12 The King’s Sister by Anne O’Brien

Author:Anne O’Brien
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harlequin (UK) Ltd
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

February 1387, Oporto, Portugal.

I sat in my chamber in the royal palace—Philippa’s palace now—my thoughts with the Duke and John, my body at ease, happiness sitting as lightly on my shoulders as my loose silk gown, for I was not receiving guests. It had been an eventful month.

My father and John were away at war. Any attempt to enforce Constanza’s claims on the kingdom of Castile through diplomatic means had been rejected by the present King so in retaliation our army, in alliance with that of King João of Portugal, had invaded the Castilian possession of Galicia to increase the pressure on King John of Castile. The campaign had gone well and Galicia had been taken. This much we knew. Would not Castile come to terms, conceding Constanza her inheritance? Thus the campaign would come to perfect fruition and John and I could return to England.

My mind was as much at ease as my body.

Not that I resented my surroundings. All was comfort, a gentle breeze stirring the air around me as one of the royal servants picked out a tune on a lute. I now recognised the songs and could hum the melody. I was not homesick.

I lifted the baby from its cradle to my lap, where it slept on, still exhausted by its rapid entry into the world. I smiled, stroking the tiny hands, the perfect nails.

‘You are the cause of a lot of trouble,’ I informed the child, who yawned. ‘What will your father say when he sees you?’

The baby was unimpressed.

‘Let me tell you a few things you should know. Were you aware that you are part of a most pre-eminent family? Your aunt Philippa is now Queen of Portugal. You almost put in an ill-advised appearance in the middle of the wedding ceremony.’ I laughed softly at the memory of my hasty departure from the proceedings. ‘She is married to King João to make a strong alliance against Castile. What a Queen she will make. She will have every virtue and the people of Portugal will adore her and sing her praises. She will never be the cause of scandal. Not like your mother.’ I stroked the wisps of hair that escaped the baby’s cap, dark tendrils, not fair like mine. ‘Philippa is intent on loving her husband, even though she had never met him until they were within weeks of the altar, and she has discovered that he has a mistress. I could not be so sanguine, but then your aunt was always more tolerant than I.’

The baby slept, untroubled by the heat, or my essential information for the newest member of our family.

‘And then there is your grandfather. The best man I know. The bravest. The most honourable despite his keeping a mistress. They are estranged, but not as much as they once were. You will meet Dame Katherine when we return to England. She will love you as I love you. But your grandfather—he is proud and ambitious for power, and one day he will be King of Castile.

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