II.
The next day, the
household was roused as Maximilian and his equerry came galloping down the
causeway to the doors of Miramar.
Charlotte had been
reading in the garden and had seen them coming from a long way away. Her breath
had caught in her throat – Maximilian looked almost like a centaur, so skilled
was he as he sat astride his horse. So
virile, so vibrant.
She went to greet him.
Maximilian dismounted, tossed the reins of his horse to his equerry, and
embraced her.
They walked, arm in arm,
into Miramar.
“Are you tired from your
journey?” asked Charlotte.
“Not at all. I quite
enjoyed the ride,” said her husband. “Indeed, I could easily go for another.
Would you like to accompany me? You brought your riding habit down with you,
did you not?”
“Of course. Give me a
half-hour to change.”
“I will have your horse
ready, darling.”
True to her word,
Charlotte walked into the stables half an hour later. She wore a dark blue
riding habit and a perky hat perched on her head.
Her horse, Bellerophon,
had already been fitted with a two-pommel side saddle, and the stable boy held
his head while she mounted using the mounting block. She entwined her legs
around the two pommels and gathered up the reins.
“Come, Maximilian,” she
laughed. “Let’s see who can reach the other end of the causeway first.”
She whirled Bellerophon
around and set him to the gallop. Laughing, Maximilian spurred his horse after
her.
Latter that evening,
after dinner, it was Maximilian’s custom to retire to his study and smoke and
read, while Charlotte retired to the library – if they had no guests to
entertain
This evening, Maximilian
joined Charlotte in the library.
“What was so important in
Trieste today that you had to stay over?” Charlotte asked idly, as she dealed
cards for a game of piquet.
Maximilian waved a hand
airily. “I received a delegation of
individuals from Mexico,” he said. “They offered me the crown…but I turned them
down.”
Charlotte stared at her
husband in horror.
“Charlotte, your face has
gone quite white,” said Maximilian in concern. “What is the matter?”
“I…I…why would people
from Mexico want you to be Emperor? They have no affiliation with the royal
houses of Europe.”
“Oh, you are wrong,
Charlotte. Thirty years ago, Mexico had a monarchy, very briefly. The King of Spain
ruled Mexico as well. But the people revolted.
For thirty years Mexican nobles have struggled to restore that monarchy,
and I was their choice.”
Maximilian placed his
hands over hers, for hers were trembling.
“Charlotte, my dear, you
look quite distressed. Are you unhappy because I refused the honor?”
Charlotte’s mind was
racing – too many thoughts to express.
“Of course not, my dear
husband,” she said. “To travel halfway across the world, to rule complete
strangers who do not even know our language…I am quite pleased that you refused
the honor.”
“Good,” said Maximilian.
“But then…?”
Charlotte smiled. “A
twinge of indigestion, my dear. Indeed, I think I will retire to my bedchamber
early. Do you mind?”
“No, not at all. I will
put the cards away. You’re sure you’re alright.”
“Yes, I will be fine
tomorrow. “
He kissed her, and
watched her leave the room. Maximilian thoughtfully replaced the cards in their
pack, then shrugged. He had never known Charlotte to suffer from indigestion
before, but she was not one to make a fuss. She would be alrght tomorrow.
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