|
CHAPTER 7
Vienna - March
25, 1815
The ambassadors
of Austria-Hungary, Prussia, Russia and the United Kingdom gathered
around the great table, documents scattered before them, on the
day before Easter. The other members of the delegations - diplomats,
advisors, secretaries and others - stood watching against the
walls of the room while staffers moved about the great men, papers
and pens in hand. Some representatives of the lesser powers were
also in attendance.
The French Delegation
was nowhere to be seen - and for an understandable reason. The
authority of the ambassador of the Court of Louis XVIII of France
was shot to pieces with the King's flight out of Paris.
This was the largest
gathering of the Congress and the task was grim. The treaty before
them said that -based on the declaration of 13 March 1815 that
Napoleon Bonaparte, self-appointed Emperor of the French, had
placed himself outside civil and social relations, and handed
himself over to public justice, as the enemy and disturber of
the peace of the world - the signatories agreed to establish
a Coalition, the seventh of its kind, to oppose the Tyrant; and
they pledged to raise armies of at least 150,000 each to enforce
the peace and security of Europe and to restore the lawful government
of France.
One member of the
audience turned to another. "Does the Duke realize what
he is doing? He is committing the Government to war, and at such
a scale," he whispered to his companion.
"I believe
his lordship knows exactly what he is about," answered Sir
John. "He is forcing the Government's hand. Not that it
matters - he has already been named Commander-in-Chief of all
British and Hanoverian forces on the Continent. We simply await
the official commission."
The situation was
grave. Marshal Ney had promised King Louis XVIII that he would
bring Bonaparte "back in an iron cage." Instead he
defected to his old commander, along with the 6,000 men under
his command. Marshal Murat, the Bonaparte-installed King Joachim
Napoleon of Naples, had joined with the Collation last year when
France's defeat seemed certain, to protect his throne. He now
betrayed his new allies and declared for Napoleon and a united
Italy. He was already attacking the Austrians.
"Do you join
the Duke in Brussels?"
"We leave directly.
I am to serve as advance staff until my regiment is shipped over."
"And Lady Caroline?
Does she remain in Vienna?"
"No,"
said Sir John firmly. "She journeys with us to take a boat
for England. I would have her safe with my family."
A bustle at the
table drew the gentlemen's attention. The signing done, the ambassadors
shook hands and began leaving the room. Wellington walked over
to where the British delegation had gathered. "Well, that's
that. Come gentlemen - there's work to be done."
After attending
church, Lady Caroline rushed about the apartments Easter morning,
overseeing the last of the preparations for their departure.
Roberts and Abigail saw to the clothes and personal items. Caroline
worked with Frau Lippermann and Helga as to the packing of the
few vases and pieces d'art that the Bufords had purchased during
their stay and the shutting down of the household.
It was a bit of
a challenge. Abigail was all a twitter - she feared that the
Tyrant's armies were going to be marching down the street at
any moment. The housekeeper and cook had no English and Caroline
had no German (except for three words, and they were not applicable
to the situation). But through patience and pantomime, progress
had been made.
Finally, all was
accomplished: trunks were packed, debts were discharged, and
arrangements were made. Sir John and several footmen strode into
a forest of packing rather than the chaos that produced it. Sir
John looked about the mass of trunks and boxes with a knowledgeable
eye; he had a fair idea of logistics and knew what his wife had
accomplished. It was no less than what he had expected, yet he
was wise enough to praise Caroline. "My dear, you have done
wonders," he said as he kissed her hand. "Give these
men but a moment and we shall be off."
"A moment"
turned into the better part of an hour; but it did not signify.
It gave Lady Caroline a chance to bid farewell to her remaining
staff. "Frau Lipperman, Helga, I wish to thank you for your
services - Ich bedanke mich," she read from a card.
"You have done good work - gut gemacht. Here is my
recommendation - Dienstzeugnis - for each of you. I hope
you find employment very soon. Happy Easter - Frohe Ostern.
Auf Wiedersehen."
The two women looked
at her for a moment before rushing to hug their former mistress.
"Danke sehr! Wir werden vermisse dich! Machs gut! Gott
segne dich - Frohe Ostern! Auf Wiedersehen - goot bye!"
Helga was actually in tears. It took no little time for the departing
mistress to extract herself from the tearful farewells.
Soon, two carriages
were making their way out of the Austrian capital. Lady Caroline
looked back at the city as they left. So much has happened
there in just a month, she thought as she grasped her husband's
hand. Shall I ever look upon Vienna again?
The trip to Vienna
in mid-February was a delight. The trip from Vienna in late March
was closer to a nightmare. Time was of the essence; the horses
were pushed to their limits. The carriages rocked the occupants
cruelly. The spring rains threatened to wash out the roads on
more than one occasion. And ever present was the fear that Napoleon
would strike before the Allies were ready.
What was beautiful
before was no longer. Mountains that were awe-inspiring became
obstacles to overcome. Deep forests now seemed closed-in and
menacing. Any castle or town, no matter how stately or charming,
could contain an enemy. And the rivers were living things that
sought to destroy the little group.
Each day the party
rose before sunrise; they would seldom stop, except for changes
in the teams (when they would consume a hurried luncheon), until
dusk. Personal hygiene was not the highest priority; sometimes
three days would go by between baths (unpleasant for two people
as fastidious as Sir John and Lady Caroline). They could not
be particular as to the choice of lodging - any inn with relatively
clean beds would do. And the food on the most part was revolting.
The only pleasure
the couple enjoyed was sought at night. No matter how exhausted
the lovers were, Sir John and Lady Caroline would loose themselves
in each other's arms. Their lovemaking was intense and urgent
- it was as if the pair felt they needed to consume a lifetime
of love within this single journey. They never spoke of it or
of the future - it was understood. The only words that passed
between them were those of love and devotion and need. They basked
in their new-found understanding of the other's feelings. In
the coach during the day they never left each other's side.
The trip was harder
on Caroline than her husband. More mornings than not she awoke
sick to her stomach. But she would not complain or request a
moderation of the pace of the journey, or even speak of any discomfort;
she refused to be a burden to Sir John.
Finally, in early
April they crossed the Rhine into Belgium.
Antwerp, Belgium
- April 1815
"Damnation!"
cried Sir John as he entered his rooms. "There is no passage
to be had!"
"My dear,"
remarked his wife, "what is wrong?"
Sir John crossed
to Lady Caroline. "I have asked everywhere. I can get no
proper passage for you and Abigail and Roberts back to England,
at least anytime soon. In a month, maybe…"
Caroline looked
hopeful. "Would that be so bad?"
Sir John looked
torn. "My love, the selfish side of me would wish you by
my side - but that is impossible! I will not have you here in
danger. Perhaps I can arrange for a fishing boat…"
"No, sir! As
I said before, I will not go without Abby and Roberts, or our
belongings..."
For at least the
fourth time in as many days Sir John and Lady Caroline argued
the point. For the fourth time in as many days, the colonel found
that he could not budge his wife. Assured in her husband's esteem
and affections, Caroline's old assertiveness returned.
"Woman, you
shall do as I say!"
"Is this, sir,
how I should expect a King's officer to speak to his wife? I
was led to believe that there were gentlemen in the army!"
"Caroline,
please…"
"I shall not
be moved, no matter how much you beg!"
On and on it went,
with the same result:
"My love,"
said Lady Caroline to an exasperated Sir John, "do you not
see? I cannot - I will not - abandon our people, or our belongings.
I do not wish to be a burden upon you, but there it is."
"But dear,
I would have you safe with our family in England."
She touched his
cheek. "I know…"
Sir John needed
another way. So he did what many people would do that had his
connections - he wrote to Darcy.
London
"Darcy! What
a pleasant surprise!" cried Mr. Gardiner as the man was
announced. "Come in. May we get you something? Allow me
alert Madeline."
"No, Edward,"
answered his nephew. "May we retire to your library? There
is a…matter of business I should like to discuss with you."
Edward Gardiner
knew something was wrong. "Of course, my boy. Right this
way." In the years since Elizabeth's marriage to the Master
of Pemberley, the Darcy and Gardiner families had grown so close
that Christian names has become de rigueur, and Mr. and Mrs.
Gardiner considered Fitzwilliam and Georgiana as nephew and niece.
After seeing his
guest into the library and closing the door, Mr. Gardiner asked,
"May I get you something, Darcy?" To his eyes something
rare happened - Darcy started to fidget. "Darcy? Is something
amiss? Out with it, my boy."
"Edward, I
am afraid I must ask of a favor…"
"Is that all?"
the older man exclaimed in relief. "Why, by your continence,
I thought someone died!"
Darcy continued
to squirm. It went against everything he was for Darcy to be
so helpless as to request another's assistance. Mr. Gardiner
knew this of his friend and continued with, "Come, tell
me, man. Whatever it is, you shall have it."
Darcy gritted his
teeth. "It sits ill with me to ask this of you…"
"I know Darcy
- you would sooner do it yourself. But, think nothing of it,
son," he said with affection, "we are family."
Darcy nodded at
the truth of this. He reached into his jacket pocket, extracted
a letter and handed it to Mr. Gardiner. "Here," he
said falling back into cold politeness, as he always did when
he was uncomfortable. "Pray, do me the kindness of reading
this letter."
Mr. Gardiner opened
it.
April ___, 1815
Antwerp
My dear Darcy,
Lady Caroline,
our servants and I arrived safely in Antwerp four days ago. Such
a journey from Vienna! One day I shall relate it to you, as I
consume your best port. Please let Mrs. Darcy and Miss Darcy
know that Lady Caroline is in good health and good spirits. She
bore the ordeal without a word of complaint. What a woman! Surely,
my friend, we have both married above our station!
Darcy, I have
a request of you. It is my wish that Lady Caroline and our people
be safely transported back to England. However, passage may not
be secured until May, at the earliest. With events on the Continent
as they are, you will agree that this situation is intolerable.
Lady Caroline would stay, but I shall not rest easy until she
is under my family's protection.
I have no contacts
that may be of service; but you, with your wide range of investments
and interests, might know of some manner of relief. I would not
ask this of you was the situation anything but dire, and that
the safety of those dearest to me were not at risk. Know that
whatever the result is, I shall be eternally in your debt should
you make some small inquires into this matter.
Your obt. servant,
BUFORD
"I see,"
said Mr. Gardiner.
"Poor Buford,"
said Darcy. "What it must have cost him to write such a
letter." Could I do likewise? If Elizabeth and the twins
were at risk - I would write a hundred such letters, at least!
Mr. Gardiner thought
for a moment. "I can have a ship at Antwerp by week's end
- ten days at the most."
Darcy looked up.
"I will pay, of course…"
Mr. Gardiner grinned.
"Not this time, Darcy." As the younger man began to
object, he held his hand up. "You have done far too much
for my family, son. I am deeply in your debt. It is my turn now.
I shall insist upon it - I shall not be swayed."
"Edward, I
do not know what to say…"
"Darcy,"
said Mr. Gardiner softly, "would you do any less for me,
were it in your power? Come, give me you answer to Sir John;
I shall dispatch it with the ship. It shall wait at dock until
our friends are aboard."
Antwerp
Darcy's note had
arrived in mid afternoon. The sailor who delivered it said the
ship would sail upon the morning tide the next day. He had brought
some shipmates to help move the luggage and other possessions
aboard that night. Sir John assured him that the passengers would
be in good time in the morning and showed him where the baggage
was.
Lady Caroline was
distressed. One more night…! Caroline reached deep
into herself for her vaunted control. It would not do to take
leave of Sir John as a blubbering idiot. By pure strength of
will, she was able to face her husband with at least the appearance
of composure after the last of the trunks were on their way to
the ship.
Sir John was not
fooled. He addressed the staff: "Tonight is your last in
Belgium. Here is some money; Roberts, take Miss Abigail out to
the finest restaurant in town. 'Tis my farewell gift to you both."
Roberts and Abigail
understood. "Good night, sir. We shall see you in the morning."
After the servants
left, Sir John took Lady Caroline by the hand and led her downstairs.
To the owner of the inn, he stated, "Your public rooms are
closed for the evening. Name your price." The innkeeper
struggled with his greed and his fear - Sir John was wearing
his sword. Finally he gave an amount. Sir John handed him some
money. "They'll be dinner out of that, and your best wine,"
the colonel informed him. The innkeeper sighed - his profit not
as great as he hoped - and left to fetch the first bottle.
Sir John turned
to his wife. "Play for me?" he asked as he gestured
to the pianoforte in the corner.
Caroline nodded
and walked over to the instrument. She had no music, so she played
from memory. Sir John received a bottle and two glasses from
the innkeeper. He poured two glasses and placed Caroline's on
the pianoforte, within her reach. He then retreated to a table
and chairs close by and watched attentively.
For an hour Caroline
played and sang for her audience of one - every piece she knew
and loved. Never had she performed with such emotion. The instrument
was poorly tuned and would have affected the pleasure of the
causal listener, but to Sir John it was the most beautiful music
he had ever heard. The innkeeper had to fight tears as he served
the supper.
Finally Caroline
sounded the final chord. She took a sip of her wine and gracefully
moved over to share the meal provided them by the inn. For the
next half hour the two ate in contented silence, sometimes holding
hands. Finally, after an after-dinner brandy (Caroline had first
sampled the drink in Vienna), Lady Caroline rose, took her husband
by the hand and returned upstairs to their rooms.
Once in the bedroom,
Caroline turned to her husband. "Tonight is my gift to you,
oh beloved. You have given your Caro so much love and pleasure
- you shall give nothing tonight, Johnny; only receive."
She gave him a gentle kiss, then took two steps backwards and
unfastened her gown. After a bit of reaching, she slipped it
from her body. Looking Sir John in the eye, she removed the remainder
of her garments. Naked, save for her orange cameo, she stepped
close to him and began to remove his jacket. Slipping it off,
Caroline placed it upon a chair near the window. She then turned
her attentions to his neckcloth and shirt.
Once Sir John was
bare-chested Caroline gently pushed him towards the bed until
he was forced to sit upon it. At once she removed her husband's
shoes and stockings. Caroline then rose and kissed Sir John as
her hands unfastened his breeches. The lovers kissed more passionately
as Caroline worked the remaining garment down Sir John's legs.
Her task completed, Lady Caroline urged that her husband recline
on the bed. She climbed up on the bed and knelt at his feet.
"I have asked
you before to show me what you have learned about the art of
love," she whispered. "You have taught me so much -
it is time to show you that I have been a good student…"
With that, Caroline began her own demonstration as to French
love.
Caroline began to
kiss the insides of Sit John thighs - first the left all the
way up to where his raging manhood awaited, then she started
on the right side.
Sit John was flabbergasted
- it had never occurred to him that Caroline might reciprocate
the kindness he had so willingly bestowed upon her person.
Caroline wrapped
her hand about his person, stroking slowly. With the tip of her
tongue she flicked the very tip of him - once, twice. She leaned
back, looked at Sir John though her eyelashes and returned to
her task. Tentatively she licked the underside, then around the
top. Sir John moaned, fighting the urge to take Caroline in his
arms. She teased him - first licking, then encircling the top
with her lips. Sir John could not stop lifting to meet her attentions.
When she finally
took him fully into her mouth and looked up at him, her green
eyes full of wanton desire, the cameo hanging between her sweet
breasts, he was lost. "Caroline…I…" he tried
to warn, but his wife only redoubled her efforts. Sir John threw
his head back, grasped the sheets, and with a cry let loose his
seed. Caroline tried valiantly to contain her overwhelming reward,
and mostly succeeded. After Sir John twitched his last, Caroline
slid up his body, kissing the skin as she went, before snuggling
into his arms.
As the pair lay
caressing each other, Caroline looked her grateful husband in
the eye. "That was all well and good for you, sir; but I
still require my mount," she said as she stroked him to
hardness again. "Your Caro wishes to ride tonight, Johnny…"
Sir John awoke before
the sunrise only to find his wife not in the bed beside him.
He turned and saw her standing near the window, watching for
the dawn. Wordlessly he left the bed and crossed over to Caroline,
embracing her from behind. Her only reaction was to lean against
his strong body and softly sigh. Adam and Eve then watched the
cruel sun steal the last of the night from them.
The Captain of the
merchantman eyed the hourglass as the last of the morning watch
drained away. He planned to set sail by two bells in the forenoon
watch (9:00); that was about an hour away. By then the tide should
be running. Assuming that the special guests had arrived, of
course. Mr. Gardiner will lose a bit on this run, he thought
to himself; the little bit of cargo would in no way cover the
expense of the trip, a loss that would only increase if the ship
missed the morning tide. He turned and looked over the harbor.
Warships and merchantmen filled the port and the ways, mostly
Dutch and British, while boats scurried about between them and
the docks. Men and material were flooding into Antwerp in preparation
for war.
A master's mate
cried out, "Eight bells!" and turned the glass. As
the last of the bells rang out a carriage pulled alongside on
the dock. The carriage door opened and a tall cavalry officer
stepped out, then turned to help out first a maid then a lady
of consequence. From the other side of the carriage emerged a
servant. He and the maid gathered up some carpetbags and stepped
towards the gangplank. They were stopped by a mate, who turned
to look at the quarterdeck.
The Captain called
out: "Colonel Buford's party, sir?"
"Aye,"
came the reply. "Permission to come aboard, sir."
Satisfied that the
Customs of the Sea had been followed by such a landlubber, the
Captain nodded and called to the boatswain, "See to the
passengers, Jones." The bosun nodded and directed a few
men to relieve the servants of their burdens as he escorted the
maid and valet below decks.
The last to board
the ship were the army officer and his wife. The colonel walked
up to the Captain, his lady on his arm. "Captain, I am Colonel
Sir John Buford; this is my wife Lady Caroline. My man Roberts
and our maid Abigail have just gone below. I thank you and your
employer, Mr. Gardiner, for your kind assistance to my family."
The Captain gave
a nod. He may have reached no higher than Lieutenant while he
was in the Royal Navy, but as captain of a merchant vessel he
bowed to no man while on his own quarterdeck. "Very happy
to be of service, Sir John; Lady Caroline."
"I deliver
into your hands all that is precious to me."
The Captain blinked
at the raw emotion in the colonel's words. "Never fear,
sir," he cried. "I shall watch over them as if they
were my own."
The colonel mumbled
his thanks and turned to his wife. Instinctively, the Captain
turned away to grant the couple what little privacy that could
be had on a ship's deck. To his irritation, he saw one of the
ship's boys gawking at the couple. "Avast there, you bugger!
Get along with you, or you'll see the end of the boson's starter!"
The colonel began
to raise his lady's hand to his lips when she tore loose from
his grasp. Instead she flung her arms around his neck and kissed
him quite openly. The Captain was quite embarrassed to witness
such a private moment; he felt like an intruder on his own deck.
The couple looked at each other, murmured words to each other
that sounded to the Captain's ears like Welsh, and then the gentleman
turned and walked down the gangplank to the dock.
"Jones!"
called the Captain. "Get the ship underway!" The crew
leapt to the work of warping the ship out of dock, while the
lady moved instinctively to the stern, watching the colonel who
stood by the carriage. Soon the morning air began to fill the
sails. At the command, topsails and gallants were dropped and
the ship picked up speed.
The lady remained
at the ship's stern until land was out of sight.
Lady Caroline was
looking through her carpetbag in the cabin she was sharing with
Abigail, a cabin that had previously belonged to the Sailing
Master. To make room for the passengers, the cabins (save the
Captain's) had been rearranged so that the most junior officers
were bunked together. The wind had turned against them, and it
would take at least a night of tacking before the ship could
reach the Dover Cliffs.
As she looked for
something to sleep in, Caroline came across the items that were
used during her monthly courses. She held up the items, a strange
thought suddenly occurring to her:
I have not used
these for some time…When was the last time…? Just before
the wedding…?
Other thoughts came
to her; her sickness in the mornings; her clothes feeling tighter;
her breasts becoming tender. Things she had dismissed before
as resulting from stress, rich food and intense lovemaking.
Oh my God…can
it be? I am with child? I carry John's child?
All of her life,
Caroline dreamed of marring an important, titled man. Childbirth
had never occurred to her. Motherhood, yes; in an obscure manner
- but not the actual process of pregnancy and childbirth. Fear
and uncertainty flooded her mind, along with a single thought:
I must let John know!
But first, she must
be certain. She must seek out a physician straight away once
she reached London.
London
Lady Caroline was
escorted down the gangplank by the Captain himself, Roberts and
Abigail trailing behind. No sooner had her foot touched land
when she heard her name called. "Lady Caroline! Over here!"
Caroline turned and saw Edward and Rebecca Buford waving, standing
next to a coach. As her in-laws approached, Lady Caroline thanked
the Captain for his kindness and took her leave of him. Roberts
began to see to the collection of their trunks as his mistress
greeted her new family.
"Edward, Rebecca,
I am so happy to see you! Thank you for coming."
"Thank us?"
cried her brother. "What sort of foolishness is that? Of
course we are here; you are a Buford, you know." After kissing
her on both cheeks in the French style - There was that informality
again, thought Caroline - he excused himself to help Roberts.
"Caroline,"
said Rebecca, "are you well? You look a bit flushed."
Caroline reminded
herself that the Buford's abruptness would take some getting
used to. "I am well, Rebecca, I thank you; only desirous
to get home."
"Very well,
my dear." Mrs. Buford then called out to her husband. "Edward!
Caroline is tired and wishes to go to the house!"
Caroline was taken
aback. What? But I said…
"Very well,
my dear!" Edward shouted in return. "Take the coach
- bring the maid with you! Roberts and I shall see to all this
baggage! I shall meet you at Buford House! Farewell!"
"Lady Caroline,
welcome to Buford House," said Mrs. Albertine Buford. She
embraced her daughter-in-law and kissed her on both cheeks.
That's must be
were they get it from.
"Mrs. Buford - I mean Mother Buford, I am glad to be here,"
answered Caroline. She then looked beyond the old woman and gasped.
"I see you
have noticed our little surprise, yes?" Mother Buford said
with a smile. Standing in the sitting room were Louisa Hurst
and Jane Bingley. Caroline dashed to embrace her sisters with
tears in her eyes.
After exchanging
kisses and tears, Caroline asked about her brothers. "They
will join us for supper, will they not Louisa?" answered
Jane as she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. "They wanted
us to have a bit of time to ourselves. But there is someone who
wishes to see you very much." She turned to a maid who was
holding Susan Bingley. Caroline's tears were redoubled as she
took her goddaughter in her arms.
"Congratulations,
my lady," said the physician as he finished his examination.
"You are indeed with child and everything seems to be progressing
well."
Caroline couldn't
decide whether she was happy or not. "When will the baby
come, doctor?"
"Oh, I believe
we should look for the happy event somewhere around the first
week of November. Nothing to worry about now. Don't tire yourself
out and eat well, that's the ticket. Your confinement is not
for some time yet. I must say, after everything you went through
on your journey home, well…if there was any danger, you
have passed it already…"
An hour later, Caroline
shared the news with the Buford ladies. Both were delighted with
Caroline's report and showered the expectant mother with kind
words and affection. Though she was finding it hard to believe,
Caroline was beginning to think that the two actually like her.
The response of
Louisa and Jane was as expected. Charles was silly and even Hurst
said something kind. The Buford, Bingley and Hurst families were
sitting down to tea when the Darcys were announced. Is this
a tea party or a ball at Almarks? thought Caroline with a
bit of impatience. Mother Buford caught Caroline's mood. She
leaned over a whispered, "Good friends are like good wine;
they should be enjoyed at every occasion. Life is too short to
stand upon propriety, my love. Especially in times like these."
Lady Caroline looked
at her mother-in-law thoughtfully.
April __, 1815
Antwerp
My Dearest Love,
Forgive the lateness
of this letter. Our party arrived safely in London three days
ago. We were met by Edward and Rebecca, who took us home to Buford
House…
Colonel Fitzwilliam
has paid his respects and wishes me to tell you that he shall
see to it that your equipment makes it safely to Belgium. He
has already been in contact with your second-in-command…
My dearest, I
send news of the greatest joy. Come November there shall be another
Buford in the world. Please do not be concerned; the physician
was quite satisfied with your brood mare, and I am in excellent
health and spirits. Our family are all delighted at the news
- Mother Buford, I think, most of all. When I look into a mirror
I almost weep knowing that the evidence of our love is even now
growing within me. That is until I recall what this will do to
my figure - then I do weep!
I shall close
now, but I promise faithfully to write you as often as may be.
Rwy'n dy gari
di,
CAROLINE
"Mother Buford,
tell me about France," requested Caroline one evening.
Albertine Buford
seemed to age before Caroline's eyes. "Do you truly wish
to know the tale?"
Caroline nodded.
"Very well,"
Mother Buford began. "I came from a noble family in Normandy.
Some of my people came over with William the Conqueror. My père
was a good man; he treated our people well. I know this was not
often the case - there was much cruelty, inequity, you see -
but my father was one of those who looked to change the ancien
régime. He read Locke and Voltaire, and spoke to others
who felt the need of reform.
"When I was
young, the King called for the Estates-General - a kind
of Parliament - to look into reform. But the body was dominated
by those who sought to protect the stasis quo. Finally, when
the King sought to disband the Estates-General, many of
the delegates pledged not to leave; it was called the Tennis
Court Oath. My father was one of those men."
The older woman
shook her head. "Much of this you know - how the sans
culottes rioted and tore down the Bastille. How the mob seized
the Revolution from those who only wanted reform - and handed
it over to people like Robespierre and Hébert, who wanted
to remake the world. Those animals began Le Règne de
Terreur - The Reign of Terror.
"My father
by this time grew disgusted with the Revolution. He only wished
to stay at home, minding his lands. But that was not good enough
for the Comité de salut public - Committee of Public
Safety," she spat, "who had taken over the National
Convention. Killing the King was not enough. Paris sent out their
deputies en mission with their guillotines to enforce
the purity of the Revolution. My father had my mother go into
hiding with my brothers and me to protect us. He bought time
for us with his life…"
Lady Caroline gasped.
Mother Buford reached
out for Caroline's hand. "Do not be distressed, my dear.
Within a few days we were whisked aboard an English ship and
brought here to safety. My mere lived only a few years
before she died of her broken heart, but she saw me married to
Mr. Buford and that is a comfort."
Caroline asked,
"Have you every wanted to go back?"
"Non.
My brothers did, after the fall of Robespierre, but it was no
good. One died in a riot, the other killed for refusing to serve
in the army under Bonaparte. No, my love, Wales is my home and
you are my family. I am content."
Caroline was without
words. The woman before her had gone through so much tragedy:
father, mother, brothers, husband, and a son - all gone. Her
birthplace belonged to another. The country she grew up in was
destroyed forever. Yet all the misfortunes Albertine Buford had
lived through had not diminished her. She did not have less love;
she made more - the love she had for her new country, her remaining
children, her friends, and now Caroline. Caroline felt humbled
to be in this lady's presence; she did not feel worthy of Mother
Buford's affections, but she was learning to not only accept
the kindness offered to her but to replicate it as well. Had
my father had been like you, I would have been good, she
thought. Caroline impulsively kissed the hand of the older woman.
"Oh, Mother
Buford, thank you for allowing me to join your family. But what
a story! Your father was not only brave but resourceful as well.
How did he manage to get you all to England?"
"I do not know.
But…come with me…" Mother Buford and Caroline
left the sitting room for the parlor, where Albertine's writing
desk was. "When we got here, a man - he did not give us
his name - gave this to my mother. She left it to me…"
She handed Caroline a letter.
It was a letter
of instructions written in French, signed not with a name but
with the figure of a small red flower - a Scarlet Pimpernel.
|
