the big fishes would have eaten my flesh, and the little ones sport about my skeleton and swim in and out of the sockets of my eyes.'
'Don't say such things,' he said, kissing her eyes.
'I said, "Here lies Margot. She was twice married but she died a virgin."' Then she began to laugh afresh. 'That can never be my epitaph now, Juan. For here lies Margot ... beside you ... but she is no longer a virgin ... and she is not displeased.'
So they made love again, without fear or shame.
And in the morning Juan said: 'We have given our parents what they wanted.'
Margaret interrupted: 'The crown of Spain.'
Juan chanted: 'The Habsburg inheritance.'
Then they laughed and began to kiss in a sudden frenzy of passion. Margaret drew herself away from him and kneeling on the bed bowed her head as though before the thrones of the King and Queen.
'We thank Your Gracious Majesties. You may keep the crown of Spain ...'
'And the Habsburg inheritance ...' added Juan.
'Because ...' began Margaret, smiling at him.
'Because,' added Juan, 'you gave us each other.'
The wedding celebrations continued. The most popular person in the whole of Spain was the young Prince Juan. It was said of him that since the coming of Margaret he looked more like a man than an angel, but his sweetness of expression had not grown less. His bride was clearly a happy girl. It was small wonder that wherever they went there was rejoicing.
The Queen discussed with her husband her pleasure in this marriage.
'You see,' said Ferdinand, 'how well it has turned out. This was a marriage of my making. You will admit that I knew what I was about.'
'You have acted with the utmost wisdom,' Isabella agreed. 'You have given our Juan a share in the Habsburg inheritance - and happiness.'
'Who would not be happy with a share in the Habsburg inheritance?' demanded Ferdinand.
Isabella's face was anxious. 'I do not like these rumours I hear about Juana. She is so far from home ...'
'Nonsense! All will be well. She will adjust herself. The Flemings have different manners from our own. I have heard that she is passionately attached to her husband.'
'Too passionately attached.'
'My dear Isabella, can a wife love her husband too much?'
'If he is not kind to her it would be easier for her to bear if she did not love him dearly.'
'Strange words on your lips! You seem to imply it is a virtue that a wife should not love her husband dearly.'
'You misunderstand me.'
'Ah, have no fear for Juana. Rumour often lies.'
The Queen knew that he could not think of their daughter, Juana, without remembering all the advantages her marriage had brought to Spain. It was no use expecting him to see the personal view. He was quite incapable of that. He had hardened with the years. Have I softened? Isabella asked herself. No, it is merely that having so many loved ones I have become more vulnerable.
Ferdinand said abruptly: 'Why should there be this delay with our daughter Isabella? Emanuel grows impatient.'
'Should she not wait until her brother's wedding celebrations are over?'
'But we planned that these ceremonies should continue for a long time. The people expect it. Soon however I want Juan and Margaret to go on a long pilgrimage through the country, showing themselves in the various towns. There will be feasting and celebrations wherever they halt. There is nothing like a progress for winning the devotion of the people. And when you have a pair like Juan and Margaret ... young, handsome and in love ... the people will be their devoted slaves for ever.' Ferdinand's eyes blazed. 'When I think of all that young man of ours is heir to, I could sing for joy.'
'Perhaps Isabella could accompany them on their pilgrimage.'
'And thus delay her departure for Portugal?'
'It would remind the people of all that we are doing for them with these alliances.'
'Quite unnecessary. Isabella must prepare to leave Spain for Portugal at once.'
The Queen was about to protest, but Ferdinand's mouth was
'Don't say such things,' he said, kissing her eyes.
'I said, "Here lies Margot. She was twice married but she died a virgin."' Then she began to laugh afresh. 'That can never be my epitaph now, Juan. For here lies Margot ... beside you ... but she is no longer a virgin ... and she is not displeased.'
So they made love again, without fear or shame.
And in the morning Juan said: 'We have given our parents what they wanted.'
Margaret interrupted: 'The crown of Spain.'
Juan chanted: 'The Habsburg inheritance.'
Then they laughed and began to kiss in a sudden frenzy of passion. Margaret drew herself away from him and kneeling on the bed bowed her head as though before the thrones of the King and Queen.
'We thank Your Gracious Majesties. You may keep the crown of Spain ...'
'And the Habsburg inheritance ...' added Juan.
'Because ...' began Margaret, smiling at him.
'Because,' added Juan, 'you gave us each other.'
The wedding celebrations continued. The most popular person in the whole of Spain was the young Prince Juan. It was said of him that since the coming of Margaret he looked more like a man than an angel, but his sweetness of expression had not grown less. His bride was clearly a happy girl. It was small wonder that wherever they went there was rejoicing.
The Queen discussed with her husband her pleasure in this marriage.
'You see,' said Ferdinand, 'how well it has turned out. This was a marriage of my making. You will admit that I knew what I was about.'
'You have acted with the utmost wisdom,' Isabella agreed. 'You have given our Juan a share in the Habsburg inheritance - and happiness.'
'Who would not be happy with a share in the Habsburg inheritance?' demanded Ferdinand.
Isabella's face was anxious. 'I do not like these rumours I hear about Juana. She is so far from home ...'
'Nonsense! All will be well. She will adjust herself. The Flemings have different manners from our own. I have heard that she is passionately attached to her husband.'
'Too passionately attached.'
'My dear Isabella, can a wife love her husband too much?'
'If he is not kind to her it would be easier for her to bear if she did not love him dearly.'
'Strange words on your lips! You seem to imply it is a virtue that a wife should not love her husband dearly.'
'You misunderstand me.'
'Ah, have no fear for Juana. Rumour often lies.'
The Queen knew that he could not think of their daughter, Juana, without remembering all the advantages her marriage had brought to Spain. It was no use expecting him to see the personal view. He was quite incapable of that. He had hardened with the years. Have I softened? Isabella asked herself. No, it is merely that having so many loved ones I have become more vulnerable.
Ferdinand said abruptly: 'Why should there be this delay with our daughter Isabella? Emanuel grows impatient.'
'Should she not wait until her brother's wedding celebrations are over?'
'But we planned that these ceremonies should continue for a long time. The people expect it. Soon however I want Juan and Margaret to go on a long pilgrimage through the country, showing themselves in the various towns. There will be feasting and celebrations wherever they halt. There is nothing like a progress for winning the devotion of the people. And when you have a pair like Juan and Margaret ... young, handsome and in love ... the people will be their devoted slaves for ever.' Ferdinand's eyes blazed. 'When I think of all that young man of ours is heir to, I could sing for joy.'
'Perhaps Isabella could accompany them on their pilgrimage.'
'And thus delay her departure for Portugal?'
'It would remind the people of all that we are doing for them with these alliances.'
'Quite unnecessary. Isabella must prepare to leave Spain for Portugal at once.'
The Queen was about to protest, but Ferdinand's mouth was
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