The Emperor looked at him disapprovingly, though Pippa thought she detected a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “I don’t know who would want to marry someone such as you. Do you think you deserve such a fine lady as she?” The Emperor rose to his feet.
“No, I don’t. I will never be worthy of her.” Klemens’ voice dropped, becoming earnest. “But she has my heart and my loyalty and with your permission, I will renounce my claim to the throne, my titles and everything that goes with it, and set up a quiet life in Innsbruck. You will never hear a word of scandal breathed about me again.”
“Young woman, how do you feel about this?” He looked at Pippa. “He is a reprobate. How can you evenconsider a proposition of marriage from a scoundrel such as he?”
“I love him dearly, Your Majesty.” Pippa’s voice was choked. “I always have, from the very first time we met. Back then I did not know he was an emperor’s son. In truth, I wish he were not. I do not wish for him to give up anything for me, certainly not the duty he was born to. I do not wish him to have to choose between me and duty. It is a cruel choice. I know the best course of action for me is to leave and return to my home, for my presence here has caused nothing but trouble.” Klemens uttered a word of protest, but Pippa went on, “But I also know that while noble, such a sacrifice would be cowardly of me, and though I have attempted to do so, I consider it despicable to give up like that and not to fight for the man I love.” She lifted her chin. “I should like to marry Klemens. I believe it is the right thing for us to do.” She uttered a watery laugh. “It will not be a match made in heaven, for I suppose we shall fight every day, and it will be wonderful.”
The Emperor looked at her thoughtfully. “What do you think, Metternich?”
Metternich cleared his throat. “Believe it or not, Your Majesty, but I happen to be a soppy, sentimental romantic when it comes to love and affairs of the heart. But let us put that aside. From a purely legal perspective, a marriage between a commoner and an archduke of Austria is not an impossibility.”
“It is not?” Both Klemens and the Pippa said simultaneously.
“Indeed. The morganatic law would allow such aunion, provided His Imperial Highness renounces all claim to the throne, as well as for any issue that comes from such a union. Meaning, none of your children can become the future emperor or empress of Austria.” Turning to the Emperor, he added, “In my eyes it is not an issue as the succession is guaranteed anyhow. You do have three other sons to secure the throne. He need not renounce his titles or privileges. All that is from a purely legal perspective. Now, what society says on the matter is an entirely different thing. You might find yourself ostracised.”
Klemens brushed the argument aside. “Neither Pippa nor I care a kreuzer for what society says. If society’s doors are closed to us and we never get a single invitation to one of those blasted balls or soirees, in my eyes that alone is a reason to go ahead with it! We will only be happier without all that faradiddle. I doubt the scandal would be any worse than the Grand Duchess’ marriage to her cavalry officer.” He shrugged. “As time passes, it’ll become water under the bridge and people will forget. We won’t let society’s rigid strictures dictate our lives.”
The Emperor crossed his arms, dropped his chin and muttered something unintelligible to himself.
Metternich tilted his head back and forth. “Another point, if I may add. There are some advantages to this union.”
The Emperor’s head snapped up, alert. “Are there?”
“From a purely political perspective, it might be in the interests of Austria to have a union such as this. Instead of hiding away in Innsbruck like hermits, which I would not countenance if I were you, Majesty, we couldsend them to London on a diplomatic mission, as our representatives and spokespeople, reporting directly to the Crown.”
“You mean yourself,” the Emperor said with narrowed eyes.
Metternich smiled slyly. “It would be a strategic move. The English are growing in influence and having one of our own married to an Englishwoman would be...advantageous.”
“Do we not have ambassadors for that?”
“Certainly, but the son of the emperor is quite another matter. Particularly if his wife is an Englishwoman by birth, who understands both societies.” He turned to Pippa. “Your mother might have been a commoner, but your father was not a nobody. There might still be certain connections within English society that could prove useful.” He paused. “I am thinking of the Prince Regent.”
“Yes, but father fell into disgrace at court there.”
Metternich raised an eyebrow. “Did he indeed? I happen to know that there was a regular exchange of letters between your father and the Prince Regent until the day he died. Prinny, as the English call him, was rather fond of his old tutor and never gave up on him.” Turning to the Emperor, he said, “This is a connection too good to let go, too good not to exploit. Particularly now.”
“And what do you think, young lady?” the Emperor asked.
“If that is what you require of us so we can be together, I will gladly do it. But,” turning to Klemens, sherepeated, “I wouldn’t want you to renounce anything, Klemens.” Her eyes searched his face. “Not for my sake. I fell in love with you as you are. I love the whole man, Klemens. Titles and all. They are part of you, but they are not the reason.”
“It would be for our sake. Our happiness.” He clasped both her hands in his, his thumbs tracing gentle circles on her gloves. “I would rather be a nobody with you than an archduke without you.”
The Emperor drew his bushy eyebrows together, though the effect of his scowl was ruined by the softening around his eyes. “Let me bring the discussion back to a matter that is of utmost importance to me. It bothers me deeply. Namely, that of keeping one’s word. I have always believed that when a vow is made, it must be honoured. I ask you, therefore, Fräulein Cranwell, whether my son spoke the truth that he promised marriage to you and that you believed yourself to be betrothed to him.”
“Yes, I did.”
The Emperor nodded slowly. “Then he shall keep this promise. My children do not break their word. That is my last word on the matter.” He rose, his decision made. “Now, I believe there is a delegation waiting for us. The Bavarians, I think. Metternich, shall we leave these two to their celebration?”
They were ushered outside into the antechamber.
Klemens stood stunned for a moment, as if he couldn’t quite believe what had transpired. He turned to Pippa. “Did my father just give us permission to marry?”
She rubbed her forehead, dazed. “It appears so. I can hardly believe what happened just now.”
“Pippa!” Klemens laughed, a sound of pure, unbridled joy. He picked her up and whirled her about in quite a scandalous fashion, her skirts billowing out.
And then he kissed her, right there in the hallway, with all the diplomats looking on, causing at least three monocles to drop and one dowager to reach for her smelling salts.
