Presently, however, he cooled. There was
Gonzaga yonder, who had promised to admit him to Roccaleone on Wednesday.
That left him time to first possess himself of his reluctant bride, and
then ride hard to Babbiano, to arrive there before the expiry of the
three days' grace his subjects gave him.
He conferred with Guidobaldo, and urged that a priest should be in
waiting to wed them so soon as he should have brought her out of the
fortress. Upon that detail they were within an ace of quarrelling.
Guidobaldo would not at first agree to such hasty nuptials; they were
unfitting the dignity and the station of his niece, and if Gian Maria
would wed her he must come to Urbino and let the ceremony be performed by
a cardinal. Well was it then for Gian Maria that he mastered his wonted
hastiness and curbed the hot, defiant retort that rose to his lips. Had
he done so, an enduring rupture between them would probably have ensued;
for Guidobaldo was not one to permit himself to be hectored, and, after
all, he amply realised that Gian Maria had more need of him than he of
Gian Maria. And this in that moment the Duke of Babbiano realised too,
and realising it he set himself to plead where otherwise he might have
demanded, to beg as a favour that which otherwise he might have commanded
with a threat. And so he won Guidobaldo--although reluctant--to his
wishes in the matter, and in his good-nature the Duke of Urbino consented
to pocket the dignity that prompted him to see the ceremony performed
with princely pomp.
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