The Queen`s Confession

by Виктория Холт

“Not to be bribed.”

  And I hugged him, which made him wriggle more than ever. His little woollen cap fell off and I was enchanted, for he was much prettier without it. I thought how delightful he would look in the clothes I should plan for him. We should soon discard that red frock and the little sabots.

  When we reached the palace there was some astonishment to see me hand in hand with a little peasant boy, who was now too bewildered by all he saw to continue with his tears.

  The Queen’s latest folly, was what they called it. But I did not care.

  At last I had a child even though he was not of my flesh and blood. I found a nurse for him immediately-the wife of one of my menservants who had children of her own and whom I knew to be a good mother. I gave orders that he was to be suitably dressed as became his new station in life. And then with Madame Campan’s help I set about making arrangements to send my little darling’s brothers and sisters to school.

  Those were the happiest days I had known for a long time, and when I saw my little one in a white lace-trimmed frock with a rose-coloured sash trimmed with silver fringe, and a little hat decorated with a feather, I thought he was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.

  I embraced him; I wept over him; and this time he did not object; he lifted those wondering and most beautiful blue eyes to my face and called me “Maman.”

  I called him Armand. That was his family name and it seemed more suitable at Court than Jacques. Every morning he was brought to me; he would sit on my bed before my lever; and we would breakfast together; sometimes we would dine together too. The King would join us and he grew quite fond of little Armand.

  I was the only one who could tame his. waywardness. He liked to sit on the bed and play with the feathers and ornaments of my head-dresses.

  When I was most elaborately dressed for some ball or banquet I would go and show myself to him.

  If I loved him, he loved me too. It did not occur to me that a child could be capable of deep emotion—perhaps deeper than my own.

  No one could doubt that die state of affairs between my

  husband and myself was unsatisfactory. Although he never showed anything but kindness for me it was clear that he preferred the company of others to mine. He spent more time with Gamain than with me. I was completely outside political affairs; he showed clearly that, indulgent as he was towards me—permitting my extravagances, often paying my debts, practising, as it seemed, parsimony to counterbalance my extravagance, even allowing me to bring a peasant child into the family circle—he was not going to allow me to interfere in political affairs.

  The uneasiness of my mother. Mercy, Vermond and Kaunitz was apparent.

  And my mother had her enemies in Europe, the chief of whom was Frederick of Prussia—known as the Great to so many, and to my mother as the Monster.

  Frederick had his spies everywhere, so he was well informed of the King’s inability to consummate our marriage, and an idea occurred to him that an experienced woman might achieve what a frivolous young girl had failed to do. Such a woman was the well-known actress of the Comedie Francaise, Louise Contat. She was more than beautiful; a woman of sensitivity, understanding and great charm, she was sought after by many a nobleman.

  Such a mistress, Frederick the Great was certain, could greatly help the King. In any case it was worthy of a try. And it should be ascertained before the liaison was encouraged that the delectable Contat would be the friend of Prussia.

  But for the vigilance of Vermond and Mercy I have no notion what would have grown out of this; but of one thing I am sure: my husband would never have been unfaithful.

  Mercy was, however, soon writing to my mother. What a flutter there must have been in the Hofburg! I imagined the conferences between Joseph and my mother. Joseph had grown more pompous than ever, and as head of the family, believed it was his duty to castigate his family and keep it in order.

  He had visited Naples to see Caroline, and her conduct did not please him. Poor Caroline ! What had the years done to her? She was creating scandal in Naples with the husband to whom she had gone so reluctantly.

  Joseph had plenty to lecture her about. Caroline’s excuse was that she never entertained a lover until she was pregnant by her husband. As though as long as she secured the rightful succession nothing else mattered. Maria Amalia had been creating scandal in Parma ever since she had been there. And here was I in France, with the eyes of the world on me, frivolous and extravagant, but at least faithful to my husband—although rumour accused me of a hundred obscenities.

  And now there was a possibility of my place in my husband’s affections being taken by a brilliant and attractive actress who would be eternally grateful to my mother’s greatest enemy for putting her in this exalted position.

  Action must be taken without fail. It should have been long before.

  My brother Joseph was coming to Versailles to discover the true state of affairs for himself and to see what could be done about them.

  Imperial Visitor

  Do you look for opportunities? Do you sincerely respond to the affection the King shows you? Are you cool or distrait when he caresses you? Do you appear bored or disgusted? If so, can it be expected that a man of cold temperament could make advances and love you with passion?

  In truth, I tremble for your happiness because I believe that in the long run things cannot continue as they are now. The revolution will be a cruel one and perhaps of your own making.

  FROM THE EMPEROR JOSEPH’S INSTRUCTIONS TO MARIE ANTOINETTE

  I have attained the happiness which is of the greatest importance to my whole life. My marriage was thoroughly consummated. Yesterday the attempt was repeated and was even more successful than the first time. I don’t think I am with child yet, but I have hopes of becoming so at any moment.

  MARIE ANTOINETTE TO MARIA THERESA

  I hope that next year will not go by without my giving you a nephew or niece. It is to you we owe this happiness.

  LOUIS XVI TO EMPEROR JOSEPH

  News was brought to me that my brother had arrived in Paris and was staying at the Austrian Embassy, being entertained by Mercy. What, I wondered, was Mercy telling my brother about me at this moment? It could scarcely be anything flattering. I thought of all the reproachful letters I had received from Vienna. Nothing would have been kept from my brother the Emperor of Austria and co-ruler with my mother.

  The last time I had seen him was when I had said good bye to my home and he had travelled the first stage of the journey with me. I remembered yawning while I listened to his recounting my good fortune and how many horses were being used to carry me on my journey. I had not then been sorry to say goodbye to Joseph; but now I was both delighted and apprehensive at the prospect of seeing a member of my very own family.

  Joseph had given instructions that there was to be no fuss, no ceremony. He was not even travelling as the Emperor of Austria but as Count Falkenstein, and had arrived at the Embassy in an open carriage in the heavy rain. This need not have happened, of course. He could have come in state.

  I guessed that he would lecture me on my extravagance;

  it was something he particularly deplored for he enjoyed living a Spartan life; he had always wanted to be a ruler whose first thought was the betterment of his people, and he liked to travel among them incognito, doing good by stealth; but malicious people said that although he remained incognito for a while he always liked his identity to be revealed at the climax of his adventures, when he would arrange for someone to betray him. Then he could dramatically declare:

  “Yes, I am the Emperor.”

  I refused to believe this. It was more malicious gossip; but at the end of Joseph’s visit, I was not so sure. In fact it was rather tiresome of him to come incognito. Why should he stay at the Embassy?

  He had said that while he was at Versailles he had no intention of lodging at the chateau or the Trianon. Two furnished rooms must be found for him in the town for he did not wish to be treated as t
he Emperor of Austria, but as an ordinary citizen.

  Today, I thought, will be the day.

  I was at my toilette. My hair was hanging about my shoulders, for Monsieur Leonard’s six in hand had not yet rattled along the road between Paris and Versailles, when I heard the clatter of horses’ hoofs in the courtyard. It was half past nine, and I paid little attention, therefore I was most surprised when I was told that the Abbe Vermond was without and he had a visitor to see me. The visitor did not wait to be announced, but burst in on me unceremoniously.

  It is! ” I cried.

  “It really is … my brother Joseph.” Then I forgot everything but that this was my brother; and I felt like a child again, as though I were in the Schonbrunn about to be reproached for something, and I ran to him and threw my arms about him. Joseph was moved too, and as he embraced me there were tears in his eyes.

  My little sister . my beautiful little sister !’ “But Joseph, it is wonderful to see you…. It is so long … and I have thought of you so much and our dearest mother and home….”

  I was chattering incoherently in German, for I had slipped back to my native tongue unconsciously. oh Joseph, it is wonderful. It is like being a little girl again. “

  Joseph said it did him good to look at me, and at that moment he was not a bit like the stem brother who had been so critical of my frivolity back in Vienna. But we Germans are a sentimental people.

  Living so long with the French, I had forgotten how much so.

  We went on chattering. And how is dear Mamma? And what of the Schonbrunn gardens? Do the fountains still play as they did? What of our little theatre in the Hofburg where we used to perform our plays?

  What of the servants? What of my dogs . those I had to leave behind?

  Is Mamma well and happy? I’m afraid she has been anxious. How I should love to see her. You must tell her, Joseph . tell her that I long to see her again.

  We were laughing and crying and Joseph said I had grown beautiful. I had been a pretty little creature when I left; now I had become a beautiful woman. If he could find a woman as beautiful as I was he would marry again.

  This was just the excitement of our reunion. We revelled in it for that first hour or so, before he embarked on the unpleasant task which had brought him to France, which was of course to lecture me, to criticise me, and to teach me how to rectify my follies.

  When my almost hysterical joy in reunion was over I was able to look at him clearly and, I have to admit, critically. He was scarcely handsome; he was purposely very plainly dressed, for his suit was meant to be of service rather than to flatter. It was of a colour known in the Court as puce, since Rose Benin had made me a dress in a silk of the same shade and the King seeing it had cried out that it was the colour of a flea. From then on, ‘puce’ had become fashionable. But it scarcely suited my brother. I disliked his short boots, which gave him a look of the people; and the way in which his hair was dressed was certainly not becoming to an Emperor; he wore it in a single curl. He stooped a little and had aged a great deal since I had last seen him.

  “You are thinking that I do not look like the Emperor of Austria.

  Confess it. “

  “You look like my brother Joseph and that is all I ask.”

  “Ah, they have taught you to pay fancy compliments here, but I am a plain man and I like plain speaking. Now let us be completely alone together for I wish to talk to you.”

  “You will wish me to conduct you to the King, who will be anxious to meet you.”

  “All in good time,” said Joseph.

  “First I want to hear from your own lips if these rumours are true. You must be frank with me, because it is on account of this that I am at Versailles—on account of this and other matters. And I must know the truth with nothing held back.”

  I conducted him into a small antechamber and shut the door.

  “The whole of Europe,” he said, ‘talks of your marriage. It is true, is it not, that the King is unable to consummate that marriage? “

  It’s true. “

  “Although he has made many attempts ” He has made many attempts. “

  “And the doctors have examined him and find that the knife is necessary to make him a normal man.”

  I nodded.

  “He shrinks from this operation?”

  I nodded again.

  “I see. He must be made to see his duty Joseph walked up and down the apartment as though commiming with himself. In spite of his plain garments he adopted what I thought of as a very Imperial attitude. I began to wonder then whether Joseph was as modest as he wanted us to believe.

  He asked many intimate questions and I answered him frankly.

  He said: “It was time I came.”

  I sent a messenger to tell the King that my brother was in the chateau and I proposed bringing him to him without delay; then I slipped my arm through that of Joseph and led him to the King’s apartments.

  Louis hurried to my brother and embraced him.

  I noticed that Louis was taller, and although he was by no means the most elegant man at Court he looked distinguished beside Joseph. But Joseph had the manner of the elder brother. He might like to travel incognito but he immediately made it clear that he considered the King of France inferior to the Emperor of Austria. Louis was at the moment in purple velvet because he was in mourning for the King of Portugal, who had died a short while before.

  They exchanged pleasantries and Louis assured my brother that the whole of the chateau was at his disposal, to which Joseph laughed, shaking his head.

  “No, brother,” he said, I prefer to live as a simple man. My lodgings in Versailles will suit me very well. I have two rooms which are good enough for me in the house of one of your bath attendants. “

  “You will surely not find the comfort to which you are accustomed there.”

  “I do not give much thought to comfort, brother, and I am not so accustomed to it as you are. A camp bed and a bearskin is all I ask.”

  He looked round the gilded apartment as he spoke, and his gaze was a little scornful as though there was some thing sinful in our splendour.

  He must meet the members of the Royal Family, said the King; and some of his ministers, most certainly Monsieur de Maurepas. Nothing would delight him more, replied Joseph; and the morning was spent in receiving people and presenting them to him. I felt a little, uncomfortable because my hair was not dressed and there was no time to have this lengthy ceremony performed. Poor Monsieur Leonard, I guessed, was in despair, but naturally I could not leave my brother. If he had given us a time when he would arrive, how much more comfortable it would have been for us all I But Joseph’s simple habits were to make life considerably more complicated for us during his stay.

  We took dinner in my bedchamber. No ceremony, demanded Joseph, so a table was brought and we sat on stools, which was somewhat uncomfortable. So there we were perched on our stools eating in the bedchamber, the three of us most informally; we were none of us quite at ease, and I was sure both Louis and I would have been less strained if we had eaten in the normal way.

  We talked a great deal together during the next few days. Joseph had come to France with a threefold purpose: to warn me to repent of my frivolous ways; to cement the alliance between France and Austria; and, perhaps most important of all, to discover the truth behind my unsatisfactory marriage and set it to rights. It was characteristic of Joseph that he believed himself capable of achieving all three.

  During the first days the sentimental feelings aroused by our reunion continued. I could see, though, that he thought the French Court a very extravagant place and he was very critical of it.

  On the second day Joseph took an intimate supper with the family in Elisabeth’s apartments. I wanted my brother to be fond of Elisabeth because I was, and she was growing into an enchanting creature. The idea crossed my mind that Joseph needed a wife; he had suffered two unhappy marriages, first with the beautiful and strange Isabella, whom he had loved, and t
hen with the wife whom he had hated; his only child was dead. He was Emperor of Austria and he needed an heir . although of course he had brothers to follow him. Yet if Elisabeth married Joseph she would go away from France, and that did not seem to me such a good idea.

  I fancied that Artois was laughing at my brother behind his back. He and Provence would consider Joseph inelegant and uncultured.

  So that was an uneasy meal. Oh dear, how I wished Joseph would behave like normal visiting royalty!

  Something seemed to have happened to all three brothers that night. I dare say it was provoked by Joseph’s stilted conversation; but when we rose, Provence stuck out a leg and Louis tripped over it; then Louis fell on Provence and they wrestled together; Artois joined in. It was only a game, but it seemed extraordinary to Joseph. I had seen my husband and his brothers romp in this way before, sometimes it was half in fun, at others half in anger, for Provence I believe was so jealous of Louis that this kind of fighting relieved his feelings. As for Louis himself, he always enjoyed this sort of game, perhaps because he usually emerged the victor. Artois of course was mischievous enough to delight in something which would shock the visitor.

  Elisabeth and I exchanged glances of horror, but Joseph ignored the romping young men and talked to us, showing not the slightest surprise.

  Later I said to him: “Madame Elisabeth is already quite the woman I’ and he replied sternly: ” It would be more satisfactory if the King were quite the man. “

  I was eager to show Joseph the Petit Trianon, and the next day I took him there, with only two ladies in attendance, because, I told Joseph, “The Trianon is my retreat and there I can live simply.”

  With pride I took him to see the English garden which was almost finished.

  He was not interested. He began to lecture me.

  Did I not realise that I was heading for disaster? I surrounded myself with men and women of questionable morals. It was small wonder that my own morals were questioned.