Chapter II: The Lover's Tryst
We made love more often than we talked. I spent months learning his language, but the language of our bodies seemed to be the only one we needed to speak. Phillip's court was run with the utmost care and supervision. The beauty and splendor of his empire was ever present before me. I, being his wanton fool, was blind to just how much beauty he was inspired by. I had been under the impression that my dark eyes were the only eyes in which he gazed when he penetrated with lust.
Feasts are an ever-present function within royal society, serving to keep the nobles somewhat complacent. Their thirst for the thrown thus played out in the bedroom rather than in horrific bloodbaths ending with the bloodshed of kings. I was privy to this aspect of courtly life. I had seen it played out many a time within Castile and Aragon. Yet, I found myself utterly unaware of just how intricate these games of intrigue and lust could be within the very walls where I slept in my marriage bed. I was to beget a prince, a son of a king. And each night within Phillip's arms sufficed to provide a succor so sweet as to make every inch of my body tingle as though I were reaching the gates of heaven.
Drink flows...wine, port, and ale. The mind numbs and suddenly words whispered in the ear appear reasonable. This was so, that Midsummer's Eve, when I felt Phillip's lips brush past my ear, like the fires of hell licking at my skin.
"Juana, isn't Lady Anne fetching?"
My eyes wandered to the fair-haired daughter of a nobleman. Anne was an unmarried woman of Phillip's age, a tiny bit older than I. He pursed his lips together, wetting them with his tongue. His hand meandering over mine, toying with my skin, making a flush rise within my face. I could feel his eyes drinking in my reaction to her. She was truly fetching, her fair hair, green eyes, and ivory skin were worthy of angelic song.
"Yes sire, she is quite lovely."
The drink clouded my mind. I rested my head upon my hands, the room spinning about me. I watched as Anne tossed her head back, letting out a throaty laugh. The face of this flirtatious minx was swimming before me. She twirled around on the dance floor as she skirted around her partner.
"Would it not suite you, my love...to have her?" His lips, his breath, were setting my flesh afire.
I looked her over, my eyes lingering on the swell of her breasts, seemingly spilling forth from the bodice of her gown. What would it be like to touch a woman? To taste of her as Phillip tasted of me? Could I make whimpers escape those two perfect petals of her mouth? What would her skin feel like beneath my fingertips? Would her golden hair make a canopy about us as we tousled in bed?
Phillip stood and motioned for my hand. I placed my slender hand, palm face down, upon the back of his hand. I smiled at the way Phillip ordered a dance. My skirts brushed against my legs as I twirled around him. I followed the motions, watching the candlelight shimmer over Anne's golden hair. Each movement of her body, I mirrored with mine. Was I so captivating? Phillip and I bowed to one another when the song came to an end.
"Juana, what do you say?" His eyes searched mine, the boyish smirk across his lips as he led me away from the dance floor, "Shall we have her come to seek you out later?"