Moonlight

by Fergus O'Connell

  Sir Edward Grey goes about his business. To be honest, his main preoccupation at the moment is not a matter of foreign policy at all but rather a personal one. His eyesight is deteriorating. He finds it increasingly difficult to follow the ball during games of squash or tennis. More depressing for such a nature lover, he is unable to pick out his favourite star in the sky at night. He is sure that if he could spend more time at the cottage, the relaxation would help a great deal – especially over the summer. He has always found sunlight on water very good for his eyes. And in spite of his loathing of foreign travel, he has thought that maybe it is time he visit a renowned eye specialist in Germany.

  That country will indeed loom large in his sights over the next five weeks but not as the cure for his eyesight problem.

  The surprises continue for Clara when Henry arrives home that evening. While she is preparing dinner, he comes behind her and puts his arms around her waist, embracing her tightly. He kisses the back of her neck and says, ‘I love you, Clara.’

  Since he is behind her he can’t see the puzzled look on her face.

  ‘I love you too,’ she says, her voice managing to sound warmer than she feels.

  That night, as soon as Henry gets into bed, he starts to kiss her. It is Friday night. He must be up for work in the morning but he doesn’t seem at all concerned about the prospect. She responds as he kneads her breasts through her nightgown. Then he does what is, for Clara, an unbelievably surprising thing. Rather than hoisting up her nightdress and lying on top of her as she has been anticipating, he rolls her over on her side, lifts up her leg and enters her from behind. Henry is very aroused. He is unbelievably hard and drives into her with powerful, deep strokes. It doesn’t take long for him to climax, a huge, silent, shuddering spurting.

  Nor does it stop there, because once Henry has taken a minute or two for his breathing to return to normal, he begins to stroke her vulva with his finger trying to find a way in. He does and begins to stroke her soaking vagina. Clara is really not in the mood for this and after Henry has worked away for a few minutes with no tangible result, she finds his finger slowing until finally it stops. He has fallen asleep.

  Later Clara falls asleep and has a dream. She sees a painting similar to the one she saw in Leeds, but the scene is different. It is after rain. The cobbles of the road and flagstones of the pavement are wet and slick. There are bare winter trees and a full moon. The funereal light from the moon illuminates the scene as bright as day, but as cold as the grave. All the house windows are dark – there are no comforting yellow squares of light.

  The woman – and Clara feels that it is she – walks not on the pavement, but in the roadway. This act conveys a sense of her suffering some great distress as though she is disoriented and unaware of where she is going. As well as that, the figure of the woman is very small in comparison to the rest of the painting – the wide road, the vast night sky, the great dark mass of the house. The road is long and curves at the end to disappear round a bend. The scene looks as though it belongs in the grey land of the dead.

  Chapter 16

  Saturday 4 July 1914

  On Saturday morning the Archduke and Duchess’s remains are finally laid to rest in the family vault at Artstatten Castle. Now that these formalities are finally out of the way, the Group of Death can really begin.

  It is the weekend. With relief Sir Edward Grey heads for his cottage.

  Chapter 17

  Sunday 5 July 1914

  Following diplomatic protocol, Count Hoyos gives the Austrian letter to Count Szogeny, the Austrian Ambassador in Berlin. Szogeny in turn gives it to Der Kaiser over lunch. In it the Austrians say that the assassination has been traced to a plot organised by the Serbian government. In its concluding passage the letter says that there can be no reconciliation between Austria and Serbia, and that Serbia must be eliminated as a political power-factor in the Balkans. In other words, Austria wants to play Serbia.

  The Austrians absolutely don’t want a Group of Death. What the Austrians want to do is to launch a quick war on Serbia while Europe is on its summer holidays. In other words, they want to play an unfriendly, as we have said. The war would kick off and be all over before any of Russia, France or Britain could complain and the Austrians could chalk up a victory for themselves. The Austrians ask for Der Kaiser’s support for this idea. Specifically, what the Austrians want is that Der Kaiser will use his influence to make sure that none of the other big teams muscle in on this minor match.

  Der Kaiser is in a good mood in anticipation of his boating holiday. He is conscious of the fact that Austria is really Germany’s only friend. Russia, France and Britain all band together. Der Kaiser is mindful too that it is a fellow Emperor that has been killed. He visited the late Archduke and Sophie only a few weeks previously so he feels a sense of personal loss, which makes him quite decisive. The murderers of Emperors should be discouraged and one should support one’s friends.

  There shouldn’t be a problem, is his analysis. The Tsar – Nicky, Der Kaiser’s cousin – is hardly going to come down on the Serbian side. If he did, he would essentially be saying that he supported the killing of Emperors. If one went down that road, where would it end? (The Tsar, along with his family, will find out the answer to that question on a July night in just over three years’ time.) As well as that, the Germans do not believe the Russians are ready for the Group of Death. They lack the artillery; their strategic railway system is far from complete. To be perfectly honest, they can hardly manage in peacetime – never mind conduct a war.

  While stressing that he has yet to consult his Chancellor, Bethmann Hollweg, Der Kaiser is of the opinion that Austria should deal swiftly and firmly with Serbia and that any such action would have Germany’s support.

  During a walk in the park at Potsdam with the Chancellor, Der Kaiser makes up his mind. But just to be on the safe side, he summons a meeting of his top advisors. Der Kaiser explains that this Austrian ultimatum to Serbia might have serious consequences. Is the team ready – even if it has to play Russia? They are all agreed – Germany is ready. Indeed no harm would be done, is the general feeling, if they actually ended up in a match against Russia.

  General Falkenhayn, the Minister of War, when asked if he is ready, clicks his heels, brings his hand smartly to his helmet and replies, ‘Completely, Your Majesty.’ The German Army has always been of the view that it will have to play the mighty Russia someday. In 1912, Russia announced its ‘Great Military Programme’ scheduled to be finished in 1917 and which involved building a railway network through Poland to mobilise its army more quickly. The German Army has long been in favour of a pre-emptive strike on Russia, a so-called ‘preventive war.’ It is keen to play Russia now while the latter is still in its current state of (not very good) preparedness.

  Just to be completely on the safe side, Der Kaiser checks with representatives of big business. Are they prepared for a match against Russia? Give us two weeks, they reply – to sell our foreign securities.

  Reassured by all of this, Der Kaiser can – with a clear conscience – give a gesture of solidarity to the Austrian team. The meeting agrees that what Austria does about Serbia is its own affair, but that whatever it does it can be sure of Germany’s support if Russia intervenes. Bethmann Hollweg is instructed to pass this message on to the Austrian Ambassador.

  The meeting that Der Kaiser has just chaired is probably typical of many meetings that take place these days. It’s probably true to say that many of today’s workers spend a lot of their time at meetings. Maybe this is true of you, my hardworking reader. If that is the case, then you will know that some meetings are incredibly important and useful. However, most meetings are rubbish. They’re crap. I think it’s true to say that the recently ended Der Kaiser’s meeting falls into this category.

  The thinking of the great men who attend Der Kaiser’s meeting is not particularly clear. For instance, none of them knows exactly what demands Austria is going to place on Serbia
and, therefore, what they are actually supporting. General Falkenhayn believes that the Austrians won’t actually follow through on their tough talk at all and that the whole thing will fizzle out. Another view is that there will be a war but it will be a localised one between Austria and Serbia. Russia will stay out, is the general feeling, since its rearmament programme is not complete, and anyway, a war would probably just trigger civil unrest and revolution in Russia.

  Der Kaiser has a more personal view: that his cousin and Russian manager, the Tsar, can’t condone the murder of Emperors and so won’t go to war (or can be persuaded from doing so) for that reason.

  Finally, there is the sense that if there is going to have to be a war with Russia then now is the ideal time.

  Great men.

  Important men.

  Having meetings.

  Making decisions.

  God help us.

  Sir Edward Grey must return to London this evening but he has time to go ‘a short trail.’ It has been a day of brilliant light with a gorgeous, azure sky. There are still a lot of roses around the cottage but many things are over. Lime flower is out and he hears a family of great tits. Other than that, very few other birds sing. In the relative silence the hum of bees is loud. It is the song of midsummer at its height. The honeysuckle on the east side of the cottage has come into a very fine bloom for a second time.

  Chapter 18

  Monday 6 July 1914

  At quarter past nine that morning, Der Kaiser, refreshed and strengthened, eyes gleaming at the thought of being rocked gently by the waves tonight, heads off northwards for another cruise. The sea is calling. Der Kaiser states privately that he is going on his planned holiday ‘in order not to alarm world opinion.’ He leaves Berlin by train and arrives in Kiel that afternoon. There, he proceeds onto the Imperial yacht Hohenzollern for his annual yachting trip along the Norwegian coast.

  Behind in Berlin, Bethmann Hollweg sends a telegram to the aging and partially deaf Austrian Ambassador, Szogeny. Couched in the usual diplomatic language, the final two paragraphs read:

  Finally, as far as concerns Serbia, His Majesty, of course, cannot interfere in the dispute now going on between Austria-Hungary and that country, as it is a matter not within his competence.

  The Emperor Francis Joseph may, however, rest assured that His Majesty will faithfully stand by Austria-Hungary, as is required by the obligations of his alliance and of his ancient friendship.

  Szogeny passes this information on to Count Hoyos who promptly returns to Vienna carrying what will quickly become known as the ‘blank cheque.’ Hoyos’s message to his people at number 2 Ballhausplatz is unequivocal. Germany will cover Austria even if Russia wants to get involved. Austria can count on Germany’s full support even if grave European complications ensue. Germany will do everything in its power, including war, to support Austria. Austria ought to march at once against Serbia.

  Clara goes into town with her girls. She is tempted to suggest that they take a walk in St James’s Park but, in the end, thinks better of it. If they ended up bumping into James, then Henry would only hear about it and there is no point in that. She buys swimsuits and other odds and ends for the girls for their holiday. They have lunch in an ABC.

  Henry spends the day wondering how soon he’ll be able to spend another night with Mary. If he had expected to feel guilty after betraying his wife, then he is pleased to find that nothing could be further from the truth. He is happy and is enjoying the fine summer weather and feels it is good to be alive. He feels cocksure – with the emphasis on ‘cock,’ he jokes privately to himself.

  Of course he has no long-term plans with Mary. Actually, he hasn’t really thought about how the future might involve her at all. And if he were asked, if you happened to meet him at, say, the train station and he got to talking about all of this, and he opened up to you – which it’s quite possible he would do, given that he feels a real urge to brag to someone about his conquest of Mary – he would probably paint a picture of life continuing on as normal at home with Clara and the girls.

  ‘And what about Mary?’ you might ask. Then Henry would go into quite a long (-winded) explanation of how lots of men, ‘particularly in this modern age,’ have mistresses. Hadn’t the late King Edward set the fashion, having had a succession of them all his life? And the vision that Henry would unfold – if he was pressed – would be of life going on as usual in Horn Lane and Mary – or somebody – as a dalliance to sweeten things and spice up his life. He works hard after all. He provides well for his family. He is a good husband and father. He doesn’t drink or smoke to excess or gamble on the horses. Doesn’t he deserve this one small pleasure?

  At the Foreign Office, Sir Edward Grey has a meeting with the German Ambassador. The Ambassador warns that a dangerous situation has developed in the Balkans. He asks Sir Edward to use his influence to advise moderation in Russia in case Austria, as now seems likely, demands some form of satisfaction from Serbia.

  Grey replies that he feels that cooperation between Britain and Germany should be able to resolve any dispute between Austria and Serbia. He believes ‘that a peaceful solution can be reached … that the German government are in a peaceful mood and that they are very anxious to be on good terms with England.’

  Chapter 19

  Tuesday 7 July 1914

  Now that Austria has decided to play Serbia it needs an excuse to start the game. Its Council of Ministers debates what to do next. Berchtold, who up until recently had been reluctant to play in the Group of Death at all, now pushes for a surprise attack on Serbia. However, others feel that it would be better if it were made to appear that Serbia caused the war – a sort of legal basis for the war (remember weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?). They feel that this can be achieved by placing harsh demands on Serbia which it will find difficult or impossible to meet.

  The Hungarian Prime Minister is a lone voice against war. He argues that any attack on Serbia will, ‘as far as can humanly be foreseen, lead to an intervention by Russia and hence, a world war.’ (This, alert reader, I’m sure you have worked out, is because of the alliances, France will weigh in on the side of Russia and subsequently, then, Britain on the side of France.)

  However, his protestations go unheeded. All except the Hungarian Prime Minister finally agree that Austria should present an ultimatum to Serbia which is so outrageous in its demands that no self-respecting country could possibly accept it. Over the next few days these demands will be drafted.

  Chapter 20

  Wednesday 8 July 1914

  Henry wakes in the dark hours before dawn, aware that he may have a problem. Or rather, there is a potential problem he wants to forestall and avoid having. Until this moment the significance of what Mary told him about her first almost-marriage and the man who threw her over has never really occurred to him. At the time she told him, Henry was genuinely (if briefly) saddened for her and said that the man must have been a bad egg. But now it hits him like an express train. How did he miss it, given how obvious it must have been? Mary wants to get married.

  Now of course she knows that he is married. Henry has made no secret of this. But what if she starts pressuring him to leave Clara? Or worse still, threatens to tell Clara about her dalliance with Henry. He suddenly remembers a question she asked the night they slept together. ‘What would she say if she found out?’ Mary had asked. At the time Henry had thought Mary was just being triumphalist – delighted to have gotten one over on some other woman. Henry had answered the question truthfully – Clara’s anger would be biblical. But now he suspects the question could have had a whole other meaning.

  Now he’s wide awake. Mary could tell Clara quite easily. Find the records of Henry’s insurance in the files and then write Clara a letter. Or worse still, visit the house. Of course, Henry would poo poo the whole thing. He imagines himself doing exactly this now. The scene in the kitchen as Clara holds the letter, accusing him angrily. She doesn’t often get angry – the last time m
ust have been several years ago – but she has a terrifying temper when she does. Henry would explain that there’s a woman in work who has become infatuated with him. That a fellow threw her over – nice touch this, he feels – and that since then she has been a bit unhinged. For some reason he now finds himself on the receiving end of her lunacy.

  So having rehearsed this scene a few times, Henry feels he’d be able to manage that eventuality should it occur. Now he returns to what he feels is the more pressing problem and the more likely possibility – that Mary will start pushing him to leave Clara. And clearly he has no intention of doing this. He needs to make this point to Mary. He needs to show her – lest she be in any doubt – what her position is, where she fits into the scheme of things. She is his mistress, God damn it. And now he feels himself getting angry at her. He is prepared to buy her lunches and dinners and treat her to nights in hotels. He may even – and now that he has thought of it, he knows he will pretty much have to – buy her presents on her birthday and at Christmas. Jewellery and the like. But that is as far as it goes. And if she doesn’t like that – if she can’t be satisfied with that – then she can lump it. There are plenty more fish in the sea.

  But he realises that he needs to be – what’s that word that the partners are always using at the management meetings? – proactive. Yes, proactive. He needs to do something before this issue grows and develops into something. He needs to show Mary her place in the world – well, in his world anyway. He needs to show her and, if necessary, keep reminding her, that he is happily married. And he knows just how to start. With this all resolved, Henry suddenly falls asleep again until the alarm clock’s call drags him back into the world.