She was blue-eyed and red-haired, with a fair-skinned, open countenance, but very reserved and quiet in her demeanour.
"The Queen," muttered the guard, saluting, as did Castell and Peter, while Margaret curtseyed.
A case had just been tried, and the queen Isabella, after consultation with her assessors, was delivering judgment in few words and a gentle voice.

As she spoke, her mild blue eyes fell upon Margaret, and, held it would seem by her beauty, rested on her till they wandered off to the tall form of Peter and the dark, Jewish-looking Castell by him, at the sight of whom she frowned a little.
That case was finished, and other suitors stood up in their turn, but the queen, waving her hand and still looking at Margaret, bent down and asked a question of one of the officers of the court, then gave an order, whereon the officer rising, summoned "John Castell, Margaret Castell, and Peter Brome, all of England," to appear at the bar and answer to the charge of murder of one Luiz of Basa, a soldier of the Holy Hermandad.
At once they were brought forward, and stood in a line in front of the dais, while the officer began to read the charge against them.
"Stay, friend," interposed the queen, "these accused are the subjects of our good brother, Henry of England, and may not understand our language, though one of them, I think"-- and she glanced at Castell--"was not born in England, or at any rate of English blood.

Ask them if they need an interpreter." The question was put, and all of them answered that they could speak Spanish, though Peter added that he did so but indifferently.
"You are the knight, I think, who is charged with the commission of this crime," said Isabella, looking at him.
"Your Majesty, I am not a knight, only a plain esquire, Peter Brome of Dedham in England.

My father was a knight, Sir Peter Brome, but he fell at my side, fighting for Richard, on Bosworth Field, where I had this wound," and he pointed to the scar upon his face, "but was not knighted for my pains." Isabella smiled a little, then asked: "And how came you to Spain, Senor Peter Brome ?" "Your Majesty," answered Peter, Margaret helping from time to time when he did not know the Spanish words, "this lady at my side, the daughter of the merchant John Castell who stands by her, is my affianced----" "Then you have won the love of a very beautiful maiden, Senor," interrupted the queen; "but proceed." "She and her cousin, the Senora Dene, were kidnapped in London by one who I understand is the nephew of the King Ferdinand, and an envoy to the English court, who passed there as the Senor d'Aguilar, but who in Spain is the Marquis of Morella." "Kidnapped! and by Morella!" exclaimed the queen.
"Yes, your Majesty, cozened on board his ship and kidnapped.

The Senor Castell and I followed them, and, boarding their vessel, tried to rescue them, but were shipwrecked at Motril.