family’s rating and diminish the possibilities of securing an honorable partner for his sister. And a daughter, especially one who’s referred to by her father as an infanta, is always a potential liability, for don Simon or for any father. He must provide her with a dowry, stock, and money, which will detract, rather than add to his wealth. He may feel it best to send her to a cloister, or to dispose of her in some other manner as quickly and as quietly as possible and at minimal expense.”3
“The law says any female may marry at age eleven, and since Maria is sixteen, the age issue is merely a ploy. My fear is that don Simon will ask for a dispensation to marry her to one of her relatives, a cousin, perhaps, one who’s a member of the nobility.”
“But there are rules against that sort of thing, Nicolas. Such marriages are forbidden by Divine Law and are, therefore, ineligible for dispensation. I have a table here someplace . . . the table of Leviticus which outlines the prohibitions.”
“But Leviticus says nothing about cousins, Father. They may be dispensed as close relatives.”
“Yes,” he said, “that’s true. The exception is known as pro honestis familiis. Uh huh. Uh huh,” he muttered to himself, seemingly contemplating it all. And then to Nicolas, he said, “You seem to be well versed in canon law, young man. Where did you get your information?”4
“From don Francisco Gomez, Father. His brother’s a Franciscan priest.”
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