Je T'aime. - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Rather than sitting around in misery like I had done since October, worrying myself with thoughts and contemplation, I decided that I was finally going to get a second opinion. My main worry was that my love was unrequited, which was entirely possible. Most women were in love with men. They would do nothing with a female confession of love except throw it in the trash. But I had high hopes. Isabella seemed to cherish me as a friend. Would she want something more? The worst thing she could do would be to say no. The first thing I decided to do was to consult the person who knew her best.
I knocked on the door of a very specific royal apartment. It was called the Dame der Kronprinzessin-Wohnung, and was attached to the apartments of the Crown Prince and Princess. Ever since the palace was built this apartment contained the chief lady-in-waiting of the Crown Princess, either the wife of the Crown Prince, or an heir in her own right. This apartment had been empty since my mother had taken the throne. But now, for once in 20 years, a living soul occupied these apartments.
After my knock, a voice said, "One moment!" I stood awkwardly outside of the door for a few moments before it finally opened. I was met with the beaming smile of Eleanore. "Oh, hello, Christina! Do come in, do come in!" she ushered me inside without a second thought. I entered the apartment, which I had not entered until days before Isabella arrived. For the longest time, my sister and I used this suite as a playroom, since it was empty. The apartment still had its blush pink walls and matching furniture, but imported Spanish goods were scattered all about. Eleanore had an attachment to the motherland, that was for sure. "Welcome to my humble abode," she said, extending her arms to the richly decorated space around her. "Let me get you some chocolate, querida. Have a seat."
I sat down on a plush chair at Eleanore's card table. In the middle of the table was a ceramic black and gold bull, in the position to charge. On the wall beside the table was a painting of a Madrid street, its domed roofs and tall steeples reminding the Spaniards of its history of Muslim occupation. The street itself was so wide that the carriages and people surrounding them looked like ants. I doubted that the real streets of Madrid looked like that; the artist most likely cleared out a block or two of buildings in order to make the most impressive painting.
Almost as quickly as the word 'chocolate' fell from Eleanore's mouth, a servant sat a tray of dishware in front of me. Eleanore sat across from me. "Thank you," I said to the servant, who curtsied before scurrying away.
Eleanore reached for a silver device on the tray. It was like a pitcher of sorts, with a long spout on one side and a handle on the other. It stood on four feet, carved to look like lion's paws. It had a hinged lid on top, with a knob decorated to look like the head of a roaring lion. "Chocolate isn't too popular in Austria, I presume," said Eleanore, pouring the steaming brown liquid into two gold and white cups.
"No, no. We're more of the coffee drinking type here," I replied. Eleanore sat down the cup in front of me. Atop the chocolate sea was a thick floating foam, which swayed gently with the rocking of the liquid.
"Ah, I see. Well, you're going to enjoy chocolate the Spanish way," Eleanore handed me a tiny silver spoon with a long handle, which was twisted decoratively. "I like mine with two spoonfuls of sugar," I reached for the sugar bowl, and following the Countess's instructions, I spooned two servings into my drink, which immediately sank and disappeared under the foam. "And just a splash of cream," from a pitcher that matched the cups, I added a little bit of cream, which swirled gracefully in the cup. "There you are, and just a little stir," I swirled the spoon in the cup a few times, watching the drink slowly shift colors. "And done!"
I brought the cup to my lips and drank. The foam on the surface was bitter, but the chocolate underneath was creamy and sweet. I paused to take a breath, nearly swallowing my entire portion. "Wow, it's delicious!" I complimented.
"The best chocolate the world has to offer, fresh from Mexico!" Eleanore said. "Now," she continued, "Why have you come to see me? It's rare that I get visitors in my own apartments, let alone from an Archduchess. What's on your mind?"
Finally, I was back on track with what I came here for. "I came to ask about Isabella."
Eleanor's eyes widened. "Isabella? I've known her since we were still latched to the breast. Go ahead."
"I've enjoyed Isabella's company greatly ever since she came to Vienna," I paused to take a sip of my chocolate, hoping to catch some foam to bitterly whip myself into confidence. "Very greatly. I think about her often, and I was wondering if she felt the same about me. I feel like such a child asking this way, but I-"
Eleanore interrupted my speech with a wide, cheesy grin. "Felt the same? Felt the same?" she laughed. "Oh, goodness, Christina. She doesn't shut up about you. Christina this, Christina that. I hope I see Chrsitina today. Let me write Christina another letter. She had me personally talk to your handmaiden to sneak letters into your apartments! She talks more about you than she ever talks about your brother!"
"Really?" I inquired, half-shocked.
"Yes, yes. She talks my ear off, that girl. I love her and she's family, but she never shuts up. Once you get her going, there's no end to her monologues."
My heart soared. I could listen to her give a monologue, all day, every day. Maybe I was naïve, but how could this not be love? According to what Eleanore said, Isabella was infatuated with me. And I with her. "Where is she? Can I see her?"
"I'm afraid she's asleep," said Eleanore. "Every so often she gets these terrible migraines, and the only way to cure them is to sleep them off. But she'l be fine by tomorrow, I assure you."
"Oh, poor thing. Do tell her I hope she feels better soon," my questions were answered, but I hated to leave so soon. "So, how are you and Isabella related? I know you're cousins, but I'm not aware of the full connection."
Eleanore smiled slyly. "That, querida, is because I'm illegitimate."
My eyes went wide, and I paused from drinking my chocolate. Affairs, especially illegitimate children, were never discussed openly at the Viennese court. It was all something to say behind a hand-fan or through a private letter. Illegitimate children especially were hidden away from the court. "Oh," was all that managed to come from my mouth.
Eleanore laughed. "Not something you hear openly in Vienna, huh?"
"No, no," I replied, trying to wash down my shock with chocolate.
"Well," Eleanore began, "My father is the brother of Isabella's father. Isabella's father is Fillipe, of course, and mine was Fernando," Eleanore pressed her hand to her heart. "God rest his soul. He was the King of Spain briefly, but he died a little over a year ago. My Papi fell in love with my Mamà when she was working as an actress. Papi loved the theatre, and he went there almost every weekend to see my dear Mamà- her name was Olivia. But Mamà could never be invited to court, and my Papi was already married. So they carried on their affair until I was born. My Mamà named me after her role in her favorite play. But when I was barely out of leading-strings, my Mamà fell ill and died. Papi was heartbroken. He brought me to the court of Madrid, where I was raised alongside my cousins, including Isabella. She and I were attached at the hip, and her mother served as a mother to me. As I grew older Papi married me to the son of one of his advisors to keep me safely at court. So I became the Countess of Castile! When Isa moved to Parma we sent letters, and I was overjoyed when she asked me to be her chief lady-in-waiting. And here I am!"
"That's quite the origin story," I replied. "What of your husband? Did he not wish to come to Vienna with you?"
Eleanore rolled her eyes. "Oh, Pedro? He has no affections for me, and I have none for him. He pays more attention to his male favorites than me, if you know what I mean." she took another sip of chocolate.
"Is that kind of thing... common in Spain?"
"Oh, it's illegal, of course. But that doesn't stop anyone. And it doesn't stop anyone here, either. No matter how strict and God-fearing your Empress is."
"I have never heard of such a relationship within this court."
Eleanore smiled. "Oh, trust me. They're very good at hiding it. They burn their letters, or hide them. They put up the veils of friendship, and are only romantic in complete privacy. Especially the men. They hide it with great skill. With a trained eye, you can detect anything. To stay afloat at the courts of Madrid or Versailles, one must learn to properly gossip."
"I think I'll stay in Vienna, then," I replied, swallowing the rest of my drink. "If I have the choice."
Eleanore smiled. "Isa never thought she'd end up in Vienna. She thought she would go back to France, and see her dear grandfather, aunts, and Madame de Pompadour again. When her mother died they poured out so much support for her. But clearly, by what she tells me, she finds this court much calmer and more loving. But one day, she'd love to go back to Versailles."
"I'd love to see it. Maybe we can go together some time."
Eleanore's face lit up. "Oh, like a little girls' trip! You, Isa, and I- maybe your handmaiden would like to come along! And Isabella's guard François, and maybe even that handsome friend of yours, Albert," Eleanore winked. "If I wasn't married already, I'd scoop him right up."
I almost told Eleanore of Albert and I's plans, but I quickly shut my mouth. Such a gossip did not deserve to hear of my marriage plot. "I think that would be wonderful. Although, I do have a duty to my handmaiden. She comes from the rich countryside in central Austria, and I promised her I would bring her back to her farm and let her see her family again."
"Oh, Christie, how sweet of you!" Christie? She was the first to ever call me that. "Maybe someday you can use it as a health retreat of sorts. To clear the mind and body. That's why Isa and I begged and begged to go to Valencia as children, for the fresh sea air. But we really just wanted to play on the beach," Eleanore smiled nostalgically. "Oh, I'd love to feel sand between my toes again. And I am sent to a landlocked nation!"
"Austria is a nation of rivers, not of beaches. No wonder we don't have any colonies."
"No, no colonies. Just an empire set on swallowing all of Central Europe." Eleanore raised her eyebrows in playful argument.
"We may have to pay tariffs on all of our sugarcane, but who else can say they are the continuation of the great Romans?"
"The Italians, perhaps," Eleanore and I laughed, two ladies born of the very embodiments of imperialism. "Speaking of colonies," Eleanore continued, "I have heard that this war rages in America, the British against the French."
"Indeed," I replied. "Though the issue is just over a few forts, the bitterness from Europe remains. And the natives of that land have taken sides, fighting against each other in the dense wilderness. At least that is what I read in the papers."
Eleanore sighed. "'This is a world war. A bitter, bitter world war. You overhear your mother's statements, don't you? Do you think any of our gentlemen at court will have to take up arms?"
"I don't know," I replied. "I don't think they will be forced to, but some of our gentleman peers will march out to carry the glory of their own states. But they will be officers, and hopefully they will live to tell the tale."
"We can only hope. Maybe a landlocked nation is good. The British Navy cannot directly invade us, then. They have the greatest vessels in the world. They are to be feared on the water, like the Prussians are on land."
"I think if my mother ever laid eyes on King Frederick, she would have him hanged on the spot, and have this head on a pike outside of the palace gates for all to see."
"I don't think the man's face looks any better while he's alive!"
Eleanore and I shared a laugh again. This Spanish lady, though frivolous, was good company. From behind the connecting door to the Crown Princess's apartments came a whining groan. "Eleanore!"
I whipped around to glare at the door, desiring with all of my might to fling open the door and see my beloved sister-in-law. To me, she sounded distressed. Eleanore sighed and stood from her chair. "Coming, Isa! One moment!"
"Is she alright?" I asked, standing as well. I grasped the doorknob.
"Trust me, Christie, she's quite alright. She just woke up, is all. She probably wants some water. I wouldn't recommend going in there. She's a horrible grouch when she isn't feeling well. But I'll send along your best wishes, and I will tell her that you wish to see her as soon as she feels well enough. Good day, Christina."
I stood there helplessly as I watched Eleanore disappear through the door. "Good day," I said, but it was mostly to myself. Slowly, I retreated from the chamber of the Countess of Castile and went to return to my own realm.