'To begin with, this afternoon's explosion was nothing to do with us.'
The Doctor nodded. 'It really was a home-grown assassination attempt?'
'Precisely so,' said the Countess. 'Fouche's men are already on the trail of the Royalists responsible.'
'And the rest?'
The Countess paused. 'Imagine a war as a game of chess, Doctor. Revolutionary France versus England; England versus Nazi Germany; capitalist America versus communist Russia. Leaders are pieces on the board, Napoleon against Wellington; Churchill against Hitler; Truman against Stalin.'
'It's not an attitude I care for,' said the Doctor. 'Go on.'
'But what happens if some of the major pieces are taken from the board? How fascinating to interfere, to play one side against the other, and see the results!'
'And this is your Game,' said the Doctor in disgust.
'Wanton interference with human lives, simply for sport.'
The Countess shook her head. 'It is their game, Doctor, the humans. Wars happen, countless wars, whether we interfere or not. Why do you think we favour this planet? But all that is about to change.'
'You're rambling,' said Serena. 'What's going to change?
How?'
' Everything Everything,' said the Countess exultantly. 'It will no longer be the humans' game, it will be ours. Ours! Ours! And all because of my Grand Design. We shall ' She broke off, as if aware that she had said far more than she intended. 'It is useless to explain, you will never grasp the beauty of the concept. Let me just say this, Doctor. If you and your companion wish to live, leave this time and place.' And all because of my Grand Design. We shall ' She broke off, as if aware that she had said far more than she intended. 'It is useless to explain, you will never grasp the beauty of the concept. Let me just say this, Doctor. If you and your companion wish to live, leave this time and place.'
'And why should we do that?'
Suddenly the Countess's voice and manner changed.
'Because if you do not leave, you are doomed,' she hissed.
'We shall destroy you!'
Chapter Fourteen.
Conspiracy
For a moment the threat seemed to hang in the air like smoke. The Countess looked from the Doctor to Serena to see the effect of her words. To her fury neither seemed to be in the least impressed.
The Doctor was smiling, and Serena actually laughed.
'Really?' she said. 'You haven't been doing too well so far, have you?'
With an effort the Countess regained her calm.
'We haven't really been trying so far,' she said gently. She turned to the Doctor. 'Please, Doctor, pay attention to my warning. In spite of the trouble you've caused, I retain a liking for you.'
The Doctor smiled. 'That's very kind of you,' he said, in the tone of one humouring a fractious child. 'But I have to agree with Serena. So far I've caused you at least as much trouble as you've caused me.'
'That was when we were divided. You had only one team to deal with. The other might even help you, as I did at Fort Carre. But no longer. Now we are united in the Grand Design. If you interfere again we shall annihilate you.' She turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Serena shook her head. 'Now what was all that about?'
'No idea,' said the Doctor. 'She's up to something, though.
Something new, and something particularly nasty.'
'Her Grand Design.'
'Whatever that means.'
'Excuse me, Doctor?' Captain Charles had appeared beside them.
'It's all go, isn't it?' said the Doctor wearily. 'Yes, what is it young man?'
'The Emperor would like you to join him in his study.'
The Doctor glanced across at the dais and saw that it was now empty. 'Very well. Come along, Serena, we're wanted.'
Captain Charles looked embarrassed. 'I am sorry, Doctor, but the invitation was for you alone.'
Serena looked annoyed and the Doctor smiled. 'Sorry Serena, they haven't invented Women's Lib yet.' He turned back to Captain Charles. 'Very well, I'll come. But I don't wish to leave my friend alone and unprotected in a mob of strangers.'
'Of course not, Doctor. If you will give me a moment.'
Captain Charles looked around the crowd and settled upon an elegant-looking man in white silk, who was standing by a pillar. He was leaning on a crystal-handled cane and surveying the crowd with a look of amused disdain. Although no longer young, he was still slim and upright. His features were not undistinguished, but just missed being handsome perhaps because of a slightly turned-up nose, which gave him an attractively humorous air.
Captain Charles crossed over to him and spoke briefly.
The elegant man turned and looked at the Doctor with mild interest. Then he looked at Serena with considerably more interest. He inclined his head, and followed Captain Charles back towards them, walking with a slight limp.
'Doctor, Lady Serena, allow me to present Monsieur de Talleyrand-Perigord ' he broke off. 'I beg your pardon sir, I was forgetting your new honours. I hear you are soon to become the Prince of Benevento.'
The newcomer waved a long white hand. 'A generous gesture of our beloved Emperor. He is gracious towards his faithful servants.' The mellow, slightly husky voice was amused. 'The appellation is somewhat cumbersome, however. Talleyrand will do very well.'
'Monsieur Talleyrand is the Emperor's Foreign Minister, as I expect you are aware,' said Captain Charles. 'He has had varied and uniquely extensive experience of Government service.'
There was an edge of malice in the last remark and Serena wondered what he meant.
The Doctor and Talleyrand exchanged bows.
'It is most kind of you to agree to entertain my ward, Monsieur Talleyrand,' said the Doctor. 'We could not have hoped for a chaperon of such distinction.'
Talleyrand looked amused. 'Me, a chaperon? With my reputation? Well, there is, they say, a first time for everything.
I am honoured by your trust, sir.'
Captain Charles said, 'The Emperor is waiting. If you will excuse us?' He led the Doctor away.
Talleyrand turned to Serena and smiled. She was immediately aware of an immense warmth and charm. 'It is good of you to honour a weary old man with your company, my child.' He looked around and indicated an alcove, already occupied, which held gilt chairs and a little ornamental table.
'Shall we be seated?'
Serena looked puzzled. 'But there isn't anywhere free.'
'Oh yes, there is, my child. Believe me, there is.'
Two fashionable-looking young men were drinking champagne at the table, but Talleyrand strolled towards it as if it were empty. By the time they reached it, it was.
Talleyrand held out a chair for Serena and she sat. He drew up a chair beside her. 'May I procure you some more champagne?'
'No thank you.'
Talleyrand nodded understandingly. 'A somewhat inferior brand, I agree. An ice cream perhaps? I am told the ice cream is excellent.'
'Thank you,' said Serena.
Talleyrand snapped his fingers and a footman appeared as if by magic. 'Ice cream,' said Talleyrand.
The footman vanished, and reappeared seconds later with an elaborate ice-cream confection in a silver dish, and a long silver spoon.
Serena tried the ice cream. It was delicious.
'I'm sorry to impose on you like this,' she said demurely.
'Not an imposition but a privilege,' he murmured. 'So refreshing to have the company of someone beautiful, intelligent, and new new.'
Serena looked around the gallery. The crowd was thinning a little now that Napoleon and Josephine had departed, but there was still an array of beautiful women in revealing gowns and handsome men in lavish uniforms. 'I shouldn't have thought you'd be starved for company and conversation. With an entire imperial court to choose from...'
'A court is an assembly of noble and distinguished beggars,' said Talleyrand dismissively.
Serena looked thoughtfully at him and Talleyrand smiled lazily back at her. It seemed the conversational ball was still in her court. She remembered Captain Charles' parting shot.
'The Captain said you had extensive experience of Government service, Monsieur Talleyrand.'
'The Captain was referring, rather unkindly, to what some consider my somewhat chequered career...Tell me, my dear, is this your first visit to our court?'
The Doctor followed Captain Charles out of the Grand Salon, along the wide, mirrored corridors and into a smaller, more functional-looking corridor.
'Was that the the Talleyrand?' he asked as they walked along. Talleyrand?' he asked as they walked along.
'The one they call the Great Survivor?'
Captain Charles nodded. 'They also call him the King of Turncoats.'
'That seems a little harsh. Is it justified, do you think?'
'Judge for yourself,' said Captain Charles. 'He served the Bourbons, the Revolutionary Assembly, the Directory and the Consulate. Now he serves the Emperor and whoever replaces the Emperor, Talleyrand will serve him him.'
'And this is the man you chose to look after my innocent young ward?' said the Doctor in mock concern.
Privately he wasn't much worried. Serena might be relatively inexperienced, but she had quite enough self-possession to deal with unwanted advances, even from a practised old roue like Talleyrand.
Captain Charles wasn't too concerned either. 'I shouldn't worry, Doctor. Talleyrand's morals may be a bit loose, especially for an ex-bishop, but he's still a gentleman.
Indeed, he's an aristocrat. And he's very powerful. No one will bother someone under his protection.'
'I see.' The Doctor hesitated to ask his next question, but as usual his insatiable curiosity got the better of him. 'Forgive me for asking, are you the Captain Charles who was once very good friends with the Empress Josephine?'
'The Empress has always enjoyed my undying loyalty and affection,' said the Captain stiffly.
'I'll take that as a "yes". Aren't you in a rather dangerous position as Napoleon's aide, I mean?'
'Not really. The Emperor's wrath has cooled now. His own behaviour is far from irreproachable in that respect.' Captain Charles grinned ruefully. 'Besides, I act as a sort of perpetual reminder to keep the Empress in her place. I think it amuses him to see us thrown into almost daily contact and unable to exchange anything but the most formal courtesies.'
'It must be hard for you.'
'I got off lightly my head is still on my shoulders!'