Ribeira Palace, Kingdom of Portugal, October 1518
Catalina plucked a green grape from the vine, and brought it to her mouth, daintily biting into it. Manuel gazed at her from where he stood,”May I have the other half of that grape darling?”
The Queen of Portugal smiled coyly before plopping the rest of the piece of fruit into her mouth.
Her husband chuckled,”Oh wicked wife, that was the last grape. How will I taste them now that you’ve eaten them all?”
She puckered her full lips,“I think I know how milord...”
Manuel laughed,”Oh is that so?” and then he kissed her deeply, gently grasping his wife’s hair as he did so.
Pulling away for a moment, he smirked,”Shall I visit your bedchambers tonight my Queen?”
Catalina flushed, shaking her head softly,”I am sorry but you should not.”
The King of Portugal nodded, seeming to understand her wishes,”I see... Is it your monthly bleeding again?”
“I should hope that I do not bleed again for many months Manuel.”
Manuel’s eyes widened,”You are saying that you are….”
Catalina answered him midsentence,”With child, yes.”
“Oh Catalina, you will be a lovely mother to our child, just as you have been to your nieces and nephews.”
“I hope so Manuel. To tell you the truth I did not know if I could ever have one of my own. It has been sixteen years since Arthur’s child,
Mi hija, was taken away from me…”
He stroked her cheek,”God will protect our child Catalina. For you, who have served Him so well shall be rewarded.”
Catalina could only pray that her husband was right and that they would soon have a healthy child to cherish.