“I will see him now,” said the King.
De Puebla came in and bowed. He looked grave and knowing the man well the King’s spirits sank. There were going to be obstacles. That much was apparent.
“You have heard from the King and Queen?” asked the King.
“My lord, I have heard from Queen Isabella.”
The King was even more dismayed. It was from that quarter that he expected opposition. Ferdinand was much more likely to agree if the match was advantageous enough. Isabella was too emotional and feminine, too much the doting mother, which was strange in a woman of her ambitions and abilities. And Isabella was Castile, and Ferdinand Aragon and Castile was the more important. Ferdinand in a way owed his greatness to Isabella and loving wife and mother though she was, Isabella never forgot it.
“She refuses sanction for your marriage with the Infanta,” said de Puebla.
“Refuses? But she must see the advantages.”
“She says it is against the laws of nature. The Pope would not agree.”
“The Pope will agree if we explain to him his need to do so,” said Henry tersely.
“But Isabella will doubtless explain his need not to grant a dispensation,” said de Puebla slyly.
Henry disliked the man although it was to his advantage to cultivate him. He was a good go-between, serving Henry almost as much as the Sovereigns. It was for this reason that he had done so well in England and that his rival had been recalled.
“My lord,” went on de Puebla, “the Queen is very firm. She says no to such a marriage. She is surprised that it should be suggested.”
“And Ferdinand?”
“You know, my lord, that he could not act without Isabella.”
Henry nodded.
“Perhaps we should not give up hope. But I deplore the wasting of time.”
De Puebla smiled again with that sly look. “None could accuse you, my lord, of doing that. I must tell you truly that the tone of Queen Isabella’s letter is very strong. I know my mistress well. She is not pleased that the possibility of marriage should even have been suggested. She says that Katharine is to marry the Prince of Wales and she desires that the binding ceremony of betrothal takes place without delay. If this is not done she demands the return of the half of the dowry, which was sent on Katharine’s marriage to Prince Arthur.”
Henry was silent. He was astute enough to know that in asking for the hand of Katharine so soon after his wife’s death he had made a grave error.
De Puebla went on: “The Queen however understands your need for a wife and she would draw your attention to the recently widowed Queen of Naples.”
“The Queen of Naples?”
“Young, comely . . . and a queen,” said de Puebla.
Henry was silent and de Puebla went on: “If you should need my services, Sire, I should be happy to give them.”
“Thank you,” murmured the King. He felt old and tired. But he was not one to waste time in regrets.
Already his mind had turned from Katharine of Aragon to the Queen of Naples.
When de Puebla presented himself to Katharine a few days after his audience with the King he came to her smiling enigmatically. He felt the good news would be more appreciated if she suffered a few moments of anxiety first.
“You have news from my mother?” cried Katharine.
“My lady, I have indeed such news.”
He paused, allowing a smile to creep slowly across his face. She was waiting breathlessly and he realized he could delay no longer.
“The Queen, your noble mother, refused to allow a match between you and the King.”
Overcome by relief, Katharine covered her face with her hands. She should have known. How she thanked God for her beloved mother! While she was there, steadfast and caring, there could be little to fear.
“She is, however, eager for a binding contract between you and the Prince of Wales and is insisting that this be settled within the next few months.”
Katharine could not speak. The Prince of Wales seemed a good prospect compared with his father; but mainly she supposed because marriage with him must necessarily be postponed until he was of a marriageable age. He was not quite twelve so there would be at least two years’ freedom. Oh, this was good news indeed.
“I am aware that you are pleased with your mother’s refusal.”
“I am so recently widowed. I have no wish to marry again . . . yet.”
“You will have to wait awhile for the Prince to grow up.” De Puebla was smiling. He had a little commission from the King and he was wondering how best he could put it to Katharine. He went on: “Your mother has suggested that the young Queen of Naples would be a suitable match for the King. She is recently widowed and some twenty-seven years of age.”
“She would be more suitable in age than I, most certainly.”
