The King's Daughter (High Born Book 1) (18 page)

Antonio nods and then Lorenzo and a couple of our guards help him back to his room, he is to remain there until they leave and they can’t until the agreement has been signed concerning Carlos and Isabella.

“What about the safety of Isabella while she is alone in Spain?” I ask the King and Queen when Antonio leaves.

“Are you suggesting Antonio will target Isabella?” King Alonso asks.

“Yes I am,” I admit.

“She will be perfectly safe,” Mother answers. “She will have her Ladies with her and Antonio was mad with jealousy, he won’t see that where Isabella is concerned because she will always be engaged to Carlos.”

Just then, Father’s chief minister enters and informs the King that he has the contract ready to be signed.

“Well lay it on the table then!” Father shouts. “I want this done quickly, Antonio needs to be gone.”

As the treaty contract is read aloud to let both Kings agree upon what is written, Carlos stands ready to sign. He is already seventeen and therefore able to sign his own agreement. However, King Alonso still has to sign as the King to say he understands the treaty. Isabella will not sign, father will do that for her. She does not even know about the arrangement yet and I feel bad for my little sister.

Father signs first, then King Alonso and then Prince Carlos. I do notice how happy my mother looks, probably because one of her children will be living in Spain when she is not.

“Now that it is done, I will leave with Antonio,” King Alonso announces. “But we have agreed Carlos will stay behind to accompany himself with his future wife.”

“Good idea,” Father agrees.

James said he had planned a picnic breakfast but it was more like a mini feast and by the time we were done I didn’t want to move. I heard the royal horns and I knew I should have returned to the palace and to greet whoever it was but I didn’t want to move and I doubt they will miss me.

I have a great time, I laugh so much and James continues to make me blush from his flirtations. He tells me that he has written to his Father to let him know of our engagement and our plans to visit Scotland. As husband and wife we do not know yet because the date has not been set. When we are ready to leave, we slowly make our way back to the castle.

“I have really enjoyed myself,” I let James know.

“I am glad,” he smiles. “When we go to Scotland I will take you to my secret spot.”

“A secret spot?” I tease.

I see the royal carriage in front of the palace that has the Spanish crest on it and freeze on the spot.

“Grace?” James asks me. “What is wrong?”

I do not answer as I stare at the carriage. The Spanish are here for Antonio. There is no other reason. James sees the carriage and immediately comforts me.

“Let us go to your chambers and find out what has happened,” James suggests and he holds my hand as we make our way inside. I am constantly looking around,
what if they have let Antonio out of the cells?

“I do not want to talk to any of them,” I whisper to James.

“Then I will tell them. If you do not wish it, they will not come to you,” he demands.

However, I am not so lucky because as we reach the top of the stairs and begin our walk towards my chambers, I see King Alonso, my Spanish uncle. His sees me too and his feet rush towards me, his son, Prince Carlos quickly following him.

“Princess Grace,” he happily greets. “I am so glad I caught you before I left.”

“You are leaving already?” I breathe a sound of relief.

“Yes, I came to bring Antonio back home and now I have accomplished that, we are going,” Alonso informs and my heart drops.

“Antonio is free?” I ask in horror.

“Do not fret my child,” Alonso assures me. “He will not trouble you again, your father banished him from England and from ever being near you. He is to stay in Spain where I will watch him.”

“Make sure to expand that ban to Scotland,” James snaps and Alonso nods to him.

“I am so very sorry for what my son did Grace, never think that I will forgive him for that because that day will never come. Although he is my son, you are my sister’s daughter and I do not wish you any harm,” King Alonso holds out his arms and I accept his embrace. “So sorry,” he whispers before letting me go.

I wipe a tear from my eyes. “Prince James, this is my uncle, King Alonso of Spain and his son Prince Carlos,” I introduce. “This is Prince James of Scotland, my future husband.”

King Alonso and Carlos smile wide. “How great it is to hear the news!” Alonso cheers.

I am not in my bedchambers for long when my mother and father arrive. I had expected it since the Spanish are here and I knew they would want to update me.

I stand when they enter, and the grim look on their faces scares me.

“What is it?” I ask them. “I know King Alonso is here, I saw him.”

“Yes, he came to discuss Antonio and his freedom,” Mother informs.

“You let him go,” I add.

“Believe me Grace, I wanted to kill him and I wanted to do it personally but we have an ancient alliance with the Spanish and if I had acted on my impulses, it would be over and a war would break out,” Father ask me.

“You will not see Antonio again, Grace. Your father has made sure of that and we will still remain allies with Spain, which has not changed,” the Queen declares.

“How can you be so sure?” I ask them. “I know he is not allowed to enter England, and James told Alonso to spread that ban to Scotland, but after what has happened, I do not think either countries will trust each other.”

“With a treaty,” Father announces.

“A treaty?” I ask, becoming a little concerned. I see my parents looking to one another and I can’t take it anymore. There is something they are not telling me. “Just tell me please.”

“We agreed a marriage with Prince Carlos to continue our alliance with Spain,” the King announces and my heart feels as if it has dropped.

“Who?” I ask in fear.

“Isabella will wed Prince Carlos when she is eighteen,” my mother tells me and I become upset.

I entered court with no certainty, but I had to marry and luckily enough I will wed James. I am so fortunate that I am in love with the Prince I will marry, but Isabella won’t have that. Yes, she acts older than she really is and appreciates the position she is in. I have no idea how she will take this news that, at sixteen she is engaged to marry as soon as she turns eighteen to her Spanish cousin. All this because of what Antonio did to me.

“Does she know?” I ask them and they shake their heads, no. “Then I will be the one to tell her.”

My mother is about to argue, but father stops her, “It will be better coming from Grace.”

“Then let us go now, she needs to know and I think she should sit down with Carlos.”

“Do you?” My mother asks.

“Carlos is staying for that reason,” Father looks to The Queen.

“She is being forced to marry Carlos, once she is told, Isabella will feel hurt and I am guessing, a little awkward around him. I think it would be best to have them meet today, before dinner so she will not be feeling awkward,” I look to both the King and Queen, begging them with my eyes. “I know my sister and as grown up as she wants to act, I know that deep down she’s still just a girl and I want Isabella to be as comfortable and used to the idea of marrying Carlos as possible.”

“Then we will do as you ask,” my mother agrees and I smile, looking to my father. He also nods and I clasp my hands together. “Thank you.”

James leaves me to reveal the news to Isabella with the King and Queen and as we walk together, Arthur walks by As much as my mother dislikes him, we need him with us. I feel nervous as we get closer to the room she shares with Elizabeth. When we knock, their lady servant answers and welcomes us all in. Both the young girls are excited to see us all, as they run towards us with huge smiles.

“What is this?” Isabella smiles.

“Is there a surprise?” Asks Elizabeth.

I step closer to Elizabeth, “I really need you to go with Arthur right now. Will you do that for me Lizzy?”

Elizabeth looks across to Isabella, and then back to me, “Yes.”

Arthur takes her hand and with a curious glance to me as he walks by, they leave us to it. I lead Isabella to sit down and our parents follow.

“Isabella, your father and I have some news,” Mother begins and Isabella’s eyes flicker from all of us.

“Prince Antonio has left and will never set foot here or Scotland but what happened has spoilt the trust,” I begin.

“So Antonio was just allowed to leave?” Isabella sounds disgusted.

“If we had not let him go home, we could be facing a war right now,” Father snaps and Isabella lowers her head. “Believe me Bella, I did not want that man to live.”

“To be good to our people and country we have to make personal sacrifices,” I inform her.

“Spoken like a true Queen,” Mother praises.

“Mother and father agreed on a treaty, one involving Prince Carlos and you,” I deliver to her. I watch as this information sinks in, Isabella’s eyes looking around and I see the moment she realises what that means. It took her about five seconds in reality but sitting and watching her, it feels longer. My heart hurts for her.

“An arranged marriage!” She shouts, looking to our parents in anger. “I won’t let you sign it.”

“My darling, they already have,” Mother answers and Isabella falls back down beside me.

I place a hand on her knee and as soon as I touch her, she leans into me and cries. I knew she would act like this. Isabella wants to be mature, but she is just a sixteen-year-old girl who happened to be born into the royal family of England. In this family we do not deal with your average home problems.

“I know this is hard and I feel this has everything to do with me, if I could replace you I would in a second,” I tell her.

“No, I would not want you to do that. After what Antonio put you through, you deserve a man like James,” she wipes at her eyes.

“It was either you or Elizabeth,” Father adds and I am annoyed at his comment, until I feel Isabella move away from me as she sits up straight and wipes away her falling tears. She gathers herself and flashes us a smile.

“Then it is me,” she announces. “I am a Princess and this is my responsibility. I will marry Prince Carlos.”

My heart fills with so much pride. I look over at our parents and see the same look of on their faces.

“Carlos is staying behind, and we think you should meet before we dine,” Father stands. “I will set it up for the royal sitting room, I will make sure you will be the only ones there.”

“Thank you, Father,” Isabella stands as well.

Following everyone, I stand and hold onto Isabella’s hand, “I will come with you if you prefer?”

She spins to face me, her eyes wide as she nods, “Please.”

“Then I won’t leave your side,” I hold her. Today I am so proud of her.

When Grace left to help her sister Isabella with the news of her arranged marriage with Prince Carlos, I went about the castle and dealt with some business. Some of my father’s men have arrived and I wanted to know how my father’s heath was however I did not receive the best news from them, so I head for the sanctuary of my bedchamber. I knew my father was not doing so well, but for them to tell me they do not think he will be King for much longer, hurts my heart. Finally reaching my rooms, I freeze when I enter.