She would try. But how to speak to him alone? In the dance, perhaps?
“My lord Archduke,” she said quietly, “I should be greatly honored if you and I could dance together.”
He turned to her; his eyes were cold. “My lady, I am but a plain sailor. You would not have me dance with you!”
There was a brief silence. Katharine felt the blood rush into her face. It was an insult—and deliberately given.
The silence on the dais was brief. The Prince of Wales looked dismayed. He felt protective toward Katharine; on the other hand he was completely fascinated by his new friend. Katharine should not have asked him to dance; she should have waited for Philip to ask her. Henry preferred to forget the incident.
The King had been very much aware of it. It told him a good deal. Philip had escaped from Juana; he had treated Katharine as though he regarded her as of little importance.
That was revealing. Then he need not be too careful of her either and he was glad of that. He had been a little uneasy about what the sisters might discuss if they were together. He believed now that there would be no protest from Philip if he sent Katharine away. But perhaps he should allow her the briefest encounter with her sister.
On the following day the Princess Mary came to Katharine’s apartments. She was pouting slightly and Katharine wondered what had offended her, for she was inclined to be spoiled at the Court—like her brother and elder sister Margaret, she was fond of her own way. Now something had upset her and clearly she had come to tell Katharine about it.
Soon it came out. “I am to leave for Richmond at the end of the week.”
“Oh . . . but you love Richmond.”
“I love Richmond, but not when there is all this entertainment going on at Windsor. The Archduke will be here and there will be balls and banquets and all sorts of exciting things going on and I shall not be here to enjoy them.” She looked quickly at Katharine. “And,” she added, “nor will you.”
Katharine looked at her in amazement.
“Because,” went on Mary, “you are to come with me. We are to leave together . . . for Richmond.”
“But who has said this?”
“It is my father’s wish that we should go.”
“But . . . my sister will be coming . . .”
“I know. But we are to go. Perhaps your sister will come to Richmond to see you.”
“She will come here . . . and I shall not be here to see her. Oh, it is so unfair. Why is everything done to hurt me?”
Mary came to Katharine and put her arm round her.
“I don’t want to go to Richmond either,” she said.
Katharine looked at the beautiful little pouting face. No, Mary did not want to miss the balls and banquets. But
Then a horrible suspicion came to her that it had been planned because the King did not wish her to see her sister. He would know how bitterly she would complain. Had she not on many occasions brought her sorry condition to his ears? Not that he had listened.
Oh, life was cruel. It could not be that now she was going to be denied a meeting with Juana.
A few days passed in the most lavish revelry and still Juana did not come. Philip’s servants had certainly respected his wishes that Juana’s journey to join him should be a very slow one. She did not arrive until the day before Katharine and Mary were to leave for Richmond.
Fortune is a little on my side at last, thought Katharine. At least I shall see her.
With great joy she greeted her sister.
They looked at each other for some time in astonishment. They had both changed a good deal since they had last met. Katharine noticed the wildness in Juana’s eyes. She had seen it before but now it was more marked. Her sister had aged considerably. Of course she would change; she had been a young girl when she had left home to marry Philip.
Juana saw a new Katharine too. Was this Catalina, the rather quiet little sister who had always been so terrified of the future which would take her away from her mother’s side? Poor sad little widow! She really did look as though she were in mourning.
“We must be together . . . we must talk,” said Katharine. “There is so much I have to say to you. You will be going to Castile.”
“Yes,” said Juana. “We are going to claim the crown which is now mine.”
“You are Queen of Castile, Juana, as our mother was. It is hard to imagine anyone in her place.”
“Our father has replaced her in his bed,” said Juana with a laugh. “They say his new wife is young and beautiful and he is rather a doting husband.”
Katharine shivered.
“I wish him joy of her,” cried Juana. “I have the crown. He cannot take that.”
“Juana, when you see our father I want you to speak to him for me.”
“What think you of Philip?” said Juana. “Did you ever see a man so handsome?”
