Indiscretions of the Queen

by Виктория Холт

  The Baron bowed and told her she was very gracious and she would find that he would take advantage of her goodness.

  ‘Anyone recommended by the Count von Münster will be well received here.

  Pray sit down and tell me about yourself. I doubt there is any need for me to tell you about myself. You will have heard stories about me and my goings on.’

  She broke into loud laughter.

  It shouldn’t be difficult, thought d’Ompteda. One only had to look at her and one could well believe all the stories one heard of her. The loose revealing gowns, the painted face, the over-heavy wig, her very manner of sitting so slovenly, somehow suggested immorality. It would be an easy case to prove, this one.

  He talked of Hanover and his work in Rome and while he talked, Pergami came in.

  ‘This is Baron d’Ompteda, my dear,’ said Caroline. ‘Dear Baron you must meet Baron Bartolomeo Pergami, who is my guide, comforter and very good friend. ‘Tis so, is it not, my dear? He looks after my affairs so beautifully. Come sit down and talk with us. Baron d’Ompteda has had such an interesting life!’

  The greatest success, thought the Baron. Why she makes no secret of the relationship. She even asks him to sit down. She must be besotted— or crazy. And Pergami? Yes, he behaved with a proprietorial air. There was no doubt about it. He was her lover. It was going to be easiest possible case to prove.

  She sent for refreshment.

  Good God, thought d’Ompteda, is he going to be allowed to drink with us? ‘Theodore, bring us wine,’ she commanded.

  The man bowed.

  ‘A very good servant,’ she said before he was out of earshot. ‘Theodore Majocchi. Such a nice fellow! So willing and so grateful to be taken into my household. Many of my English servants have left me, Baron, but I have been well served by Italians and I have found the country so hospitable. Though I intend to leave it for a while. My dear Baron Pergami is working a detailed plan for us to travel in the East.’

  ‘And Baron Pergami will accompany you, Madam?’

  She laughed at Pergami who returned her smile. ‘Now he is not suggesting that I should go without you, my dear!’

  ‘It would be impossible,’ said Pergami.

  Why, thought d’Ompteda, they are admitting it! My task will be done in a week. But he was mistaken. His orders had been: Optical Evidence. This meant that he must see the Princess and Pergami in bed together, or at least some reliable person must.

  Two or three weeks passed and still he had not found what he must have. He had artfully questioned the servants and although they were ready to admit that the Princess’s conduct was very strange, no one could actually say that he or she had tangible evidence of misconduct.

  Caroline left with her household for the Villa d’Este and d’Ompteda followed them there. After all his present business lay with Caroline. It was ridiculous. It seemed to him so obvious but where could he find the tangible evidence he sought?

  She was free and easy in her manners. She had been to a ball, during her journey through Italy, dressed as Venus— naked from the waist. This had shocked many but she had danced merrily with numerous men in her semi-nude condition. She was immensely proud of her bosom and saw no reason why she should hide her greatest beauty. There was a great deal of gossip about that costume; there was talk about the manner in which she rode about the town, how she would now and then cook a meal and sup alone with Pergami; how he was allowed to talk to her when she was in the bath; how when he was ill she had made him a posset and sat on his bed talking to him, that she had been alone in the bedroom for some time and was still sitting on the bed when servants entered the room.

  All this— but it was not optical evidence. And that was what he must find.

  Quite clearly he must enlist the help of her household and he looked round for suitable people.

  First there was the manservant, Theodore Majocchi. He had discovered that before he came to serve the Princess he had worked for Count Pino and had been dismissed from his household for stealing. Perhaps a bribe would tempt him.

  Maurice Credé was perhaps a better subject because he was in a higher position and would be easier to talk to. He had seen that Credé was an ambitious man; he was rather fond of the woman, it was true, and was actually conducting a liaison with one of the women. That might be useful. The woman might have easy access to the Princess’s sleeping apartments.

  He would keep his eyes on the woman named Annette and there was another who seemed more intelligent, Louise Dermont.

  He had selected his tools; now he would get to work. The Princess was leaving for the East in a week or so. He must get evidence before she left because, through Lord Stewart, he was being made aware of the Regent’s impatience.

  He encountered Maurice Credé in the grounds of the Villa d’Este and told him that he wished to speak to him secretly. Credé looked surprised that such an important person as the Baron should wish for his company, but as he was ambitious and always looking for advancement he was flattered.

  ‘If you would come to my room, my lord Baron, we could talk there in comfort.’

  Shortly afterwards the Baron went to Credé’s room where he found the young man waiting.

  ‘You must have a great deal of information as to how life goes on in the Villa,’ began the Baron with a faint leer.

  ‘My lord?’

  ‘The Princess is rather free in her manners, is she not? I mean there must be few secrets which are known to the members of her household.’

  ‘The Princess is a very friendly lady. She is kind and generous to us all.’

  ‘I don’t doubt that she pays you well to keep her secrets.’

  ‘I do not understand.’

  The Baron laughed.

  ‘Well scarcely secrets. Who does not know that Pergami is her lover?’

  Credé looked startled. ‘I cannot say—’

  ‘Can you not? Is it not obvious. Is he not in and out of her bedroom and she in and out of his? Is he not present when she takes a bath— even alone with her? Oh come, my friend, you are not so innocent as to suppose there is nothing in their relationship but that between a princess and her chamberlain.’

  ‘I do not understand what you want of me.’

  ‘Then I will tell you. I want evidence of the Princess’s misconduct with Pergami.’

  ‘From me, my—’

  ‘I mean to get it with your help.’

  ‘But how—’

  ‘There are keys to the Princess’s apartments. I want these keys. I want to have a witness in her bedroom who can testify to her misconduct.’

  ‘Who are you?’

  ‘That is no concern of yours. You will get those keys for me, and be paid well for your work. Not only will you be paid but the work you do for me can bring you recognition in high places.’

  ‘I— I cannot do this,’ stammered Credé.

  ‘You are a fool. Why not?’

  ‘The Princess has been a good mistress to me.’

  ‘You will find even better masters.’

  ‘I am sorry. You must look elsewhere for your— accomplices.’

  ‘And you— like the good faithful servant you are, will consider it your duty to report this conversation to your mistress ?’

  ‘I— I—’

  ‘Ah, you hesitate! You show wisdom at last. I have been discovering certain details about you, my dear Credé. There have been little adventures with one of the women here. Little Annette is charming, charming— I agree with you. And there have been too many kisses in dark corners, too much scurrying along corridors in the dead of night. You see, your honour extends only in certain directions. I should see you not want to have to disillusion those who have a high opinion of you but—’

  ‘You mean you will betray me if I do not work with you, if I do not get those keys?’

  D’Ompteda nodded slowly.

  ‘You have the keys?’ asked d’Ompteda.

  ‘Not yet,’ replied Credé. ‘I must await my opportu
nity.’

  ‘You fool. She sails in two days’ time.’

  ‘That is what makes it so difficult. In any case, Pergami is scarcely ever in her apartments. He is so busy arranging for the departure of the Leviathan.’

  Frustration! groaned d’Ompteda. Angry reprimands from London, through Hanover. With all this gossip why was it so difficult to provide what was wanted?

  It should be simple.

  There was talk of nothing in the Villa other than of the Princess’s imminent departure.

  We shall have to wait now for her return, thought d’Ompteda.

  Caroline was excited. Nothing was so entrancing as the prospect of seeing new lands.

  ‘If I cannot have children. I will have travel,’ she announced. She was sorry that so many of her English suite had not wished to accompany her. It was not that they were afraid of dangers from pirates and bandits— and this was by, no means an uncertainty— but they were afraid of being called upon by the Prince Regent to give evidence against her. The fact made her laugh and determine to give them as much cause for suspicion as possible Pergami was faithful. Dear, dear man! she thought. He was one whom she could trust; and she had engaged his sister, who called herself Countess Oldi, as one of her ladies-in-waiting. She was already fond of the Countess who however was very respectable and inclined to exclaim in surprise at the Princess’s antics.

  But she was Pergami’s sister and that was recommendation enough for her. Little Vittorina was to come, dear child; and she and Willikin would be as her own two children. Dr. Holland, her English doctor had left and in his place she had engaged Dr. Mochetti, a most charming Italian There was one Englishman who had joined her suite. He was Captain Robert Hownam and she had engaged him as her private secretary.

  Well, it was a happy little company and what did she care if there were few English among them. The Italians were charming and her friends.

  She took an affectionate farewell of Baron d’Ompteda and told him that she hoped he would not stop visiting the Villa d’Este during her absence. She was leaving some servants behind and they would care for him.

  He accepted the offer with gratitude, he would certainly take advantage of it!

  During the time she was away he would have to make a plan so that as soon as she returned he could put it into action And so Caroline sailed away on the Levzathan to Sicily first and there was a short stay in Messma And after that they would sail to Tunis, Malta and Athens.

  Louise Demont, whom she had brought with her, told her she was writing an account of the journey for she believed few princesses would have made it before.

  ‘How terrified I am, Your. Highness, that we shall be set upon by bandits in some of these strange places. And what if pirates boarded us!’

  The Princess laughed. ‘I doubt not that I should be able to persuade them not to harm us.’

  ‘Your Highness can be most persuasive.’

  ‘You must let me read your account of the journey.’

  ‘If Your Highness would so honour me—’

  Caroline read, the accounts which Louise wrote every day and found them interesting. She walked the decks with Pergami and chatted freely with the sailors. She ordered Pergami to arrange for balls on board which he did and she danced with all the men in turn.

  There never was such a princess, was the comment.

  And many of them believed the stories they had heard of her.

  There were occasions when her suite was in fear of their lives; she was the only one who seemed unafraid. She thrived on adventure.

  When she reached Tunis, she was welcomed by the Bey and settled down to enjoy a pleasant stay there. For, she commented to Countess Oldi, ‘I find these barbarians less barbarous than some Christians I have known.’

  The Bey sent her the finest Arab horses and she made up her mind that she would stay for some time in his pleasant land.

  But this happy sojourn was interrupted by the arrival of the Dutch and English fleets. The pirates whose head quarters were in Tunis had been intercepting too many Dutch and British ships and the fleets of these countries had come to demand a settlement.

  In the pleasant villa which had been at her disposal Caroline received a visit from Admiral Lord Exmouth who explained the situation to her.

  ‘I’m not afraid of a little conflict,’ Caroline told him.

  ‘But, Your Highness,’ the Admiral replied, ‘it would not be possible for you to remain here while these er— negotiations are going on.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘There could be trouble.’

  ‘The Bey is my good friend.’

  ‘Today, Madam, but perhaps not tomorrow. I have orders to ensure your departure.’

  She argued but it was no use. Her suite were decidedly nervous and for their sake she gave in. Pergami persuaded her to do so.

  ‘It is wisest, Your Highness,’ he said ‘I always do as you say, my dear,’ she answered.

  So from Tunis to Athens and on to Turkey and Constantinople. The stay there was brief owing to an outbreak of plague, and her entourage was by this time longing for the return to Como; and when she went to the Pyramids and had to take with her two hundred soldiers to guard the party as it crossed the desert, even Pergami tried to persuade her end the tour.

  But she laughed at them all. Her eyes flashed with excitement. It was long since she had been so pleased with life.

  ‘At last,’ she cried, ‘I am doing what I want.’

  Poor Willikin was beside her in all her travels. He was too young to realize the dangers through which they passed and seemed to have a blind faith in her.

  She was the Princess whom nothing could harm and as long as he was close to her, he was safe.

  And after Cairo, Nazareth where she decided to found an Order of Knighthood. She called this The Order of St. Catherine of Jerusalem; it was to recompense those who had been with her on her pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

  Pergami received the Order, so did Willikin and so did her secretary Hownam.

  She must of course visit Jericho and after that started on the return journey., By the end of October 1816, she was back in the Villa d’Este.

  It was good to be back in the Villa. She called Maurice Credé to her and asked if all had been well during her absence.

  ‘Very well, Your Highness,’ he told her.

  ‘You look a little sombre,’ she told him. ‘Is everything going well with you?’

  ‘Very well, Your Highness.’

  ‘Well, I trust you are pleased to see me back.’

  Credé bowed. It was her way of talking. And how foolish it was and how it gave her enemies the chance to do what had been bribed to do.

  Pergami went about the house to assure himself that everything was in order, and in Credé’s apartments he was surprised to find an extra set of keys.

  He examined them closely and ascertained that they were a copy of the keys to the Villa. Now for what purpose should Credé provide himself with an extra set of keys? He could ask Credé. But if he did, that would put him on his guard. No, he would do no such thing. Instead he would watch Credé.

  Pergami had long been aware that the Princess was under observation. He was her chamberlain and it was his duty to protect her. He was going to find out what Credé was doing with that set of keys.

  He did not at this stage mention the affair to Caroline. She was so indiscreet and he imagined what her reaction would be. She would declare that Credé was a very good servant and she refused to harbour any suspicions towards him. He, Pergami, would watch Credé.

  He soon discovered that he was leaving his room at night and prowling about the villa. But this was in search of Annette.

  An idea struck Pergami. He would dismiss Credé for seducing one of the maids. It was an adequate reason; and then he would confiscate the keys and would have no more need to alarm himself about them.

  He summoned Credé.

  ‘I no longer have need of your services,’ he told him. ‘You are dis
missed.’

  ‘But— why— what have I done?’

  ‘You are behaving in an improper manner with one of the maids. I cannot accept such behaviour in this household.’

  Credé was dumbfounded but Pergami went on, ‘I will take all your sets of keys. I know that you have two.’

  Alarmed, realizing that his affair with Annette might not be the true reason for his dismissal, Credé handed them over meekly and Pergami was about to ask why he had had the second set made, but he refrained from doing so. He would not in any case believe Credé’s explanation.

  Credé stammered: ‘Is this not rather harsh to dismiss me because—’

  ‘Because of immorality?’ Pergami raised his eyebrows and looked Credé full in the face. ‘I do not think so. There is enough gossip about the Villa— all false tales. We have therefore to be particularly careful. I have no wish to discuss this matter further. You will leave immediately.’

  With that he turned and left the bewildered Credé.

  Dismissed from the Princess’s service, where could he find such opportunities again? Credé turned over the matter in his mind and decided that it was certainly not merely because of Annette that he had been turned out. There was another reason.

  Could it be known that he had been working for d’Ompteda? If he made a confession of this, if he explained everything to the Princess, if he told her that he wished to be faithful to her and it was for this reason that he was confessing to her, he might be taken back.

  The most important thing in the world was for him to be taken back.

  He had the answer. It was confession.

  He would not tell Pergami because he had a notion that Pergami would not listen so he wrote to the Chevalier Tomassia, one of the Princess’s equerries.

  He was dismissed, he wrote, because of an intrigue with one of the Princess’s waiting women and he was full of remorse and hoped that the Chevalier would prevail upon the Princess to reinstate him. He deserved what had happened to him because he had been seduced from his duties by Baron d’Ompteda who was attempting to betray her. Baron d’Ompteda had asked him to procure keys which would enable a spy to be secreted in the Princess’s bedroom. He had been threatened by the Baron that if he did not obey he would be ruined and when the Baron had offered him money for his services he had given way. He knew that he had been wicked and he trusted that the chevalier would have pity on him and give him a chance to show his true repentance in his service to the Princess.