Terrible tsarinas

VIII

AN AUTOCRAT AT WORK AND PLAY

Elizabeth’s main challenge was to enjoy herself fully without neglecting the interests of Rus sia too much. That was a difficult balance to achieve in a world where temptations, romantic and otherwise, were rife. Given Louis XV’s obstinate refusal to extend a hand to her, should she not rather follow her nephew’s example and seek the friendship of Prussia, which was more favorably disposed to her? Although her adoptive son was just 15 years old, she felt it was time to give some thought to finding him a bride - a German bride, preferably - or at least one who had been born and raised on Frederick II’s territory. At the same time, she still preserved the hope that good relations could be restored with Versailles; she charged her ambassador, Prince Kantemir, with discreetly notifying the king that she regretted the marquis of La Chetardie’s departure and that she would be happy to receive him at her court again. He had been replaced in St. Petersburg by an ambassador plenipotentiary, Mr. d’Usson d’Allion, a strait-laced character whom the empress found neither attractive nor impressive.