Chapter 32 December 22, 1810: Oscar And I Have Arr

The guests of Kronborg Castle broke the silence of the winter morning. Demark was saying goodbye to Oscar and me.

We went on to the Swedish warship that had just arrived in the harbour. I had hoped that Jean would come with it. There was no sign of him.

"Important business has kept him in Stockholm," said Brahe. "The Emperor Napoleon is making new demands."

I was worried. Even with Jean I would have been rather anxious. Without him, I almost shook with fear. A lot of important people were ready to welcome me on the other side. I couldnt even remember the names of my two new ladies-in-waiting!

"Whos looking after Oscar?" I asked Brahe. I didnt want him to fall into the water.

"Your own Colonel Villatte is looking after him," Brahe replied. The words your own had a jealous sound. He wanted to look after Oscar himself. He couldnt understand why a French officer was going with us to Stockholm.

"How do I look?" was my next question.

I was wearing a green velvet and coat. Theres a red silk rose on the hat. The coat is well cut; it makes me look taller than I am. They make lovely clothes in Paris, and I wasnt ashamed of mine. But after many sleepless nights there were deep shadows under my eyes.

"Your Highness looks very beautiful," Brahe declared.

He was trying to give me courage, but I was still worried. "I shall disappoint them," I thought. "everyone expects a crown princess to look like a princess in a childrens story."

The thunder of more guns made me jump with surprise. They were our own ships guns, and the guns of Halsingborg answered them.

As we got nearer, the music of an army band came to us across the water. Gay dresses and uniforms shone in the winter sunlight. A large crowd was waiting for us on the edge of the harbour. Tall officers. Ladies in silk cloaks. Long lines of soldiers.

"When we leave the ship," said Brahe. "Prince Oscar must stand on the left of Your Highness. I shall stand directly behind you. When the band stops playing, the government of this part of Sweden will come forward. I shall introduce him to you. Then he will introduce the other important people."

Soon the ship was tied to the harbour wall, and we were able to land. Hundreds of voices behind the soldiers were shouting: "Hurrah for the Crown Princess! Hurrah for the Prince Oscar!" They were the voices of the people of Sweden. Their king welcome made me smile.

Then I noticed the noblemen and their ladies who stood in front of the soldiers. They stared at us coldly, and the smile froze on my face.

The band played, and they all stood stiffly. It wasnt gay music like our Mardeillaise. It was solemn and slow, like church music. When it stopped, a tall old man came towards us. He was wearing the uniform of a Swedish marshal, and he was carrying some red roses.

"This is count John Christopher Toll, the Governor of Skane," said Brahe.

The old mans eyes examined me closely. He gave me the roses. He bowed to me; he bowed again, more deeply, to Oscar. Then all the ladies curtseyed, and all the men bowed.

It started to snow while the governor was introducing the other important people. I shook their hands, and they gave me cold hard smiles. But when Oscar shook their hands, their smiles were warmer.

The governor made a speech of welcome in French. It was snowing heavily before he finished. Then Oscars voice rang out through the silence:

"We shall be happy here. Mama. I love the snow."

Its strange. My son always says the right thing at the right moment. So does his father. But I always say the wrong thing. As the old man walked with me to the royal coach, I said aloud: "I hope that the Swedish people will always be kind to my son."

An astonished look spread over the proud faces around me. Perhaps they didnt like my words; but theyll respect my wishes because Oscar pleases them. Hes a bright and good-looking boy. In his Swedish uniform he will conquer all their hearts.