Royal Hunt

8th Chapter

Vienna - Dietrichstein Palace

The trip to Vienna wasn't so bad. Although we didn't linger anywhere, we stopped at a few castles along the way and I got to see some friends and acquaintances again. Some of them gradually joined us as they were also traveling to Vienna for the extended season, but many of them stayed home. 

It didn't make sense to me. I thought the Queen would want to celebrate her son's victorious campaign with the whole court, not just the highest ranking. How am I to be properly introduced and how is Mamá to choose a suitable suitor when half the young men won't even be in Vienna? 

We only spent the night at our family castle in Nikolsburg. I urged my father to stay longer, the beginning of winter in Nikolsburg is my favorite season, but the closer we got to Vienna, the more nervous my father became. 

As soon as we woke up in the morning and had breakfast, he had already had the carriages hitched. 

We arrived at the palace before noon. The servants had been informed in advance because the house was ready and heated. 

I refused to lunch with my sisters and mother, made the excuse of travel fever, and headed for my room. 

I planned to lie down for a while before it was time to go to dinner.

Fortunately, my father had told us on the way that the first formal evening at the palace wouldn't take place until the day after we arrived. That's why we were leaving home in such a hurry. To give us some time to acclimatize and prepare.

I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. My rooms in the palace in Vienna were more luxurious than the ones in Prague. In fact, I had an entire suite consisting of a bedroom, a salon, a dressing room, and a small bathroom. The whole suite was paneled in dark wood and the furniture was covered in pink silk.  

Gradually, I set up the salon as my little study. I placed several tall bookcases where I collected my books, and for my fifteenth birthday, my father bought me a large desk made of solid wood and with many drawers, similar to the one he used. 

"My little scholar must have a proper place to study." He laughed at the time. 

And now his little scholar had become a decoy for a suitable suitor. Will I be able to study again after marriage? I'll have to find someone willing to live with me in Prague. I'm not ready to leave my family, my city, and most importantly, to cut ties with my teacher. 

I stayed in bed until it was time for dinner. No one disturbed me. My father understood that I wanted to be alone, my mother and sisters helped my eldest, Marie Elisabeth, unpack so that she wouldn't strain too much during her pregnancy. Then they stayed in her room and decided who to invite to tea first. 

They continued this planning at dinner. Father and brother Johann discussed the details of the success of the military campaign that had won the war for the prince. Jan Johann had heard it several times but still made his father repeat the details over and over again. 

After dinner, I excused myself and went straight to bed. I fell asleep at once, exhausted by the journey but also by the anticipation of tomorrow evening. 

Margaret woke me up the next morning. She opened the windows and let a breath of fresh air into the room. 

"I don't want to wake up." I turned onto my other side and pulled the covers over my head. 

"But Countess you have to get up. A little bird chirped to me that your favorite crepes are for breakfast today." She pulled the covers off my head with a smile.

"I won't. It's just a bribe to keep me in line, tonight in court."

"Bribe or no bribe. It's still crepes. And if I'm not mistaken, you wanted to prove in Vienna that you were mature enough to choose your future husband on your own terms. Hiding in bed is not very mature." 

I sighed. She was right. I threw off the covers and got out of bed. 

I sat at the mirror table and let the young maid wash me while Margaret braided my hair. 

Obediently, I adjusted my arms so they could dress me more easily and looked up in surprise when Margaret pulled my outer dress straight over my chemise. 

"No corset?" I asked in surprise.

"No corset." Margaret leered at me, "But don't say a word to anyone."

She winked at me conspiratorially and I smiled. It was wonderful to know I had an ally. 

The whole family was already seated in the main dining room. My father at the head of the table, my mother at the opposite end, and my sisters and brother scattered around. 

"Crepes, Marie Christine, look. Oh, how I love Vienna." Valentina smiled. 

I let the butler put a few crepes on my plate and pushed a pot of fresh whipped cream towards me.

Valentina didn't even wait for a reply and continued: "Have you made up your mind what you're going to wear to tea? I'm considering the canary yellow silk gown, but I was thinking of something more dramatic for the evening ball. ..." 

"You have no business being dramatic." Johanna jumped in. "Marie Kristina will be presenting tonight. You're just a pretty background."

I understood that Valentina and Johanna were having another argument. Probably again about who stole who's stockings or gloves. But one piece of information gave me pause. 

"Tonight?" I looked questioningly at my father, but my mother answered.

"Yes, yes. Isn't it wonderful? When the Queen found out you were about to be presented, she agreed to have your debut on the first night. Can you imagine anything more wonderful? The two of you together, the prince celebrating his triumph and you. Dazzling and young. I'm sure you'll captivate many a young man. I wouldn't be surprised if the prince himself asks for the first dance."

"I wouldn't be surprised if he had me banished for stealing his spotlight," I grinned. According to the gossip, my father had told me and the reputation the prince had at court, he is obnoxious and arrogant and certainly does not want to share his big night with a young debutante.

"Will anyone else be introduced tonight?" I asked, half hoping I would get lost in a gaggle of several other young ladies who would take all the attention away and I could disappear unnoticed.

"No. Just you. Isn't that wonderful? All eyes will be on you." my mother continued, and my stomach clenched.

Standing in the spotlight while everyone is looking only at me. Not my idea of a good night out.

I ate the rest of my breakfast in silence. I have to admit, I did eat all the crepes they put in front of me. I was annoyed at my weak willpower, which can't even resist such an obvious bribe, but I can never resist delicious and sweet crepes.

After breakfast, I retired to my room, where I hoped to be able to read for at least a little while, but just outside the door, Margaret was waiting for me with a small army of maids and servants and a determined look on her face. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked suspiciously.

"You need to start getting ready, Countess," Margaret replied firmly, beckoning to a few maids who had disappeared into the back of the dressing room.

"The ball is not until tonight." 

"But there will be a social tea before the ball, hosted by Their Highnesses the Princesses. The tea is for ladies only and from there you will proceed straight to the palace for the ball. The gentlemen will see you off later at the palace." Margaret replied. 

"And it takes several hours to prepare for tea?" I kept my guard up as I strained my ears, trying to make out the sounds pouring from the dressing room. I thought I heard a metallic clink.

"Between tea and the ball, we won't have much time to make adjustments, so I must get you ready now." Margaret led me to a table and as she sat me down I saw out of the corner of my eye, the two young maids walking back into the room carrying a huge birdcage-like structure that clinked faintly with each step.

My God, the crinoline!