Leading Lady

by Jane Aiken Hodge

  ‘It would guarantee Napoleon uninterrupted military supplies from the mines at Brundt,’ said Franz.

  ‘But if he is certain of conquering Austria in this campaign, will that be so important to him?’ Max asked.

  ‘He’s a soldier,’ said Franz. ‘That’s where I think our brother is wrong about him. Joseph thinks that presently he will be satisfied, and stop.’

  ‘The question is where, isn’t it?’ Tafur had come to say goodbye to the three of them. ‘Not at the Rhine, so, at the Elbe, the Oder –’

  ‘Or the Indus,’ said Martha. ‘There was something Minette said, made me wonder.’

  ‘Do you know,’ Tafur was on his feet, ready to leave, ‘in our long talk, Prince Joseph said not a word about her.’

  ‘Well, poor fellow,’ said Max. ‘He hardly would, would he?’

  ‘He sent the kindest messages to Lucia.’ Tafur kissed Martha on the cheek. ‘And has invited her to come and visit Cristabel next year.’

  ‘Do try and persuade her,’ said Martha eagerly.

  ‘Next year,’ said Franz, and a small silence fell.

  Chapter 13

  Deferring as prettily as possible to Martha in public, Minette de Beauharnais made it crystal clear in private that she looked on herself as senior lady in the palace. ‘Of course, as a princess by marriage, you must take public precedence over me, dear Martha, but we must never forget that I represent my uncle here.’

  ‘No, indeed.’ Oceans deep in her honeymoon with Franz, Martha was too happy to care.

  ‘So,’ Minette went on, satisfied, ‘it is my duty to think how to smooth over any little awkwardness that remains in our situation. I think a modest entertainment, don’t you, love? A party for the élite of Lissenberg, with dear Cristabel to sing for us. I understand that there might be a little difficulty to be ironed out between her and Prince Joseph, since he actually acted doctor to her.’

  ‘He is a doctor, and a good one.’

  ‘Made of talents! And an engineer as well, would you believe it? You should see his study, full of the most extraordinary drawings. And so much business! No time for us ladies yet, but he gave me carte blanche for my little party, referred me to you for the details. You’ll be pleased to hear he insists that our dear Cristabel come as guest as well as entertainer. Oh, and there are a couple of other people he wants invited, said you’d know where to find them: a Frau Schmidt and someone called Ishmael Brodski.’ Doubtfully. ‘Can that be right? Will he be quite the thing?’

  ‘It depends a little what kind of thing,’ said Martha. ‘But I will be delighted to invite them both. When are you proposing to give this little party?’

  ‘Oh, soon, don’t you think?’

  ‘Yes, best before the weather gets bad, if some of the guests are coming from Brundt.’

  ‘Next week then. I’m sure, admirable Hausfrau that you are, you can manage everything by then. And I shall treat myself to driving down to call on Cristabel, congratulate her on both her performances, and command her appearance. Do you think she and that handsome husband of hers would sing some of the duets from Night of Errors? I quite long to hear that opera! Well,’ without giving Martha time to reply, ‘I must be off if I am not to be benighted on my way back. I’ll give your love to Cristabel, shall I?’

  Left alone, Martha sighed and smiled, and started making a guest list. Franz and Max were down at the opera house busy with the inevitable reorganisation, since Franzosi had gone the day before. She, too, had been busy enough in the few days since Napoleon had left. The whole palace had been in a state of shock and confusion. Prince Gustav and his train had left their apartments in chaos. Prince Joseph had refused to move into the royal apartments she shared with Franz, saying that he preferred the Blue Rooms. The housekeeper, the groom of the chambers, the cook and even Baron Hals had come to her, one after the other, to protest, to complain, to grumble, even to threaten she did not quite know what. Or want to. She had made this crystal clear, calmed them, soothed them, and sent them back to work. Would this party be a last straw, or might it not prove a useful distraction?

  She was wondering whether Ishmael Brodski would accept, and what the Lissenberg aristocracy would think if he did, when Baron Hals appeared with a summons to Prince Joseph’s study. ‘If it is convenient. He says he knows how busy you are.’

  ‘Civil of him.’ She rose, shook out her skirts. ‘I’ll come at once.’

  She had not seen Prince Joseph alone since he had been Doctor Joseph and helped her smuggle Franz out of the palace. How strange it all was. He looked exhausted, visibly older now than his two brothers, his newly cropped hair emphasising the family likeness.

  ‘No, no.’ He forestalled her curtsy as Hals closed the door. ‘I’m your brother, remember. And proud to be.’ Kissing her firmly on both cheeks. ‘And I have an immense apology for you, and a heartfelt thank you. Don’t think I haven’t known how you have been easing things for me, here in the palace. Without you, I don’t know how I would have gone on. There is more to taking over a country than guards in the streets, and so I am beginning to learn. But, sit down, please, and tell me if you think we are going to pull through.’

  ‘Oh, I think so, don’t you? Franz says Lissenberg itself is calm enough, but there is always the problem of Brundt.’

  ‘Yes. We still have guards on duty there, I’m sorry to say, and a curfew. If there is going to be trouble, that is where it will start.’

  ‘And where the mines are.’

  ‘Just so. This party Mademoiselle de Beauharnais wants, do you think it a good idea?’

  ‘Admirable, if it works.’

  ‘If they come, you mean. Frau Schmidt and the senior citizens of the town. And your friend Brodski, whom I badly want to meet.’

  ‘He’ll come, if I ask him. And Frau Schmidt, but the other town elders … I’m not sure about them.’

  ‘The ones who backed your husband as revolutionary and found themselves landed with him as prince.’

  ‘Just so.’

  ‘Oh, well, they will just have to learn that now they are landed with me. But, tell me – I am going to take a brother’s privilege and call you Martha – may I?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Lady Cristabel.’ He hesitated, then plunged into it. ‘Will she forgive me, do you think?’

  ‘She’s very angry.’ It had surprised Martha. ‘She won’t, talk about it.’

  ‘She has a right to be angry. But what could I do? Martha – what could I do? And I am a doctor.’

  ‘And you did her good. But that’s hardly the point.’

  ‘I know.’ She had never seen him so subdued. ‘But,’ more hopefully, ‘that bold choice of Crusader Prince! Her doing, of course. She took a great risk.’

  ‘Not for you.’ Martha felt it must be said.

  ‘No, for my brothers, of course, and for you.’

  ‘And for Lissenberg, I think.’

  ‘And she will sing – for Lissenberg – at my party?’

  ‘Oh, she’ll sing. She’s a professional. Mademoiselle de Beauharnais wants the duets from Night of Errors.’

  ‘I suppose we have to have the husband too?’

  ‘Oh, I think so.’ Something made her absolutely certain that he knew of the separation that had taken place between Cristabel and Fylde. Well, of course he did. He was formidably well informed.

  ‘But not in Night of Errors?’

  ‘Don’t you think that opera – and how Prince Gustav tried to use it – is best forgotten?’

  ‘Yes. Such a pity! Because what Lady Cristabel managed to do with that inferior bit of work was amazing. But I have something that I hope will prove really worthy of her.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘I found it yesterday, hidden among Prince Gustav’s papers. Would you believe it? The young composer Beethoven sent in an opera to the Lissenberg contest last year and Prince Gustav chose to suppress it.’

  ‘Good gracious! And never said a word? But why?’

  ‘Cha
racteristic. Herr van Beethoven had left out the essential element of flattery.’ His smile was very friendly. ‘I confess I long to know how your husband was persuaded to put in his prologue to Crusader Prince.’

  ‘Not by me.’ She smiled too, remembering how Franz had had to explain it to her. ‘He knew he had to win, you see.’

  ‘His was a clever choice of subject, mind you. Gustav was bound to identify with the gallant Saint Brandt, and would not have noticed a little thing like his ill-treatment of his wife. Beethoven’s subject was not nearly so tactful, but I think Lady Cristabel will like it. It’s a political tragedy, the story of Regulus. Do you know it?’

  ‘A Roman general? Something about Carthage?’

  ‘That’s the one. The Carthaginians took him prisoner, sent him back to Rome on parole to offer peace terms. When he got there, he urged the Romans not to make peace, then refused to breach his parole and went back to torture and certain death.’

  ‘A strong story! I think I can see why Herr van Beethoven didn’t think it suitable for Vienna. Sent it here instead. But what part would Cristabel play?’

  ‘There’s a devoted page, Marcus. In love with Regulus’ daughter Livia, but loving Regulus still more. Even Regulus urges Marcus to stay in Rome, to live and marry Livia. Marcus won’t do it. There’s a tremendous duet about honour; her and Regulus at the end. You can imagine the kind of thing. As she will sing it, it should bring the house down. I thought, if she only agrees, we might have her sing that at our party. Will you ask her, please, for me?’

  ‘Would it not be better to do it yourself?’

  ‘You are absolutely right. But – she’s a great lady as well as a great singer. I am afraid to ask her to come and see me, in case she refuses.’

  ‘She even might.’ Martha thought about it. ‘Would you like me to invite her up to the palace tomorrow? Once she’s here, it will be easier for you to ask to see her.’

  ‘If you would. And without the husband, if you can.’

  ‘I can try. And even if he should come, which he is entirely capable of doing, there is nothing to stop you playing the tyrant and insisting on seeing her alone.’

  ‘I don’t believe I’d play the tyrant very well.’

  ‘No, neither do I.’ She smiled at him, surprised at finding herself so entirely his friend.

  Martha’s messenger found Cristabel alone at the hostel next day, since things were still very much at sixes and sevens at the opera house and Fylde had gone down to Lissenberg on some vague errand that would doubtless end up at the gaming table.

  ‘Princess Martha wants to see me,’ Cristabel told her aunt.

  ‘I’m glad. I must confess to being devoured with curiosity as to how they are going on up at the palace.’

  ‘Would you like to come too?’

  ‘Not if I am not asked, my dear. I suspect that Martha has quite enough on her hands in dealing with Minette de Beauharnais. And she’ll be missing Count Tafur, I am sure.’

  ‘We all are.’ She moved over to look out of the window. ‘It almost looks like snow. They are beginning to clear out the tunnel, did you know, getting ready for winter?’

  ‘So soon?’

  ‘Yes. They must expect an early winter.’

  ‘They are probably wrong,’ said Lady Helen comfortably. ‘Weather prophets usually seem to be.’

  ‘Pity it isn’t snowing,’ Cristabel had been following her own train of thought. ‘Then I could go up through the tunnel, quite informally and be certain of seeing Martha alone, as I am sure she wishes.’

  ‘Best not, don’t you think?’ said her aunt. ‘The first time you call at the palace under its new regime.’

  ‘New regime! Its usurper, you mean. Its tyrant!’

  ‘Tyrant? Prince Joseph is hardly behaving like one, by all the reports one hears.’

  ‘Oh, reports! Set forward by himself, no doubt. I just hope, aunt, that I am not so unfortunate as to meet him. I’m not at all sure I would be able to keep a civil tongue in my head.’

  ‘Dear child, do, pray, be careful.’ Lady Helen was seriously concerned now. ‘Don’t let your old friendship for the two princes betray you into any foolishness …’

  ‘Oh, I won’t, aunt, I promise I won’t. I’ll even do my level best to be civil to Minette if I should meet her.’ Now she produced a bitter travesty of a laugh. ‘If I wasn’t so angry with Prince Joseph I could almost be sorry for him. How long do you think before the announcement, aunt? A week? A month? Or –’ a new thought struck her. ‘Do you think her uncle the all-powerful Emperor left her here to choose between the two available princes? If she should decide she preferred Max after all, would he be handed Lissenberg, do you think?’

  ‘Cristabel!’ Now Lady Helen was both shocked and anxious. ‘You cannot still be thinking about Prince Max? Don’t forget –’

  ‘That I’m a married lady? I never forget that. How could I, so fortunate as my marriage has turned out.’

  ‘Oh, my dear.’ Suddenly, appallingly, Lady Helen was in tears. ‘I’ll never forgive myself.’

  ‘Ah, don’t!’ Cristabel amazed herself by hugging her formidable aunt. ‘It’s nobody’s fault but mine. Don’t make it harder for me to forgive myself.’

  ‘And him?’

  ‘Who? Oh – Desmond! I try not to think about him. But I must not keep Martha waiting.’

  ‘Give her my love.’

  ‘I will. And don’t fret, aunt. What’s done, is done. We must just live with it as best we can, and I do bless you for the help you are giving me.’

  ‘You look well!’ Cristabel had been glad to find Martha still in the royal apartments. After the first embrace, she held her friend at arm’s length to look at her. ‘I’ve never seen you in such a glow! You thrive on deposition?’

  ‘Do you know, we do!’ Martha only wished she could return the compliment, but thought Cristabel looked wretched.

  ‘Franz too?’

  ‘Why, yes, I think so. You know what it’s been like for him, this last year. He’s done his best, and small thanks he’s had for it. Now, he’s a free man again, doing the work he loves. And, Cristabel, we all like Joseph so much!’

  ‘How can you!’

  ‘It’s rather, how can we not?’

  ‘Napoleon’s spy! When I think how he wormed his way in … Opened the gates of Lissenberg to the tyrant!’

  ‘Well, Cristabel, hardly that. It was actually my poor Franz who showed Napoleon the way to take Lissenberg. Just think how much worse things might have been for us all, if it had not been for Joseph.’

  ‘Does he call you Martha?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I don’t understand you! And I suppose, the next thing, you will be welcoming Minette de Beauharnais as a sister-in-law?’

  ‘Ah, now that is a question, isn’t it? Franz thinks so, but, for myself, I’m not so sure. But –’ with a glance at the clock on the chimney piece, ‘Cristabel, I’ve a confession to make to you. I have got you here on false pretences. Joseph asked me to. He wants to see you. He has a favour to ask of you.’

  ‘A favour? Of me?’ Her eyes showed brilliant in a blanched face. ‘And if I refuse to see him?’

  ‘Please don’t do that, Cristabel. For all our sakes?’

  Introduced by Baron Hals, Cristabel found Joseph kneeling on the floor of his study, measuring something on an enormous map. He folded it with a swift movement, rose to his feet, held out both hands. ‘Lady Cristabel! Forgive me?’

  She ignored the appealing hands, swept him an almost theatrical curtsy. ‘What is there for me to forgive, if your brothers have? And Martha. They are your relations, I am merely your paid entertainer. You have something to add, perhaps, to Mademoiselle de Beauharnais’s instructions about the entertainment for her party?’

  ‘Instructions?’

  ‘What else? She quite longs to hear the final duet from Night of Errors.’ Even through her anger, the parody of Minette’s fluting tones came over, clear and sardonic.

  ‘I
ntolerable! I never meant … I’ve wished so much to thank you for Crusader Prince – for what you did for my brothers. And for Lissenberg. You stood between Lissenberg and disaster.’

  ‘No need to thank me, prince. I did it for Lissenberg, not for any of you. And I enjoyed doing it.’

  ‘So brilliantly! Must you be so formal with me? I had hoped we were friends.’

  ‘I thought we were. I also thought you were Doctor Joseph. I must congratulate you on your brilliant coup, highness. And on your approaching marriage?’

  ‘No! There are limits to what I will do, even for Lissenberg.’

  ‘You’ll marry her to poor Max then? Demand from him the sacrifice you won’t make yourself?’

  ‘Cristabel!’ Once again his hand went out, looking for hers, but she had withdrawn a swift step.

  ‘Lady Cristabel! No: Mrs Desmond Fylde!’ Her colour was high now, her eyes sparkling with rage.

  ‘I wish you would sit down! That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Your marriage. I have undertaken to introduce Napoleon’s legal code without delay. You will be able to obtain a divorce, and I urge that you do so as soon as possible.’

  ‘How good of you to interest yourself in my affairs!’ She had taken another step away from him. ‘And now, if you will permit, I must return to my duties. I promise you that Mademoiselle de Beauharnais will not be disappointed next week, though I confess I am surprised that you approve her choice of music’

  ‘But I don’t! That’s the other thing I want to tell you.’ And, feeling himself almost babbling, he plunged into a description of the Beethoven opera he had found. It won him her professional attention at least, and she showed the first sign of warmth when he handed her copies he had had made of the duet between Regulus and Marcus.

  ‘Thank you.’ She was still standing. ‘I promise I’ll do my best – we’ll do our best, my husband and I. For Lissenberg. For a quiet winter.’

  ‘Not for me?’

  ‘Why in the world should I do anything for you?’

  Chapter 14

  The day before the party, a mud-stained messenger brought the news that Napoleon had taken Ulm and was poised to attack Vienna. ‘You see!’ Minette told Martha. ‘He is carrying all before him as usual, that amazing uncle of mine. If only we get the news of Vienna’s fall before winter seals the roads! It would immensely strengthen dear Joseph’s position. What a glutton for work that man is! It’s harder to gain access to him than to the Emperor himself. I think we should explain to him, Martha dear, that there is more to governing a country than paperwork. He won’t make himself loved here in Lissenberg if he’s always too busy to see people.’