Je T'aime. - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

I woke up in the morning with my eyes puffy and my nose clogged. That night I had cried myself to sleep. How could things have gone so wrong so quickly?
Even the mirror betrayed me. My hair looked like a blonde bird's nest, and my face left much to be desired. I sniffled and wiped my nose on the back of my hand. There were imprints across my arms from the seams on my pillows.
I stood and washed my face in the basin, hoping that the cool water would reduce the swelling of my face. Water dripped from my nose the way it did from hers in the garden.
No. I shook off the thought. It would only make me worse. I thought about going for a ride, but then reconsidered when I remembered that involved being left alone with my thoughts. Gladiator couldn't talk. I didn't think he could be of much help, even if he could.
My door opened. "Good morning, good morning!" said Pia cheerfully, setting down a stack of clean linens on my dresser. "I think the rain's going to hold off today!"
I couldn't help but let a smile cross my face at Pia's good mood and goofiness. "How can you tell?" I said without turning towards her.
"Farm girl intuition. I'd say it's because the cows are all standing in the middle of the field, but-" she peered out of the window, "There aren't any cows here. Definitely heifers, but no cows. Old Frau Fischer, she's a heifer for sure."
Through a giggle I said, "Pia, that's not very nice."
"There we go," Pia sat down on the edge of the bed next to me. "Now, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, Pia."
Pia gave me a kind of half-irritated glare. "I've known you for almost five years, Christina, I know when something's wrong. And Isabella doesn't seem too cheery either."
At the mention of her name I brightened. "You saw her? How is she?"
"In the same mood as you. But she handed me this," Pia reached into her pocket and pulled out a letter with a blue wax seal. As I reached for it, Pia pulled back. "Aht, you have to tell me what's going on first."
"Pia-"
Pia insisted, "Tell me."
"Joseph found out. He's forbidding Isabella and I from seeing each other unless we're being supervised."
Pia took a deep sigh. "Damn," She placed her hand on top of mine. "I'll see what I can do to help. I've got a lot of tricks up my sleeve. Now you open that."
I smiled at Pia and opened the letter, greeted by Isabella's charming script.
My dearest Christina,
I hope that this letter finds you well. The last twenty-four hours have taken an absolute dive. I write to you in urgency. The news has been shared to me that my husband has discovered our interactions, and that he believes that you manipulated me. I wish to tell you outright that his statement is not and will never be true. I love you with all of my heart, and my care for you has been completely willing ever since I met you. I am so, so horribly sorry. This is all my fault. I should have been more careful, more willing, more sweet- there are so many things I could have been.
I am stuck between two hard places. As much as I love you I have a sense of duty to my husband, and I understand that he only means good by me. Please do not fear for me while I am in his company. But will all of my energy, I will not allow him to separate us. We must find a way to meet under his nose.
I ask dearly that you employ Pia if you are able. She will be the greatest ally that we can have. Eleanore is also on board. I will meet with Francois and we will see what we can do. Recognize that blue seal- letters will be passed to you in any method possible. This act by my husband the Crown Prince cannot and will not separate us. Our love is a love that can shake the earth.
Please, make haste to write to me until I see you again. Even if we cannot speak I look forward to at least exchanging a glance or two. Keep your chin up, Christina. We will prevail.
I love you. Until our paths cross again.
Yours Truly,
Isabella
I laid the letter down on my lap and Pia and I looked to each other. "Oh, God."
"I'll sneak you two out through the service exits, and maybe to the kitchens? The laundry? I don't know," Pia rambled.
"We can't stay in the palace. They'll recognize us," I informed her.
"And into the city? That's not safe. And an armed guard is even more suspicious."
"What options do we have?"
Pia licked her lips. "I don't know, honestly."
Filled with thought, I stood and began to pace back and forth across my room. "The carriage house? No, Herr Haas is too close to Mama, that'll never work. And Ernest, he's always near the state rooms. The gardeners are always working- God, there are people everywhere!" As I was pacing I turned to look out of the window. There, just beyond the city limits, was a mountain. And rising from that mountain was a tiny, short stream of smoke. "Pia?"
"Yeah?"
"What's up there?"
"That's the Kahlenburg Mountain. There's a vineyard and a winery up there, I think."
I stared out at that narrow stream of smoke, like a pencil line drawn across the sky. I could just make out the shape of a cottage along the grapevines. "I think I know where we're going. And I must see Francois."
I took myself down to the guardhouse, which was located near the palace gates, the next day. The sound of chatter came from inside the house, and guards were constantly coming and going. I knocked. The door swung open, revealing a young man who bowed as soon as he saw me. "Ah- Your Highness."
"I'm here to see Lieutenant Baptiste," I stated.
Confusion flashed across the young guard's face, but he said, "Follow me, Your Highness."
I followed the guard into the little stone house, which smelled strongly of tobacco. It was dark in there, illuminated by only dusty candlelight and the sun that mangaged to poke through the windows. Barrels of gunpowder and racks of muskets made walking the hall a single-file affair. As I passed by, my skirt swishing against the uneven wooden floors, the more superior guardsmen stopped to bow to me. The others, younger and more unknowing, were scolded by their officers for just staring.
I was led down another hall that contained private quarters. We halted before one of the doors. A simple wooden sign read 'Lt. Baptiste'. My guide knocked. "Sir, you have a visitor."
"Let them in, then!" answered the thick French voice of Isabella's guard.
The door opened, revealing Francois seated at a desk by candlelight. He was undressed to his waistcoat, which was streaked with black powder. He folded a small tube of cartridge paper between his fingers. He stood, bowed, and let me into his room. The room itself wasn't much, just a bed, a trunk, a desk, chair, and a window smaller than a serving tray. "Ah. Mademoiselle. How are you?"
"Well," I said, watching as Francois leaned into his chair. "How are you? Are you recovering well?"
Francois smiled warmly. "The flesh wound is all but gone. All that remains is an ache and a scar. It's like it never happened. I suspect I'll be back to duty in less than a week's time. How is the Princess?"
"She's well, but I-" I paused, as something about Francois caught my eye. "I'm sorry, did you grow a mustache?"
Francois ran his forefinger and thumb over his new facial hair. "All of the German guards have them. And since I'll be in Vienna for quite a while, I figured I'd grow one. Very unfashionable in France, though. A major faux-pas."
I laughed. "I like it, though! It looks good!" For once in quite a while, I laughed, and it felt so nice, like my heart had lost weight.
"Thank you, thank you. I thought it was a nice addition myself. Now, what brings you here? This isn't exactly a place for you."
Sighing, I shut the door and sat on the edge of the bed, facing Francois. Damn it. My heart felt heavy again. "I don't know why, but I feel like I can trust you. Isabella and I need help."
Francois looked as if, without his injury, he could have rocketed out of his seat. "Help? I'd be happy to."
I explained everything to him. I told him about how we needed him to escort Isabella, under the cover of night, out of the custody of her husband and to a tiny cottage on the mountainside. As we talked he payed careful attention to me, keeping a finger on his chin. "Can you do that?"
In the amber light of the candles, his darkest eyes stayed steadfast. "It is the will of the Crown Princess?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm in," he said, hitting his knee with satisfaction. "You have my word, Mademoiselle. And my secrecy."
"I couldn't thank you enough," I gave Francois a hug, but he was stiff as a board underneath me. Awkwardly, I pulled back. "What time is it?"
Francois glanced over to a pocketwatch that he had lying on his desk. "Uh... a quarter until six."
"Ah, damnit!" I exclaimed. "Supper is at six! All of the way across the goddamn palace!"
Francois chuckled at my misfortune. "Run, Mademoiselle, run!"
And run I did. I burst out of the guardhouse,  losing a shoe as I crossed the courtyard. "Jesus, if I knew I was running a marathon I would have worn better shoes!" I careened into the grand hall, whipping around the corner. I passed chatting advisors, dignitaries and courtiers alike on my mad dash. There was soft violin floating through the hall. Mama must have hired musicians for supper tonight.
I decided to take a shortcut and flung open the doors to the ballroom. In the waning sunlight, the chandeliers sent light scattered beautifully across the room. Even in stark emptiness, the ballroom was filled with dancing life. I glanced over to the clock. Shit. Five minutes. Refocusing, I used the weight of my body to open the final set of doors.
I emerged in the west hall, the formal dining room just a few hundred feet away. I could hear soft violin accompanied by the clinking of silverware. Mama must have hired musicians. Panting, I walked briskly into the dining room.
As I emerged through the door, my entire family stopped to stare at me. "Ah. There's Mimi," my mother said nonchalantly as she bit a price of lamb off of her fork.
Embarrassed, I took my seat between Marianna and an empty chair where Charles once sat. I immediately picked up my wine glass and toon a hearty sip, trying my best to soothe my dry throat.
When I brought my glass away from my face, I looked to Isabella, who sat across from me, between her husband and Liesl. Atop her head was the tiara that Joseph had purchased for her. Her eyes glimmered in the candlelight, as they always did, but they were nearly outdone by the jewels nestled within her dark brown hair. She wore a blue gown that matched perfectly with the tiara's large sapphires.
For a brief moment, Isabella glanced up at me from her food. We locked eyes, both beautifully and tragically, and our glance could have spoken an entire novel. There was a slight smile on her lips, like the one on the Mona Lisa.
Joseph was deep in conversation with my mother about some political going-on, and so he did not notice the gaze between his wife and I. But as he finished his sentence, turning back to his plate, Isabella sheepishly turned away. She never looked at me again for the rest of the meal, as if she pretended that I was not even there.
As we all departed the dining room, Isabella walked out with her arm looped with Joseph's. She walked with such poise and grace, almost as if she still paced the halls of Versailles. When she noticed me, she smiled, but it was a strange and empty smile. "How are you?" She asked.
I was struck that she had spoken to me, and it took me a moment to register a response. "Uh- I'm well. You?"
"I'm great. I love your dress," she commented, motioning to my outfit.
I glanced down at myself, forgetting what I was even wearing. "Oh, thank you. It's Hungarian-style embroidery."
"Ah," said Isabella, pleased. "I'll have to ask about that." She then departed, turning up the stairs with her husband. She left me at the bottom, all by myself. For a split second she turned and we locked eyes again, but it was only for a fraction of a moment. She and Joseph ascended the stairs, and she was gone. It was almost like she didn't know me at all.
After nearly three days of discussion between Isabella and our allies, a plan was formulated. I sat down to write the final letter to Isabella, looking out at that tiny little cottage.
Darling,
Finally, everything has been set in motion. We will be meeting in four days' time, while Joseph is asleep in the dead of night. Follow everything that you can to the best of your ability, and with all good hope all will be well.
On the night of Friday, April the seventeenth, tell Joseph that you are having a migraine, and request that you sleep in Eleanore's room. Acquired by Pia, there will be servant's clothes for you to change into.
As the clock strikes midnight, when Joseph is well asleep, Eleanore will escort you down the service stairs to the west gate. Francois will meet you there with horses, and you will travel westward under the cover of night. He will be taking you to a location in the mountains, where we will meet and remain until the early morning. We will return as we departed.
With all good hope, everything will go as planned. I am elated to see you.
Christina
Within the hour I received a reply.
Christina,
Very well. I'll see you soon.
Isabella
The plan was set in motion. Now all we had to do was wait.