Strategy | 01/01, morning- Xmas 1677

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Sophia liked Esteban's teaching style. He warned her when she was about to make a foolish move, but didn't tell her why, which made her consider her own errors and what she had done wrong. She knew that he would explain her mistakes if she asked, but so far, she had been able to figure them out on her own.

 

She also felt as if she was connecting with him on a more personal level now, although that assessment could have been wishful thinking. The young blonde wanted to believe that this morning would be a turning point in their relationship and he would not be so distant from now on … especially if he believed that she was clever enough to become good at chess, and by extension, politics.

 

That Spain's Queen Mother didn't have the patience for the game eased Sophia's own anxieties somewhat. “Well, that's good,” she remarked. “Juan will always be several steps ahead of her.”

 

As she pondered her next move, she added quietly: “Maybe she'll die.”

[Blackguard]

Esteban was content that Sophia was learning the rudiments of the game. His goal was not to beat her, for that would be too easy. Rather, he would need to be patient so that she would not give up before she became a worthy opponent.

 

"If only God would make it so," he replied to Sophia's deathwish. "She has cursed Spain long enough. I was beginning to think that God himself was punishing Espana for having a King named the Great." By this he meant Don Juan's father, Philip IV. "A great king is usually followed by a weak one. Carlos is called the Bewitched. The Portuguese suffer similarly. Thirteen years is long enough for the Bewitched and the corrupt Queen Mother and her corrupt ministers. We cannot tolerate another 13 years of ruinous rule."

 

It was his turn to move and he muttered "she has attempted to poison His Highness more than once. You saw her last attempt. Don Juan will not return the favor." His voice was disappointed.

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Sophia was not certain how Esteban would feel about his wife wishing that another woman would die. Maybe he expected her to be meek and kind to everyone, even those who wanted to destroy her loved ones. But he agreed with her, and didn't seem to think she had said something that she shouldn't have. He also had no qualms about admitting that he wished the Queen Mother was dead.

 

She had learned enough about Spain to know that Juan's father had been called 'the Great' and that the current King was called 'the Bewitched.' She had only seen him from a distance in Madrid and thought a better name for him would be 'the Unfortunate.” He was so ugly that it was painful to look at him. If he ever married, his wife would probably insist on putting a bag on his head before sleeping with him … if she ever slept with him at all.

 

Sophia had only heard Esteban express such strong opinions when he had yelled at her after the opera. She was glad this time his ire was not directed at her and she could understand his concern for his country. Thirteen years ago, she had only been three. It was indeed a long time for a country to be ruled poorly. She felt guilty now for wishing Juan had more time to spend with her when he had so much to do in order to make Spain great again.

 

She studied the board as her husband contemplated his next move, attempting to predict what he was going to do. A shiver rippled down her spine when he mentioned the poisoning last spring. Sophia had been so afraid that Juan was going to die that night and she had stayed with him until she had been forcibly sent away.

 

“He does not have to actually poison her. He could plant an idea in the King's head that his mother wants to murder him and rule Spain herself. Then he might banish her or even have her executed. Juan could set up a fake poisoning and frame her for it. Her existence is a threat to both Spain and to him. If he is unwilling to have her killed, how does he plan to get rid of her? It seems to me that as long as she lives, Spain will have no peace.”

[Blackguard]

"Sadly, the Queen Mother has convinced the King that it is His Highness that wants to poison him, wanting to tale the throne for himself, while professing a mother's love. All of her todies have reinforced this message, so the King refused to be alone with our master. He is scared of him." Esteban sighed as he brought his queen forth on the chessboard.

 

"The King insists on having his mother close, so she cannot be sent away. Rather, it is her toadies that can be sent away. The spider sits in her web waiting for a misstep."

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Sophia sighed. “And that's why Juan can't have her poisoned. He will be blamed because the King already believes that he wants to take the throne and will think that with her out of the way, he can get rid of him next. If somebody else kills her or she dies in an accident, do you think that he will be accused even though he had nothing to do with it?”

 

Juan had told her that he didn't fear for his life on the night he had taken her virtue. But she feared for it. If he was executed, either for something he did or didn't do, her life would no longer be worth living. Her beloved Prince was a part of her now, joined with her forever, and she doubted that either of them would want to go on without the other.

 

Did he think of her often, she wondered? She hoped that his memories of her brought him comfort when he was anxious or distressed and that he would find a way to destroy the evil Queen Mother so that they could see each other more often.

 

She looked at Esteban's queen piece as he moved it forward. The queen could move in any direction one wanted it to, but it could not go past another piece that was in its way. What the Queen Mother needed was an obstacle that blocked her plans. Her gaze fell to the pawns, of which there were so many. Who were the most numerous members of court?

 

“If His Highness persuades the nobles and commoners that she is a threat to their country's safety, will she not lose her power? Spain is not an absolute monarchy, is it? The people should have a say in how and by whom it is governed. Even the King will have to listen to his subjects. Kings have been knocked off their thrones before.”

[Blackguard]

"She has already lost much power," Esteban revealed. "Most of the court, other than her toadies, know the truth. It was why our master was able to return to Madrid in triumph as Lord Protector. Had he been a legitimate son, Carlos would have had the throne taken from him and Don Juan would be King. The Portuguese have done the same. Still, it is not too late for that to happen. Our master needs to win victories in battle and come back to Madrid as Caesar came back to Rome." It might be coming clear to Sophia that her husband glorified Juan. She might see it in his eyes when he spoke of him.

[Sophia de la Cerda]

The admiration she saw shining in Esteban's dark eyes affirmed what Sophia already knew … that he idolized his master. She had thought that his high regard for Juan was the main reason that he had married her. He would never refuse to do as he asked. Yet now she had been told that her lover had not made that request of him and that he had married her of his own free will. That revelation was still difficult to wrap her mind around.

 

Why, she wondered, did he worship Juan so much? Could it be possible that her husband was his illegitimate son? The Prince was old enough to have a child his age, but if so, she saw little resemblance between them. Perhaps they both just shared the same opinions and visions for their homeland. Or maybe Juan was everything Esteban wanted to be, rather like her own adoration of certain court ladies whom she found sophisticated and worldly.

 

She turned her attention back to the subject at hand. Juan would make a wonderful King and he would certainly raise Esteban in status. I could become a Duchess or even better, he would proclaim me his official mistress! The only downside of that coming to pass was that she would have to live in Madrid permanently. Still, it would be a small price to pay for being able to sing their love to the world and share the rest of their lives with each other both in private and in public.

 

“Why does he have to win battles?” Sophia asked. Even Kings died in battle. “Why can't he make alliances instead? An alliance with England would be a good start, would it not? And since there is no doubt that he is the son of the former King and he is already popular with the people, why can't they depose Carlos now and place Juan on the throne? The Queen Mother would not be able to hurt him anymore and he could devote all of his time to the betterment and prosperity of Spain.”

 

And to me.

[Blackguard]

"Spain craves glory. Its people have watched its power, wealth and glory fade over the last 100 years to become a mere shadow of what it once was. The Lowlands revolted. France has eclipsed Spain. The Dutch, English and Portuguese promise to surpass us." Esteban shook his head ruefully.

 

"War and victory bring glory. Alliances less so. Don Juan sought an alliance with England but England prefers to feign friendship while plundering our colonies. They ally with the Portuguese against us and it is only their recent anti-French posture that has them coming back to negotiate. No, Sophia, we need to win a war to maintain our status as a true power in Europe."

 

When she asked why Juan was not already on the throne, he reminded her of his prior statement. "He is a bastard in the eyes of the church. Perhaps, one day, he will overcome that with sufficient victories to his credit."

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Sophia would never understand why gentlemen thought that everything could be solved by war. It seemed as if they had a one-track mind when it came to settling disputes between countries and kingdoms. Did they not care how many men died for their cause, or how many women and children were killed just because they were on the losing side? There was no triumph in death. She had seem it firsthand and there had been nothing glorious about her mother's body floating face down in the lake. Or her father painfully gasping out his last breath.

 

“Did he stop that uprising in Italy?” she asked. “Would not that count as a victory? And to restore Spain's wealth, why do they not resort to privateering? They could raid the English and French ships that plunder their colonies. What is the English saying: If you cannot beat them, join them? Maybe the other countries will sit up and take notice and will be willing to negotiate in order to stop them.”

 

Her gaze fell to the board again. “If England joins the war against France, will that be a victory too? Who else does Don Juan have to fight against before he will be accepted as King despite his bastard birth?”

[Blackguard]

“ The biggest problem is the church. In their eyes, no bastard can ever be king,” her has been relayed that.

“Even in England there are major obstacles to the Duke of Monmouth becoming the heir, and the King controls the church here. No, it will take a miracle for him to become king. Rather, major victories will keep him in power.”

As for war with England in the colonies, Esteban stated “ unless they can stop their privateers we may have to do that.”

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Sophia could hardly believe that Esteban was discussing politics with her. He had never explained the situation in Spain before, as if ladies didn't need to know what went on beyond their parlors and ballrooms. Most gentleman believed that politics was an unsuitable topic for the fairer sex and Spaniards were known to be conservative about almost everything.

 

Not even Juan had spoken of such things to her. When he was entwined in her arms, he wanted to forget his responsibilities and the problems he faced as Spain's Lord Protector. She was his comfort, his solace, his joy, and they always talked about pleasant things. Sometimes she sang to him, which he always enjoyed.

 

So what had changed with her husband? Was he finally beginning to trust her and to see that she could be of help to him because of her considerable social skills? Or was he pleased with how well she grasped the concepts of chess and was realizing there was more than just fluff between her ears?

 

Sophia didn't think he had told her anything that wasn't already known by most gentlemen in London, and she certainty didn’t expect him to divulge state secrets, which would put her in danger. But what he was telling her was more than he had ever revealed to her before, and very enlightening.

 

“Can't he be legitimized?” she asked, “especially since he is loved by the people and Carlos is incapable of ruling?” She had heard stories about him in Madrid, about how he had the mind of a small child and that he wasn't even able to feed himself. Perhaps they were only rumors. She knew firsthand that many rumors were based completely on lies.

 

Esteban didn't dismiss her suggestion as silly, but agreed that it might have to be done. “And what will that mean to us? Will we have to leave England or will you be needed here more than ever?”

[Blackguard]

Chess was a game of the mind. Perhaps Esteban was rewarding mental pursuits with meaningful conversation. Perhaps it was because he feared what might be on the road ahead and she needed to be warned. Or, perhaps he just wanted to get her mind off sex.

 

"Only the Church can legitimize him, and only if his father had secretly married his mother before he married the Queen." No one would believe that story, as much as they wanted to do so.

 

"If there is full blown war, we may need to leave. If it is just war in the New World, then it is likely that we will stay."

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Sophia didn't care why he finally discussing politics with her, only that he was. As for prying her mind away from sex, the only thing that could do that was ... unsurprisingly ... sex. Luckily, she'd had it last night and her hormones were content at the moment. In fact, if Esteban wanted to shag her before the sled race, she would probably make up an excuse to get out of it. It had not yet occurred to her that she needed to sleep with him soon so that if she fell pregnant with Henry's child, her husband would believe it was his.

 

Why did everything have to be so complicated? Why did it matter if a King was a bastard Prince if he was the best man for the job? Juan was a member of the royal family, no matter what side of the blanket he had been born on. Everyone knew it. It was as if Spain was passing up the best chance it had to regain its status as a major world power because of trivial laws that could easily be changed or overlooked.

 

“Maybe there is another way,” she mused as she contemplated her next move. “Maybe we can help him find it.” Picking up one of her pieces and glancing in the direction she wished to move it, she looked up at Esteban, wondering if he would approve or disapprove.

 

“Why can't Spain ally with England in the New World against France? And what if the English finally decide to fight against the French in the Netherlands? Then both countries would be on the same side, would they not? It could be the beginning of a positive relationship between Spain and France, which Don Juan could use to his advantage.”

[Blackguard]

Esteban stared at the piece Sophia proposed to move with a look of caution. He then looked at his own knight, which he had moved into position to capture her rook.

 

"It would make sense for England and Spain to ally against France in the New World, if only to give English privateers a new target," her husband replied in an agreeable manner. "Yet, the English and French pirates are already allied in attacking our colonies, so it will be hard to turn them against each other. The Queen's supporters are, instead, more interested in punitive action against Jamaica and other English possessions. Don Juan is seeking such an alliance already, you will ne happy to know," he added, giving her a nod of praise for her grasp of the situation. "I am the one charged with drawing up the treaty," he continued, a look of pride on his face.

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Her husband's expression warned Sophia of the folly of her proposed move. After he looked at his knight, she realized that he would capture her rook if she left it where it was. The knight had an odd way of moving, which made it difficult for her to tell where it could and couldn't go. Picking up her rook, she wondered why it was called that. It looked like a tower. What was a rook anyway? Was it another name for tower? English was a funny language.

 

It took her a few moments of contemplation to decide on the best course of action, and she moved her rook out of harm's way. Or at least she thought it was safe. Esteban could have lain a trap for her. She would be disappointed if he let her win, so she knew that she was going to lose her first game. However, losing was part of the learning process and would teach her what mistakes to never make again.

 

“Then the colonies should defend themselves so well that the pirates are unable to plunder them. All they care about is their loot, and if they don't get any, they may start to fight among themselves. The Spanish could lure the English away from the French because if they are skillful in defending themselves, they would also make formidable partners.”

 

Sophia frowned thoughtfully. “It sounds as if the Queen is attempting to hinder her own country rather than help it. If Spain attacks English possessions, than they will retaliate and there will be yet another war. Why would she want to do such a thing? To undermine what Juan has already achieved?”

 

She beamed at Esteban's nod of praise. Maybe he is finally beginning to understand that I am more than just a pretty face. The young blonde was actually surprised at how quickly she was grasping a subject that had always made her head spin. Her husband was an excellent teacher, both of chess and politics.

 

And yet again, he showed some emotion … pride at being chosen to formulate a treaty between England and Spain. Perhaps that was the main reason for his good mood this morning. “He has the utmost faith in you.” Reaching across the board, she squeezed his hand. “I know that you will do him proud and that your negotiations will be successful. This is what you have always wanted, is it not?”

[Blackguard]

Sophia's rook was spared by her move and the game went on. More pieces were taken and the board began to thin out as Esteban moved his queen and rook in combination to try and corner her king.

 

"Our colonies have soldiers and our militia greatly outnumber the pirates, Our problem has been that our militia are not well trained, mostly farmers and traders. Pirates are battle-hardened and desperate. They fight to the death and our men do not. It is easier to escape into the woods or jungle than defend a town." He looked annoyed at how poorly his countrymen had fared against English brigands. "Pirates come and go before you can send reinforcements. They have free reign to terrorize the entire coast. Only an overwhelming military expedition and fleet can do any meaningful good. These are expensive and difficult to build, especially when they are needed on the continent for wars in Italy and elsewhere." It was not a pretty picture that he painted.

 

"The Queen cares only about herself ... not her country. It is why Don Juan has been as successful as he has."

 

"Si, I am humbled by the faith he has put in me. At last I can do something to help Spain."

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Though Sophia strongly suspected that she was going to lose, she wasn't about to give up without a fight. Some people she knew would admit defeat, but she did everything she could to protect her king from capture, glancing at Esteban before each move she made. If he hadn't known it before, he would now understand that his wife was definitely determined and she was by no means a quitter.

 

And nor, she knew, was her beloved Juan. He seemed to be up against insurmountable odds, but nothing was impossible if one set one's mind to it. “Juan could send soldiers to properly train the militia, perhaps some who are too old to fight but not yet ready to retire. If they can stop the pirates from getting into the towns with clever traps, then they will feel no need to flee. Maybe a few pirates will lose their lives, but that may deter them from attacking again. You need to outsmart them, which shouldn't be too difficult. I doubt pirates think very far ahead. A well-planned defense might defeat them.”

 

If the Queen was so selfish, then maybe her supporters would desert her and she would lose what little power she still had. She needed to die, in Sophia's opinion, and the sooner the better.

 

“Can you tell me what you plan to propose to the English, or is it something that I should not know? And is there anything that I can do to assist you?” She grinned mischievously, hoping to lighten his mood. “You know that I have formidable social skills. Maybe that is why you married me?”

[Blackguard]

Esteban let his wife make mistakes in her play. It was the only way that she would learn. Otherwise, he would just be playing himself in chess, which he had done many times before. In the end, try as she might, Sophia lost the game. Her choices became more limited and enough of her pieces were taken that she could not recover. "You did well for your first game," her husband complimented. "Many struggle with remembering how pieces move. You seemed to grasp the mechanics better."

 

"Easier said that done," he admitted about her defensive ideas. "Small forts are established along the coastline and small garrisons of professional soldiers are stationed there to help bolster the training and backbone of the colonists.. Typically the pirates attack the forts first and then slaughter the townspeople, raping the women, and holding others as hostage for ransom. They have lost their humanity." He was getting worked up as he recalled the atrocities that had been reported regularly to Madrid

 

"It is easier to be clever when you are the attacker than the defender," he admitted. "Though we pay spies in their towns, which can help us set traps."

 

"I cannot tell you now because the discussions are still fluid. I believe the King is attempting every delay he can. I believe the Northern Secretary supports a treaty, but the terms are still swinging back and forth." He shook his head as he considered how she might help. Nothing was obvious.

[Sophia de la Cerda]

As Sophia had expected, she lost the game, but Esteban's compliment more than made up for it. Praise from him was very rare and pride welled up inside her. “Thank you,” she said. “I think I only grasped it so well because I have such an excellent instructor. I hope we can play often so that I can improve.” She met his eyes, her gaze hopeful. “We can play most evenings after dinner, if you aren't too busy.”

 

That idea, she believed, would appeal to him because it would keep her out of mischief at night. Sometimes she did go to the palace at that time to practice playing the piano or meet with friends, but nothing had ever happened that he would have disapproved of … unless he despised the French so much that he didn't want her playing and singing French songs.

 

Sophia shuddered at the thought of women being raped. Did the pirates kill them afterward and did they slaughter children as well? It would probably be better if only men lived in the colonies until the pirates were driven away. Maybe it had been that way and they had married native women and started families with them. Men, she knew, couldn't live long without sex. Except for Esteban. He would have made a perfect colonist.

 

She could tell that he was upset at the enormities that the Spanish people had endured. He seemed to have abandoned his aloofness this morning, and she hoped he would continue to open up to her from now on. “Maybe the colonists could move inland?” she suggested. “The pirates would be out of their element and traps could be set in the jungles that might deter them.

 

“They probably have spies in your towns too, but if you could find out who they were, you could feed them false information and lay an ambush for them.” It might be rather apparent by this time that Sophia read a lot of adventure novels.

 

“Oh, so the negotiations have already begun? Why would the King delay unless he wants to see if the French make a better offer? Do you think he is attempting to play Spain and France against each other?” If so, she thought that he should be called 'the malicious monarch' instead of 'the merry monarch,' though she supposed that one could be malicious and merry at the same time.

 

Esteban didn't seem to think that there was much she could do to help. “Do any of the lords you want to influence have wives I could befriend? If I speak well of you and they repeat what I say, their husbands may be persuaded to side with you. Over dinner is also a good way to get to know people. I don't think it's too late in the season to host a small one.”

 

Sophia hesitated for a moment before adding: "Or I could try to ferret out information that will be useful to you ." She already knew that he was against her acting as a spy, but she offered anyway in case he had changed his mind.

[Blackguard]

"Seven years ago, the English marched inland and sacked the largest city in the New World -- Panama. It has a garrison of almost 4000 soldiers. The pirates under Henry Morgan stormed the city and burned it to the ground, killing and raping the civilians. So, moving inland is no real defense," Esteban explained. "Instead of being thrown in jail for his criminal acts, The English have promoted him to Governor of Jamaica! That is what I am dealing with Sophia. The man that has looted the our colonies and slain tens of thousands is now Governor and we are to believe that the King will take action against him and enforce a peace treaty? The King needs to see that it is more profitable to turn his back on the criminals, than to secretly support them." He hoped this would explain some of the difficulties.

 

"Anne Spencer is the wife of the Northern Secretary. She is said to not have a strong marriage; but, she will suspect you are attempting to spy, so it will be difficult to do much with her. I think it better for you to cultivate goodwill amongst the King and his entourage, without seeming to want anything," he offered. It was clear that she wanted to do something.

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Esteban didn't refuse or agree to Sophia's suggestion that they play chess most evenings after dinner. Was he thinking about it, or was his mind so focused on England's poor treatment of Spain that he had not heard her? He didn't answer her question about whether or not he had begun to negotiate with the King either. Maybe that was something else that it was better she not know.

 

It was hard to believe, given the King's love of women, that he would reward a pirate for allowing his men to rape and kill them. Or perhaps he knew that a pirate was the best person to defend an island against other pirates. It was impossible to even attempt to understand his reasons, but it was quite plain to see that Esteban despised this Henry Morgan. He needed to let his anger go if he was to negotiate a successful treaty.

 

“If you think His Majesty secretly supports the Governor of Jamaica, then don't demand that he is replaced and made to pay for his crimes. That will only make the King less likely to listen to you. Leave retribution out of it altogether and concentrate on the positive aspects of an alliance with Spain. Keep the negativity to a minimum. Once the alliance is made and England benefits from it, you can ask for amends then.”

 

Her head tilted to the side. “And perhaps Juan should appoint pirates as governors of your settlements too. They will know how to guard against their own kind.”

 

She frowned when he mentioned the wife of the Northern Secretary. “I spoke to Lady Sutherland at our party. She said she was active in charities and I invited her for tea, but she didn't seem very interested. Or maybe she's waiting for me to send her an invitation. Should I?”

 

As for the King: “I think I charmed His Majesty at the ball last night, as well as a friend of his by the name of Lord Grandison. And we will see him tonight when we present our gifts to him. Perhaps I can ask you if I can sing for him again and you can tell me you don't mind? Then maybe he will let me give another concert like I did last spring. I asked him if I could sing at the ball last night, but he said there was other entertainment planned already. So he knows how much I long to sing. And if he had not been enchanted by my voice, he would never have agreed to commission the opera.

 

“How would you suggest bringing myself to his attention without him thinking I wish to become one of his mistresses? Is there anyone close to him I should cultivate a friendship with? I already asked Lord Kingston to get me an audience with Lord Buckingham and he said he would, but that the Duke was occupied with other things and now was not the right time. Maybe I should follow up on the promise he made to me?”

[Blackguard]

"I understand that Morgan is untouchable now," Esteban indicated. "Any treaty will need to include something that is in England's best interest." He had several ideas but gave no voice to them He did not know how well Sophia could keep a secret.

 

"In cultivating relationships," her husband began, "the most important thing is subtlety. Everyone will assume you are a spy for me, so you must appear to be anything but a spy. You should avoid talk of politics and diplomacy until late into the relationship. Focus on your singing and women's issues until they relax their guard, thinking you harmless." He paused to see if she was understanding the reasoning. "It will take months to convince someone that you are no threat, if ever."

 

"For example, you should not speak to Lady Sunderland about any substantive issue about diplomacy. She will be spying for her husband so you must keep topics light to see if she really wishes to be more than an acquaintance. As for the King, be careful not to make the Queen jealous. Beautiful women throw themselves at the King in hopes of royal favor," he counseled.

 

"Buckingham is a clever one. I might work up to him in time."

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Keeping secrets was something that Sophia did very well, but Esteban didn't know it because the secrets she was currently keeping were from him. She was still floating on air after beginning an affair with Lord Arundel. but her husband probably thought she was just in a particularly exuberant mood. Maybe he had not even noticed she seemed a bit happier than usual. Or he thought it was because of him. She was also hiding her affection for Lord Chatham. They had even sent secret signals of affection to each other right under Esteban's nose at his own banquet.

 

“Of course,” she agreed. “They will never agree to it if they get nothing from it. Maybe you can make it seem as if they will be benefiting more than Spain, when in truth, the exact opposite is true. Or perhaps it would be best that both countries have equal advantages.” She didn't ask if he had anything in mind, but he hoped that he might volunteer the information.

 

Unless the advice she had given him so far was foolish and useless and he thought that she would not understand. There would be no reason to confide in her in that case. Sophia didn't know if she was showing her ignorance or actually giving him something to think about. He had just started teaching her about the intricacies of politics and her suggestions were not derived from previous knowledge or experience but came straight from her heart.

 

The petite singer should have known that all conversations with her husband had to include a lecture of some sort. She nodded in affirmation as he spoke on how to avoid being perceived as a spy, and when he was finished, she practically beamed.

 

“I have already been doing these things,” she declared. “My conversation with Lady Sunderland was about charity and what I wish to discuss with Lord Buckingham is having an opera house built in London. I am trying to cultivate a reputation of caring about the welfare of the English people and enriching their lives. Most Ambassadors' wives probably care little for the country their husbands have been assigned to. I am trying to prove the opposite.

 

“I believe that I will be successful because as a very young German married to the Spanish Ambassador, I will not be expected to understand what my position entails and once someone gets to know me, they will reconsider their assumption that I am spying for you and see me as just a compassionate young lady who is more loyal to England than to Spain. And it's already working. Last night, the Duchess of York told me how naive I was."

 

She paused to consider his words about the King. “I am most likely the only pretty young lady at court who has no desire to sleep with the King. Either he knows it or he might be perplexed as to why I have never expressed the slightest interest in that kind of relationship. Even if I was unmarried, I would not wish to share his bed. I have no desire to be yet another notch on any man's bedpost.

 

“Unless he pursues me, which I doubt he'll do without any encouragement, there is no reason for the Queen to be jealous. I am trying to impress her as well with my concern for the commoners and my willingness to to do charity work.”

 

Sophia gazed thoughtfully at Esteban. “Would it help my efforts to be seen as harmless if I express discontent with our marriage?” Since she had already been doing it, she hoped he said yes. “If everyone believes that I am not fond of you or loyal to Spain, they will be even less likely to think I am spying for you. They may even try to use me against you, which will give you power over them.”

[Blackguard]

He commented no more on ideas to intrigue the English. Hios plans were still in formation.

 

As for her declaration that she was already focusing on non-substantive topics, Esteban nodded his approval. She seemed to understand.

 

On the topic of the King, her husband felt less cpmfortable. "The King is no seer and cannot read your mind. Nor can the Queen. You may be pure of intent, but they might not see that. They will assume that any beauty trying to speak with the King and impress him is seeking a place in his bed, fair or not. The Queen will not be rational about such things. She sees every beauty at court as a potential mistress for her husband, You will just need to temper your enthusiasm around him. The fact that you and the Queen are both German is a thing that may work in your favor with Her. Her comments about notches on bedposts caused him to become more quiet. He started to say something and then thought better of it.

 

"No. Tales of marital disharmony will hurt us both, but me most of all. It is for every wife to outwardly indicate that their marriages are happy ones. If a man cannot keep a wife happy, it reflects poorly on him. So it is too with a wife that does not please her husband."

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Sophia felt a bright surge of pride when Esteban silently approved the way she was handling conversations with other courtiers. Now she knew that she should continue acting innocent and guileless, even if she did become politically astute. In truth, she had been naïve about quite a few matters before Mistress Jennings and the Duchess of York had enlightened her. She was still confused about some of the things they had told her and suspected that she was ignorant of other implications of her new position. Maybe she would never understand them all.

 

“I have only spoken to the King a few times and neither of us have said anything suggestive to each other. Even if I flirted outrageously with him, I don't think he would sleep with the wife of a foreign Ambassador. It would be a disastrous move that could cause an international incident if the Ambassador either discovered their affair or had sent her to his bed to spy on him.

 

“I am safe, untouchable, and perhaps the Queen knows this too. She has always been kind to me and she believed I was safe enough to serve as a birthday gift to the King. He could have expected more from his gift than a few songs, and I'm sure she knew that, but she trusted me to refuse his advances if he made them. I am not his subject and I do not have to do whatever he asks of me.”

 

Oops! Sophia had no idea that acting disappointed with Esteban had the potential to hurt him. To her credit, nothing she had said in the past about their marriage had been untrue, not that she had the any qualms about lying. She did it all the time. In this case, though, she thought it was rather odd to pretend to be happy when everyone knew that most arranged unions were only tolerable to both husband and wife. It was rare for spouses to fall in love with each other or to even get along well.

 

Her relationship with Esteban had changed today, or that was how it appeared to her. He was less aloof, had given her compliments rather than reprimands, and had taught her as much about politics as he had about chess. Would he eventually begin confiding in her and making love to her more frequently and enthusiastically?

 

Sophia shrugged nonchalantly. “I just thought that it might convince people to speak more freely in my presence if they thought that there was no fondness between us. But I would never do anything to hurt you.”

 

After a moment's pause, she quietly queried: “Do I please you?”

[Blackguard]

"You may be correct about him avoiding an Ambassador's wife," Esteban acknowledged "but do not think that anyone is beyond the King's reach. If stories are to be believed, his eye knows no limits." She needed to be careful.

 

"I would suspect anything that anyone would confide in you. No, you are far more likely to hear something interesting by convincing those around you to ignore you and speak freely. It is why Maria is so valuable to me. Many think her deaf and say very interesting things in her presence. The same is true of servants. It is why Diego goes about as a servant. Nobles ignore servants and think they can speak freely."

 

Then came the question that most any husband might feel awkward in responding. "I m pleased in your progress and willingness to help," he offered in a complimentary fashion. There was more but he withheld.

[Sophia de la Cerda]

“His eyes may roam wherever they please.” A mischievous smirk turned up the corners of Sophia's full lips. “As long as he keeps his hands to himself.” In truth, she hoped that the King thought of her as his impossible girl, the lady whom he longed for but could never have. The notion appealed to her fanciful nature. Maybe he brooded over the fact that she was off-limits and tried to work out a way for them to be together, for everyone knew that forbidden fruit was always the sweetest. Perhaps he even thought of her when he was with his other mistresses and would eventually add a blonde German to their number who reminded him of her.

 

Despite these fancies, she didn't want to share his bed, for being one of many held no fascination for her. Sophia didn't believe that she was just another notch on Juan's bedpost. He had told her that she reminded him of a woman he had once known and loved, and she believed that she had given him a second chance at the happiness he might have had with his long-ago beloved. It had crossed her mind that he might take other lovers when they were apart, but she hoped that he was at least as faithful to her as she was to him.

 

“Anyone who has heard me sing knows that I'm not deaf and unfortunately, it is difficult to be ignored when you are known as a court beauty. Everybody notices me. However, I can eavesdrop on conversations in German, Italian, Spanish, or French. I don't think many people are aware that I understand so many languages.” Sophia understood much more Spanish and French than she spoke. Her ability to communicate in Spanish was improving, but since Lord Kingston had quit teaching her French, she'd not had any opportunities to practice it.

 

“I could also disguise myself as a commoner and go into the city to learn what people think about Spain. Or I could pretend to be a servant. Diego could probably get me 'hired' for some gentlemen-only court events. They would like to have pretty girls serving them. My vocal coach can help me work on my accent so that I no longer sound German and teach me the way commoners speak.”

 

His praise was, as always, unexpected but welcome. Sophia had figured that he would just change the subject, and she was glad that he hadn't. What struck her as strange was her own reaction. Having been told that she was gorgeous all of her life, she wanted others to notice her intelligence instead. Esteban had just said he valued her intellect, and yet she wished that he would tell her that he thought she was beautiful and sensual as well. Her musings made no sense, but that was how she felt.

 

And so she ventured timidly: “But you do not desire me as a man usually desires a woman.”

[Blackguard]

"It is not appropriate for the wife of the Ambassador to go about as a commoner. There as plenty enough pretty girls that can be employed for that. As you say, you are easy to recognize. Diego has other agents for that. You need to forget about disguise. You must do what commoners cannot," he instructed.

 

He was afraid of a question she might ask, but it was another she ventured. That one was more awkward. He needed to pause before replying.

 

"I do, but in moderation," he replied. "I am trying to respect that which you share with His Highness," he explained. Hopefully he would not need to say more.

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Sophia would have liked to tell him that she had quite a bit of experience disguising herself as a commoner and had fooled the opera lovers of an entire city for the better part of two years, but that was one secret that could never be told. She didn't know the laws of Spain regarding marriage, but he might be able to set her aside in disgrace if he found out that she had sung illicitly on the Venetian stage. For some reason, she believed that Juan would find it amusing, but Esteban would see her forbidden foray into the world of opera as an insult to his honor.

 

“Then besides for acting innocent and naïve, what can I do?” She grinned impishly. “Please don't say that the best way I can assist you is to stay out of the way. You have been given an important task that, if successful, could help you rise in status and influence. I wish to help. Is that not the job of an Ambasador's wife … to help her husband achieve his full potential?”

 

Sophia blinked when Esteban admitted that he desired her. Was he just telling her what she wanted to hear or was he holding himself back because of Juan's claim on her? Not for the first time, she wondered if her royal lover had instructed him to have sex with her only once a week. Or had he told him to stay away from her altogether for fear that she might start to prefer her husband's touch to his? As if that will ever happen.

 

She wished she could let Esteban know that she needed more sexual fulfillment than he was giving her, but that might put him in an awkward situation if Juan had insisted that their relationship remain mostly platonic. “He wants to make certain that any children I bear are his?” she asked. “Has he done this before … married his mistresses to his friends? I know I am not his first and that he has been taking lovers since long before I was born.”

 

Sophia looked deep into her husband's dark eyes. “You probably know him better than anyone else. Does he care about me more than his previous mistresses or am I just a passing fancy who he will tire of in time?”

[Blackguard]

"Your greatest role is that of an Ambassador's wife," he answered simply. She was too eager to seek lesser roles. "As a wife, you must be diplomatic, proper, witty, charming, seemingly trustworthy and harmless. You must represent Spain well by example and avoid any hint of scandal. You must host parties with style and decorum. Already you are on your way, so to speak, in this regard, but you are barely 17 and have so much to learn and experience before you can master it."

 

She then acted 17 with her worries about being but a prince's plaything. "I know him well indeed. I have been with him for years. He is a man with few mistresses. His true mistress is Spain and he loves her dearly," Esteban offered with a smile.

 

"He has been attracted to singers because his mother was the finest singer of her time," Esteban complimented. "She sang to him when he was young and forever gifted him with an appreciation for the beauty of the voice. It inspires. It cures. It provokes. It transports." His own tongue became silver in that moment.

 

"In you he found the font of all loveliness, voice, face and spirit. How could he do anything but love you? He never asked me to marry you. He never would," Esteban insisted. It was my gift to him.