Inferno

Chapter 44

The evening’s reception was glittering and noble. With the Lord Farndon in splendid attire of silk breeches under a strikingly cut black velvet dress coat with gold buttons and his countess in dove-grey satin lavishly embellished with seed pearls and a long train, they caught every eye.

Renzi had no qualms about the display – it was expected and, born to it, he found no difficulty in sustaining the figure. He was immensely proud to see Cecilia as serene in the person of Lady Farndon as though she, too, had been raised in the peerage. Shrugging off his gloom and sense of foreboding, he progressed through the crowd.

He knew the Frenchman Gobineau even from across the room: the pretence at conversation with a lady while a speculative stare took in Renzi’s every move, the faultless Paris fashion of high-collared quasi-military full dress, the superfluity of ornamentation. Before long the man appeared in front of him, made an exaggerated bow and, ignoring the elderly Dane Renzi was with, said smoothly, ‘My lord Farndon! Since no one seems inclined to introduce me I will do so myself. Theodore Gobineau, Comte de Mirabeau and charge d’affaires to the French Empire in Copenhagen.’

Renzi returned a slight bow and regarded him with lordly disdain. A saturnine, worldly-wise individual, whose every movement and gesture seemed calculated. ‘Since you seem to know my name and style, sir, I will refrain from returning the compliment.’

‘In these uncertain times you visit this fair city for a holiday with the countess, n’est-ce pas?’ His innocent puzzlement was a trifle overdone.

‘I come on a mission of some importance I’ll have you know, sir,’ Renzi said scornfully.

‘At such an eminence, I’ve every expectation it is,’ replied Gobineau. ‘Now do let me guess. You are a personal emissary from King George.’

Renzi took a glass from a passing footman. ‘Do go on, M’sieur le Comte.’

‘To make intervention at a kingly level in the decisions that must face the Danish court at this time.’

Encouraged by Renzi’s wordless acceptance he continued silkily, ‘The essence of which can only be that you are in this palace to begin negotiations in the delicate matter of seeking union between the Houses of Oldenburg and Hanover, namely the marriage of the Princess Caroline of Denmark to Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, son of the King of Great Britain.’

His breath taken away by the claim, Renzi could only stare. Then he spluttered, ‘Sir, how dare you pry into the affairs of our royal houses? This is a private matter of the highest degree and does not concern the French government in any wise.’

The man’s barely concealed look of triumph was all that he needed, and Renzi finished irritably, ‘I find this conversation both tasteless and odious. Good night to you, sir.’

Gobineau bowed and backed away with a faint smile.