Je T'aime.

IV. Thundering Hooves

I tugged on the edge of the jacket of my riding habit as I made my way down to the stables. Surrounding Schönbrunn was a deep, dark forest that was perfect for riding and hunting. I always loved hunting in my teenage years. I especially loved my riding habit, of a masculine style and a shade of crimson red. I felt like a prince, my hair tied in a single queue down my back with a black bow.

In the distance I heard the baying of hounds and the excited whinnying of horses. As I approached the royal stables, I was nearly toppled over by Joseph's hunting dogs, Hercules and Theseus. "Good morning, boys!" I said to them, rubbing behind their ears.

Joseph whistled, and his dogs came trotting back to his side. "You're going to ride today?"

"You got it," I said, posing in my riding habit. "Gladiator could use a good ride."

"Hmm," Joseph hummed. "Isabella and her ladies are going to be taking a phaeton. I thought you would want to join them."

"You know me. I can't just sit there and watch you all ride past without me."

Joseph smiled. "You always have to try to outdo me, don't you?"

I nodded. "Yes. Now if you excuse me, I have a horse to saddle up," I entered the stable.
I saw my beautiful white Arabian, Gladiator, being saddled up by a stable hand. I approached my horse and ran my hand down his paper-white nose. "Sorry for not visiting you, buddy. Unfortunately archduchess duties come first."

"Christina!" yelped voice out of my field of vision, accompanied by a figure leaping out of the dark into my peripherals. 

I felt myself jump. As my brain finally processed what had happened, I sighed. "Jesus, Albert, you scared me."

Albert burst out laughing. "I got you, didn't I?" He clapped his hands in delight.

"Yeah, yeah, you're just a barrel of laughs."

"Here, let me give you a boost," Albert got down onto one knee beside my horse and interlocked his hands. I placed my foot on his hands, and he helped lift me into the saddle. "Here, take this. Ludwig was out yesterday, and he said the foxes are pretty quick."

Albert handed me a musket and a cartridge pouch. I attached the firearm to Gladiator's saddle of black and gold, and wore the pouch on my hip. Albert swung himself onto his chestnut mare, Cleopatra.

Together we rode out of the stable and towards the wide brick path that led into the forest. To our left was the garden, where dedicated floral keepers plucked the last of dying summer blossoms from the bushes. To our right was an expansive field of grass that stretched over a large hill. The morning sunlight soaked into my clothes and wrapped me in a tender warmth. A steady, crisp breeze fluttered my skirt and Gladiator's mane. Off in the orchards, dozens of workers were tending to the apple trees before the season was over. Apples were a good cold weather food; they were hearty and could hold up well in cold storage. Every year at Schönbrunn, the picking of apples was a bitter reminder that winter was just around the corner.

We met up with the other participants of the hunt just before the entrance to the forest. It was crowded with the noise of several packs of hunting dogs, howling to their hearts' content. I could easily identify Hercules and Theseus- they wore collars of scarlet leather to show they were the hounds of the Crown Prince. Carts, carriages and phaetons were lined up, ready for their ride through the forest. From my position, I could see that they were filled with ladies and children. As I glanced around I realized that I was the only woman on horseback that day.

I made eye contact with Madame von Brandeis, who was sitting in an open cart with Ferdinand, Maximilian, Antonia and Carolina. The noble-faced governess was wearing a Brunswick coat and was wrapped in a blanket, although I didn't think it was that cold. She nudged the children and whispered something. They all cheered up and waved to me. "Hi, Mimi!"