Europe, as she will be in the ages to come. The soul of Maria Theresa will be united with that of the Bourbons.”
That sounded very fine, and I was happy to hear that they thought so highly of my mother.
“The Golden Age will be born from such a union, and under the happy rule of Marie Antoinette and Louis-Auguste our nephews will see the continuation of the happiness we enjoy under Louis the Well-Beloved.”
I caught a fleeting expression on the face of several people when the Prince said those words—almost a sneer, it seemed. I wondered briefly what it meant; then I was bending my head to receive the blessing.
I was to remember that man later—my enemy. My dearest Campan believed that his follies and his licence played a great part in bringing me where I am today. But on that occasion he was merely a handsome young man who had
taken the place of a gouty old one, and I thought no more of him as we left Strasbourg and made our way across France.
Our progress was fete after fete. I grew tired of passing under triumphal arches, of listening to my praises sung except when they were sung by children: then I enjoyed them. It was all very strange, and I was often lonely in spile of being surrounded by crowds. The only people with me ;
whom I had known during my life in Vienna were the Abbe Vennond, who they had decided should stay with me j for a while. Prince Starhemburg and the Comte de MercyArgenteau all serious old men, and I longed for companions of my own age. My ladies-in-waiting I could well have done without. There was no one, simply no one, to chat with. ” to laugh with.
On went the cavalcade with two wagons in from which contained my bedroom furniture. In each place where we stayed the night they would unload and the bed and stools and armchairs would be taken out and put into a room which had been prepared for me. Through Saveme, Nancy, Commercy, to Rheims, the town where the French crowned their Kings and Queens.
“I hope,” I said with great feeling, ‘that it will be long before I come to this town again. “
Being at Rheims had reminded me that I could at any time be Queen of France, for my new grandfather was an old man of sixty. I felt alarmed at the thought. Many times during that journey a cold shiver would creep over me;
but I dismissed my apprehensions and it all seemed like a game once more.
From Rheims to Chalons and on . to the forest of Compiegne.
It was the fourteenth of May when I first saw my husband. I had been travelling for nearly three weeks and my mother’s Court seemed remote.
I wished now that I knew a little more about my new family I tried to find out, but I could discover nothing from Madame de Noailles, nor from any of my ladies-in-waiting. Their replies were always conventional U and a little chilling, as though they were reminding me
that 44 it was not etiquette to ask questions. Etiquette! It was a word which was already beginning to weary me.
It was a brilliant day; the budding trees were breaking into leaf, the birds were in full song, and the glories of nature seemed as though they were trying in vain to compete with the extravagance of the court scene.
I was aware that the King of France—and with him my bridegroom—could not be far away, for the trumpets had started and the musketeers were beating their drums. It was a tremendously exciting moment. We were on the edge of the forest and the trees were like a beautiful back cloth there ahead of me I saw the gay uniform of guards and the bright livery of servants. I saw men and women more gorgeously attired than I had ever seen before. And I was aware of the most magnificent figure of them all, standing there . waiting for me. I knew immediately by his clothes, but chiefly by his bearing, that he was the King of France. He had that dignity, that grace, that complete kingliness which he must have inherited from his great-grandfather. Ie Roi Soleil.
My carriage had stopped, and I alighted immediately,
That sounded very fine, and I was happy to hear that they thought so highly of my mother.
“The Golden Age will be born from such a union, and under the happy rule of Marie Antoinette and Louis-Auguste our nephews will see the continuation of the happiness we enjoy under Louis the Well-Beloved.”
I caught a fleeting expression on the face of several people when the Prince said those words—almost a sneer, it seemed. I wondered briefly what it meant; then I was bending my head to receive the blessing.
I was to remember that man later—my enemy. My dearest Campan believed that his follies and his licence played a great part in bringing me where I am today. But on that occasion he was merely a handsome young man who had
taken the place of a gouty old one, and I thought no more of him as we left Strasbourg and made our way across France.
Our progress was fete after fete. I grew tired of passing under triumphal arches, of listening to my praises sung except when they were sung by children: then I enjoyed them. It was all very strange, and I was often lonely in spile of being surrounded by crowds. The only people with me ;
whom I had known during my life in Vienna were the Abbe Vennond, who they had decided should stay with me j for a while. Prince Starhemburg and the Comte de MercyArgenteau all serious old men, and I longed for companions of my own age. My ladies-in-waiting I could well have done without. There was no one, simply no one, to chat with. ” to laugh with.
On went the cavalcade with two wagons in from which contained my bedroom furniture. In each place where we stayed the night they would unload and the bed and stools and armchairs would be taken out and put into a room which had been prepared for me. Through Saveme, Nancy, Commercy, to Rheims, the town where the French crowned their Kings and Queens.
“I hope,” I said with great feeling, ‘that it will be long before I come to this town again. “
Being at Rheims had reminded me that I could at any time be Queen of France, for my new grandfather was an old man of sixty. I felt alarmed at the thought. Many times during that journey a cold shiver would creep over me;
but I dismissed my apprehensions and it all seemed like a game once more.
From Rheims to Chalons and on . to the forest of Compiegne.
It was the fourteenth of May when I first saw my husband. I had been travelling for nearly three weeks and my mother’s Court seemed remote.
I wished now that I knew a little more about my new family I tried to find out, but I could discover nothing from Madame de Noailles, nor from any of my ladies-in-waiting. Their replies were always conventional U and a little chilling, as though they were reminding me
that 44 it was not etiquette to ask questions. Etiquette! It was a word which was already beginning to weary me.
It was a brilliant day; the budding trees were breaking into leaf, the birds were in full song, and the glories of nature seemed as though they were trying in vain to compete with the extravagance of the court scene.
I was aware that the King of France—and with him my bridegroom—could not be far away, for the trumpets had started and the musketeers were beating their drums. It was a tremendously exciting moment. We were on the edge of the forest and the trees were like a beautiful back cloth there ahead of me I saw the gay uniform of guards and the bright livery of servants. I saw men and women more gorgeously attired than I had ever seen before. And I was aware of the most magnificent figure of them all, standing there . waiting for me. I knew immediately by his clothes, but chiefly by his bearing, that he was the King of France. He had that dignity, that grace, that complete kingliness which he must have inherited from his great-grandfather. Ie Roi Soleil.
My carriage had stopped, and I alighted immediately,
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