Royal Sisters by Jean Plaidy

Author:Jean Plaidy [Plaidy, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: C429, Extratorrents, Kat
ISBN: 9780307719522
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2011-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter IX

ISABELLA RECEIVES CHRISTOBAL COLON

Margaret went about the Palace like a sad, pale ghost. She had lost her Flemish gaiety; she seemed always to be looking back into the past.

Often Catalina would walk beside her in the gardens; neither would talk very much, but they had a certain comfort to give each other.

Catalina had a feeling that these walks were precious because they could not go on for long. Something was going to happen to her … or to Margaret. Margaret would not be allowed to stay here indefinitely, any more than she would. Maximilian would soon be wondering what new marriage could be arranged for his daughter; as for Catalina, her time of departure must be near.

Catalina said, one day as they walked together: ‘Soon my sister Isabella will be coming home. Then there will be festivities to welcome her. Perhaps then the time of mourning will be over.’

‘Festivities will not end my mourning,’ Margaret answered.

Catalina slipped her arm through that of her sister-in-law. ‘Will you stay here?’ she asked.

‘I do not know. My father may recall me. My attendants would be glad to return to Flanders. They say they can never learn your Spanish manners.’

‘I should miss you sadly if you went.’

‘Perhaps …’ began Margaret and stopped short.

Catalina winced. ‘You are thinking that I may be gone first.’ She was silent for a moment, then she burst out: ‘Margaret, I am so frightened when I think of it. I can tell you, because you are different from everyone else. You say what you think. I have a terror of England.’

‘One country is not so very different from another,’ Margaret comforted.

‘I do not like what I hear of the King of England.’

‘But it is his son with whom you will be concerned. There are other children, and perhaps they will not be like their father. Look how friendly I have become with you all.’

‘Yes,’ said Catalina slowly, ‘perhaps I shall like Arthur and his brother and sisters.’

‘Perhaps you will not go after all. Plans are often changed.’

‘I used to think and hope that,’ Catalina admitted. ‘But since the ceremony has been performed by proxy, I feel there is little chance of escape for me.’

Catalina’s brow was wrinkled; she was picturing that ceremony of which she had heard. It had had to be performed in secret because the King of England feared what the King of Scotland’s reaction would be if he knew that England was making a marriage with Spain.

‘In the Chapel of the Royal Manor of Bewdley …’ she whispered. ‘What strange names these English have. Perhaps in time they will not be strange to me. Oh, Margaret, when I think of that ceremony I feel I am already married. I feel there is no longer hope of escape.’

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