Felipe walked down the stairs to the cave carrying Anna’s dress and a pair of Marta’s sandals. As he laid the clothes on a table, he looked down at the sleeping form on the cot. The girl’s face was marked with streaks of mud but her expression was one of restfulness.
The young man walked around the cave extinguishing the torches and lanterns. Finally it was completely dark, except for a single glowing candle he carried over to the cot. He put the candleholder on the small table by the cot and reached for the blanket at the end of the cot with which to cover the girl. With an awakening breath, Anna stirred.
“Felipe,” she said, sitting up, “I’m sorry. I must have fallen asleep.”
He began to sign.
“Wait,” Anna interrupted. “I can’t see your hands.”
Felipe gritted his teeth in frustration. He stepped closer to the candle and began again.
“*It’s alright. You’re tired.*”
Anna stood and walked to the laboratory table. Felipe followed carrying the candle.
“Thank you for getting my clothes.” she said, trying in vain to brush the dirt from her skirt.
“*You’re welcome.*” he answered, setting the candle down.
Anna said, “Marta isn’t going to be happy to learn that I ruined her dress.”
“*She’ll understand*.” Felipe signed.
Anna fiddled with the clothes and then turned back to the young man, “I’m sorry I’ve disappointed you.”
*“What? What do you mean?”*
“I’m not who you thought I was.”
Felipe placed his hand over hers and signed with the other, “*No. You’re not. You’re even more amazing.*”
Anna turned away. “How can you say that? There’s a warrant out for my arrest.” she turned back. “I’m probably going to be executed for this.”
Felipe shook his head. “*I won’t let that happen. Besides, why would a warrant bother me? Zorro has had a bounty on his head for over eight years. In fact, if the alcalde knew how much I helped Zorro, he’d probably have a warrant out for me, too.*”
Anna laughed half-heartedly. “Yes, I suppose that’s true.” She walked to the table, her back to Felipe, and began to take the pins from her hair. She continued to talk as her brown tresses spilled down her back, but Felipe didn’t hear her—he was mesmerized. He reached out his hand to touch the gentle curls.
Unaware of his admiration, Anna turned around, “Oh, Felipe!” she cried, snapping him back to reality, “What am I going to do? I’m guilty! What kind of defense could I possibly have?”
Felipe shrugged slightly, “*I don’t know, but Diego studied law some in Madrid and I have been studying it, as well. We’ll think of something.*”
“But what if you don’t?” she exclaimed.
“*Oh, ye of little faith!*” he jested, trying to lighten the mood.
Anna dropped her shoulders with a little smile. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be so negative. Matthew always called me a pessimist.” she looked up at Felipe, “I prefer the term realist.”
“*Of course.*” Felipe signed. He placed two fingertips under her chin and tilted her face towards the candlelight. Fishing a clean handkerchief from his pocket, he attempted to wipe the bit of mud from her cheek. It was dry and stubborn, so he reached over and dabbed the linen in the cup of water. He rubbed the spot again, relishing her closeness. Reaching one last time to dampen the cloth, his elbow accidentally bumped the finger ring of the candleholder and it fell to the floor with a clatter, extinguishing the flame.
The cave plunged into intense darkness. Felipe hesitated, unsure of himself. He couldn’t see anything in the inky blackness.
“Felipe?” Anna said.
He ran his hand from her chin, down her arm, to her hand and grasped it reassuringly in his. She didn’t pull away.
Not letting go of Anna’s hand, Felipe bent over and found the candleholder. He straightened up and set it on the table. The young man then led her slowly through the darkness, feeling his way with his free hand. He stumbled, and Anna heard him inhale sharply as he struck his knee on a bench. They continued through the darkness, Felipe’s hand outstretched before him. He reached the wall and stopped; Anna walked right into him.
He turned back to her to make sure she was all right. He could hear her breathing and feel her nearness. His heart was pounding so hard; he wondered if she could hear it. He moved his hand from her palm and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Felipe felt her place her hand on his chest, but she did not push him away. For a moment, he wished he could see her face to know if she was displeased or not.
His hand found her face and caressed the softness of her cheek. Slowly, he bent and gently kissed her forehead. Sensing her response to his touch, he cradled her chin in his hands and touched his lips to hers. Anna trembled and leaned against his chest. He closed his arms around her and held her in the darkness.
Felipe kissed the top of her hair and released her from his arms. He took her hand as he retrieved the box of matches from the shelf. The young man felt his way back to the table, and the candle soon shined brightly.
Felipe shook out the match and turned to Anna. She looked up at him; her eyes glistened in the candlelight. He was enthralled with her beauty, and for once thankful that he could not speak. There was nothing he could say that would fully express his feelings.
Anna shyly lowered her gaze and looked at the stone floor. The silence was unnerving to her, and she bit her lip anxiously. Her thoughts swirled through her mind; she wondered what the young man was thinking. Had she been too forward? Should she have slapped him?
Felipe began to sign, but stopped when he realized that Anna was lost in thought, not noticing his movements. He touched her arm and captured her attention.
“*Anna, you know how I feel. I’d like permission to court you, but I don’t know who to ask*”
“Matthew…” Anna said, sadly.
“*Yes. I had spoken with Matthew. He disallowed it because he wanted you to return to England with him.*”
Anna looked up at him.
“Circumstances have changed drastically,” she said.
“*Yes, they have.” He brushed his fingers across her cheek before continuing.
“Anna, Matthew did say that you were the only one who could change his mind about it.”
Anna smiled slightly as she remembered her brother. He never could deny her anything she wished for.
“*May I be permitted to court you?*”
The English girl sighed and took a deep breath, trying to clear the grief from her mind. Demurely, she looked up at Felipe and said quietly, “I think I would like that.”
Felipe smiled and stepped closer to her. He placed his hand on her shoulder and kissed the corner of her mouth. She blushed and stepped away.
“Besides,” she said, returning his smile, “I think you already are.”
The young man rubbed the back of his neck bashfully. He then turned his head to stifle a yawn.
“You’re tired. You should go to bed.”
The Spaniard looked at the clock on the shelf and shook his head.
“*No, I have to get up in an hour anyway. I might as well stay up.*”
“You’ll need some coffee or brandy or something.”
“*That’s a good idea. I’ll go get some and be right back. Do you want any?*”
“No, thank you. I’d love a good cup of tea, but I have yet to find one in Spanish territory. I wouldn’t wish the tea here on my worst enemy.”
Felipe grinned, “*I’ve always heard that the British are obsessive about tea.*”
“Every stereotype has a grain of truth, I suppose.”
Felipe retrieved a cup of coffee and a cup of tea from the kitchen and returned to the cave. Anna sipped the tea and promptly disposed of it into Diego’s chemical waste bowl. She and Felipe sat on a bench and conversed until it was time for him to go upstairs for the morning’s work.
Anna lit the lanterns to brighten the room. At least it seemed for like daytime that way. She looked down at her gown. It had been so beautiful and now was covered in red mud. She sighed and wondered if the stains would wash out. With a glance to the stairs, she decided to change into her workdress.
Felipe cornered Diego after breakfast.
“*Have you thought of anything in Anna’s defense?*” he asked.
Diego closed the door to the classroom.
“I have a few ideas.”
Felipe looked hopeful.
“I don’t know how good they are, though. The alcalde can be swayed easily enough—Zorro can see to that; the commandante in Santa Barbara is another matter. I need to ask Anna a few things. Is she asleep?”
“I don’t think so. She wasn’t a little while ago.”
Diego looked over at the young man. “I suppose a chaperone isn’t possible in this situation.” he said, resigned. “Just be a gentleman.”
It was awkward undoing the hook and eyes on the back of the dress, but Anna managed to wriggle out of it. Toronado whickered.
“Well, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to offend your modesty, but I’ve nowhere else to change.”
Toronado shook his mane.
Anna unfastened her petticoats and determined that they were clean enough. She refastened them over her shift and corset cover and then held her dress up before her. Eyeing the dirt, she laid it on the table and tried to brush away the mud, but it was stuck fast. Frustrated, Anna stepped away from the table, put her hands on her hips, and glared at the fabric.
The girl heard a noise behind her and she turned just in time to see Diego and Felipe walk down the stairs. She gasped as they stopped short. Anna stepped back involuntarily, bumped into a bench, and toppled to the floor. Diego turned his head out of decency and to hide the amused look on his face. Felipe, his face and neck glowing a bright crimson, stepped forward to help the girl to her feet.
“No, I’m fine!” Anna commanded, “Just turn around!” The young man did as he was told and she scrambled to her feet. Hurriedly, she threw the brown dress over her head and fastened it in the back as best she could.
“Alright.” she huffed. They turned to find her dressed, though she looked a little rumpled and her hair was down and mussed. Felipe gave a slight motion of his hand and Anna looked down to see her skirt caught on the petticoat. She brushed it free.
“I, ah, I apologize.” Diego said, “The cave is not exactly designed for living quarters.”
“Really.” Anna said.
“We’ll have to find something more suitable for you.”
Anna looked up at him. “How?”
“I have some ideas for your defense.”
“Oh?” Anna asked, trying to twit her hair up and out of the way.
“You told me that Lord Wyclythe was convicted of espionage. Were you also convicted?”
“Yes. That’s why I was a political prisoner.”
“So you were serving your sentence.”
“Yes.”
“What was this “release” Martinez gave you?”
“I’m not exactly sure. I suppose it is similar to a pardon. But I don’t see how—“
“So you were already tried, convicted, and sentenced for your crimes against Spain?”
Anna was beginning to see where he was taking the idea. “Yes, I was.”
“*Ne bis in idem.*” Felipe signed.
“Yes, Felipe, double jeopardy.” Diego said, “If Anna was already tried for espionage, she cannot be tried again.”
“But I am not a citizen of Spain. Why would that matter?”
“Because it is a principle of not only Spanish but international law.”
“Oh. But how can I prove it?” she asked.
“If the release Martinez mentioned was similar to a pardon or a completion of penal service, I think he would have to send some kind of paperwork in either Monterey or Madrid, or both. Those papers should be all the protection you need.”
Anna nodded her head, thinking. She looked up, “Did he file any papers?”
“I don’t know.” Diego answered.
“Did he send a messenger?”
“I don’t know.”
“Post a letter?”
“Anna! I don’t know. Felipe and I will go to town and see what we can find out.”
“Did he—“
“Anna.” Diego said, “You cannot do this investigation yourself; you would be arrested immediately. I can do this; you’re going to have to trust me.”
The girl took a deep breath. She looked from Diego to Felipe. She could see that he had confidence in the older man. She could also see that she had no other choice.
