Margaret walked in with Brandon. She saw the king and drew in her breath in shock. Dear God, the stories were true. He was hideous, crippled and old. Margaret did not miss the leer he gave to the young man standing beside him.
He felt for his cane, got up and limped to her.
Dear God, she thought .Give me strength.
The king let out a sudden giggle, and starting prancing around her. He started speaking in a nasal voice. She could not understand a word he said. She simply stared back in disbelief and absolute horror.
He laughed and got very close to her. "Muy Fritos" he repeated several times.
Margaret had a sudden intuitive flash of the horrid possibilities of what he meant. This was too much for her and she collapsed in a dead faint.
She awoke in a secluded room with two of her ladies. Margaret started to sit up and froze .She wasn't alone.
King Manuel was there as well. He regarded her gravely, and then spoke in a low voice. He spoke in perfect accented English.
"My lady, you are as beautiful as your portrait promised to be. I am not young, nor was I ever handsome. I am crippled from gout and an accident. I prayed to find a bride with not only beauty, but the wisdom and compassion to see beyond this body. Ask me any request and I will give it to you. And I promise to be a faithful and loving husband."
Margaret blinked in surprise. She was not expecting this at all. "You speak the King's English, Your Majesty."
"Yes, I learn as many languages as I can. Much gets lost in translation."
"Then you put on that act." For she realized now, it was an act.
King Manuel smiled. "Yes. I do that when visitors come. It catches them off guard and to amuse the court. They love it. I thought you would think it funny as well. I did not mean to make you faint and I apologize."
"Well, I just got here and everything is strange to me."
"Yes, and you just got done with a long sea journey."
"It felt like it took forever, Your Majesty."
"I also wanted to give my son the understanding that I could still have children. In a few years he will mature into a good ruler but not just yet. He is getting smug as my heir and there are rumors that I am getting too infirm. But enough of that. I am sure you have some requests in mind?"
Margaret thought out her favors. "There are three. I am not a virgin .Please do not ask who he is."
The old king smiled. "Neither am I .Will this mysterious man be a problem?"
"No, Your Majesty." He could not wait to get back to England as fast as possible. The bastard.
"I would like to send letters to Katherine." Regal Katherine, still considered the true queen of England. She had taken a lonely, awkward Princess Margaret under her wing and made a lady of her.
King Manuel nodded." We have strong ties with Spain and Austria. We can send letters to her discreetly."
Last request." Be honest with me. If you promise me something, to follow through with it."
"Has someone lied to you or broken a promise to you? Someone you trusted to look after you."
Margaret felt an urge to protect her brother. He was the King of England and she could not say words against him. The old king had picked up too much already.
"No, but he will promise something and forget he did."
"So," King Manuel clapped his hands together, "freshen up and come back to court. It is almost dinner-time."
He left and she sighed in relief. The private meeting with her husband steadied her. She did not feel so alone and defenseless. The wedding night still loomed ahead of her, with its dreadful implications but his courtesy and compassion might bode well for her future. She could only hope for the best.