Alburquerque being now banished from the court, Henestrosa, the uncle of
Maria, became his successor, and he and Maria’s brother, Garcia de
Padilla, became the confidants and advisers of the love-bound monarch.
Fortunately Maria’s love was not so selfish as their ambition, and her
empire over Pedro, that of a powerful intellect and an enthusiastic
spirit, was often used for the behests of gentleness and mercy.
Pedro felt but too keenly his anomalous position. His secret marriage
with Maria, to whom his honor and his love alike constrained him to be
just; his unprincipled conduct towards Blanche; the loss of old and
attached friends; the evident displeasure of his subjects, and the
machinations of those whom he had so suddenly disgraced, filled his mind
with many fearful struggles. Too unprincipled to be capable of sacrifice
or concession, his endeavor was to reconcile all parties without
compromising himself.
While in this fevered state, and uncertain of his future course, he
ordered Henestrosa to remove Queen Blanche to Toledo, and confine her in
the Alcazar. The citizens, at first suspicious of Henestrosa from his
relationship to Maria de Padilla, at last concluded, with questionable
justice, that the unfortunate circumstances which environed Blanche were
owing chiefly to his influence; and rising in sudden insurrection on his
arrival forced him to allow the queen the choice of her asylum. She
chose the church of St. Mary. But the citizens, fascinated by the grace
and dignity of Blanche and emboldened by their success, forced the
chancellor to retire, and themselves assuming the office of her
protection, escorted her with all respect and pomp to the Alcazar.
Established in the ancient palace of Toledo, and faithfully guarded by
her loving subjects, she was soon joined by several of the noblest
cavaliers of Castile. Don Enrique, Don Fadrique and the ex-chancellor
had collected an army, with which they had advanced to Cuidad Roderigo.
Hearing of Blanche’s arrival at Toledo, Don Fadrique with a large body
of cavalry joined her protectors, and swore fealty to her cause. He was
soon followed by his companions, and the trio made Toledo for the time
the head-quarters of their army. Pedro fired with resentment, ordered
his forces against them, with the double intention of vanquishing the
rebels and regaining possession of his queen.
The preparations for the expected siege absorbed nearly all the
attention of the conspirators, and they had no leisure to observe the
uneasiness of Blanche. She now began to perceive that they had hidden
from her their real object, which was the dethronement of the king. At
last, unable to bear longer the pain of even appearing by silence to
acquiesce in their designs against her husband, she sent for Don
Fadrique and disclaimed all connection with their schemes of rebellion.
No arguments could change her determination, and the stern warrior was
forced to yield to the resolution of the gentle lady. It was now too
late to leave the city, for Pedro’s troops encircled the walls, and
Blanche, anxious for the protection of her subjects, while unwilling to
countenance any attempt to dethrone Pedro, did not wish to place herself
in his power until assured of his good intentions.
The day of battle was for her a day of trial. Though she prayed for the
success of the king’s forces, she feared that success for them would
place her in the power of him who had attempted to imprison her in the
very palace she now occupied. Sometimes she could hear the noise and
shouting of the combatants, and for several hours she awaited with the
greatest anxiety the messengers who should announce defeat or victory.
Her suspense was ended by Don Fadrique himself, who at the head of a
guard of knights rode suddenly into the palace court and besought her to
fly immediately with him to a place of safety before Pedro’s troops
entered the city. But she had resolved to be no longer a tacit partner
with those who were Pedro’s enemies. In this she was inexorable, and
Fadrique went alone.
Scarcely had Fadrique passed the gate of the city, when a guard of
Pedro’s knights rode rapidly to the Alcazar. As the iron hoofs of their
steeds resounded in the court-yard, the heart of Blanche quailed before
the gloomy picture of her future. The gentle strength with which she had
borne the uncertainty of the hours of battle gave way, and for a time
she lay on her couch in an agony of tears, but mustering all her
fortitude, she prepared to meet the envoy of King Pedro.
The singular dignity and grace which had shone prëeminent in the
brilliant court of Charles, were with her now, though blended with a
quiet sadness, which by adding a softer element, enhanced her beauty.
Her grief had pictured a dark and fierce janitor, and great was her
surprise when the noble and generous knight of Estuniga approached, and
bent the knee in homage. He was so deeply affected as to be unable to
utter a word, and the dignified composure with which Blanche had armed
herself, fled at the unexpected rencontre. At last the knight spoke,
though in a low and broken voice—
“My liege, I come to redeem the claim you did once make upon my motto,
‘Faithful to death,’ and you shall never find it dishonored. Though I am
ordered to be your governor, you are henceforth my guest.”
“Oh, noble knight! thy presence came as light in the storm. Where we had
pictured the sharp flash and the rude thunder, came the gentle air of
peace. May Heaven visit thee with the reward we cannot give.”
“Nay, speak not so, my honored liege. It will be necessary for your
safety, that you appear as my prisoner till we leave these walls.”
“As thou wilt, Señor Inigo, I trust all to thee.”