Leading Lady (16 page)

‘Not now, after last night's unanimous vote for exile,' said Franz. ‘I am afraid you may be right, but I think I must stand by it now. But we'll keep the little prince here as a hostage, though God knows how much that will be worth.'

‘Nothing to Prince Gustav, I'd think,' said Martha. ‘Maybe something to his wife. And what are you going to do about Franzosi?'

‘I've done it. He has his notice to get out before the
road is closed. And Max has agreed to take his place, I'm happy to say. We are going to need all the cheerful entertainment we can get in the anxious winter I see ahead. Do you think the company is capable of putting on your opera, Max?'

‘
Daughter of Odin?
I don't see why not. Cristabel would be superb as my valkyrie, but it's a long part.'

‘She's a very quick study,' said Martha. ‘But what about Fylde? Cristabel came to see me this morning. He wants to leave! He didn't much like what Franzosi did to him last night, and you can't really blame him.' She did not mention the other thing Cristabel had told her, that Fylde had anticipated trouble in Lissenberg. They had taken care of that, after all.

‘But what of Cristabel?' asked Max. ‘Does she want to go?'

‘No. That's why she came to me. She can't shift Fylde, asks our help.'

‘Good of her to want to stay,' said Franz. ‘When the word gets out of this last performance, the world will really be at her feet. But we need her here! No use pretending it's going to be an easy winter.'

‘She's a good friend,' said Martha. ‘She'll stay.' Was it only that? She wished she knew, and she also hoped that Max was not reading too much into Cristabel's decision.

‘Will Fylde go without her?' Max asked now.

‘I doubt it. Poor Cristabel, by her very success she has tied herself more firmly to him than ever. He will never let go of such a promising source of income. And now there is her father's allowance too. No, he'll stay, I am afraid. Will that present insuperable problems for
Daughter of Odin?
'

‘I don't just see him as Odin,' said Max ruefully. ‘But it will be an interesting challenge to try what we can manage with the company we have, since there is hardly time to find new singers before the road is closed. I've called a special meeting of the whole company for tonight, to discuss what we are going to do. It will do them good to talk over what Franzosi tried to do, I think.'

‘I'm sure it will,' said Franz. ‘I'm a great believer in discussion.'

‘Unlike your father,' said Martha. ‘How lucky we are. And no more performances of
Night of Errors
!' To Max, but with a smile for both of them.

It had been a night Cristabel never wanted to remember, but found it impossible to forget. Satisfied at last, Desmond had fallen into a deep sleep and she managed to leave him there and make what felt like her escape to the palace and Martha's comforting company. Had she also hoped to meet Doctor Joseph there? If so, she was disappointed, but the promise of Martha's support was something.

Returning as late as possible to the hostel, she was relieved to learn that Fylde had gone down into Lissenberg. To apologise to the seconda donna for failing her the night before? He was capable of anything, she began to think. She encountered him for the first time at the meeting of the whole company with Prince Max later in the evening, and saw his start of surprise when she gave Max her promise to stay for the winter. ‘I look forward to singing your valkyrie, Max.'

When the meeting ended, she made an excuse to go to her dressing-room and, as she expected, Desmond joined her there. He was very angry, she noticed wearily, but this too was only what she had expected.

‘You agreed to stay!' He burst right out with it. ‘Without consulting me! Your husband. Though you knew how much I want to go. You went off up to the palace and gave all kinds of promises to your friend the upstart Princess Martha, who wouldn't be a princess at all, today, if it had not been for you. And all without even mentioning it to the person most concerned. To me – your husband!'

‘We have to talk about that, you and I.'

‘But not tonight! How right you are, my angel. You are exhausted. I, who know and love you, can see that. Tomorrow will be time enough to talk about our careers, our future. Your great success. For tonight, it is time to go home, time for your bed, my beauty. I have thought about you all day! Thought about last night. You are the only woman for me, my angel. Never for an instant doubt that. We have sacrificed ourselves long enough. And we are never going to let any interfering old sawbones come between us again! I can't do without
you, my own. I've learned that.' He put a hungry hand on her shoulder.

‘No.' Very quiet, very firm. ‘I said we had to talk, you and I. That's why I waited here. My dresser is outside, with a couple of friends in case they are needed. I hope they won't be. Only, you must understand, there is going to be no repetition of last night.'

‘Last night?' He was genuinely puzzled. ‘We were happy last night.'

‘You may have been. I was not. And you did not even notice. That sums it up. No need to say more. You say I'm a success. Good. If you want your share of that success, you must undertake to leave me alone. No, wait a minute.' She raised an imperious hand to silence him. ‘Let me finish. I married you. I was a fool, but I married you. So – I'll work with you; I'll share my earnings with you; but from now on I will not share a bed with you. Nor a room. Understand that, respect that, and I'll let things go on, apparently, as before. Refuse –' She paused.

‘Yes, my queen, what would you do if I were to refuse? Man and wife are one flesh, remember. And woman the weaker vessel. The law is on my side.'

‘The law! Here in Lissenberg, among my friends?' She looked him up and down. ‘Now, are you going to your mistress, the seconda donna, or must I ask my friends to get rid of you for me?'

‘Oh, I'm going where I'm wanted.' He gave in angrily. ‘But I promise you, you'll be sorry!'

‘I think we shall do very well.' Max was telling Martha and Franz about the meeting of the opera company over a late breakfast next morning. ‘Fylde looked black as thunder, but I have Cristabel's promise, which is the main thing. She says she looks forward to singing my valkyrie. I can't tell you how grateful I am to you, Franz, for giving me this second chance, after my failure in Vienna.'

‘I'm sure that was a matter of politics,' Franz told him. ‘I very much look forward to seeing your opera. That's settled then.' With relief. ‘What a pleasure to turn to such an agreeable subject after the chaos and confusion of the last
two days! If only my friends weren't so intent on naming and taking revenge on the people they regard as my enemies, my life would be much simpler. Of course there was a claque shouting for Gustav the other night. They were paid for it. Nothing would induce me to “make examples of them” as Hals urges.'

‘Here comes Baron Hals,' warned Martha.

‘And in one of his panics by the look of it,' said Max. Martha's heart stirred as she saw her husband brace himself for more bad news.

‘Sir! Madam!' Hals was actually stuttering a little. ‘I can hardly believe it still, but the man's in the uniform of the Emperor's own guard.'

‘What man?' asked Franz patiently. ‘Calm yourself, baron, and tell us what guard and which emperor.'

‘Forgive me. It's the shock! I'm an old man. I'm sorry.' He accepted the glass of wine Martha had silently poured and passed to him. ‘Thank you.' He took a sip, hardly aware what he did. ‘Sir,' to Franz. ‘It's the Emperor Napoleon. He is on his way here; will arrive in half an hour; sends to warn you of his friendly visit.'

‘Friendly?' questioned Franz. ‘He's moved fast! What can this mean?'

‘Nothing good,' said Max.

‘We'd best arrange to receive him,' said Martha. ‘What retinue does he bring?'

‘That's what I can't understand,' said Hals. ‘Just a small contingent of the Old Guard. A family visit, he calls it.'

‘Trusting of him,' said Franz. ‘I suppose we should take it as a compliment.'

‘We might as well,' said Martha. ‘But I doubt that is how it will turn out.'

Half a desperate hour later they were drawn up in the familiar position on the dais of the great hall. Hals had nervously suggested that the Emperor should be received at the castle gates, but Franz had been firm about this. ‘No, that is a courtesy that must be reserved for the Emperor of Austria, our overlord. Napoleon shall have his due, nothing more.' He had also refused to free Prince Gustav, another suggestion babbled
by Hals, who had visibly lost his nerve. Instead, Franz had ordered the guard doubled on the guest wing. ‘After this visit, we may find ourselves thinking again about Gustav's future,' he said to Max and Martha. ‘For the moment, it's a comfort to have him safe in custody.'

How safe is safe? wondered Martha, as she took her place beside her husband on the dais. And how very strange to find herself, plain American Martha Peabody, waiting in full dress to receive the man many Englishmen looked on as practically the Anti-Christ himself. She had met him in Paris, when Cristabel gave a concert in Talleyrand's house, and had seen nothing to shake the dislike and distrust of him she had learned in England. Since then he had made himself Emperor, publicly murdered an innocent opponent, threatened England with invasion, and was now launching a new attack across Europe. But what in the world had made him turn aside for this extraordinary visit?

Here he was, striding into the great hall at the head of his retinue, plainly dressed as usual, sweeping off his hat in a friendly bow at the sight of her, holding out a hand to Franz who had stepped forward to greet him. ‘I am come to return your visit, prince, since you left me so suddenly. Not that I blame you for that; I should have known better than to keep a man so long from his new wife.' With a civil bow for Martha.

‘I bring you friendly messages from Friedrich of Württemberg,' Napoleon went on, when the first formalities were over. ‘He has the kindest memories of your opera company. I shall hope to hear your diva while I am with you; I remember her well from Paris. We had a fine performance of
Don Giovanni
at Ludwigsburg just the other night. It was hard to tear myself away from so friendly a reception. But we have unfinished business to attend to, prince, you and I. May we get to it at once? If I am to catch up with my army again before it sweeps down on Vienna, I must leave you tomorrow.'

‘In that case,' said Franz, ‘my brother and I will be at your disposal in half an hour. Baron Hals, show the Emperor to his rooms, then send a message to the opera house commanding a performance for tonight.'

‘Of
Night of Errors
, sir?' Hals looked flustered out of his wits.

‘I have heard something about that,' Napoleon spoke into the little silence. ‘I would like to see it.'

‘Of
Night of Errors
, Hals,' said Franz.

‘He wants us on his side, of course.' Franz joined Martha just in time to change for the opera. ‘Or, as a grand concession, we may remain neutral and send him all our mineral exports.'

‘Tempting,' said Martha.

‘But we refused.'

‘I'm glad. What will he do now?'

‘What can he do? Just because he found he could win young Friedrich of Württemberg with promises of a crown, he thinks he can carry everything before him. We'll show him different, here in Lissenberg.'

‘What in the world made him think he could persuade you so easily?' It still troubled Martha. ‘After trying all summer, and failing.'

‘It's the problem of great power,' said Franz cheerfully. ‘You end up convinced you can do anything. I'm glad I shall never be anything but the most minor of princes. Are you ready, love? We must not keep our great man waiting.'

Napoleon was in the great hall, talking to a member of the Old Guard, Baron Hals dancing anxious attendance. The soldier was exhausted, mud-stained, dishevelled. ‘I couldn't stop him, sir,' Hals saw Franz and began to excuse himself. ‘He insisted on seeing the Emperor at once.'

‘Why not?' asked Franz. ‘Our honoured guest.'

‘A little more than that,' said Napoleon. ‘I have news for you, prince. My troops are now in control of both Brundt and Lissenberg. No need to look alarmed – quite without bloodshed – all your friends are safe. But you must see that it means a reopening of our discussion.'

‘I don't believe it,' said Franz. ‘It's not possible.'

‘Nothing is impossible to a mind like mine. And you were the greatest help to me, my dear prince. I promise to remember it in my arrangements for you and your charming wife. If
you had not grown impatient and hurried home across the mountains, how would I have found the way?'

‘You had me followed?'

‘Naturally I had you followed. Carefully. A rough path, but my trained mountaineers seem to have managed it. And of course the element of surprise was complete. I am happy to be able to tell you that we have taken control quite unopposed. Look out the window, if you need proof. It is my guard on duty now, not yours. Your Lissenbergers are a sensible, peace-loving people. I believe I will not insist on their serving in my army, just so long as they keep the munitions flowing. And I have just this minute hit on the way to make sure of that. They do seem to be remarkably fond of you – and your princess –' another of his bows for Martha – ‘I think if we lock you up comfortably here in the palace and let it be known that it will be the dungeons for you if supplies falter – Don't you think, princess, that your friends will see to it that I get my weapons.'

‘Blackmail,' said Franz, between his teeth.

‘Power politics, my dear young friend. If you are ever to rule again, you will need to learn more about them. But for the time being, I am afraid you and your wife must resign yourselves to the most honourable form of captivity. Just so long as your Lissenbergers behave themselves.'