“Would you be so good to be seated?” said the Princess.
As he sat down, his eye caught the presence of Catalina and her henchman the Count.
“What’s this I hear? You’re pushing yourself on this young maiden?”
“What do you mean? Her father has given her to me.”
“She doesn’t want to marry you, so why are you pushing the issue?”
“Her father has given her to me, that’s all that matters.”
“May I remind you of something? You sit on one of the most powerful councils in the country, and all it would take from me is a word to the King and you would be gone. Think before you speak.”
“I’ll speak to the King myself,” shouted the Duke. The Duke sat and thought of the sacrifice this would mean to marry Catalina. He jumped up and shouted, “O.K., forget about it.” and stormed out of the room.
The Princess turned to Catalina. “You’re free to do as you wish child.”
But the Princess couldn’t help but notice the joy on Albrecht’s face. what on earth was going on here? Had she shot herself in the foot?
The young couple stayed for dinner and did their very best to hide their feelings towards one another. After dinner they left for Catalina’s home.
Chapter Four
Once they were settled in Catalina’s home, she brought her father to have a meeting with Albrecht and her. “Father, the Princess has annulled my marriage to the Duke. Can I have your consent to marry the Count?”
“What! So soon?”
“Father, the Count is an honourable gentleman and has the where-with-all to keep me in the style I’m accustomed to. Please, give me this one wish.”
“I guess I’ve no choice. I want you happy. You have my blessing.”
The young couple embraced one another. This was surely a happy day. The Count wondered how in heaven’s name he was going to break the news to the Princess. She would kill him.
The next few days were spent at Catalina’s home, cogitating their future happiness together. Finally, Albrecht plucked up the courage to go face the Princess.
He arrived with as little ceremony as possible, and the Princess as usual overjoyed to see him, “And what brings you here today, may I ask?”
“This is an inauspicious moment, I fear.”
“And what makes you say that?”
“Wait till you hear what I have to say.”
“Well, go ahead and tell me.”
“Catalina and I are getting married.”
“What! You creep, I forbid it, after all I’ve done for you.” The Princess broke into crying. “Now I’m back into living on my own, and it’s a living hell.”
At this outburst, Albrecht started crying too. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” The next thing, both were in one another’s arms. Months of suppressed feelings raced to the fore, and they just sat and cried.
No matter what he did, someone would be hurt, he knew. In any case, Margie was already married. Albrecht knew the longer he stayed, the greater the possibility of breaking it off with Catalina. They both just cried bitterly. In the end, Albrecht jumped up and raced for the door, with the shouts of Margie ringing in his ears. “Don’t leave me, please, don’t leave me.”
Within the month, the young couple was married, to the fanfare of cathedral bells and pipe organ, accompanied by the chants of choirboys’ anthems. The Princess was in attendance, giving the bride away, but part of the Count would always be with the Princess.
So ends our foray into the vagaries of the heart.
