In the Shadow of the Crown - By Jean Plaidy Page 0,197
it will be so,” he said. “The people will expect that.”
“I will teach you,” I told him.
“Teach me what I shall say to the lords of the Council when I take my leave.”
“That is simple. You could say, ‘Good night, my lords all.'”
It was amusing to hear him struggling with the words. We smiled together, and I was happy.
Then he said he would introduce me to his gentlemen, and I should do the same for him and my ladies.
He called his party to come to us, and they were presented to me. I was immediately struck by Ruy Gomez da Silva, a most distinguished man who, I discovered later, was a very close friend of Philip.
Then we turned to my ladies. Philip kissed them all. I was rather surprised but he said, “It is an English custom, is it not? I am determined to follow the English customs.”
The ladies were flushed and smiling, liking the attention. And I smiled with them. I was so happy that everything seemed wonderful.
We parted and I returned to my apartments in the palace. Susan was with me.
“What thought you of him?” I asked.
She hesitated and I looked at her sharply. “He is handsome—as they said he was,” she replied.
“You sound reluctant to admit it,” I said.
“N…no. He is like his portrait.”
“But what, Susan?”
“He is a little solemn.”
“It is a solemn occasion.”
“But perhaps not so when he kissed the ladies.”
I laughed. “Oh, he is trying to please us all by following what he thinks are our customs.”
“The custom to kiss the ladies…”
“He has an idea that we kiss, and he has to do it on every occasion.”
“That is a custom of which you will have to cure him,” she said.
“Susan, you are like the rest. You are critical of all those who are not English.”
“Is that so, Your Majesty? Then if you say so…”
I was a little put out because I had the feeling that she did not admire him as I thought she should.
Later that day he called on me. It was dark; the candles had been lighted; he asked to be admitted to my presence, and I was delighted. How romantic, that he should come to me thus, unceremoniously.
“I must speak with you,” he said. “It is why I have come.”
“I am so happy that you did,” I told him.
“I have just heard from my father. He is giving up the kingship of Naples, and it is to be mine. He does this because he thinks you should marry a king and not a mere prince.”
“How delightful! How wonderful!” I took his hand and kissed it. “Your Majesty, I am happy for you.”
Philip did not smile easily, I noticed, but he looked gratified.
So I was betrothed not merely to the Prince of Spain but to the King of Naples as well.
By this time a delegation had arrived at the palace; the Council assembled, and with them all the ladies and gentlemen of our households, while a declaration of the Emperor's donation to his son was read out.
The Council was pleased and agreed that it should be proclaimed in the cathedral next day when the marriage took place.
It was a day to which I greatly looked forward but not without a certain trepidation.
The rain had ceased. I looked out of the window. How fresh the earth smelt—how green were the grass and trees. I could catch the sweet scent of flowers below me.
I was in love. Tomorrow would be my wedding day.
I said to myself: This night there is none happier in this land than its Queen.
IT WAS THE FEAST of St. James, which was appropriate, for St. James is the patron saint of Philip's country.
The church in which the ceremony was to take place was magnificently decorated with scarlet and cloth of gold.
I was at the church before Philip, having walked from the episcopal palace. I was wearing a gold-colored robe richly brocaded, trimmed with pearls and diamonds; my coif was decorated with two rows of diamonds; and the kirtle beneath my robe was of white satin with silver tracing. I wore the diamond on the chain which Philip had sent me, and my train was carried by Lady Margaret Douglas.
When Philip arrived, I felt gloriously happy. He looked magnificent in garments which I myself had presented to him. They were quite magnificent, and I congratulated myself that I had chosen just what suited him; and he had the grace to wear them, which was a compliment to me. But how they became