Chapter 18 Chapter 17 December 1, 1804: The Imperial Princess

Julie was right. The Pope has come. Tomorrow he will crown the Emperor, and the Empress too. The imperial family have been practicing the ceremony for several days. Yesterday the marshals wives had to join them. As soon as we arrived, a quarrel started. Joseph said: "His majesty the Emperor wants five ladies to carry the ends of the Empresss robe. He has given this honor to the Princesses Julie and Hortense, and to his three sisters." "I refuse," said Elisa angrily. "His Majesty can throw me out of France, like poor Lucien. But Im not going to carry her robe."

"Nor am I," shouted Paulette. Joseph tried to persuade them, but he didnt choose his words wisely. "Julie and Hortense are imperial princesses, " he said, "but they dont refuse." "Imperial princesses indeed!" Caroline screamed at him. "We are the Emperors sisters. Why arent we imperial princesses? Are we less important than Julie, the silk merchants daughter, and Hortense, the daughter of this--- of this-- -" Caroline couldn't find a word that was rude enough for Her Majesty the Empress Josephine. "Ladies, ladies, please!" Joseph begged.

Then a soft voice behind him said: "Can we practice the process now?" The Empress Josephine had come in quickly. We all curtseyed to her. She was wearing a long white table cloth. Because her robe wasn't ready yet. "Please take your places for the process," Joseph said. "Her Majesty is ready." Yes. Her majesty was ready. But Elisa wasn't. "Her Majesty can stand on her head, if she likes. But Im not going to carry her robe," she said. There was a sudden silence. The emperor himself had come in. we curtseyed again. Then Caroline began: "Your majesty, we don't---"

But he interrupted her. "Madame, who asked you to speak?" Of course, no one may speak to the emperor without this permission. Then he turned to Joseph. "Are there more difficulties," he asked. "The girls don't want to carry the empress robe," said Joseph. Joseph was enjoying this trouble. His voice and his face told me that. He really hates Napoleon now. He has become the Emperors servant, like everyone else. Hes angry and ashamed because he has to accept his younger brothers orders. refuse him. But when his sisters dare, he is pleased. Now Elisa said: "We want the same honor as Julie and Hortense. If we dont get it, we shant accept the same duties."

"Hold your tongue!" said Napoleon. Then he turned to Paulette, his faourite sister. "What honor do you want?" he asked. "We want to be imperial princesses, like them," she replied. And she nodded towards Julie and Hortense. "Indeed!" he answered coldly. There was a short silence. Then Josephine said sweetly: "Your Majesty, I beg you to give your sisters the rank of imperial princesses." Clearly she wants them to her friends. Napoleon laughed. "Very well," he said. "If they promise to behave, I shall---" "Your Majesty!" cried Elisa and Caroline in surprise. And Paulette added softly in Italian: "Grazie tante, Napoleon! (Italian: Many thanks, Napoleon!)"

The Emperor then turned to Joseph, and asked: "What are the marshals wives going to do? Most of them can walk in front of the Empress. But one of them must carry her crown on a velvet cushion. Another must carry her ring. And another----" I looked down at the floor; but I knew that he was looking at me. "Yes. Another can carry one of the Empresss handkerchiefs. A white handkerchief on a red velvet cushion. Madame Bernadotte can do that And she can wear a dress of light blue silk. Youll look very pretty in light blue silk, wont you, Madame?" "Light blue doesn't look well on me," I said. "The other ladies will all wear pink dresses."

But Napoleon repeated: "Yes. Light blue." Clearly he remembered the light blue dress that I once wore in Madame Tuiliens house. The idea was cruel, but it amused him. He wanted to see us practice the procession. So the five imperial princesses held up the ends of the table cloth; and we walked round the room till the Emperor went out. Then the other ladies went home. But the Empress asked Julie and me to sit with her. A servant brought champagne, and she drank hers very quickly. A moment later Joseph came in. There was an ugly smile on his face. "Theres another difficulty, " he said to Josephine. "The Pope has discovered that you were not married in church. You were only married in an office. So he refused to crown your Majesty."

"There is an easy answer to that problem," she replied. "Uncle Fesch can marry us secretly in church tonight. Ill tell the Emperor now." She went out. Joseph hurried her. He didn't want to miss her conversation with Napoleon. Julie looked at me and said: "She didnt shoe much surprise. Perhaps she told the Pope herself. Napoleon wants to divorce her because she cant have any more children. If she is married in church, she will feel safer." "He cant divorce her yet," I said. "The world is watching. He wants the Pope to crown his Empress, so he must marry her in church. But it wont make any difference. When he decides to divorce her, nothing will stop him."

At dinner I told Jean about the blue dress. He was angry. "Napoleon wants everyone to think that you still love him," he said. "Dont worry," I said. "I wont go to the coronation. Ill be ill in bed. Then he cant laugh at us." Jean agreed. So this morning I stayed in bed. But after lunch I was tired of it. I dressed and went to Oscars room. We were playing on the floor when Fernand opened the door. "His Majestys doctor is here," he said. I was going to say: "Bring him to my room in five minutes. I must undress first and get into bed." But Fernand didnt give me the chance. He brought the doctor straight into Oscars room.

The doctor put his bad in Oscars toy horse. Then he bowed politely and said: "His Majesty will be glad to hear that you are well again, madame." "But, doctor, Im still weak," I said. He gave me a hard look. "You'll be strong enough to carry the empresses handkerchief, madame." Then he bowed again, and added: "I advise you very strongly to go to the coronation." So I must go. But shant wear a blue dress. Its too late to have one made; and the old one is much too small for me now.