All Is Fair In Love and War (Part III)

Artwork/Portrait of Marie Luise von Eggenberg by raiinsoaked (DeviantArt)

The Hofburg Palace, the City of Vienna, the Austrian Empire, October 1809.

As soon as Napoleon left Kaiser Franz and their combined entourages, his massive, imposing automaton-construct, the Mameluke Arion suddenly appeared at his side. The partly mechanical, partly flesh construct was formed in the fashion of a heavily armoured and armed warrior of the Egyptian Mameluke Army standing some six feet tall, with an eclectic mix of Ottoman, Egyptian and Byzantine influences concerning the ornamentation of it's person and the gear it carried. Napoleon had picked Arion up as a most unusual personal memento, during his Egyptian campaigning. A peculiar happenstance, which Napoleon felt that he would never have cause to regret. Arion, who had first been activated as a bodyguard automaton-construct in the dying days of the Roman Empire, and had served the Empire of East Rome, and it's successors the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire, and finally the Egyptian Mamelukes with a quiet competence and uncomplaining diligence. Arion's then current master, a Mameluke general, had been killed in battle by the French in one of the earlier battles of the Napoleon's campaign against the Mamelukes, and Arion, for the first time in his existence, finding himself without purpose or without a designated inheritor for his service, immediately offered his skills and personal allegiance to Napoleon, when he encountered him.

Napoleon for own part, had found Arion, indispensable as an accomplished aide-de-camp or orderly, a discrete confident and as a watchful and completely and professionally paranoid personal guardian and kept him close by both in peace and war ever since. He existed solely to guard Napoleon's person, and serve him in any capacity or task that suited his master. Arion had no agenda, nor did he venture his opinions unnecessarily although if asked a question, he would answer in a manner that was polite, yet forthright and studied. Nor did Arion flatter or shy away from uncomfortable truths when he answered, for he was always pertinent and candid in his words and meaning. Napoleon, for his part found, Arion's company soothing, productive and most reassuring which of course intensely annoyed some members of his personal entourage, his general headquarters and even his own Imperial Guard, who felt slighted by the favour Napoleon showed the strange artificial being. Neither Napoleon, nor Arion cared in the slightest about such petty jealousies. Ironically, the one unit in the Garde Impériale that did not care and in fact welcomed Arion's continued presence, was the 1st Regiment of the Chasseurs à cheval, which formed Napoleon's personal escort and body-guard on and off the battlefield. They took their protective duties as Napoleon's senior corps of elite life-guards very seriously, and were relieved and pleased that Napoleon always had someone beside him that did not tire, did not falter and would never desert him no matter the circumstances.

Marie Luise, heard Arion's distinctive metallic tread with which she was well acquainted from her time as a prisoner of Napoleon's in Graz, behind her and know instantly that Emperor Napoleon, would be with him. Arion always made a point of never being further then arm's length of his master, especially in any sort of crowd.

"Fürstin von Eggenberg." Napoleon said pleasantly, from behind her. Weiss, Blankenberg and Archduke Johann, grouped in a half circle around Marie Luise, turned to gaze at him and his bodyguard, their flow of conversation, slowed to a sudden stop. She turned slowly on her heel only after, Napoleon called her by her title seemingly refusing to acknowledge his presence until he actually spoke. Marie Luise's stance was anything put submissive, she took an unexpected pace forward on one foot, so that her legs were set slightly apart, one before the other rather like the stance one took before taking part in a duel with saber or épée. Her hips were canted slightly back, while her chest she thrust forward ever so slightly but definitely, which caused her uniform to go taunt over her breasts causing their curves to be sharply accented. Her hands, she clasped quietly behind her back, which just served to draw attention to the delicate curve of her waist and hips. Some onlookers would have considered her sudden stance surprisingly passive, others would have called it rather aggressive if they looked at it more closely. What it was, was deliberately provocative. Napoleon's only response was to raise one eyebrow, fractionally in an unspoken form of sardonic inquiry and the ghost of an amused smile briefly touched his lips and his eyes.

Marie Luise, watched his expression, and particularly his eyes silently but carefully, her beautiful blond head cocked just slightly to one side, her expression quizzical as she looked on. Napoleon, surreptitiously looked Marie Luise, up and down, liking what he saw. As always she was beautiful, meeting her again in person Napoleon would actually say she was absolutely enchanting. He admired the careful skill and hard work of her tailors and her maids, they had done her justice. He noted her exquisite, tastefully chosen jewelry, her clever use of understated make-up to enhance her own very natural beauty, her various medals and decorations. Many he had of course seen before but he made careful note of the new additions.

The four so-called 'cannon' crosses, because they were struck from bronze taken from captured french cannon, marked her participation in no less then four of the Wars of the Coalitions: in her case, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th each with an ornate, dated bar which denoted Austria's periods of participation fixed to their triangular folded black-yellow-black vertically stripped ribbons. The Medals for the Defenders of Styria and Lower Austria, and the Styrian and Lower Austrian War Merit Crosses, were also new additions, Both the defender medals, had ribbons in the colours of their respective crown lands, green and white, for Styria, and dark blue and yellow for Lower Austria, the medal itself was decorated with the crown lands particular coat-of-arms and an encircling garland of laurel leaves. The War Merit Crosses, had similar ribbons, but instead of the bronze gilt medallion of the former, they featured a metal cross, enameled black, with the enameled coat-of-arms of their respective crown lands mounted on the center medallion of the cross.

The historic and ancient military or knightly Teutonic Order (founded in 1190, which had both Catholic and Protestant branches), the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta (founded in 1099), the Chivalric Order of Saint John of the Hospital at Jerusalem also known as the Johanniter Order or Knights Hospitaller (established also in 1099, and which had Austrian, Bohemian, Brandenburg and Dutch branches) and the Equestrian, Secular and Chapterial Order of Saint Joachim which had been founded in 1755 in the German Duchy of Saxe-Coburg, splendidly decorated her white coat.

As did the medals and decorations of the Electorate of Hessen-Kassel (the Order of Military Merit and the Iron Helm), of the Grand Duchy of Brunswick (the House Order of Henry the Lion, and the Royal Guelphic Order which was shared with the Electorate of Hannover [later part of the Kingdom of Prussia following it's sale by King George III], the Grand Duchy of Brunswick and the Kingdom of Great Britain), the Grand Duchy of Parma (the Sacred Military Constintinian Order of Saint George), the Grand Duchy of Modena (the Order of the Eagle of Este), the Grand Duchy of Tuscany (the Orders of Saint Stephen and of Saint Joseph), the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (the Royal Order of Saint Januarius, the Sacred Military Constintinian Order of Saint George which was shared extremely grudgingly with the Grand Duchy of Parma, Napoleon noted with some amusement, and the Order of Saint Ferdinand and Merit), the Kingdom of Sardinia (the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus) as well as the exiled and now scattered French Royal House of Bourbon (the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis, and the Order of Military Merit: originally an award solely for foreign protestants serving with the French Royal Army, but later expanded to cover foreign soldiers both Catholic and Protestant fighting alongside the émigré Bourbon pretenders to the throne of France and their exiled aristocratic allies as well as those directly in their service). The sight of these on someone else's person would have ordinarily seriously annoyed him, as they all belonged to ancient dynasties he had displaced or all but destroyed over the years and consequently, they could be counted amoung his bitterest enemies. Instead he recognized them for what they were: the tangible marks of the high regard and military esteem she was held in, and that she was not lacking in influential or important patrons. Not a minor consideration given Marie Luise's own and long uneasy relationship with her own sovereign.

The Austrian Military Order of Maria Theresia, The Royal Hungarian Order of St Stephen and the Imperial Order of Leopold all naturally had pride of place upon her person. As did the Order of the Raven, her family's own princely house order founded in 1647, which she wore as a matter of course. She was after all it's grand mistress and proprietor since her father's death.

Marie Luise also wore the decoration unique to every regiment or independent battalion in the Imperial-Royal Army of Austria. In her case, the unit crosses which were worn directly attached to the coat or tunic like the star of an order, were those of the Line Infantry Regiments, No.27 'Graf Strassoldo' now titled Regiment 'Chastler', Line Infantry Regiment No.4 'Hoch-und-Deutschmeister' in which she held a much prized à la suitecommission, and No.45 'Freiherr De Vaux', now Regiment 'Fürstin von Eggenberg' of which she was now Oberst-Inhaber or colonel-proprietor as the Austrians called it, or Colonel-en-chef (colonel-in-chief) as the French Armée Impériale would term the same special and highly prized appointment.

As a common soldier and non-commissioned officer she had won the Austrian Gold, Silver, Iron and Bronze Decorations of Honour for Bravery. In effect the soldiers equivalent of the Military Order Of Maria Theresia. She also wore the similar Civil Medals of Honour, as well as the Emperor Joseph II military medal which was solely awarded to soldiers regardless of their social status or rank for the highest valour, often being wounded in the process. It could also be awarded to those who had carried out their military duties in a thoroughly competent or exemplary fashion such as company, battalion and regimental commanders, as well as generals commanding brigades, divisions, corps or armies or naval officers commanding individual ships, squadrons or fleets. Marie Luise had unusually won this highly prized though sparingly given award, an unheard of four times, once as a common fusilier, as an non-commissioned officer, and again as a commissioned officer and as a general officer!

"Emperor Napoleon." Marie Luise, mimicked him in tone and brevity of words, before bowing with studied politeness and formality. If she had been wearing one of the low cut civilian dresses now in fashion, the depth of her bow, would have given Napoleon an eye full of Marie Luise's quite comely décolletage. Her tightly buttoned uniform closed up to her neck however prevented that. This not so subtle but teasing hint, actually amused and excited Napoleon. He knew what Marie Luise looked like gloriously naked well enough, and was certainly not adverse to it. In point of fact he hungered for the chance to do so again.

Marie Luise, fluidly made introductions for her party of companions, Napoleon know most of them by name if not by prior acquaintance already, but Marie Luise was careful to follow established custom and protocols for such social events. She would give her own Emperor no unjustified cause for criticism of her conduct, Napoleon noted carefully. Napoleon acknowledged each introduction, in a polite, diplomatic manner even exchanging a friendly, bantering remark with each of them.

Napoleon who had heard parts of their previous exchanges on a wide range of subjects, as he had approached them, immediately reignited the conversation by added some comments on his own experiences in Egypt, on the peculiarities of the region's weather and climate, the interesting topography and particularly of the fascinating new study of Egyptology, the ancient pharaohs, the pyramids and the mix of cultures and religions that had created them which still gripped much of intellectual Europe today despite the fact that the French Egyptian campaign of 1798 had ultimately ended somewhat ingloriously if not disastrously in 1801, with the final retreat of the French forces from the region. They all relaxed a little and soon the conversation resumed it's former animation and interest, as remarks and ideas about that ancient world, it's culture, it's languages, literature and it's marvels of engineering and architecture were freely exchanged.

Archduke Johann, remarked after some several long minutes of pleasant and vigourous discussion that he as one of the hosts of the evening, he should be circulating as it would do someone a positive social if not a physical injury, if his or Emperor Napoleon or the Fürstin von Eggenberg's attention was too long claimed by stimulating conversation, rather then the dull politics and vicious court gossip at the moment currently in vogue. Weiss and Blankenberg immediately took the subtle hint, and also took their leave of Marie Luise and Emperor Napoleon's company, leaving the two of them completely alone for the first time this evening.

Napoleon immediately turned to Marie Luise, once the others were safely out of earshot.

"Could I talk to you Mademoiselle, in private."

Marie Luise, considered him and his question for a moment in silence then nodded coolly but politely, gesturing with her one good hand for Napoleon to accompany her, as she knew the Hofburg and it's intricate and elaborate halls, rooms, galleries and passages, rather better then he did. Arion, regarded both his master, Napoleon and the Fürstin von Eggenberg, intensely with his amber yellow eyes, which glowed deep within the visor sockets of his helmeted head as he fell into step behind them. The Emperor was playing with more then just ordinary fire with this woman, not only could he wind up being rather badly burned physically if not emotionally but the overly confident hunter could quickly turn into the hunted themselves if they were not too careful.

In point of fact, Arion, was actually rather inclined to like Marie Luise, far more then he was with regards some of Napoleon's other choices of mistresses or his choice of wife for that matter. He liked anyone who gave a damn, as a matter of general principal. Arion actually found Marie Luise quite as fascinating as his master, she had deep lights, greys and shadows that few people had ever explored much less discovered. Her remarks about her own long, close friendship with the strange automaton-construct, Eisen from her native Styria had deeply interested him, because the two of them were so alike, although it was clear to Arion, that the mysterious Eisen was actually the older of the two of them. If Napoleon's relationship continued to prosper with Marie Luise, Arion looked forward to finding out a bit more about the Old Eisen and perhaps one day meeting him.


Archduke Johann, walked over to join his brother, Archduke Karl, who stood completely alone and largely out of earshot of anyone in a mercifully quiet corner away from many of the people gathered in the great hall. Karl stood silently wrapped in his own thoughts, seemingly brooding over a drink. Johann had noticed their brother Archduke Ludwig, a serving feldmarschalleutnant as well as their older brother Franz's eyes and ears within the army and the Imperial Court where he was a well established figure and blindly loyal stalwart of Kaiser Franz's, and Karl's chief-of-staff Generalmajor Maximilian Alexander Freiherr von Wimpffen had been in deep and serious conversation with Karl for some minutes, before Johann moved to join him. This probably half explained Karl's current dark mood.

Both of them, followed Napoleon's path alongside Marie Luise to one of the outer galleries of the Hofburg. Karl moodily took a long draught on his nearly full drink, but appeared to neither notice what he was drinking or to enjoy it much in any event. Johann, pursed his lips meditatively, then ventured a remark as they watched the two pass through the archway into the privacy of the gallery, trailed by Napoleon's frightening Mameluke body-guard.

"A florin for your thoughts, Karl?"

Karl, said absolutely nothing, and refused to be drawn into conversation by this opening gambit. So Johann, tried another tack, this one a lot less whimsical and certainly a lot less subtle or polite.

"It is as much your own fault, Karl. If you had done better in the battles of this blasted war, Hell if I had done a bit better in my own battles, Marie Luise would not have to resort to what she is contemplating." Johann's softly spoken words, so only Karl could hear him, had all the subtly of a sharp knife suddenly delivered unexpectedly to the underside of someone's ribs. Marie Luise had not bothered to explain her plans in great detail with Karl and Johann, only that she was going to do something to try and bend Napoleon's will in Austria's favour by any means at her disposal. Both were intelligent enough and worldly enough and knew Marie Luise quite well enough to figure out what she was thinking: without it being openly explained to either of them. Neither of them had liked it, but Marie Luise had not asked them, especially Karl for permission, she had told them solely so if they saw a political or military opening created by her appear either in private or in diplomatic negotiations with Napoleon, they would know to take advantage of it or direct Kaiser Franz's cabinet ministers and secretaries of state to do so.

Karl, snapped his grey eyed gaze upon his impertinent younger brother. The distinct note of reproach, as much as the sharp note of biting sarcasm in his brother Johann's voice had roused him from his own glum thoughts. Not that he entirely disagreed with Johann, if he and the Haupt-armee had done better, things might not have come to their current pass. Hell if he had been able to steer his stubborn, imperious brother Franz and his war hawk ministers -- all of them besotted with Britain's promised financial subsidies and their own delusions of grandeur -- and their sycophantic courtiers clear of even getting involved in another war with France, before Austria was actually ready to even attempt such a thing on it's own much less without the effective support of it's potential allies Prussia and Russia. Or if Franz, the Imperial Court and the Hofkriegsrat had let him concentrate the Haupt-armee in Bohemia as he and his general staff had originally wanted, behind the mountain passes instead of directly on the Danube, he would have been in a position to have quickly smashed the Saxon Army and over run Saxony itself, which would have cleared his northern and then allowed him to go after Bavaria on both sides of the Danube without hindrance. This would have galvanized the Prussian and Russian war hawks and made it possible for both of them to actually move against Poland or alternatively join him in Bohemia, this would have made the independent attacks made by the Kur-Hessian Legion and the Brunswick Corps into Westphalia all the more effective alongside the rebel Prussian cavalry Major Ferdinand von Schill's independent North German rebellion.

Britain's practical military aid, which Franz had had such high and quite unrealistic hopes for, during the war had amounted to little in what had been essentially an European continental conflict. Other then a thoroughly bungled attempt to invade Holland, which had been effectively contained by purely local French or Dutch units without materially effecting the balance of the armies engaged in the main theaters of war in northeastern Italy, southern and eastern Bavaria, Westphalia and in Austria itself.

Karl closed his eyes in pained self-reflection and not a little bitter self-recrimination, at the way things had actually progressed despite his best efforts. There are times he thought, when I should have just handed in my resignation when I had the chance, let the consequences be damned! His strong sense of duty to his country, his dynasty and his army had prevented that of course. They needed him, there was no one else in Austria to take his place, as generalissimus, after all. All three, now needed him now more then ever to help them to recoup, to rebuild and to retrain and save whatever could be saved out of the wreck and smoldering embers of this latest infernal and unsuccessful war with Napoleon Bonaparte. Johann watched the silent play of emotions across, Karl's face, said nothing.

"You are saying I owe, Marie Luise a heart felt apology, when this is over, Johann." Said Karl finally after regarding his brother for some moments in utter silence.

"Yes." Johann, remarked flatly.

"Any suggestions, where I start..." Karl asked with a trace of something like dry humour in his still serious and grieved expression.

"Two dozen red roses, and a box of the most expensive and delicious chocolates you can buy every day, for the rest of her life." Johann said promptly and without ceremony.

"That would not even count as a down payment, Johann." Karl said with a snort of derision.

"True." Johann, said reflectively, then a twinkle of his all too usual mischief sparkled in his own grey eyes. Which immediately put Karl on his guard, as he knew his younger brother, all too well. Johann, was up to something.

"A wedding ring, though would count, Karl." Johann, remarked with studied and remarkable verbal blandness, which did nothing to banish the mischievous devilry that glittered in his grey eyes. Karl who was in the middle of a second long draught from his wine glass, immediately started sputtering, as Johann non sequitur caught Karl completely off guard.


Marie Luise, quickly, lead Napoleon and Arion, to a side gallery which features a deep nook or recess set into a colonnaded wall. Anyone within the nook was not visible to anyone passing through the gallery's passage way. Arion immediately stationed himself in a position that allowed him to guard their privacy, but also to observe and intercept anyone entering or leaving the gallery.

Marie Luise, turned and looked at Napoleon with an expression of inquiry. Napoleon considered for several minutes how to handle what he wanted to say, and the best way to say it. After several moments, Napoleon decided that a certain degree of honesty was his best policy.

"I confess, I wanted your company solely for myself, tonight."

"You would not be the first." Marie Luise, remarked tartly. "Or, the last."

That did not surprise, Napoleon on reflection. It was highly unlikely there was any man or woman for that matter, present in the Hofburg who did not find Marie Luise highly desirable for any number of reasons, at any time.

"I have a proposition I would like to put to you. Several actually, if you would entertain to hear them."

Marie Luise, looked at Napoleon appraisingly for several long moments. Her face was absolutely still, giving nothing away. Napoleon found himself suddenly envying her detached focus and coolness. She would make an very accomplished card player at any high stakes gambling table or diplomat at any critical conference, he thought. Then, she nodded ever so slightly, one hand raised, her fingers extended palm uppermost towards him, as if to say, go on.

Napoleon put his hands behind his back, took a deep breath and collected his thoughts carefully. This was going to require some skill and tact on his part.

"Would you be interested in a command within the Grande Armée? specifically with the troops of the Confederation of the Rhine?" Napoleon finally said without flowery preamble or unnecessary ceremony. Marie Luise, raised one elegant blonde eyebrow at this fractionally, then silently considered the matter.

"A divisional command, drawn from the armies of the smaller German States, I pressume?"

"Yes, the formation would consist of regimental or battalion sized contingents from all the member states of the Confederation."

"A bit complicated to manage within the confines of a single division, even a large one, would you not agree." Marie Luise said after a few moments consideration. A divisional command would have been appropriate to offer her, Marie Luise thought, considering much of her previous military experience was at that level for several years, although her recent promotion to the rank of Feldzeugmeister or what the French called a Général de corps d'armée would normally by right of prestige, protocal and military etiquette require a higher level of assignment. This Marie Luise considered unlikely for a number of reasons.

"Oh, I agree but I was not thinking in terms of you commanding a just a single division, but rather a full corps d'armée of at least three, probably five divisions of infantry and two of cavalry along with the necessary supporting units, staffs and logistical elements."

Napoleon watched with a mixture of pleasure and not a little excitement, as both of Marie Luise's eyebrows shot upwards in response. He could well understand why, given her prior military service, a command suitable for a Général de division would not have been unreasonable thing for him to actually offer her. Particularly as his own generals and even his marshals of the Grande Armée were a prickly, contentious lot and would have been unwilling or reluctant to take orders for an outsider, let alone an Austrian general, even one of her professional accomplishments, battle hardened competence and proven bravery.

The German states of the Confederation of the Rhine, the Grand Duchies of Nassau, Kleve-Berg, Hessen-Darmstadt, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Baden, the Free City states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lübeck and Frankfurt-am-Main, and the Kingdoms of Württemberg, Westphalia, Saxony, and Bavaria however would have no such difficulty, nor would there be a language barrier as German was Marie Luise's native language as it was of the German States and she was just as accomplished in the written and spoken languages of ltalian, Polish and French so adding in contingents for The Grand Duchy of Warsaw, the Kingdoms of Italy and of Naples did not present a problem or units and subordinate officers from France, for that matter. Nor was Marie Luise really a stranger to that level of command, as she had in fact organized and commanded what amounted to an ad hoc corps during the siege of Graz.

"It would be an excellent way of cementing the new alliance and relationship between France and Austria, you would agree?" Napoleon said quietly and with surprising sincerity. Although, Marie Luise did not think that was the reason for offering it, that was uppermost in his mind.

It would, and be an even more excellent way to entangle Austria still further into your own dynastic and military ambitions in the ongoing wars in Portugal and Spain. Marie Luise thought to herself. Still the proposal had merit, and could even be used in Austria's interest as well as France's. If the new relationship was carefully handled it might be used to evade, rewrite or even discard some of the more militarily damaging articles of the Second Treaty of Schönbrunn in Austria's favour. Marie Luise, was fairly certain that Kaiser Franz would refuse such a request by Napoleon to him and the Hofkriegsrat to borrow her services, point blank. She simply was not counted amoung his special favourites or those who at least enjoyed his favour, rather she was counted amoug his most passionately hated enemies. As Marie Luise, had realized her actions both in the past and especially during the Siege of Graz, had especially embarrassed her sovereign, personally or politically. It was highly unlikely she would receive any important military assignments hereafter, even baring another war, of course.

Marie Luise had privately decided after the peace had been signed to retire to her estates and take time to recuperate, devote herself anew to her family's businesses, enterprises and various properties and lands and their inhabitants. The idea of hurling herself into harms way in yet another war, half a continent away for a master and a cause that was not her own and one that she did not in the least sympathize with was distasteful in the extreme.

"His Majesty, would likely refuse such an idea." Marie Luise said aloud. Napoleon nodded he had been thinking much the same thing.

"He, might be persuaded." Napoleon responded cryptically.

"That would be a neat trick if you could pull it off. Habsburgs are not easily persuaded into or out of anything." Marie Luise smile was touched with sardonic humour and just a hint of sarcasm. Marie Luise had made the acquaintance, one rather more intimately then others, of several Habsburgs ranging from the emperor to the various archdukes and archduchesses, and they were all of them: good, bad or indifferent as they might be as human beings, they were to a man or woman willful, imperiously proud and stubborn past the point of mere obstinance!

"Very true." Napoleon observed equally laconically. "Still there is no harm in my asking him, with your permission of course?"

Marie Luise, responded with another silent almost imperceptible nod. Napoleon visibly relaxed a bit, he had obviously been prepared for a blunt refusal on her part. Marie Luise, noted this, then decided to verify, a suspicion that had been long in her mind about Napoleon's intentions towards her.

"If your offer of a military command, fails to get me to Paris and the Tuileries, what then, Your Majesty?" Marie Luise asked quietly, her head tilted slightly sideways, as she looked at him once again with an appraising glance. There was something teasing, even inviting in the tilt of her head and the poise of her attractively full lipped, mouth. Her large, spectacularly jewel like green eyes sparkled alluringly at him

"I would request, that Kaiser Franz send you as a special envoy, to assist in working out the remaining military details of the peace treaty and such other negotiations that might concern both our countries in due course. I do not imagine that he would object to that request quite so strongly, in fact he might, I think welcome it." Napoleon said flatly, almost without thinking or realising what he had just been quietly trapped into saying aloud.

"He, might at that". Marie Luise, said aloud, although what she thought to herself was rather another matter. Karl would object to it, and I even understand why, and his reasons would have nothing to do with Austria losing my military services. Karl, would be desperately worried that he was losing... me.

"So what you really want.... is." Marie Luise, remarked candidly. "Me." She suddenly took a step forward and Napoleon found himself with Marie Luise so close to him, that her breasts brushed the front of his own green, red piped Chasseurs à cheval tunic. Napoleon felt his face uncontrollably heat, with desire for her, she noticed it, just as much as he did. Her pale yellow gloved hands suddenly came up, and clamped firmly around both his face and neck. With a strength that both surprised and alarmed him, she pulled him forward and towards her. Marie Luise's sweet mouth swiftly closed over his.

A Lonely Traveler (Part I)

Schloss Eggenberg, Graz, the Crownland of Styria, the Austrian Empire, 1810.

The carriage rumbled down the roads towards the estate of the Princes of Eggenberg, the mistress of the palace was coming home after a long absence. Marie Luise, returned to her family seat, not in triumph but in disgrace, for she was now an exile, a pariah within her own country. The sky was dark and brooding, as night covered the land while the road and forests were lashed by a torrential downpour, her mother had once commented that God was in the rain, if that was so, at least he seemed to spare her his tears, as no one else in Vienna seemed so inclined. The Kaiser, the Imperial Court, the Roman Catholic Church and it seemed just about everyone else within the boundaries of the Austrian Empire, had collectively turned their back on her, her prior service, her personal valour and accomplishments seemed to count for nothing.

She touched her stomach, she was at least three months pregnant. It had happened in Paris, while she was attached as a special military advisor to the Austrian Diplomatic Legation. She was thirty years of age, unmarried and carried the unborn child of a man who was neither her husband nor her fiance. He was Napoleon I, Emperor of the French. Napoleon had taken her as one of his mistresses and their dalliance had both personal and political consequences. The uproar that had caused when word reached Vienna had been almost as frightening as it had been swift, almost overnight her high reputation amoung her fellow Austrians had tumbled to ruin and vanished, then news of her pregnancy had followed with the effect of a exploding bombshell.

Marie Luise had found herself ruthlessly castigated, pilloried and calumnied both in public and in private, even before she had returned to Vienna from Paris. She had surprised and baffled many with her icy silence, her refusal to beg for forgiveness or bow to the public scorn and spite that was heaped upon her head. She had made it clear without saying so much as a word, to anyone who challenged her and her conduct, that she was answerable to no one but herself and her own conscience. Without prospects of appointment or preferment within the Imperial Court or the Hofkriegsrat, following her recall from Paris, Marie Luise had decided to retire quietly to her family estates and possessions. Not to rest, await events and recoup, but to hide, there was no gainsaying it. Behind the front of implacable iron she presented to the world she felt desperately alone, inwardly broken and emotionally exhausted. She was not even sure of her welcome in her family's ancestral home, she had been absent for a long time and news of the scandal that ensnared her had reached even to the quiet forests, hills and villages of the district her family had long called home. So she had come back, almost in secret, without pomp or accustomed ceremony.

Marie Luise, felt no resentment for the child she carried, did any child have a say in the matter of it's parents or the timing of it's conception or arrival? Whether it turned out to be a girl or a boy, was a decision very much in God's hands not her's. Part of her wished for it to be a son, for the sake of the House of Eggenberg, which desperately needed an heir, illegitimate or not. Ironically, Napoleon would welcome a male heir too, for an illegitimate son could be legitimized at a later date, his dynasty, the House of Bonaparte, needed as many as it could produce if it was to endure into an uncertain future. He would welcome a son, no matter the circumstances, though she would welcome a daughter just as readily, as she hoped that Napoleon would be less inclined to try and take the child from her. I really need to give some thought as to names in either event, she thought idly although it was by no means assured that either she or the child would survive the pregnancy, much less her giving birth. Her mother had given birth to just two children in her lifetime, herself and a stillborn son who did not live long enough to be even named. Her mother had subsequently died from health complications that had attended that fatal pregnancy. That murderous, tragic double blow, had all but killed her father, as well. Marie Luise, suppressed a shudder of mourning and despair, that threatened to vibrate through her whole frame. She sternly brought herself firmly in hand, with the hard won emotional control and iron discipline of a lifetime of dealing with tragedies and anguish.A set of hurdles to be passed when she came to them and not before, she thought, there was no sense wasting time, thought or nervous energy upon them unnecessarily.

Marie Luise, had never expected recompense or reward for her military or diplomatic services or for the blood and treasure that she had sacrificed or spent, nor would she ever have apologized for using whatever tools came her way to serve her Kaiser and her Fatherland. She had not always been successful, but nor had she entirely failed. She had through trying to win, Napoleon's heart and bend his will, at least saved her home city of Graz from destruction, and the Austrian Empire, still endured rather then being arbitrarily dismembered whatever the current treaties, indemnities, territorial compensations and economies that now shackled it. If public disgrace and ridicule was the price she had to pay, then she would pay it, not happily admittedly but with quiet fortitude and humility. Marie Luise had long ago given up any false pride she might had felt, she had seen too much of the world, to expect it to be fair.

The only regret she had was that this whole miserable affair had probably cost her the one man on this whole planet, who she loved completely and adored with all her heart and given her devotion, that man being the Archduke Karl. More then once the two of them, over the years of their intensely personal and deeply intimate relationship, had discussed a morganatic marriage between the Houses of Habsburg and Eggenberg. Her great enemy, Kaiser Franz I of Austria, would never have permitted it, especially now, the scandal and disgrace that surrounding her was too great, even if the Kaiser had even been prepared to consider such a match. Which he was not, as matters stood. In the past the Kaiser, who had long since realize that she was not his tool to use as he willed, had worked behind the scenes to deny her military appointments, stall her promotions and prevent her service and gallantry being properly awarded. Not, it had to be said with the success he had expected, as Marie Luise had found time and again, to her surprise that she had powerful allies and patrons within the Imperial Court, the Hofkriegsrat and even within the Chanceries of the Great Chivalric and Military Orders of the Empire, who had their own ideas of what was due the heroes and heroines in the service of the House of Austria.

Not for the first time, tears streamed silently down her pale cheeks.

The other occupant of the carriage, watched her from the virtual twilight that enveloped it's interior. Neither had said a word to each other, for much of the journey. Each had been wrapped in their own thoughts. Graf Sonder, shifted his masked head fractionally, even in the darkness he could see the gentle flow of tears that shimmered and dropped from Marie Luise's green eyes. He too had been recalled in some official disfavour from Paris, though to his native Prussia, rather then Austria and so had accompanied her home at her invitation. She needed a friend, if she needed anything at all, at this time and Sonder was happy to offer her whatever emotional or medical support she required.

Sonder reflected carefully for several minutes on Marie Luise's silent agony, then made a decision to act. He carefully withdrew a letter concealed in one of his coat pockets, that he had received from the hands of a special courier at the last village they had stopped at to have the carriage team watered and fed. The rider had evidently been instructed to intercept them short of Graz, and by a mixture of luck, good judgement and fine equestrian skills had caught them short of their final destination. Sonder had recognized the young man immediately but had said nothing aloud and had allowed himself to be taken aside. The courier had in turn said little to him, only that the messages he bore were for Sonder himself, and the Fürstin von Eggenberg. Sonder had agreed to deliver the letter to Marie Luise, at an appropriate moment and to keep it's existence secret from all others, save her. The courier had thanked him, then rode off with all dispatch, to report to his master that his errand had been completed.

Wordlessly he passed both the letter to her, and a fresh silk handkerchief, she looked at Sonder puzzled by the sealed letter but gratefully for the handkerchief. He turned in his seat and set alight one of the interior side lamps, so that she could read the document properly. Marie Luise turned the letter over in one hand, while dabbing at her eyes with the other to clear them of tears. Her face froze, as Sonder watched, as the import of the heavy wax seal on the letter's flap hit her, the co-joined heraldry of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and the Duchy of Saxe-Teschen. Her hands trembled as they gripped the letter tightly, desperately trying not to sudden crush or tear it, a torrent of tears glittered in her eyes again. Somehow she kept them in check. Sonder withdrew an unfolding letter opener from another of his pockets and wordlessly handed it to her, Sonder had some idea of her letter's contents, if not the exact wording from his own letter.

She slit open the envelope hurriedly and tried to stop her hands from shaking as she read the letter.

Dearest Marie,

I will not trouble you with solicitations of cheap sympathy, trivial social or political advice or other such trite nonsense as you have undoubtedly already received from fair weather friends and fawning sycophants who seek to make capital out of your current distress. They would be as useless as they would unwelcome in the terrible circumstances you have lately had the misfortune to find yourself in.

I only wish to impart two things, as I write this document in some haste to put into the hands of my waiting adjutant. The first and foremost is that I love you, never more so then now. While I disagreed with your decision to effect a romantic liaison with Napoleon Bonaparte, I also understood your reasons and the actions that you took both in Vienna and Paris were taken to benefit Austria. In time and with a pause for serious reflection, I think people will recognize that, not all of them perhaps but enough of them. The second thing, is that whether it seems so or not, you still have genuine friends who have not deserted you in this moment of direst distress, and a great number of them. Many have unfortunately been forced to effect a discrete silence at present, but that is only so they can rally themselves, coordinate and muster whatever supports and weapons they can for the coming fray. The obstacles we face will not stop them or myself from supporting you in any way we can and as importantly working in season and out of season to effect your rehabilitation and it is to be trusted, your vindication in the public's esteem.

Johann, has of course already made it very clear in his usual blunt and impertinent manner I might add, that he will call upon you personally at his first opportunity and has already made his personal and professional support for you crystal clear and as rudely as possible, whenever one of your detractors or enemies is in the vicinity! Franz is of course incandescent with rage, with Johann. Which as you would imagine leaves, Johann totally unmoved. For myself, I am now well past all caring what view my brother takes of the matter or indeed any other at this point. I shall myself do the same, as soon as I can win clear of the ensnaring coils of the Imperial Court and the Hofkriegsrat. If I cannot, I will write to you as often as time and opportunity allows.

My dearest, I wish you god speed, and good luck in this moment of stern trial.

With all my love and adoration.

Karl

Marie Luise felt the hot tears roll down her cheeks, completely unchecked, her emotions a chaotic welter of impulses, half formed thoughts and feelings. She pressed the letter to her mouth, kissing the wax seal ever so gently with trembling lips. Her cheeks flushed red with strong emotion, she found herself struggling to regain her sense of balance or any semblance of composure.

Sonder slipped from his seat opposite to join her on her own seat. Without a word, he put his arms around her and hugged her. Marie Luise felt that Sonder was embracing her for all her friends and supporters. She badly needed it, it meant a great deal to her, to know that she was not completely alone and to have it so forceful put to her.

Her beloved Arch-Karl, as she had half teasingly, half joking called him as a play on both his name and his aristocratic rank when their relationship had first become genuinely intimate, still loved her! That meant everything to her, the world could do to her what it liked and be damned! She had not lost him!

"Come now, child." Sonder said softly as he picked up the discarded handkerchief and worked to dry her tear filled eyes as she started to sob uncontrollably. "You will be at the great hall of your sires, shortly. It will not do, for the regnant Fürstin von Eggenberg to be in such a state when she arrives." He chided her ever so gently. It sounded odd to her to be called a child at her age but then again, Sonder was some three hundred years old, if she remembered correctly so to him, anyone under at least the age of a hundred really was a child as far as he was concerned. Marie Luise startled herself with a soft, slightly hoarse chuckle, and nodded choppily several times in agreement. Holding the letter close to heart, she tried hard to restrain and master her wild, exultant emotions.

A Ghost Amid Ghosts (Part III)

Schlossberg Fortress, Graz, Crownland of Styria, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, January 1866.

After a few long minutes the woman, finished her religious observances and stood, before looking about herself and began walking slowly deeper into the memorial chapel proper, in a silent, unhurried way, examining the various memorials, memento mori that decorated the chapel, literally from floor to ceiling. Again, both the Chapel master and the Dean, caught a flash of luminous green eyes, as her gaze wandered about her surrounding, abruptly the whole chapel shook as a particularly violent roll of thunder crashed against the immense stony solidity of Schlossberg. The harsh glare and flicker flash of lightning illuminated the memorial chapel, through the open doors, which were always keep open to admit visitors regardless of the hour.

The woman suddenly grabbed both hands to her head as if suddenly stricken with terrible pain, her eyes blazed with an intense green light that engulfed the pupils, iris and sclera, in a searing illumination, before her eye lids snapped tighly shut with the next lightning flash. Both the Dean and Chapel master exchanged a quick glance, then rushed to the woman's assistance. She was in serious discomfort that was obvious. The Dean, quickly dragged shut the inner doors of the entrance way, to cut out the crashing flashes of light and noise that raged outside, a considerable winter storm was in the offing, falling snow mixed with the rattle of hail striking the Schlossberg, that too was obvious despite the pitch black night that reigned beyond the doors of the chapel. There would be other few visitors tonight, the Dean thought as he dogged the doors shut.

The Chapel master guided the woman towards one of the benches that stood nearest the Siege of Graz memorial. It had been donated to the Chapel a great many years ago, and many found it a particularly comfortable and restful spot to contemplate the memorial. It was certainly one of the finest pieces of ornate woodwork, he had ever seen, carved from the most beautiful and expensive African Ebony, with magnificent gold leaf decorations and plush, wine dark red velvet covered the seating and back rest. Even with massive doors closed tight, the woman reacted to every following rumble of thunder and lightning strike, as if they were physical blows, her arms curled tightly about her as she sat silently, her strained breathing being the only sound in the cavernous memorial chapel.

"Are you all right, Madam?" The Chapel master finally said, after watching her for several long minutes. Her harsh breathing seemed to have eased a bit, to both his and the Dean's surprise the woman, actually smiled, even laughed though her eyes were still closed shut.

"I am not in pain, thank you gentlemen. This just happens to me, when I am caught in storms..." she gave an unexpectedly soft, earthy chuckle before continuing. "In truth, I actually find it... bracing, even exciting. It reminds me I am still...Alive." She said, finally drawing aside her hood and face concealing scarf. A shock of soft hair, pure white shot with gold blonde streaks tumbled down around her neck and shoulders.

All Is Fair In Love and War (Part II)

The Hofburg Palace, the City of Vienna, the Austrian Empire, October 1809.

Artwork/Portrait of Marie Luise von Eggenberg by raiinsoaked (DeviantArt)

Archduke Johann, dressed in his own neat and well tailored uniform of an Austrian feldzeugmeister joined, Marie Luise and her coterie, their congenial company appealed to him rather more then the assembly of vapid courtiers and irksome notables who surround virtually every member of the Habsburg family present in the vast room. For their part, Marie Luise, Weiss and Blankenberg were delighted to see him and immediately made him welcome in their informal circle of pleasant, free flowing conversation on a variety of subjects and topics that interested them. It was certainly more interesting then the usual rounds of dull politics, vicious court gossip and petty intrigue, that was all to frequently the norm within the halls of the Hofburg, as far as Johann was concerned.

Johann, who had known, Marie Luise for many years, was struck by how suave and poised she was, especially here in the heart of the Austrian Imperial Court, a place where she had never been either entirely welcome or comfortable, and that was even before she had decided to throw in her lot with his brother Karl (she had also given her heart to Karl, which Johann was alright with, the good lord knew Karl needed it, being something of a loner due to his ill health, his frequent bouts of epilepsy and had largely remained a life-long bachelor. Besides, they made a very touchingly devoted and charming couple as far as Johann was concerned). Actually the more Johann, thought about it, it well past time for Karl and Marie Luise to approach, Franz about arranging a marriage between them, they had been discrete lovers long enough to salute the social conventions! Franz would, Johann was dismally certain, probably flatly refuse permission for a dynastic marriage, as Karl and Marie Luise were of unequal dynastic and aristocratic rank. Still, brother Franz would have been hard pressed to refuse them on purely morganatic grounds, especially with both of them being so popular in the public esteem at present. That, an being the acknowledged and adopted heir of the extremely wealthy and childless Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen, Karl had much more room to negotiate his options of who was suitable as his wife, then most other Habsburgs who were tightly bound by the dictates of the Habsburg family house laws. Certainly some fresh blood in the Habsburg family, would do it no harm, considering it's frankly idiotic fixation on both partners of a Imperial marriage be of the proper dynastic degrees on both sides for at least twenty generations back, especially when most candidates had enough trouble managing eight, which nearly always resulted in various Habsburgs being either imbeciles or epileptics!

Marie Luise's recent promotion to the rank of feldzeugmeister, her appointment to a regimental inhaber-ship and the various military awards she had been granted, had been well merited by her military skill, often stupefying personal valour and ironclad loyalty, to the House of Austria and was long over due in his opinion. It also represented her raising prestige and presence within the Imperial Court, whether brother Franz liked it or not! Marie Luise, seemed to have grown in subtle ways he couldn't explain as he stood happily chatting about music, geology, mathematics and the natural sciences with her and her companions. He supposed her fifteen years of military service and her sometimes unhappy if not tragic life experiences had been akin to the hammering, molding and tempering process that occurred when a sword was steadily fashioned from a simple ingot of metal into a deadly, razor sharp and precise weapon.

It grieved and angered him to see, that she still held herself very still and carefully, to control the pain of her various injuries sustained in the recent war. She had taken a musket ball in her shoulder, a saber cut and a bayonet thrust into her side and had been grievously struck several times in the head and neck by shrapnel throw up by artillery fire during the battles in and around Graz, and especially in defense of it's fortress, the Schlossberg. She would bear these injuries and others she had earned over the years, both physical and emotional to her grave. She held herself very stiffly though with surprising grace, to avoid unnecessary movements of either her shoulder or her arm, and was more apt to pivot on her heel rather, then turn her head to look at someone to avoid moving either her head or her neck unduly.

Marie Luise realized some of what was going on, quietly and unsaid, behind Johann's cool grey blue eyes, and gently touched his arm, giving him a pat of gentle reassurance. Her eyes sparkled with a shared understanding of what he was thinking, a touch of fatalistic soldier's black humour and the hint of one of the saddest of smiles he had ever seen touched her mouth. Johann allowed himself a soft, rueful chuckle at her expression and placed his gloved hand over her's with equal gentleness for a moment. There was, and never would be any self pity in Marie Luise's mental make up, and she had more then fair reason enough to feel a bit put upon in her life. Marie Luise, would soldier on taking the good with the bad, and keep moving forward to whatever end, life finally had in store for her. Little wonder, Johann thought that some of her soldiers, had taken to calling her Marie the Implacable.

An Automaton servant appeared beside them, politely offering either each of them a drink or other such refreshment as took their fancy from the trays and dispensers it carried. Weiss and Johann each selected an light alcoholic beverage, while, Blankenberg and Marie Luise selected a simple fruit punch, given the strong medications they were both on, to assist with healing their injuries and pain management, that was wise of them, Johann noted.

Napoleon as he approached the small group, tried to analysis why he found, the Fürstin Marie Luise von Eggenberg so attractive, even fascinating. The first reason was abundantly obvious to any onlooker, who was not either an eunuch or an imbecile. She was stunningly, dangerously beautiful. Golden blonde hair, delicate aristocratic features, with a surprisingly clean complexion considering her many years service in the Austrian Army. A warm full lipped mouth, and alluring green eyes, which could flash fire when she was angry, sparkle beautifully when she was amused, happy or pleased, or freeze you to the marrow, when they bored into you, if she was displeased or dispassionate. Her smile could light up a room, like a sparkling sunbeam, while her merest frown could cut an onlooker like the blade of a razor sharp knife.

Marie Luise, looked stunning in her uniform and skirt, adorned with both medals, decorations and jewelry which emphasized both the feminine and military aspects of her character. While not a tall person, she always seemed to dominate the people around her, not in a harsh, loud or arrogant way, more she had a subtle way of captivating her audience with both her beauty and her spiritual power. Her physical charms he was already well acquainted with inspiring both adoration and lust in equal measure in him. Marie Luise, possessed an alluring body, intensely fit even muscular from long years of training and a moderate, well balanced diet she had a certain very appealing sleekness of form and figure, while having quite generous curves in all the right places. She carried herself very well, her motions precise, and controlled but unaffected without the jerkiness or affected showiness that long military service sometimes imparted to a person.

Nor was she a loud or intemperate speaker (well not unless she was swearing, in which case she could out do even veteran light cavalrymen or make even hardened teamsters blush! He thought with some wry amusement), quite the contrary, she spoke as a rule, only moderately to very little though her words were always spoken tersely, articulate and clear. She listened, he found a great deal more then most people in positions of authority at least in Napoleon's own experience, and paid close attention to everything going on around her both in what was said and unsaid. She certainly had no patience with false flattery, and rather less for anyone she regarded as a fool.

The second reason was, she was fabulously wealthy, having many diverse and profitable land holdings, businesses and enterprises in several Austrian crown lands and even reaching as far away as Hungary and Bavaria, which gave her an enviable private income. It was rumoured not inaccurately as he had learned that she could recruit, equip and maintain whole armies or at least several large Austrian Frei-Corps and substantial parts of the Austrian and Hungarian feudal levy, the Insurrection, with what was accumulated in her personal privy purse, alone. She came of a family which while of modest but respectable middle-class origins, enjoyed a high social standing, high aristocratic titled rank and not inconsiderable accumulated family prestige. The Eggenbergs had served the Habsburgs loyally and ably for centuries as bankers, coin-minters, soldiers, administrators, councilors and statesmen, with all the accumulated connections and associations in many political, military and economical spheres, that had given them.

Marie Luise, would have in the strictly physical and material sense of the word made any man, lucky enough to win her hand, a very splendid wife. Winning her heart, was a rather more difficult feat for any would be suitor or paramour. That challenge rather enticed and intrigued, Napoleon, rather then putting him off as it might have for so many other men. While Marie Luise, was emotional, impulsive and incautious, she carefully hid this beneath a cool, detached and highly controlled persona. Both these complicated sides of her personality, the fire and the ice, were as much as part of her character as breathing. What she was not in the least, was indecisive or equivocating by nature.

Marie Luise had acquired various nicknames or monikers over the years, the more printable ones were, the Prinzessin Höllenfeuer (Princess Hellfire), as she was known for many years be many of her fellow Austrians. To many Italians in both French and Austrian service, she was Principessa o contessa di ferro (the Princess or Countess of Iron). To his own fellow french men, she was L'ange maléfique (the Evil Angel). During the Siege of Graz, she had been called the Löwin von Graz(the Lioness of Graz) by it's defenders, and the Jeune fille / dame de la colline du château (the Maiden or the Lady of the Castle Hill) by those french troops tasked with trying to take the place.

Napoleon realized he was so drawn to Marie Luise because his own married life was so increasingly strained. Joséphine, his beloved empress, could not through any real fault of her own provide him with the heirs his dynastic ambitions required. The fact one of his longtime mistresses, Eléonore Denuelle de La Plaigne, had given him an illegitimate son, Charles Léon Denuelle de la Plaigne, who he had created the Count Léon in 1806 and his other mistress Countess Marie Walewska (who was here with him in Vienna) was now several months pregnant with his child, had increasingly convinced him that Joséphine was infertile if not actually barren after having already had two children by her previous marriage, his step son Eugene de Beauharnais and step daughter Hortense de Beauharnais.

Napoleon, found himself in the extremely unhappy situation of having to contemplate a divorce from Joséphine for the sake of dynastic considerations and contemplate a second marriage with one of the younger daughters of the more established royal or imperial houses of Europe. His current political preferences and needs were causing him to lean towards the Romanovs of Russia. He needed Russian military, political and economic support and a marriage alliance would help cement that. Tsar Alexander had expressed some guarded interest in the idea, though he had not committed himself especially when Napoleon had broached the idea of him marrying one of Alexander's younger sisters. The Habsburgs presented another potential dynastic possibility, especially Kaiser Franz's young daughter, Marie Louise. Though again there was no firm commitment on either side for such a potential match as he had yet to even broach the delicate subject with Franz or his diplomatic officials.

Marie Luise offered him a potential third marriage option outside the problems of more regular dynastic channels, he suddenly thought. She was of an illustrious family with connections to royalty, specifically the Franconian branch of the Hohenzollerns, the Margraves of Kulmbach, Ansbach and Bayreuth. Further they had held high princely rank in the Holy Roman Empire, as the Princely Counts of Gradisca from 1647 - 1792 and could thus be counted amoung the sovereign houses of Europe. As such she would make a quite suitable Bonaparte dynastic bride, if no other offered and would in his opinion make a splendid empress. His French subjects would probably object to another Austrian consort, the late and unlamented Marie Antoinette came forcefully to mind. Marie Luise however had some counter veiling advantages to offer. Her family while noble and very aristocratic had come originally from respectable Austrian middle-class stock and worked their way up in the world by sustained hard work and application. That would appeal to many of his natural supporters in the French Empire's working and middle-class, she was also entrancingly beautiful, courageous, warm hearted, conscientious in attending to her duties and obligations, she was commendably stylish but not extravagant and lived on her own terms free of any outstanding financial debts or obligations. True, at the age of twenty-nine, some would judge her as rather mature for marriage but in her favour were the facts, that she was fit, healthy and strong and came from a family which was generally prolific in producing offspring.