Royal Hunt

10th Chapter

"Ready?" Mama asked me as the carriage pulled up in front of the royal palace.

We sat alone together, my sisters following us in the other carriage. 

I took a deep breath and nodded. 

"It's just ladies' tea now anyway. I'll have plenty of time to přepare for the evening."

"You'll be great my dear. You look gorgeous. I'd be surprised if the princesses don't want you as a lady-in-waiting at the end of the season." Mama smiled and wiped away a tear that had rolled down her cheek.

The door opened and a footman stood behind it, offering his hand.

Mother stepped out first and walked up the stairs to the palace. I paused at the foot of the marble staircase and looked up at the huge building towering above us.

The Royal Palace was truly impressive. Although we were entering through one of the entrances to the ladies' wing and not the main entrance, even here marble statues lined the path, rows of windows were decorated with ornate cornices with floral motifs, and the gardens opened up behind my back with the most beautiful fountain I had ever seen. 

I climbed the stairs and found myself in a huge hall. A carriage pulled up behind my back with the sisters, who burst out laughing, but immediately fell silent as they entered the palace.

Another footman in royal livery led us through the corridors and staircases before finally stopping in front of the great doors.

I could hear muffled music and voices. We stopped in front of the door and one of the young men who had accompanied us motioned for us to wait, he slipped inside and we remained in the empty corridor. 

Suddenly the door opened and a sonorous voice rang out:

"Countess Elisabeth Dietrichstein and her daughters." Mother came into the room, all fluffed up, followed by us, from the oldest to the youngest. We entered the most beautiful salon I'd ever seen. 

The walls were bright and the window niches had beautiful frescoes of fanciful landscapes. The furniture was intricately carved and covered with tasteful light gold fabric. On the sofas and armchairs sat ladies, some of whom I recognized, other faces were completely unfamiliar to me, but all of whom gazed at us with interest. 

Mother made her way sovereignly through the center of the room to the largest table around which sat the princesses - the daughters of our Queen and their ladies-in-waiting. They were a group of young women, ranging in age from eleven to sixteen, all with the same hair and make-up, dressed in fairly identical dresses, differing perhaps only in color. 

Despite protocol, I couldn't help but grin. 

My eldest sister Marie Elizabeth threw me a warning look. I was immediately embarrassed and blushed bright red. 

My mother finally stopped and made us stop too.

"Your Highnesses." Mother bowed in a deep bow and we all followed her example like obediently behaved daughters.

The eldest Princess Caroline stood up with a smile and motioned for us to stand as well. 

"Welcome." She smiled softly and I immediately felt sympathy for her. She had a pleasant warm voice, and although she was a year younger than me, she exuded unquestionable authority. She gave a slight wave of her hand and the ladies of the court immediately regrouped, making room at the table for my mother, myself, and my sisters.

I heard Valentina gasp beside me. To be seated at the royal table was beyond her wildest dreams.

"Forgive the somewhat unorthodox arrangement. But when we heard we were going to have a debutante in season extension we couldn't resist." Princess Caroline smiled at us. 

"Oh sure. Thank you for such a warm welcome. Tea with the royal family before the actual launch, something Marie Kristina never dreamed of." Mama replied for me, beaming in all directions.

"I just don't understand why you're making such a fuss over me." I chided to myself.

"Because you are the biggest thrill of this season, my dear." Josephine, the other princess, replied. She was only a year younger than her sister and was the only one of the Queen's children to inherit her long blonde hair. The other princesses were dark-haired and dark-eyed. I blushed again, I guess I wasn't as quiet as I thought.

When I looked up, I saw my mother and sisters frowning disapprovingly, while the princesses looked genuinely amused. The youngest one leaned over to her sister and whispered something in her ear. 

"I thought the biggest thrill was the prince's victorious campaign and homecoming," I replied with a raised chin. To my amazement, Caroline just waved her hand, leaned back in her chair, and motioned for the servants to bring refreshments.

"Please. There will be many more such victorious campaigns. But a debutante getting her own season for her introduction to the court, that's something." She winked.

A glass of sparkling wine appeared in front of me and I nervously took the glass and took a sip. 

"We are extremely proud of Marie Kristina. We finally managed to convince her to take an interest in something other than books. Plus, she's been given such an opportunity, she'll be introduced all by herself, all the attention will be on her." Mother gushed, and I couldn't help but feel ashamed. I hadn't asked to be introduced. 

"Books?" Another of the princesses, Antonia, suddenly spoke up. She was a tall and slender girl, thirteen years old. "What do you like to read?"

I was relieved; talking about books was more pleasant than social small talk. 

"Mostly about the natural sciences. I don't really care if it's math, physics, or geology. I also like medical writings, although Mama doesn't think that's appropriate reading for a young lady," I admitted enthusiastically. "My teacher also says you need to have a balanced education and gives me philosophical and political books. Although I find it a little difficult to engage with the theoretical concepts, it is an interesting read. But still, I like science the best. Something that can be measured, calculated, and touched."

"Your teacher must be an interesting person." Princess Caroline remarked.

"Very, he teaches at the University of Prague and I go to him for private lessons."

"But you also learn to sing, play the spinet, and paint, don't you?" Princess Josephine asked.

"I took lessons when I was a child, but now, for some years, I leave this pleasure to my younger sisters, who find in it a special liking," I replied, thus shifting the focus of attention to my younger sisters.

"Oh, that's excellent. You must sing to us sometime." Princess Josephine said lazily. 

"We'd love to." Valentina and Johanna replied in unison. 

One by one the princesses turned to all my sisters and Mama with questions, while the servants brought out various plates and trays full of assorted delicacies. 

I only took some grapes, afraid that I might unwittingly get dirty. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I knew that my whole future depended on today. Although I didn't want to give up my present life, I also didn't want to end up an old spinster that no one wanted and the whole royal court talked about. 

I drank a whole glass of sparkling wine and before I knew it, I was full again. The servants at the palace are really prompt, I had to admit. 

After a while, Mother stood up and excused herself from the table. "If you will excuse me, I will leave you young ones to attend to your own affairs and go and greet my friends."

Princess Caroline nodded to her with a smile. Her mother walked with dignity to the back of the room where several middle-aged women, probably her friends, had descended on her, eager for the latest gossip. 

Princess Caroline leaned over to me: "But you don't look like an enthusiastic debutante who can't wait to meet a lot of suitors."

I looked up in surprise to see little sparks playing in her eyes. The other princesses were engrossed in a debate with my sisters about the most appropriate fit of ball gowns, and the ladies of the court nodded readily. No one paid much attention to Princess Caroline and me.

"You're right," I admitted cautiously. After all, I was talking to the princess, and I didn't know how intimate I could be.

"How so? The dances, the balls, the dinner invitations, the new gowns, the attention of the entire court focused on you." 

"I'm not the kind of girl who enjoys being the center of attention. That's my sisters' prerogative. I'm actually happier alone." I replied truthfully with a sigh.

"Don't you want to get married?" Caroline raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, of course. I'd like to have a big family. But before that, there's so much I want to accomplish and explore. I've never been further from home in my life than here in Vienna. I'm studying the books of so many interesting people, I want to ask them a million questions, get to know their minds for real. Honestly, I haven't done anything yet, haven't seen anything. I haven't met anyone. At least no one I'm convinced I want to spend more than one evening with." I chuckled unexpectedly. I was tired of everyone assuming my studies were getting in the way of my marriage and family life. 

Of course, I wanted a family. A household of my own. But only after I knew something. What scared me the most was the thought of getting married, settling down, and then finding out that life had so much more to offer me. 

"I want to be with someone who will want me. Me as Marie Kristine. Not someone who wants Countess Dietrichstein. A character, a figure. I want someone I can talk to, discuss with, maybe even argue with a little. Someone who understands me and wants me for me, not for my name, my position or my dowry. I want someone I can love and respect. I'm not just a business transaction." I raised my voice and felt myself turning red. Suddenly I stopped, realizing that I was talking to a princess whose future marriage WAS a business transaction and her future husband had been picked before she was born. 

"Sorry, I overstepped my bounds. I'm sorry." I lowered my head.

Caroline looked at me thoughtfully over the top of her wine glass for a moment, then took a sip.

"This is going to be a really interesting season." She remarked with a soft smile.