Free Spain for the Sovereigns by Jean Plaidy Page A

army; and when Isabella studied the effect of the war, following on the disastrous reigns of her half-brother and her father, she knew that her task had hardly begun.
    It was September before she was able to spend a few days in Ferdinand’s company.
    She was in residence at the Madrid Alcazar and, when messengers brought her news that he was on the way, she set her cooks to prepare a banquet worthy of the victor.
    Isabella was not by nature extravagant and she knew that Ferdinand was not. How could they be when they considered the state of the exchequer; when they had had to work so hard to get together the means to fight their enemies? But although Isabella was cautious in spending money, she knew that there were times when she must put aside that caution.
    Those about her must understand the importance of this victory. They must not whisper among themselves that the Queen of Castile and her Consort were a parsimonious pair who did not know how to live like royalty.
    This would be the first real celebration she and Ferdinand together had had since the Battle of Toro, and everyone must be aware of its importance.
    Ferdinand came riding in triumph to the Alcazar, and Isabella was waiting to receive him.
    As she stood, surrounded by her ministers and attendants, and Ferdinand came towards her, her heart beat faster at the sight of him. He had aged a little; the lines were more deeply marked on his face; that alertness of his eyes was accentuated. But even in those first few seconds the rivalry was there between them. Ferdinand in battle was the supreme leader. Here in the Alcazar he was merely the Queen’s Consort. He had to adjust himself, and the adjustment was somewhat distasteful.
    He took Isabella’s hand, bowed over it and put his lips against it.
    ‘Welcome, my husband,’ she said, and her voice had lost its habitual calm. ‘Welcome, my dearest husband.’
    The heralds blew a few triumphant notes on their trompas and the drummers beat their baldosas .
    Then Isabella laid Ferdinand’s hand on her arm, and this was the signal for them to enter the castle.
    There was feasting and music, and Isabella was happier than she had been for a very long time.
    Ferdinand did not leave her side during the banquet and the ball which followed, and she believed that he had such an affection for her that he ceased to fret because in Castile she was supreme.
    Isabella almost wished that she were not a queen on that night, and that she and Ferdinand could have retired in peace from their guests and spent an hour or so with their little seven-year-old Isabella.
    When the ball was at last over and they had retired to their apartments she reminded him that it was eight years almost to the month since they had married.
    ‘It is difficult to believe it is so long,’ said Isabella, ‘for in that eight years we have seen far too little of each other.’
    ‘When the kingdom is at peace,’ Ferdinand answered, ‘there will not be these separations.’
    ‘I shall be so much happier then. Oh, Ferdinand, what should I have done without you? You have brought victory to Castile.’
    ‘It is only my duty,’ he said. She saw the faintly sullen lines beginning to form about his mouth, and she went swiftly to him and put an arm about his shoulders.
    ‘We have a great task before us, Ferdinand,’ she said, ‘but I thank God that we are together.’
    He was a little mollified. ‘Now it is our task to deal with the French,’ he told her.
    ‘You think it will be difficult, Ferdinand?’
    ‘No, I do not think so. Louis has his hands full with the trouble between himself and Burgundy, and now that we have driven Alfonso back where he belongs he’ll have little heart for this fight.’
    ‘Soon, then, we shall have peace, and then, Ferdinand, begins our real task.’
    ‘I have news for you. Arevalo has made advances. I think he is prepared to forget the claims of Joanna and offer his allegiance to you.’
    ‘That is excellent news.’
    ‘It