And thus it had gone on and on until Pippa finally extricated herself and said she would retire with the Archduchess’ permission. Again, that look of utmost pity in her eyes. “Yes, do. My poor child!”
Pippa had fled. She had fallen into bed, exhausted, wondering what had happened, how she could have goneso quickly from the utter bliss of kissing Klemens and almost running away with him, to him being so utterly removed from her the next moment.
It would have happened either way, she told herself as she tossed and turned in the sheets. What had she expected?
Klemens had not come after the ball to explain, nor had he sent a message.
There had been but deafening, heavy silence.
For two days, for three.
For four.
For the entire week.
Mimi eventually stopped ranting, but her looks of pity were still there.
Yet the congress dragged on,and on, and on. Originally planned to last only a few weeks, it stretched into months. December arrived, then the new year.
“Le Congrès ne marche pas, il danse,” proclaimed the Prince de Ligne. The diplomats danced; the treaties did not. The Viennese scandal sheets brimmed more with the antics of the aristocracy than with any true diplomatic breakthrough. The celebrations were relentless. One ball chased the other, one festivity followed the next. Nightly salons appeared with clockwork regularity. On Monday, the fashionable world descended upon the Metternich Palais until the early morning hours. Tuesday, they flocked to Castlereagh’s Palais. Friday, the Duchess of Sagan and the Princess Bagration engaged in a furiouscontest over who might prove the superior society hostess.
Yes, there could be such a thing as too much dancing, the Viennese complained. Not to mention the expense!
And of all the ridiculous events being planned, the Viennese agreed the sleigh ride to Schönbrunn would surpass them all.
Finally, it had snowed. The sky was a cracking, sparkling blue; the air frosty, and the ground was pronounced perfect for such a venture.
Yet the newest scandal to make the rounds declared, with triumphant outrage, that there was not enough snow to cover the cobblestones within the city, so additional snow had to be brought in to line the streets of Vienna to keep the sleighs from getting stuck. Oh, the cost!
Over thirty imperial sleighs were lined up in the courtyard, one more magnificent than the other, glittering in gold and green velvet, with silver tinkling bells.
“Alas, I fear we must attend,” Mimi had told Pippa earlier, with a frown. “It will not do to keep hiding away in this room. Besides, I am to partner some German prince in the sled. Come at least outside to see me off, take a walk about before returning to the rooms again. You have become pale and wan, and you must get some fresh air before you waste away entirely. Besides,” there was an odd look in her eyes, “I must find out more about that newest rumour. Of all the rumours, it is the most exquisite to date.”
Pippa sighed. Probably it was Lord Pumpernickel getting involved in a fistfight on the streets, drunk; or the Tsar getting caught in another affairwith a new love interest. Or maybe Metternich did finally agree to have a duel with him. The scandal sheets were so littered with these stories that the shock factor had disappeared entirely and the Viennese waved them tiredly away.
Pippa, too, was tired of it all.
She wrapped herself in a warm cloak, but Mimi took one look at her and shook her head. “Take one of my mink coats. It is too cold for that thin coat of yours, and I will not have you fall ill again.”
There was a general air of gaiety outside.
The horses whinnied, the sleds sparkled in gold and red, and the bells jangled. A fanfare of trumpets heralded the start of the sleigh ride.
All the monarchs and the entire court were assembled, save for the Emperor, who’d declared the sled ride should be left for the younger people.
The Tsar shared a sled with Princess Auersperg, who was rumoured to be his latest love interest. Pippa strained her eyes to catch the pair. However, they were in the very first sled at the head of the parade, and already sitting, covered up to their chins in thick furs.
And toward the end, in one of the last sleds, the Archduke Leopold would ride with his betrothed, the Grand Duchess.
“And here is the most exquisite of rumours, my dear,” Mimi bent down to whisper into Pippa’s ears as they watched. “Ready? They say she has disappeared. What do you say to that? Is it not delightful?”
Pippa looked up, confused. “What do you mean? Who has disappeared?”
“The Grand Duchess, of course. As in gone.Vanished!” She lifted her fingers and wiggled them down in front of her as if performing magic. “No one knows her whereabouts.” She lowered her voice. “Apparently, she has been gone for days. The entire week, at least.”
This did not make an impression on Pippa. She shrugged. “I am sure there must be some sort of explanation. Maybe she has left Vienna to visit someone.”
A sly smile crossed Mimi’s face. “That is not the case. I wonder what Klemens will do now?”
