𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 5 | 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑶𝑳𝑫 𝑬𝑨𝑮𝑳𝑬 𝑶𝑵 𝑯𝑰𝑺 𝑪𝑹𝑨𝑮

It is a cool, clear spring evening, the first stars just appearing in a periwinkle sky, a brisk breeze off the river blowing away the smokes and fumes of the city. The Tuileries Palace is lit brightly with gas lamps, each window gleaming, figures moving behind closed curtains. Although it's only a block or two from the gates, your grandmother's carriage is caught in traffic and has rolled to a dead stop. Outside the window, you can see the flower beds that border the hedges, red and gold and palest cream tulips closed up tight against the night.

You see your grandmother's mouth relax fractionally. She has always loved flowers, a contradictory passion for a spymistress, but then your grandmother is nothing if not contradictory. She has said little since your precipitous return from Le Havre this morning, except to say that the Emperor would see you himself this evening.

You are becomingly dressed in immaculate fawn-colored breeches and a pale blue coat. It contrasts nicely with your grandmother's sapphire satin, an ideal choice for a woman of her age, though her gown is a bit more daringly cut than most matrons would choose. The carriage moves forward fractionally and then stops again. You sigh.

Your grandmother's gaze does not waver from the tulips along the hedge.

"An Austrian attack on Alexandre's ship," she says, her mouth tight. "It can't be a coincidence. What were you doing to stir up the Austrians so much?"

"Nothing," you protest. "Attending an air race and a house party. I made sure that Alexandre was safe!" Your grandmother sighs. "M/N, you are not a child any longer, and neither is Alexandre. You have to begin to think about the larger picture. You have to think about how your actions affect the fate of nations, not just yourself. You can't just careen from adventure to adventure!" She looks at you sharply. "I am certainly not saying that you should not have personal feelings. But you must be clear, at least with yourself, about what they are. Are you romantically involved with Alexandre?"

You take a deep breath, trying to answer as honestly as you can.

"No. I wish that I were, but he intends to marry someone else."

"You could be his lover. Certainly there are many circles, even at court, where an acknowledged lover of many years enjoys a great deal of respect and prestige." She turns her gaze once again to the window, as she often does when speaking of something personal. "Marshal Ney and I have been together for more than thirty years. Of course he has a wife. But what does that have to do with it? Marriage is about social position, not about love. You and Alexandre might be very happy together even if he makes an appropriate marriage." Your grandmother glances at you sideways. "How would you feel about that?"

"I'm not sure. I hadn't really considered it."

She puts one hand on your knee reassuringly. "You don't have to decide today. You and Alexandre will have to work that out if he does return your feelings. It may not be easy, but I know the two of you will treat each other honorably." She takes a deep breath. "But for now, it's his father you must face. Don't hesitate to tell the Emperor exactly what happened. He appreciates honesty."

The Emperor is old. It's not that you haven't seen him many times before in your years of association with Alexandre, but this time, escorted into the Emperor's study with your grandmother, the change in him strikes you. When did his hair get that white? In the years you have known him, he has grown increasingly stout, but now he seems to have lost weight. It should look good, but it doesn't. Instead of seeming healthy, he seems frail. Alexandre is already there, and he shoots you a look that probably means something but you have no idea what.

Your grandmother sinks into a deep curtsy, and you add your most polished bow as well. "Sire," you murmur.

He does not rise from behind his desk. "Monsieur St. Elme," he says. "What am I to make of this most recent escapade?" He fixes you with his gaze, as if to imply that he holds you personally responsible for the Austrian attack on the Bonaventure.