But under her breath she added, "Though not as I!"
And Valentine la Niña took the King's hand in hers, and motioned to Claire to come near and kiss it.
But Claire, kneeling, kissed that of Valentine la Niña instead.
Then, for the first time in many years, a tear lay upon the cheek of the King of Spain, wondering mightily at itself.
CHAPTER XLVII.
GREAT LOVE—AND GREATER
Now this is the explanation of these things.
In his hot youth, Philip, son of the great Emperor, had wedded in secret his comrade's sister, that comrade being one of the richest and most ancient nobles of his kingdom, Osorio, Marquis of Astorga. But by a miracle of abnegation, Isabel Osorio had stood aside, her brother and the full family council approving her act, in order that her husband, and the father of her three children, should add Portugal, and afterwards England, to his Spanish domains.
Therefore, from the point of view of dynasty, the Osorios of Astorga held the succession of the kingdom of Spain in their hands. At the least they could have produced a bloody war, which would have rent Spain from one end to the other, on behalf of the succession of Isabel Osorio's children. Therefore it had been the main purpose of Philip to keep them all unmarried. The sons, Pierre and Bernardino, he had severally made priors of great Flemish and Italian monasteries. Only Valentine la Niña he had never been able to dispose of according to his will. Now he had her word. No wonder that the King slept more soundly that night.