“Oh no, Isabel, please. I won’t feel at ease until you forgive me for my cowardice.”

“What does that have to do with cowardice, infante Fernando? And why should I forgive you at all? It seems to me that I don’t understand you.”

“The fact I hid the truth from you was not modesty,” Fernando explained. “I was afraid that once you knew the truth, you would perceive it incorrectly.”

There was silence. Isabel took Fernando's hand in both of hers and said, “So those poems at my door were yours?”

Fernando nodded. “They are mine. And everything written in them is true. I fell in love with you when I saw you on stage, Isabel. It was instantly clear to me that you were my destiny. And my happiness, if you accept my love, or my unhappiness if you reject it. It depends only on you. So tell me, Isabel, what do you want me to be, happy or brokenhearted?”

“Oh, infante Fernando,” Isabel answered excitedly. “I do not know what to say. You are very kind and honest, and I could certainly fall in love with you. But I am afraid to. If I fall in love with you and we are told we cannot marry, I will be heartbroken.

“And between us, there are many barriers, she said. “You are the king’s son, so your fate is not in your hands. I’m sure you know better than I that marriages of princes and infantes are decided at the national level and mostly for political purposes. Love plays a secondary role. I feel we can’t have a future together for that reason.

I’m the daughter of the owner of a small island,” she continued. “And not the whole island, but only a part of it. I am of no value to the country from a political standpoint. Therefore, no one will approve of our union.

“So, infante Fernando, I beg you, try to control your feelings for me. Such love is in vain and will only lead to torment. Please do not torment yourself or me.”

“If I get permission for our union, Isabelle, will you reciprocate my love?” Fernando asked. I will ask Uncle Pedro to grant my request for our union. And if he approves it, we can get engaged at the same time as Afonso and Isabella.”

“Oh, dear infante Fernando,” Isabel replied. Tears are beginning to well up in her eyes. “You are so passionately in love. You have no sense of time at all. You are trying to do things too fast. I don't know if I can love you as much as you love me before Afonso and Isabella’s ceremony. You have the right to inquire if there is a future for us, but I think it is too early to talk about an engagement. However, Your Highness, may I ask that we continue this conversation after you fully recover? It is not good for you to be so emotional in your condition.

“I suggest we talk about something else,” Isabel said, changing the subject. “Let's talk about your progress. You have achieved high success in all the major types of ballroom dancing. And you are ready to show your mastery at the next ball. When you have recovered, we will begin to study other kinds of dancing and …”

Someone knocked on the door before Isabel could finish her sentence.

“Infante Fernando, allow me to open the door,” said Isabel, rising from her chair and gently releasing her hand from his. Isabel opened the door. Duke Pedro and Duchess Isabella were standing at the doorway, with the nurse behind them.

“Allow us to enter, senhorita,” said the Duke, looking at Isabel curiously. He was waiting for her to introduce herself.

“Isabel Zarco,” she said with a curtsy and cleared the way with a slight step aside.

“Pedro, I told you about her. She’s the dance teacher,” said the duchess.