pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. She melted against his lips as the indian war cries echoed around the plaza. He tore his lips from hers and pulled her into the relative safety of the tavern.

"Please!" He begged, " For me. For us! Stay here! I will come back for you"

He escorted into the tavern and saluted.

Tears slipped down her cheeks as he rushed out the door , closing it behind him.

Victoria rushed up the stairs to her room and barricaded the door closed. No indian was going to violate her without a fight. She cocked her pistol and crouched beside her bed. Rifle shots and indian war cries infiltrated her mind. She prayed for her friends and Zorro, as they fought to purge the intruders from their pueblo.

She was too occupied with her jumbled thoughts to notice the dried blood on the side of her arm.

Soon, the pueblo became relatively quiet and she removed the furniture from her doorway. She was afraid to look out. Zorro had said he would come for her when it was safe. But what if he was hurt or dead? She had to know. She couldn’t risk never seeing him again!

She rushed down the steps as the doors to the tavern burst open.

She aimed her pistol and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Zorro carrying – Don Alejandro into the back room.

Her eyes widened and she rushed to his aid. The masked man’s face twisted in horror as she watched him rip the Don’s shirt and begin to apply pressure to the gaping wound in his chest.

"Victoria," Zorro turned to Victoria , "Please get me - "

"Right away!" She answered before he could finish.

"Diego!" Alejandro called for his son and Zorro bit his lip.

He wanted nothing more than to reassure his father that he was all right. But he snapped his mouth closed when he realized that Victoria could overhear his words.

Instead he said, "Don Diego is outside helping with the injured. Don’t worry," Zorro reassured the delirious man," He is uninjured." He lied. His wound had opened again and was bleeding heavily. He was very faint and only adrenaline was keeping him on his feet. To make matters worse, a stray arrow had struck him in nearly the same place, causing another deep laceration and an additional irritation to the wound he had already received. He had pulled the arrow from his side and just wrapped his sash tighter around his waist. It caught much of the blood, but not all of it. He would take care of it later.

He needed to make sure his father was going to live before he could relax. Fortunately, he did bring clothing that he could change into without having to ride home.

As Zorro worked, Victoria assisted where she could. The tavern was filling with the injured and people were bustling in and out of the kitchen with medical supplies.

Alejandro moaned in pain, fever already setting in, and Victoria could see the anguished look on Zorro’s face.

"You should see to it that he gets home," Zorro addressed Victoria, holding the counter to prevent himelf from falling over. "He would be more comfortable in his own bed. Will you see to it?"

"Sí," She smiled, wrapping her arms around him tightly. She shuddered, thankful that he had come out of the battle without being injured. When she slid away, she noticed there was blood on her blouse. She also noticed the dried blood on her arm. She gasped at Zorro and he shook his head.

"From Don Alejandro, he has bled heavily," Zorro sighed, lying once more. "I have managed to stop it but, I am frightened for him."

"We are lucky to have you, Zorro. You care about everyone equally." She caressed his cheek with the back on her hand and noticed that he was a bit warm.

His soft, loving gaze, prevented the need for an answer as he covered her had with his own," No. Some I love more than others."

Twice in the same day he had mentioned love! Victoria was worried that there might be something wrong. Had he been worried that he would die? Maybe he was just becoming more comfortable with the verbal expressions of his feeling for her.

"You know I feel the same," She leaned toward him and sighed when his lips met hers in a gentle kiss. The sweet sensation was all too brief and she sighed when he stood.

"Take care of him. I will return." He leapt out the window and was gone before she could utter another comment.

Some time later, Diego rushed into the tavern looking for his father. He had cleansed and bandaged his wound as best he could but the desire to be with his father caused him to ignore the pain and the lightheadedness that accompanied the injury. He knew he was going to have to sit and rest soon, but that could wait until he saw to it his father was safely returned to his home and bed.

"How is he doing?" Diego placed a hand across his fathers burning forehead.

Victoria breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t seen Diego and she was glad to see that he was ok. Even though Zorro had said as much, she was glad to see the handsome caballero with her own eyes.

"He doesn’t look too good," Diego sighed, and rested his hand out to steady himself. He was feeling nauseous now. "I want to get him home."

Victoria nodded. "Zorro said the same thing. He would be more comfortable resting in his own bed."

"Has Dr. Hernandez been here to look at him?" Diego’s eyes were cloudy and Victoria noticed that he was grimacing.

"No, not yet," Victoria reached out to touch his arm. She had forgotten about his wound from the day before and was instantly concerned. But since she saw no blood on his shirt, she assumed that it had remained closed.

"Are you all right?" Victoria asked, her eyes searching his. "Your wound…."

"Is fine." Diego said a little too quickly. "I am just a little tired. We’ve all had a very busy day. My father is injured badly and I am scared that I may loose him."

Victoria nodded. She understood his concern and her soft gaze comforted him. "I’ll go with you."

Diego smiled slightly as Victoria left the kitchen to ask for some help in moving Alejandro. He slumped against the bench, his vision going black for a few seconds. He took several deep breaths and resisted pressing a hand to his wound. He could feel that the bandage was wet and the blood would be seeping through any time now. He needed to get home and change it before someone else noticed.

The ride to the hacienda was painful. Diego knelt in the carriage, whispering words of comfort to his father, as Victoria and Felipe sat in the driver seats.

Diego noticed a few spots of blood appear on his white shirt and jumped off the carriage almost before it had come to a stop.

"I’ll get some vaqueros to help with him," Diego called over his shoulder as he rushed into the hacienda, "Felipe!"

Felipe rushed after his friend and gasped when Diego turned around and he noticed the blood. "Get someone to help you with my father. I need to bandage this wound."

Felipe nodded quickly and rushed off to complete his task. Diego stepped through the fireplace and leaned against the wall for support. He needed to be quick about re-bandaging his wound and get back out there before he was missed.

He removed the blood-soaked rags and replaced them with thicker bandages.

Several minutes later he appeared by his father’s bedside, taking the limp hand in his own and squeezing tightly.

"What kept you? Where did you go?" Victoria asked, a bit disgusted that he would leave his father to be carried taken care of by someone else.

Diego thought up a quick response. " I wanted to change my shirt before I got too close to him. All of the dust from the plaza, I didn’t want it to get into his wound."

Victoria nodded. "Oh. I didn’t realize."

Diego sighed and turned his attention back to his father. Victoria noted the worried look on his face and blinked back a pang of recognition. She had seen the same look cross Zorro’s when he had carried the injured Don into the tavern.

"Diego?"

Diego closed his eyes and rested his head against his father’s arm. The dizziness was returning and he didn’t have the energy to answer any more of Victoria’s questions.

"Victoria, I’m tired. I think I need to lay down for a while." Diego whispered, his voice barely audible.

Victoria leaned closer to catch everything he said. "Are you sure you are all right? You don’t sound yourself?" Victoria eyed him carefully. He looked very pale and there was perspiration dotting his forehead.

She rested her hand on his arm and immediately recoiled. She could feel the heat burning through the thin layer of clothing and she gasped. "Diego, you are burning up."

She moved her hand to his forehead and then to his neck. She could feel him tense and could see the vein in his neck enlarge at her touch. "You’ve got a fever. You need to be in bed!"

She stood and took his arm, pulling him to his feet. "How did this happen? Were you injured? Is it from yesterday? The Indian attack?"

Diego shook his head. Her questions were giving him a headache and he stumbled.

Victoria wrapped her arm around his waist and tried to help him into his room. He was so very heavy and she thought she would buckle under his weight.

Diego could tell that he was weakening. He would be lucky to make it to his room, much less his bed, before collapsing. His legs were beginning to buckle and he grasped the wall for support.

"Felipe!" Victoria called. She needed help getting Diego into his room. She wasn’t going to be able to hold his weight by herself.

"I’ll - be – fine, Vic-toria. " Diego breathed. "I just need to rest."

Felipe came running down the hallway, his eyes wide with fright. He grasped his friend and helped Victoria get him into his bed. His clothing was soaked in sweat and Diego brushed Victoria’s hands away when she tried to remove his shirt.

"You can’t leave it on, Diego," Victoria protested. " You will- "

"Please," Diego’s eyes bored into her own, again reminding her of Zorro’s plea when he had asked her to remain in the tavern during the indian attack. "Go sit with my father. I don’t want – him to die - alone."

"He will not die, Diego!" Victoria admonished. He was becoming delirious and Victoria was worried. She had never seen Diego so ill. She imagined that he would be quite a bad patient, but he was pushing her away now.

"Please!" Diego cried and Victoria immediately stood. His sharp tone startled her and she immediately marched toward the door. Before stepping out into the hallway, she turned back to stare at the tossing caballero and his manservant. She was suddenly very frightened. Frightened that the two closest people in her life would die.

As per Diego’s request, Victoria waited by Alejandro’s bedside, hoping, praying that he would regain consciousness. The doctor came and went over the next few hours but there had been no change. Alejandro had lost a lot of blood and he was near death. His body couldn’t produce it fast enough to keep his body functioning normally. His color was pale, his skin had a yellowish tint to it.

Victoria couldn’t keep the silent tears from slipping down her cheeks as the doctor spoke.

"He’s in a bad way," Hernandez sighed, removing the stethoscope from Alejandro’s chest. "I can’t do any more for him. His fever is high. The wound was badly infected. I’m afraid," His gaze was compassionate as he stared at those gathered in the room, "his prognosis is not good."

Victoria closed her eyes and Felipe stepped forward to steady her. Maria visibly swayed as did Don Carlos’ wife.

"We will remain for as long as you need us," Don Carlos assured Felipe and Victoria. The De La Vega’s had been family friends for a very long time. They had rendered aid numerous times and had not requested payment of any kind. They were a good family, and it was devastating to see that both men were deathly ill and may not recover.

Felipe bit his lip and signed at the doctor. The older man narrowed his eyes, unable to understand.

"Yes," Victoria was jolted out of her stuper as she remembered Diego lying down the hall. "What about Diego? How is he- ?

Victoria stood and moved toward the door.

Hernandez sighed once more. "I need to examine him again. I came straight to Alejandro. He’s much worse off."

"I’ll stay with him," Margarita smiled slightly and took Victoria’s vacant space by the bed. "Carlos and I will stay with him. Go to Diego."

When they arrived, the doctor immediately felt of the young caballero’s forehead. Hernandez sighed. "His fever has not broken."

The doctor listened to the young man’s heartbeat, noting that it was erratic.

Victoria took a seat next to Diego’s bed and watched the doctors ministrations carefully. The young Don tossed and turned but did not wake. It was clear that he was in great pain.

The doctor pulled the warm blanket to Diego’s waist and began to examine the two wounds that were so very close together, they could be considered one.

Victoria had not seen the ugly wound since she had bandaged it back when the indians first attacked the hacienda. She couldn’t remember there being such a large gouge in his side and quietly wondered how he had received it. She mentally went through what had happened on the day the indians attacked the pueblo. She had seen Diego only after the battle, but he had appeared fine. There had been no blood on his clothing at all.

"I want to remove this shirt," Hernandez pushed the soft white cotton off his shoulders, "Soaking wet material against his skin will not help his fever."

"Yes!" Diego cried, his eyes flying open as the doctor tried to remove his shirt. "Cold – water. Soak in- " He shuddered, as if every breath was a struggle.

Felipe nodded quickly and rushed out of the room to fetch some cool water.

"Soak you in it?" Hernandez blinked. "Diego, that is not a good idea. Your wound is infected badly, soaking it…"

"Will – lower my –fever," He breathed. His eyes pierced the doctors and he nodded. It was true, but he hadn’t wanted to risk the opposite that may happen. "Father too."

He slumped back into the mattress and Victoria wiped away a tear that slipped from the corner of her eye.

"Lets to it. He has been laying here for too long already and there has been no change for the better," Victoria’s eyes burned with determination. "If he thinks that it will help, then we need to do it."

Hernandez nodded and threw the covers from the tossing man’s feverish form.

Victoria turned modest eyes away before realizing that Diego did, indeed, have pants on.

Several servants helped submerge Diego, clothes and all, into the cool water Felipe had poured into the porcelain tub.

Felipe held Diego’s head above the water as the man became a bit more lucid. The cool water splashing over his body shocked his mind into consciousness and his head tossed against Felipe’s hands.

Felipe and the doctor removed what clothing they could reach, exposing the young Don’s burning skin to the cool water.

Victoria pretended to be doing something else as the two men pulled sopping clothing from the water and deposited it into a pile on the floor.

Once Diego was lucid, he rested his arms along the sides of the tub and helped in the removal of the rest of his clothing. He grimaced in pain as the water soaked into his infected wound.

"Get some powdered salt," He groaned, his eyes rolling back into his head from the pain, "and stir it into the water."

"Good," Hernandez nodded and turned to Victoria, imploring her silently to go fetch some from the kitchen. "That should help cleanse the infection."

When Victoria returned with a bowl full of the white powder, she immediately offered it to the doctor. He sprinkled it inside the tub and Diego swished the water around it, blending the two.

He took a deep breath as the salty water soaked into his wound. The stinging pain was almost enough to render him unconscious and he gripped the sides of the tub tightly. The strength he was using to keep his head above the water, was dwindling rapidly and he slumped.

"Felipe, get some – willow root from - " Diego caught himself. How could he be so careless! He could have just revealed the cave and his secret! He needed to rest, to regain his strength and his senses.

"We’ve given you some, Diego. Don’t you remember?" Hernandez sighed. But it didn’t seem to be working. He had received a shipment of new medicines and it looked like he was going to have to try them on Diego. They were experimental but if the willow bark didn’t work, he didn’t have any other choice.

He pulled two vials out of his bag and implored Felipe to bring him some tea. When the young man returned, he measured and poured a bit of the liquid into the cup.

"This is Birchwood extract," He began, stirring the mixture. "It is a little more potent than willow bark and I am hoping that it will bring down your fever a little more quickly."

He didn’t add that it was experimental, he didn’t want to worry anyone.

"Ah," Diego groaned as the salt numbed his side. He couldn’t feel the wound any longer, could just feel the pain shooting along his side as the salt numbed the deep gash.

He took several sips of the tea as Hernadez held it to his lips. Setting the tea aside, he noticed that Diego’s eyes were a bit more clear.

"Let’s get you out of the water," Hernandez reached under Diego’s arms to pull him put of the water.

Diego hesitated and the doctor turned amused eyes toward Victoria, who stood motionless as a few more inches of her friend’s quite remarkable body appeared from the water.

"Oh," Hernandez muttered at the rather uncomfortable situation, casting a wide grin at Diego and Victoria.

Victoria shook her head and turned away, muttering, " I’ll go make sure there is clean bedding for when you are finished."

Hernandez could feel Diego’s sigh of relief as the man slumped against him. Felipe re-appeared and assisted the heavy Don out of the tub.

Hernandez could not help but admire Diego’s lean, muscular form as he modestly wrapped a towel around his waist. Hernandez eyes narrowed as a few noteworthy scars caught his attention. This young man had several, what looked to be, healed gunshot wounds. A caballero, or the one this young man pretended to be, would not have scars like this.

Diego noticed the examination the doctor’s eyes were giving him and cleared his throat uncomfortably. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to go back to his room, barely clothed, to find Victoria. Or change here under the doctors scrutinizing eye. Diego could tell the doctor was looking at a few marks on his body that he had never treated.

Diego decided on the later, out of modest necessity. "Felipe, Victoria is doing something in my room, could you bring my clothes in here?"

"Diego?" Hernandez began after Felipe had gone but Diego held up a silencing hand.

"Please, Doctor," He leaned heavily against the wall. His nausea was returning and he didn’t know how much longer he was going to be able to stay on his feet. He was beginning to feel very hot again. "I don’t feel very good right now. The cool water helped until I stepped out of it. Now I am feeling very weak again."

Hernandez sighed. He would have to question Diego about his excellent form at a later date.

"It didn’t break your fever," Hernandez wiped his hand across the young man’s forehead, "But you do feel a bit cooler."

Diego slumped against the counter, his strength giving out, just as Felipe returned with some clothes. The young manservant lifted the long material over his master’s head, as the doctor held Diego upright.

When Diego was presentable, at least to a woman who would probably be waiting in his room for him to return, the two held the young Don tightly as they helped him to his room.

Once the handsome caballero was settled into bed, Felipe disappeared once again, the doctor following.

"Please take care of my father," Diego called weakly after their departing backs. He slumped into the soft mattress once more and closed his eyes.

A soft, flowery scent assailed his nostrils and he forced his eyes open. He was greeted with a small smile as Victoria leaned over him, pulling a second, thinner, blanket over his limp form.

Diego breathed deeply. The scent was intoxicating and before he could stop himself, he commented so.

"That scent. It is enchanting."

Victoria recoiled nervously and stared at the sleepy don. She had worn this scent for as long as she could remember and Diego had never commented on it. ‘He’s just sick. He doesn’t know what he’s saying,’ Victoria thought as she forced a small smile.

She turned away and took a seat next to the bed. "But it is nice to hear those things, even if they are coming from Diego." Every woman loved to be complimented, and Victoria Escalante was certainly not one to argue.

His vulnerable state caused some inexplicable emotions and she reached forward to brush a lock of damp hair from his forehead. In doing so, a jolt of recognition shot through her as his eyes locked with hers. She shook her head, but was unable to remove her hand. It was if it was glued to his forehead.

He realized the consequences of his words too late and when her eyes searched his, the words ‘I am Zorro’ were on the tip of his tongue ready, at last, to be spoken.

A piercing pain in his side bombarded his sense and the only thing that escaped his parted lips was a soft groan. He closed his eyes and pressed his hand into the wound to stop the pain.

Victoria’s concerned gaze warmed his heart but all he could think of was the pain and how much he would prefer unconsciousness.

"You’re in pain," Victoria covered his hand with her own, wishing she could take some of the discomfort away. She stood suddenly and bent to press a kiss to his forehead, "Let me go see if the doctor can give you anything."

He closed his eyes at the sensation of her lips on his skin. His last thoughts were of Victoria’s soft lips and gentle caress, just before he lapsed into pain induced unconsciousness.

When Diego awoke several hours later, his fever had broken. He was able to sit up and sip some warm tea, although his grasp on the china cup was weak and he had to hold it with both hands to keep it from tipping over.

"My father?" Diego asked when Felipe took the cup from his shaking fingers.

Felipe lowered his gaze and Diego’s heart leapt into his throat.

"He’s not…."

"No," Hernandez stepped into the room once more to take Diego’s temperature. "But he needs our prayers right now. The fever gripped him tight. You have youth on your side and a good constitution. Alejandro is considerably older than you and - "

"He is a fighter!" Diego exhorted. "He’ll pull through this."

When Diego tried to stand, he was met with a screaming pain in his side.

"I - need to – go – to – him," He breathed, "He can hear my voice."

Hernandez nodded and moved to the other side of the bed to help Diego stand. It was slow, and difficult going, but the two men were able to escort the sick caballero into his father’s room.

Victoria stood when they entered and immediately offered Diego her chair. She noted how pale he still was and shot a concerned look at the doctor.

"He wouldn’t take no for an answer," Hernandez shrugged before she had a change to scold him.

Victoria shook her head. "Men!" She snorted and glared at Diego. He held his father’s hand tightly as he leaned against the bed.

She turned to Felipe and the doctor. "He shouldn’t be up."

Hernandez nodded. "I know."

"Give him a few minutes and then see to it that he gets back in his bed," Hernandez ordered. "I need to go check on some other patients." The man sighed. "I have never been so busy. The indian attack caused a lot of death and destruction."

Victoria nodded and planted herself across from Diego.

Hernandez took his leave and Felipe sat in the chair at the foot of the bed.

Diego was whispering something to his father and Victoria leaned closer to listen.

"I still need you," He gripped the limp hand gently, resting it against his cheek, and Victoria felt tears well up. "There are so many things I need to tell you. So many things you should know."

Victoria took Alejandro’s other hand and pressed a soft kiss to it. The captured Diego’s attention and his next words were lost on his lips at the sight of her compassionate gaze.

Suddenly, Alejandro stirred and tossed his head in Victoria’s direction.

"Elena?" He muttered softly, his eyes and voice full of hope.

Victoria sobbed and Diego’s breath caught in his throat.

Victoria was certainly as beautiful as his mother had been. As kind, compassionate and generous.

"No, Don Alejandro," Victoria squeezed his hand, "It’s Victoria."

"My daughter?" His head tossed to Diego and then back to Victoria as the young man and woman exchanged looks.

"Not yet," Diego muttered, too low for anyone to hear.

"Diego!" Alejandro’s biting tone caused both heads to snap in his direction. "Where is your wife? She should be - "

Diego’s eyes narrowed, and Victoria cast a confused look at the young caballero.

"Father, I’m not married," Diego was weakening again but he needed to set his fathers delirious mind at ease, "You’ve been pressuring me for so long, I think you are a bit confused."

Diego grinned slightly when he noticed Victoria’s amused look at this small confession.

Alejandro’s grip went limp once more as he faded into unconsciousness.

"Father?" Diego implored, squeezing the man’s hand.

Victoria stood and gripped Diego’s arm, "It’s time for you to get back to bed. You need your rest."

Diego turned sharply, glaring into her amber eyes. "No."

The simple word was backed with a stern tone that she rarely remembered Diego ever having before. She backed away at his warning look and pulled Felipe into the hallway.

Once he was certain that he was alone, he turned his full attention back to his father.

"I need to tell you something," The pain in his side was getting stronger and he was having difficulty breathing. "I want you to know. I - " He looked over his shoulder to make sure there was no one in the room.

Satisfied, he turned back and revealed to his father, for the second time, his secret life. The man didn’t stir and a single tear slipped from a tightly closed eyelid.

When Diego awoke the next afternoon, he was able to pull himself out of bed and make it to his father’s roo