Secrets & Mysteries of the Sephardim
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“I now understand, Momma, what you have said,” the infanta responded, “and I am grateful you would like me to be involved in family affairs. Tell me, Momma, what dangers do we need to be aware of, and what should we do to prevent them?”
The duchess smiled. “I don’t want to burden you with all the problems our family faces or may face right now, and I don’t want to tell you who our enemies are. However, I want to tell you who our most important enemy is and the trouble this person can cause if we do not take appropriate measures.”
“I’m ready to listen, Momma.”
“Everyone knows the most dangerous enemies are not strangers but relatives. One of these people is Afonso’s mother. You have probably already heard about how she tried to make changes in our country after the death of her husband, King Edward.”
“I thought it was just gossip, Momma.”
“Oh, how I wish it were, my precious. Unfortunately, it is all true.”
“Why would she want to harm us, Momma?”
“She wanted Portugal to be ruled by Aragon. That’s where she comes from. She wanted to do this while serving as regent for Prince Afonso. Thank God we did not allow this to happen.”
“Now I understand, Momma. But how can she harm us? After all, my father is the regent of her sons.”
“That’s just the point. What will happen to our family after Afonso’s coronation?”
“Momma, Afonso will not allow anyone to harm our family,” the infanta said. “After all, you and my father have done and are doing so much for him and Fernando. And you have a genuine love for them. Because of this, Afonso will never allow anyone to harm us after he becomes king.”
“You do not know his mother,” the duchess said. “She is a villainous and vindictive woman who has no trouble misleading her victims. We have evidence she is continuing her despicable schemes.”
“Like what, Momma?”
“I cannot tell you,” Isabella said.
The infanta protested. “You said I will now be part of solving our family’s problems. So tell me all the secrets.”
Isabella smiled at her daughter. “OK. You must never tell anyone what I am about to tell you, especially Afonso. He will consider you an enemy if he learns about it from you.”
“I swear, Momma.”
Isabella explained the situation to her daughter.
“Government officials intercepted letters sent by Eleanor to Afonso. In them, she attempts to turn him against your father. She slanders him, our family, and even some officials. Afonso is very na"ive, and if the letters got to him, he would not be a loving cousin for much longer.
“If that's so, Momma, it's only a matter of time. She can do whatever she wants after Afonso's coronation.”
“You are right in your thinking, my little sunshine. I'm very glad you came to that conclusion yourself. But a close-knit family is unbeatable. If everyone in our family, regardless of his or her whims and ego, tries to do his or her best, no evil force can defeat us. That is why our family must take steps to prevent it from happening.”
“What do you suggest, Momma?”
“There is only one way to save us, my child. It depends on one person in our family.”
“Really? Who’s that, Momma?”
“That’s you, my angel!”
“It depends on me? What do you mean, Momma? I can't believe it’s up to me to save our whole family.”
“Hear me out, my dear. The monarchs of various states use a centuries-old, justified method to create and maintain friendly relations between monarchs. Both sides benefit by maintaining trade, economic ties, and political alliances. It is also used for many other benefits. In our case, we can use this method against our present enemy, Eleanor of Aragon. I will tell you in a moment what this method is and how you will play a major part in it.
“First, I want to assure you that you will not be a victim of this political scheme,” Isabella said. “Your father and I are doing this to save our family. But first and foremost, we are doing it for your own sake. We want to see you as every mother and father dreams of seeing their child.”
“So tell me, Momma. What did you come up with?”
“We decided to have you marry Afonso and, after his coronation, become the queen.”
“What? Me? But how is that possible, Momma? We only have the usual family relationship. I don’t have feelings for him, and neither does he for me. Besides, he’s a man of principle. You can't force him to marry me.”
“We don't want to force him to marry you, just as we don't intend to force you to marry him without mutual love.”
“Then I don't understand, Momma. There is no mutual love between us.”
“Oh, my dear, Isabelle. Listen to what I'm about to tell you,” the duchess said. “The feeling of love comes and goes. It is temporary for most people. Only a small number of people claim that love is permanent. I'm not sure that's true, though. At least I haven't met such people yet.”
“How come, Momma? Don't you and my father truly love each other?”
“Your father and I have true love, my angel, but only at the end of life can one come to a definitive conclusion. For some people, love is the fruit of their illusions. For some, love is a real hot flame in the soul that can ignite itself. But it is also possible to ignite it in someone else. Conditions, desire, and time play a big part in this.
“We, our little angel, will create the conditions for you and Afonso. You show your desire to see him as a conqueror of your heart and to enchant him. The rest is a matter of time.”
“Is it really that simple, Momma?” the infanta asked.
“Oh, no, my darling. It's not,” the duchess responded. “To ignite a flame in someone's soul, you must have that flame yourself. Love is infectious and overwhelming. Love is an art. Art is exciting, but it's never easy. And whether this art becomes a masterpiece depends on the talents of the master who creates it.
“And remember one more thing: ‘A woman's strength is her weakness.’ Men like to feel superior in strength and courage. Once you learn to show your weakness and timidity, success will be inevitable.”