Chapter 73: A Parent’s Worst Nightmare
July, 1557
Luis blinked. The tiredness was beginning to seep into his bones. He didn’t know how much more of this stress he could really take. First there had been the grief of knowing his brother John had died, and that his son John Manuel was ill, and now there was this trouble with Catherine. How Maria kept her calm and managed to rule the country he did not know. He was a nervous wreck. He put on a brave face though and took his wife’s hand as the doctor spoke.
“Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, I have consulted with my colleagues and we have a clear diagnosis for what ails Her Highness Princess Katherine.” The Doctor said in English. Luis finally understood all these strange words that the English used, after a few years in the country.
“And?” Luis demanded. He did not like how these people spent their time pausing before continuing.
“She has a hideous lump on her stomach as you know, that lump is slowly consuming her from the inside out and it is killing her.” The Doctor said.
Maria gasped, Luis held onto his wife’s hand. “Is there anyway you can save her?” Luis demanded.
The Doctor looked terrified, he shook and shivered. Only right, Luis thought to himself, the man held the fate of the heir to the throne in his hands. “Unfortunately not, Your Royal Highness. The only way to remove the lump inside Her Highness is to cut inside her and try and remove it that way. The problem is that such a procedure would likely kill Her Highness due to the amount of blood she would lose.”
Maria gasped, and Luis closed his eyes, he said a prayer and then asked. “So, is what you’re telling us that either way our daughter is dead?”
“Yes, Your Royal Highness.” The Doctor answered.
“You said you could cure her!” Maria snarled.
“I had thought it might be possible, Your Majesty. But after thoroughly examining Her Highness, I know now that nothing I do could be enough to save her.” The Doctor responded.
Maria gasped then, Luis squeezed her hand and asked. “So, what do you suggest?”
The Doctor looked at him and sighed. “I recommend, Your Royal Highness, that you speak with your daughter, and then you prepare to see her away.”
“What?!” Maria asked.
“He means that we should see her away to God, Maria.” Luis whispered.
Maria whimpered then. “Very well.”
Luis waved a hand dismissing the doctor, once the man was gone, he held Maria as she cried into his chest. For the first time he felt helpless. This was not a problem he could make go away with his brain or with his sword. This was a problem that had destroyed his daughter. After what seemed a long time, Maria stopped crying, he helped her to her feet and together they walked to their daughter’s room. Katherine was sleeping. Luis steeled himself, he kissed his daughter’s forehead.
Maria went to wake her up, but Luis held her back. “Let her sleep.” He said.
Maria looked at him then and she whispered. “Why is God doing this? What have we done to wrong him, that he would punish us by taking our daughter?”
Luis sighed. “I do not know.” It was true he did not know, he could not find an answer.
The doctor appeared then with the cloth. “Are you ready, Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness?” he asked.
“Yes.” Maria said simply.
The doctor placed the cloth on Katherine’s eyes and then said something. He then removed the cloth. The priest who had been waiting for days woke up then and Katherine was also woken up. She said the last rites, and took confession, then she looked at Luis and Maria and said. “I’m sorry Mama and Papa.” Luis almost cried then but instead replied.
“You have nothing to be sorry for my beautiful girl.”
There was silence then Katherine drank the serum, and went to sleep. Luis watched as his daughter’s chest rose and fell, until it no longer rose. At that Maria broke down crying and Luis cursed God for taking his daughter from them.