Chapter 33 New Year's Day, 1811: We've Reached Sto

The journey from halsingborg to Stockholm seemed endless. Three of four hundred miles of snow lay between them. We spent the nights in noblemens houses. They always wanted to dance after dinner, when I only wanted to go to bed.

By day we broke our journey at various towns. There was always a public ceremony. I liked the childrens songs, but I hated the speeches.

During one of them, I Said to Brahe: "I wish I could understand Swedish."

"Your Highness," he replied in a whisper, "the gentleman is speaking French!"

After each ceremony I was glad to continue the journey. I was tired of speeches. I was tired of the weather too. It snowed and snowed. It never stopped snowing.

Most of the time, the Countess Lewenhaupt traveled in my coach. Shes much older than me. She speaks good French. But she likes to discuss French books and plays, and I know very little about them.

Sometimes I let my other lady, Miss Koskull, travel with me instead. Shes about as old as me. Shes tall, with broad shoulders, like most Swedish women. She has thick dark hair, good teeth, and a fresh pink skin. I dont like her, because she always looks at me curiously.

"Your husband was warmly welcomed in Stockholm," the countess told me one day. "The King and Queen both like him very much. He spends every evening with them, in the Queens rooms. The King never appears publicly without him. When the King receives visitors, he is always there. His Majesty wont talk to ministers or ambassadors unless his adopted son is at his side."

Perhaps she too doesnt like Mariana Koskull. Perhaps she is jealous. I dont know. But she added quietly: "Until now, only Mariana could make His Majesty laugh. He wouldnt even listen to anyone else. Now she has to share her special position with His Royal Highness."

I began to understand why that woman looks at me so curiously. She has been the Kings favourite. Perhaps she now wants to be the Crown Princes favourite too? I dont like her at all, and I dont trust her either. For the rest of the journey I left her in the second coach.

The weather grew colder each day, and the winds grew stronger. This afternoon the ice was so bad that the horses couldnt pull us up the hills. We had to get out and walk.

The cold winds didnt worry Oscar. He walked beside the horses and encouraged them with soft words.

After one of these walks he didnt get back into the coach. He decided to ride in front instead, beside the coachman. "I shall be able to see Stockholm better, when we arrive." He said.

"Its getting dark, darling," I objected. But that made no difference. He was too excited to sit inside.

In fact the snow was so thick that we couldnt see anything, even by daylight. Then it grew dark. The horses moved more slowly, I wondered how they could see the way at all.

Suddenly they stopped. There were lights all round the coach. The door opened and a voice cried: "Desiree!"

It was Jean. He had come in a sleigh to meet me.

"Were only a mile from Stockholm now," he said. "Youll be home in a few minutes, my girl."

"Papa, may I ride in a sleigh?" cried Oscar. "Ive never ridden in a sleigh before."

He and Colonel villatte went in one sleigh. Count Brahe and Countess Lewenhaupt went in another. Jean climbed in beside me---but we werent alone. Miss Koshull had taken the countesss place. A princess cant travel without a lady-in-waiting.

"Their Majesties have invited you to tea in the Queens room," Jean said. "we must go there as soon as we arrive. You neednt change your clothes. They just want to welcome you and Oscar. Therell be no ceremony this evening. Tomorrow there will be a dance so that you can meet everyone."

He paused. He had suddenly noticed something. "Youre wearing a new fur, arent you, Desiree?"

"Yes. The Emperor sent it to me. It reached me at Nyborg."

"It was difficult to refuse such a wonderful present, I suppose?" he said rather jealously.

"Jean, no woman in the world could refuse a sable fur," I told him. "Its one of three furs that Tsar gave to the Emperor."

Jeans next question woke all my deepest fears. "Miss Koskull, have you discussed with my wife the customs of the Swedish court?" he asked.

She said she had. I couldnt remember it. But I didnt always listen when she was talking.

"They follow ancient customs, Desiree," he said. Clearly they were too ancient for him; but he couldnt say so in front of Miss Koskull. "Theyre like the customs of our old royal court at the palace of Versailles."

"I was never at Versailles, Jean," I reminded him. "I was only a little girl when our last king was guillotined. But Ill try to learn these Swedish customs quickly."

A moment later we arrived at the castle. I was stiff with cold when Jean helped me to get out of the coach. Long row of high windows looked down at me.. They were all brightly lit.

"Can I ses Lake Malar from here?" I asked Jean. Persson once told me about this lake, so Im eager to see it.

"Youll see it in the morning," he replied. "the castle is built beside it."

A crowd of gentlemen appeared from nowhere. They wore strange clothes, all red and black. Jean said: "Its the proper uniform for gentlemen at the royal court. Come along, Desiree. Their Majesties are waiting for us."

Oscar and I hurried after him, up some long stone stairs. I took my coat off, but I couldnt go anything else--- there was no time.

I thought: "I must be looking terrible. The cold winds have made my nose red. The rest of my face is white because Im tired. My hair is hanging over my face. And I havent even got a comb!"

I brushed the loose hair aside with my fingers. Then the great double doors were opened in front of us, and bright lights shone into my eyes.