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Authors: Jean Plaidy
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and only she, the Queen, could do it – she had lost her child, the son she and Ferdinand were to have made the heir to Castile and Aragon.
She felt bitter.
It was time they had more children; but what chance had they of being parents while they lived this troubled life.
She lay thinking of the journeyings over rough roads, the jolting, the uncomfortable nights often spent in humble beds in roadside inns.
And so . . . she had lost her child. But in doing so she had formed an army.
She smiled briefly.
There would be other children. Once this weary matter of La Beltraneja’s right to the throne was settled, she and Ferdinand would be together always; they would have many children.
She dozed a little, and when her women came to see how she fared she was smiling peacefully. She murmured a little in her sleep, and when one of the women stooped to hear what she said she heard not the lament for the lost child but the words: ‘Eight thousand light horse.’
Chapter III
THE PRINCE OF THE ASTURIAS
I sabella came riding to the Alcazar of Segovia.
More than a year had passed since she had lost her child and raised men and arms to fight the invading Alfonso. It had been an arduous period.
Yet Isabella had quickly recovered from her miscarriage; indeed, many said that it was her spirit which had proved the best doctor. There had been no time during that dark period to lie abed and woo back her health; Isabella had very soon to be on horseback, riding through her kingdom, calling a Cortes at Medina del Campo and by her eloquence moving all so deeply that she had raised the money she so badly needed.
That had been after the disasters at Toro and Zamora, which had both fallen to Alfonso, and when, had Alfonso been wise, he would have thrown in his full force against the inferior Castilian army of Ferdinand and Isabella.
But Alfonso had been timid; he had hesitated again, even when the Archbishop of Toledo, considering Alfonso’s gains at Toro and Zamora to be decisive, not only openly allied himself with the King of Portugal but took with him five hundred lancers to join his new friend in the fight against his old one.
But now the Castilian army had been vastly improved and was ready to do battle with the enemy; and on her journeys through her kingdom Isabella gave herself up to the pleasure of a short respite where she would enjoy the hospitality of her dearest friend.
When the news was brought to Beatriz de Bobadilla that the Queen was in the Alcazar she hurried to greet Isabella, and the two women embraced without formality.
‘This makes me very happy,’ said Beatriz emotionally. ‘I would I had known I might expect the honour.’
‘There would then have been no surprise.’ Isabella smiled.
‘But think of the anticipation I have missed!’
‘Beatriz, it is wonderful to see you. I would like to be alone with you as we used to be in the past.’
‘I will have food and wine sent to us, and we will take it in my small private chamber. I long to hear what has been happening to you.’
‘Pray lead me to that small private chamber,’ said Isabella.
Beatriz laid her hand on the Queen’s arm as they went together to the small room of which Beatriz had spoken.
‘I pray Your Highness sit down,’ said Beatriz. ‘Soon we shall be served, and then . . . we will talk in comfort.’ Beatriz called: ‘Food and wine, for the Queen and myself . . . with all speed.’
Isabella, smiling, watched her. ‘You have not changed at all,’ she said. ‘They all hold you in great awe, I’ll swear.’
‘Why should they not? They are my servants,’ said Beatriz, falling into the familiarity which had often existed between them.
‘And your husband, Andres too – do you still command him?’
Beatriz laughed. ‘Andres obeys me, he says, because he values peace and it is the only way to get it. And Ferdinand? He is well?’
‘He is very well, Beatriz. What should I do without him?’
Beatriz looked at the
She felt bitter.
It was time they had more children; but what chance had they of being parents while they lived this troubled life.
She lay thinking of the journeyings over rough roads, the jolting, the uncomfortable nights often spent in humble beds in roadside inns.
And so . . . she had lost her child. But in doing so she had formed an army.
She smiled briefly.
There would be other children. Once this weary matter of La Beltraneja’s right to the throne was settled, she and Ferdinand would be together always; they would have many children.
She dozed a little, and when her women came to see how she fared she was smiling peacefully. She murmured a little in her sleep, and when one of the women stooped to hear what she said she heard not the lament for the lost child but the words: ‘Eight thousand light horse.’
Chapter III
THE PRINCE OF THE ASTURIAS
I sabella came riding to the Alcazar of Segovia.
More than a year had passed since she had lost her child and raised men and arms to fight the invading Alfonso. It had been an arduous period.
Yet Isabella had quickly recovered from her miscarriage; indeed, many said that it was her spirit which had proved the best doctor. There had been no time during that dark period to lie abed and woo back her health; Isabella had very soon to be on horseback, riding through her kingdom, calling a Cortes at Medina del Campo and by her eloquence moving all so deeply that she had raised the money she so badly needed.
That had been after the disasters at Toro and Zamora, which had both fallen to Alfonso, and when, had Alfonso been wise, he would have thrown in his full force against the inferior Castilian army of Ferdinand and Isabella.
But Alfonso had been timid; he had hesitated again, even when the Archbishop of Toledo, considering Alfonso’s gains at Toro and Zamora to be decisive, not only openly allied himself with the King of Portugal but took with him five hundred lancers to join his new friend in the fight against his old one.
But now the Castilian army had been vastly improved and was ready to do battle with the enemy; and on her journeys through her kingdom Isabella gave herself up to the pleasure of a short respite where she would enjoy the hospitality of her dearest friend.
When the news was brought to Beatriz de Bobadilla that the Queen was in the Alcazar she hurried to greet Isabella, and the two women embraced without formality.
‘This makes me very happy,’ said Beatriz emotionally. ‘I would I had known I might expect the honour.’
‘There would then have been no surprise.’ Isabella smiled.
‘But think of the anticipation I have missed!’
‘Beatriz, it is wonderful to see you. I would like to be alone with you as we used to be in the past.’
‘I will have food and wine sent to us, and we will take it in my small private chamber. I long to hear what has been happening to you.’
‘Pray lead me to that small private chamber,’ said Isabella.
Beatriz laid her hand on the Queen’s arm as they went together to the small room of which Beatriz had spoken.
‘I pray Your Highness sit down,’ said Beatriz. ‘Soon we shall be served, and then . . . we will talk in comfort.’ Beatriz called: ‘Food and wine, for the Queen and myself . . . with all speed.’
Isabella, smiling, watched her. ‘You have not changed at all,’ she said. ‘They all hold you in great awe, I’ll swear.’
‘Why should they not? They are my servants,’ said Beatriz, falling into the familiarity which had often existed between them.
‘And your husband, Andres too – do you still command him?’
Beatriz laughed. ‘Andres obeys me, he says, because he values peace and it is the only way to get it. And Ferdinand? He is well?’
‘He is very well, Beatriz. What should I do without him?’
Beatriz looked at the
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