Race against time

*The Scottish Ambassador enters, smililing and laughing, and begins speaking in the most execrably accented French that has ever graced the Planet Earth. It is completely unintelligeble. And when he has finished he stands there smiling and waiting for a response*.

*Charles, for whom French is the closest he has to a native language, looks at his wife, befuddled*
So sorry, my lord, but as you surely will understand, we have not been sleeping well...could you perhaps repeat yourself a bit slower?

*The man nods and smiles and repeats himself in French which, while better, is by no means good*

My ... Marie ... Godmother ... Infanta or ... Friend ... Catholic ... baptism ... represent ... Pope ... and sends her love.

Your queen either wishes an Infanta or to be godmother to this infante?
Would you like some wine or ale?

*The Ambassador nods at the second choice, and also nods for some wine*.

*Isabella slightly weary, wants nothing more than to sink into her blankets but knowing her duty sits smiling and nodding regally to every comment made.*

*The Ambassador looks at Ysabel and begins saying something sympathetic, kind and totally unintelligible in Spanish. The Spanish is, if anything, even worse that the French.*

*in Flemish*
Oh, dear.
*in Italian*
My dear, you need rest. I shall send your woman to attend to Fernandito, and leave you to sleep.
*Takes the ambassador by the arm, then in French*
Come, my lord, my wife needs rest, we shall discuss this outside.
*Propels him out the door and pours him a drink*
So, your queen would like to be Fernando's godmother? Has she anyone in mind to be godfather?

*Isabella, more relieved than anything warmly kisses her child's forhead and drifts off into a deep sleep*

*sips his drink, sits down*
Her majesty and I have not discussed the issue of godparents as yet.

*The Ambassador nods slowly and with the influx of wine he soon after inhales, he becomes much clearer*.

Of course not, but her ... ... Majesty simply wishes to ... so that your little boy or girl will have all of Europe ... ... out of the love she feels for your little one.

Ah, I shall indeed present her case to my beloved wife.
More wine?
Who would she have as godfather?

*The Ambassador nods vehemently, and is now well on his way to subsuming the entire bottle*.

She was thinking of Good Nicholas of Rhodes.

Oh? Have they married yet? When last I met with Her Grace, they had not yet entered that state.

They have been hand-fasted and they have been given a Papal dispensation, both of which are legal in Scotland, but nowhere else. As you can see, it's rather prickly situation and we would thank you for your discretion.

*the ambassador, although coherent is now slurring his words together alarmingly*.

*sends a note to his wife*
Godparents? Queen of Scotland- scandal?

Before I could consider Her Grace or Sir Nicholas as godparents for my son, they would need to be married in the eyes of all Catholic Europe.

*Isabella quickly reads the note before dictating a reply to her maid as she is too weary to do so*

Whatever must be done, we must find somebody suitable for Fernando as I assume he is to inherit some grand title he must have a grand wife. Therefore I propose that we make the Godparents potentially useful in other means. Sir Nicholas is said to be goode and true but until the crown sits upon his head we would be seen to be granting far too great a title to far too low a man.

Ysabel

*scribbles another note, hands it to a servant*
Leave this for my wife, when she wakes up.
I believe that, even crowned, Sir Nicholas's birth may not be high enough. My inclinations as of now are The Queen of Scots, the Queen of England, and the Queen-Mother of France for godmothers and the Pope, your brother King of Portugal, and the Duke of Lorraine for Godfather.
I am minded to create the child Count of Barcelona and King of Mallorca, two of my oldest and most noble titles, upon his christening.

*The Ambassador is incredibly affronted that the King and Queen of Spain are passing notes right under his nose, but says nothing*.

Of course. My mistress also requests that you give this to the Empress. *Hands Charles a sealed letter*.

Of course I shall. Her majesty is most exhausted after her ordeal, so I will deliver it to her personally when she wakes. Now, would you like some light tapas? Jamon serrano? Chorizo?

*Ysabella wakes up to find Charles's note before personally writing a reply*

If we were to accept Marie of Scots's most generous offer then we wouldst be seen to be publicly snubbing Elizabeth of England. I propose the French Queen Mother and the Duke Of Lorraine. However, the Pope could be very useful

I am also best pleased with your decision over Fernando's titles, perhaps it wouldst not be so bad if Juan inherited Naples after all..

After receiving the note from Isabella, Charles smiles and sends his response, along with the letter from the Scots ambassador.
What think you of Elizabeth, Mary, and Catherine as godmothers? I myself have two godmothers and two godfathers and I do not think our son should suffer with only one of each. Here is a letter, also from the ambassador of said Mary, as you see I have not opened it.

(OCC: What exactly is this note going to contain O_O)

Three godmothers is suitable and goode, how about October 21: St. Ursula and the Ursulines for the bullfight?