Free The Thistle and the Rose by Jean Plaidy Page B

This marriage of theirs could well be one of convenience to him. She had been cheated.
    Yet when he came to her again—tender and kind, yet not repentant—her wounded pride was submerged by her need of him. He had aroused in her that latent sensuality which must be appeased no matter how hurt her pride.
    She was passionate in her demands; and there was a new determination within her; she must have a child; and
her
child must be more important to him than any of his others, for the son she bore would be the future King of Scotland.
    James was sorry that his wife was hurt by her discovery of his illegitimate family, and he blamed himself for not having broken the news more gently to her. He could not be sorry that he had these children, for he doted on them and it was a matter of great disappointment to him that, so far, Margaret had shown no signs of pregnancy. When she did, he assured himself, she would be more serene.
    One of his greatest pleasures was to visit his children, and he planned to have them all together in one nursery, acknowledged as his, so that he could supervise their education and give them honors which as royal Stuarts he believed should be theirs.
    Meanwhile he decided to compensate Margaret for the shock she had suffered and, since she was such a child and there was nothing that pleased her more than balls, plays and ballets, there should be more of these entertainments.
    He brought a gift of jewels—that could always delight her— and told her that he was arranging a ball in her honor and asked how she would like that.
    She clasped her hands in ecstasy and her young face lighted with pleasure.
    “And you will be there, James?” she asked eagerly.
    “Indeed I shall be there.”
    “For it would be no pleasure to me if you were not.”
    He embraced her and thought happily: She has recovered from the shock. She accepts the children as natural.
    At the same time he wondered what she would say if she knew of those lapses from fidelity which had occurred since his marriage. She was so naive in many ways. Probably it was due to the fact that her father had been a faithful husband; it was said that Henry VII was a cold man—well, James IV was not. Women were as necessary to his comfort as money was to Henry VII's.
    Margaret would have to learn this, but he trusted she would not have to make the discovery until she was ready to. In a few years' time she would become accustomed to the fact that he must have his mistresses. He would try to explain that they in no way affected his feelings for her. She was his wife and it was their duty to get children. But ever since he had been a very young man he had made no effort to curb his sexual desires; and he could not begin now. He was gentle and tolerant with her and would remain so as long as she did not attempt to restrain him.
    Then they began to plan the entertainment. There should be masked dancers because it was always such fun to watch disguised performers. And there should be a play. There was one of the Queen's attendants who was a past master at coaching players. This boy, who had come with Margaret from England, was called English Cuddy by the Scots.
    “I shall command English Cuddy to begin making arrangements at once,” declared Margaret.
    “So much energy you have, my little one,” said James. “But it is such fun to play for a masque.”
    “When you have children you will think of other things.”
    He looked at her searchingly. Was there no sign? Her face darkened because she was thinking of those other children and how she would like to banish the Lady Margaret Stuart from the Court.
    “I intend to have many children,” she said. “And when my son is born I am going to ask a favor of you. Will you grant it?”
    “I think I should be ready to grant you any favor when you give me the heir to the throne.”
    “I shall want him to have all that is best in Scotland.”
    “That is easy. So he shall.”
    “And I do not think he should have to