"But Sire! The Lady Beatrice stands among the finest matches in Christendom! Her Highness's bloodline is centuries old and as pure as they come. Not to mention her mother is one of the richest monarchs in Christendom since the Portuguese claimed their stake in the New World and is offering a large and generous dowry. Besides, Lady Sinclair assures us the girl is comely and pleasant enough, besides being of fertile stock. What possible reason could Your Grace have for refusing her hand?"
"The Lady Beatrice is little more than a child, Lady Lennox! She's barely thirteen! Need I remind you how much we all suffered the last time I agreed to take a child to wife?"
That gave Lady Lennox pause. Seeing it, James harrumphed in part satisfaction, part exasperation. Lady Lennox glanced around the r
