Polonaise (34 page)

‘I haven't seen him. Don't propose to if it can be avoided. But you must see, Jenny, the changes in our law at Dresden last summer.' She coloured. ‘They are going to make a great difference.'

‘The Code Napoleon, you mean, as it now applies in the Grand Duchy? I'm sure it is an admirable thing that there should be a proper code of laws at last here in Poland, but I'm afraid I'm stupid; I don't quite understand …'

‘No, why should you? There does seem to have been some delay in publishing the details here, and of course there is no
reason why it should concern you.' Marie smiled, her colour still high. ‘But, Jenny, divorce has become a possibility here for the first time. I wonder if that is why he would not let me risk scandal by going to Dresden last year. He thinks of everything!'

‘You can't mean?' Jenny took it in with amazement. ‘That he might divorce the Empress? And you the Count?'

‘He loves me. He truly does. And then, oh Jenny! Just think what I could do for Poland!'

‘Marie!' Now she was afraid for her friend. ‘I do beg of you to be careful … not to hope too easily …'

Marie surprised her with a quick kiss. ‘I love him,' she said, as if that settled it.

After that, there was no more to be said, but Jenny went away very thoughtful.

Warsaw was in a ferment as more and more details of the constitution Napoleon had dictated for the new Duchy gradually became known. This took some time, since the great landowners still controlled the day-to-day government and were far from enthusiastic about many of its provisions.

‘They say Napoleon has freed the serfs, but I can't believe it.' Lech had found Jenny and Marylka trying to make Casimir concentrate on a reading lesson.

‘Freed us?' Marylka jumped to her feet. ‘Oh, Pani Jenny, do you think it's true? And, what will the Princess say?'

A little silence fell as they all thought about it. Then, ‘Mother will be angry,' said Prince Casimir. ‘But don't worry, Marylka. If she won't free you, I will when I'm grown up.'

‘Oh, the little love.' Marylka hugged him. But he had been right about his mother. She returned to the Ovinski Palace a little later in a flaming rage, and sent for Jenny.

‘Have the slaves heard?' was her first question.

‘Yes, Highness.' No use pretending not to understand.

‘Then tell them this. I have been talking to Marshal Davout. He has the full details of this fine new constitution. They are free to leave, tell them, and go where they please. But I am just as free to hold on to their land if they do so. They leave without a penny and without a hope. They'll be back soon enough! Marshal Davout's a gentleman, by the way. Why did
no one tell me? I begin to think I shall be able to deal with him.' She smiled at herself in the glass.

News of Napoleon's setbacks in Spain and Portugal was slow to reach Warsaw, where the press was tightly controlled. Jenny heard the first hints from Marie Walewska who had come to town for a few June days. ‘To cheer myself up,' she explained. ‘Paris begins to seem like a dream, and he writes nothing about another meeting. He's got so much on his mind. This revolt in Madrid! Idiotic creatures; can't they see how lucky they are to be rid of their mad King and that wretch Godoy!'

‘A revolt?' asked Jenny.

‘His messenger told me. Joseph Bonaparte has been made King of Spain. Apparently the
madrileños
don't like it! They actually took to the streets; fired on the French soldiers. Thousands of Spaniards were killed. They've learned their lesson. But it's no wonder my poor Napoleon writes in such haste. He never troubles me with bad news. You'll not tell anyone, Jenny? He wouldn't like it.'

‘No one but Isobel,' said Jenny. ‘You know you can trust her.'

‘Trouble in Spain?' Isobel pounced on the news. ‘I thought Davout looked preoccupied yesterday. He said something about being busy with new troop dispositions. Do you think Napoleon is asking for reinforcements from here? I wonder what the Austrians would do if the French army here were much weakened.'

‘The Austrians?'

‘Are waiting their chance for revenge, of course. Like the Prussians. Naturally, they want to recover the land they lost to the new Duchy of Warsaw. Haven't you noticed how much more trouble there is now at the frontier between Austrian-held Rendomierz and the Duchy? They're watching each other, French and Austrians. Each waiting for a chance to strike. And, when it happens, maybe it will be Poland's chance at last.'

‘Why, Isobel, you're becoming a politician.'

‘I must, for my son's sake. Call on Marie again tomorrow, Jenny, and see what else you can find out. Ask her whether it is true that Talleyrand is in disgrace.'

‘I thought his new position was a promotion.'

‘So did I at first. Now, I'm not so sure.'

‘I'll certainly ask Marie, but you know her, she's no politician.'

As Jenny expected, Marie knew nothing about Talleyrand, but she had had some more talk with Napoleon's messenger. ‘He says that it's the British who are stirring up the trouble in Spain.' Marie put her hand to her mouth. ‘Oh – I quite forgot.'

‘I'm glad you don't look on me as an enemy.' She thought about it. ‘I'm not sure I don't feel as much Polish as British by now. England's so far away …'

‘Poor Jenny!' Marie reached out to take her hand. ‘Do you hear from home at all?'

‘Home? What is my home, I wonder? No – I've not heard since we left Petersburg. My family aren't great correspondents. Well, my sisters have the children … That was my last news. Another niece and another nephew. I'm afraid I'm not much use as an aunt.' She did not choose to explain that even this news had come in a friendly letter from Lady Egremont. But she had had no answer to her own reply, which was hardly surprising, granted that a state of war now existed between England and both Russia and the new Duchy of Warsaw.

‘Dear Jenny.' Marie pressed the hand she held.

‘Is it true that the Tsar is off on his travels again?' George Richards had met Jan Warrington on the English Quay one misty September morning of 1808. The two men were better friends than ever since Jan's intercession with the Tsar had made it possible for George and his wife to stay on in Petersburg when the other English left the year before.

‘I believe so. He's off to Königsberg in that famous open calèche of his, to see his friends the King and Queen of Prussia, and then on to Erfurt to take council with the Emperor.'

‘Napoleon? I hope he's taking a long spoon!'

‘It's not for lack of warning if he doesn't! The Empress Mother and the Princess Catherine both hate Napoleon like the plague. But I'm told the Tsar just listens to them, and smiles that gracious, remote smile of his, and says nothing.'

‘I wonder what he thinks.'

‘If we knew that, George, we'd be rich men, you and I, or on the way to being.'

George smiled. ‘We're not doing so badly as it is, since we formed our own Anglo-American alliance.'

‘Long may it last.' He arid George had discovered that by pooling their interests they could use British or American ships' papers as suited them best, and were doing very well indeed, despite Napoleon's Berlin Decrees, the British Orders in Council and a resultant American embargo on trade with both England and France. ‘I just hope that this meeting of the Emperors does not portend more fighting.'

‘Not in these parts, surely? The Tsar is busy wresting Finland from the Swedes, and Napoleon's got troubles enough of his own in Spain and Portugal. He just wants to make sure of his position here in the east, I expect, while he's occupied elsewhere.'

‘I expect you're right.' Jan tended to defer to George on matters of politics, as he had been used to do to Glynde.

News of the Emperors' proposed meeting at Erfurt reached the Princess at Rendomierz, where she had gone for the summer to avoid the stinking streets of Warsaw and to let the little Prince get back in touch with the Austrian part of his future estates. News of the technical liberation of serfs in the new Duchy of Warsaw had inevitably caused unrest all over what had once been Poland, and Jenny thought the Princess's move a wise one as she watched the serfs crowd round to kiss and bless their little Prince. And, fond though she was of Marie Walewska, it had been a relief to leave her, still pining in vain for a summons from her imperial lover.

‘They've done nothing!' They had driven out to visit the model village the Princess was building south of Rendomierz. ‘I'll have the hide off them! What happens when I go away?'

‘They stop work, I'm afraid. Or rather, they go to work on their own land.' In her heart, Jenny could not blame them. ‘You're going to have to find a replacement for Leon, I think, Highness.' This was no time for informality. ‘I'm afraid he has grown old and lazy.'

‘Useless! When I think how well things go on at Vinsk.'

‘You owe that to Miriam. It was a lucky day when Grucz handed over to her. She really seems to care for your interests.'

‘Not mine,' said the Princess drily. ‘Casimir's. Is it not strange?' And then: ‘We've a guest!' As their carriage emerged on to the final sweep of the driveway they could see a dusty calèche being driven away towards the stable yard. ‘I wonder who it can be, travelling so light and fast.'

‘Like the Tsar,' said Jenny lightly. ‘Do you remember?' And was surprised to see the Princess blush crimson.

But it was Paul Genet who awaited them under the portico. ‘Highness! Forgive my dust; I could not but wait when I saw your carriage approaching. And Miss Peverel.' He had kissed the Princess's hand; held Jenny's for a long extra minute. ‘It is good to see you both in such looks. I am the bearer of a letter, which must be my excuse, from my master, the Prince of Benevento.'

‘Talleyrand?' said the Princess. ‘I am delighted to see you, Monsieur Genet. Leon! There you are at last. Take Monsieur Genet to the guest village. He will dine with us, of course. And the letter?'

‘Here, Highness.' He paused for a moment after handing it to her. ‘And the little Prince? How is he?'

‘Growing like the green bay tree, Monsieur Genet. And, I have no doubt, at this moment playing soldiers with the village boys. He leads them, of course.'

‘Of course.'

‘Come along then, Jenny.' The Princess paused impatiently on the stair. ‘I know you are as impatient as I am to hear what the Prince of Benevento has to say.' Safe in her room, she broke the seal impatiently, scanned the short letter. ‘Well!' She read it again more slowly. ‘He takes a good deal on himself,' she said at last.

‘Yes?'

‘The Emperors are to meet at Erfurt. Napoleon and the Tsar. Soon now; the beginning of October. Talleyrand thinks I should be there. And Casimir.'

‘I wonder why?'

‘To pay our respects to the new Duke of Warsaw. He says. The King of Saxony, stupid. Erfurt's in his territory. Do you English know no geography at all?'

‘Well, not much, I'm afraid. But now I begin to understand what They meant.'

‘They? The Brotherhood? A message from them?'

‘Yes. Marylka gave it me on the stairs. They just said you were to go.'

‘Naturally, I shall go.' She was rereading the letter. ‘Pity. The Tsar is going by way of Königsberg; will keep well north of here. It would have been good to entertain him again, but as it is … Give the orders, Jenny. Monsieur Genet can escort us. With him, we'll have no trouble with the petty tyrants at the frontier posts.'

‘I'm so happy you are coming.' Genet spoke quietly to Jenny under cover of Monsieur Poiret's variations on a theme of Haydn's. ‘It's more than good to see you. I've been anxious … The news from Petersburg … You ran into no difficulty there? I'm glad you did not choose to go home.'

‘I thought of it. It was
sauve qui peut
for a while there. But I think I am glad I stayed. Well – you've seen Casimir.'

‘A most delightful child, and he needs you.'

‘I really think so. But, Monsieur Genet, I wanted to ask you – are you sure he should come to Erfurt? Such a long journey, and maybe dangerous?'

‘Talleyrand thinks so, and I have the greatest respect for his judgment. And, seriously, I do not think the journey will be dangerous. It will all be French-controlled territory, you know, once we leave Austria. And – you called me Paul when we last met.'

‘That was at Tilsit. Best not here, don't you think?' Her smile deprived the remark of its sting.

‘You're right as always. But – I'm sorry. I want you to know that nothing else has changed. I am your servant, always, to command.'

‘Thank you.' She turned away, swallowing a surprising hint of tears, to join in the applause as the music ended.

The ancient city of Erfurt was
en fête
for the two Emperors. The Kings of Bavaria, Saxony, Westphalia and Württernberg were all there to do them honour. Only, very noticeably, the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Austria were absent; uninvited.

‘What do the Austrians think of this conference?' Jenny asked Paul Genet as they started on the last lap of their journey.

‘Ask my master,' he told her.

‘Shall I get the chance to?'

‘I think you can count on that.'

In fact, Talleyrand was their first caller in the house Genet had found for them just off the Wilhelmsplatz. ‘Princess!' He kissed her hand. ‘I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you for taking my advice and coming.'

‘I have to thank you too, sir, for finding me this delightful house. I am most infinitely obliged to you.'

‘I had hoped to place you in that position. The truth is, Highness, that I have a favour to ask of you.'

‘Yes?' She was instantly on her guard.