Read Online The Merry Monarch's Wife by Jean Plaidy - Free Book Online
Authors: Jean Plaidy
Tags: Biographical, Biographical fiction, Fiction, Historical fiction, General, Historical, Great Britain, Queens, catherine, Queens -- Great Britain, Great Britain - History - Charles II; 1660-1685
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confronted by me in a most unsuitable gown. It was too much for her.
I heard the arrival of the Duke. Don Francisco was on deck waiting to receive him and bring him to one. My heart was beating fast as he approached.
The Duke was tall, his features heavy, but his complexion was fair, whereas I had heard Charlesâs swarthiness referred to often. It had been said that he was more like a Spaniard than an Englishman, so therefore Jamesâs comparative fairness surprised me. He had a certain dignity, but there was a friendliness about him.
He started to kneel before me; but I thought that was too formal for one who was to be my brother-in-law. So I asked him not to do so and embraced him. His response was immediate.
He then spoke in English which I did not understand. Richard Russell translated for me. James was saying what a great pleasure it was to welcome me to England on his brotherâs behalf, but he included an earnest welcome from himself at the same time.
He asked me how the voyage had been and then suggested that, as he knew a little Spanish, it might be easier for us to converse in that language; and this we did.
He then told me that his brother was awaiting my arrival with the greatest eagerness, and how the whole country was jubilant.
The people were still celebrating the return of the King. Poor souls, they had suffered under Cromwell. He had made England a country without laughter. That was no country to live in. But at least it had made them appreciate the merry times the more.
He wanted me to know that he was determined to be my friend and if he could be of service to me at any time I must tell him, for nothing would delight him more than to help. I wanted him to sit beside me, but he said he could not do so because that was his brotherâs place. He would sit in a chair without a canopy.
I had not expected such rigid regard for etiquette in England and think, from what I gathered afterward, that it was just the Dukeâs way of showing he wanted to honor me.
When he left he brushed aside ceremony and remarked that I did not do justice to my rank, to which I replied that I acted out of affection, and I could see that this pleased him.
So my meeting with my brother-in-law was most satisfactory.
Before he left, he presented to me the Earl of Chesterfield and the Duke of Ormonde, with other gentlemen who had accompanied him. All were most effusive in their welcome and, with the horrors of the sea voyage behind me, my spirits were considerably lifted.
Shortly after the Duke had left, Donna Maria said she was feeling unwell. I insisted that she went to bed immediately, and to my surprise she did not protest. So I guessed that she was indeed ill, for nothing else would have induced her to leave my side at such a time.
When we reached Portsmouth she was so ill that she could not be with me, and I was left to Donna Elvira and my ladies-in-waiting.
I was taken to the Kingâs house in Portsmouth where the Duchess of Suffolk, who was to be Mistress of the Stole, was waiting to be received by me. She appeared to be a very pleasant woman, although we could not understand each other very well.
Donna Maria was suffering from a feverish cold and was not seriously ill, which was comforting; and I settled down to await the coming of the King.
My only regret was that my mother was not here with me. How gratified she would have been by the welcome I had received! She would be thinking of me now, I knew. We were separated, but at least she had acheved her ambition; and in such circumstances it could not be otherwise. I was as good as married to the King of England and the Spanish would not dare attack Portugal now that England was brought closer to us by this alliance.
If only she could be with me now, what great happiness I should know!
There was consternation when, a few days after my arrival in Portsmouth, I caught Donna Mariaâs cold. I was sneezing and had a slight fever. The doctors were
I heard the arrival of the Duke. Don Francisco was on deck waiting to receive him and bring him to one. My heart was beating fast as he approached.
The Duke was tall, his features heavy, but his complexion was fair, whereas I had heard Charlesâs swarthiness referred to often. It had been said that he was more like a Spaniard than an Englishman, so therefore Jamesâs comparative fairness surprised me. He had a certain dignity, but there was a friendliness about him.
He started to kneel before me; but I thought that was too formal for one who was to be my brother-in-law. So I asked him not to do so and embraced him. His response was immediate.
He then spoke in English which I did not understand. Richard Russell translated for me. James was saying what a great pleasure it was to welcome me to England on his brotherâs behalf, but he included an earnest welcome from himself at the same time.
He asked me how the voyage had been and then suggested that, as he knew a little Spanish, it might be easier for us to converse in that language; and this we did.
He then told me that his brother was awaiting my arrival with the greatest eagerness, and how the whole country was jubilant.
The people were still celebrating the return of the King. Poor souls, they had suffered under Cromwell. He had made England a country without laughter. That was no country to live in. But at least it had made them appreciate the merry times the more.
He wanted me to know that he was determined to be my friend and if he could be of service to me at any time I must tell him, for nothing would delight him more than to help. I wanted him to sit beside me, but he said he could not do so because that was his brotherâs place. He would sit in a chair without a canopy.
I had not expected such rigid regard for etiquette in England and think, from what I gathered afterward, that it was just the Dukeâs way of showing he wanted to honor me.
When he left he brushed aside ceremony and remarked that I did not do justice to my rank, to which I replied that I acted out of affection, and I could see that this pleased him.
So my meeting with my brother-in-law was most satisfactory.
Before he left, he presented to me the Earl of Chesterfield and the Duke of Ormonde, with other gentlemen who had accompanied him. All were most effusive in their welcome and, with the horrors of the sea voyage behind me, my spirits were considerably lifted.
Shortly after the Duke had left, Donna Maria said she was feeling unwell. I insisted that she went to bed immediately, and to my surprise she did not protest. So I guessed that she was indeed ill, for nothing else would have induced her to leave my side at such a time.
When we reached Portsmouth she was so ill that she could not be with me, and I was left to Donna Elvira and my ladies-in-waiting.
I was taken to the Kingâs house in Portsmouth where the Duchess of Suffolk, who was to be Mistress of the Stole, was waiting to be received by me. She appeared to be a very pleasant woman, although we could not understand each other very well.
Donna Maria was suffering from a feverish cold and was not seriously ill, which was comforting; and I settled down to await the coming of the King.
My only regret was that my mother was not here with me. How gratified she would have been by the welcome I had received! She would be thinking of me now, I knew. We were separated, but at least she had acheved her ambition; and in such circumstances it could not be otherwise. I was as good as married to the King of England and the Spanish would not dare attack Portugal now that England was brought closer to us by this alliance.
If only she could be with me now, what great happiness I should know!
There was consternation when, a few days after my arrival in Portsmouth, I caught Donna Mariaâs cold. I was sneezing and had a slight fever. The doctors were
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