_oOo_
18: Chapter 18: Northwards
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New Spain
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It had taken a few moments to the guards of Mexico's Vice Roy to notice the airship floating slowly at high altitude.
Fitzwilliam, very aware of the risks to be shot at while aboard a hydrogen filled airships, had sent one of the few bodyguards at board by parachute to negotiate where the airship could securely water.
They were waiting for two hours when Charles cried out.
"There, in the South, the red smokepipes had been lighted. They form the required safe pattern. Our man is alright and he makes it known that it is safe for us to come down."
Fitzwilliam smiled at his friend.
"Well Captain, let's water this airship, we are awaited."
_oOo_
"It is a pleasure, your Majesty" said Felix Berenguer de Marquina the current Viceroy with a perfect bow. He bowed a second time in direction of William d'Arcy and a last time at the general direction of the Kings' suite. "Be welcome in New Spain, you'll pardon our lack of readiness, but we really had no idea that a foreign King was flying in from the South."
"We had a little accident that pushed us far from our destination. And while we are already late, we believed that it would have been rude not to stop to greet the ruler of the realm."
"Where were you headed before the accident?"
"We are answering an invitation from the President of the United States who wishes to talk with us."
The viceroy frowned.
"Is this invitation connected with the French-American situation?"
"I suppose that it is the case" answered Fitzwilliam. "But I won't be sure before having talked to President Madison."
De Marquina bowed once more and invited them to follow him.
"Meanwhile, be my guests…"
_oOo_
They had been a little impolite but they hadn't stayed more than a day. And even if the viceroy had protested because of their short stay everybody had seen that he was relieved to see them go on. "How many soldiers have you seen?"
"I have seen twenty-five" answered d'Arcy. "A few of them even changed uniforms and doubled up to give us the impression that they were more numerous but even with their little charade they weren't enough to even defend the viceroy's palace."
Fitzwilliam sighed.
"And my news did nothing to bring him out of his gloom. With so few soldiers even Napoleon's guerilla fighters should be able to take over New Spain. They are just doomed."
"He's a soldier, he won't surrender without a fight" whispered Charles.
"There will be no fight" said d'Arcy. "Napoleon has learned his lessons and he will send the forward scouts as his vanguard and these scouts are as were my men: they know their job. They will break in at night and take out the few defenders while they are sleeping. There's no need for Napoleon to send his main army to fight, garrisons will be everything he needs."
"It is a huge stretch of land" said Charles, "It won't be easy to occupy."
"No need to occupy, Charles" answered Fitzwilliam. "You remember what happened in Anatolia? The French Army has, during the whole Turkish wars, been a model of discipline and self-control. They fight, they win and afterwards they build their camps and don't harass the civilians or plunder the countryside. I remember how it was in England, they were my enemies and I loathed them for being there, but I couldn't help and admire them and their iron steadfastness. They'll just have to do the same here. They'll be in the background with their image of near invulnerability to cow the malcontents while Napoleon's Prefects will rebuild the country with the help of men coming out of the ranks of New Spain's people. And tomorrow their children will begin to feel French!"
"A strong army can win a war, but only a disciplined one can win the peace" said d'Arcy. "The Romans knew it all along and I have modelled my troops with the Legions as my epitome. I taught them how to fight but also how to win without losing the respect for the foe and finally I taught them how to rebuild the country into something better than before. No man fights when he can keep what he has and has the perspective to win even more."
"It happens that a man fights because of moral or religious reasons" pointed out Charles.
"It happens but then it helps even more to have disciplined troops which will not hesitate to see it through because those men must be killed to the last man. No mercy, no doubt, they are no longer men but slaves to ideas. And, even if some fools pretend it is not so, ideas do die. You have just to splatter their carrier's brain on the nearest wall."
Fitzwilliam looked at his brother. He had for a long time now accepted that he would never be like d'Arcy. They both had their strength and they were, all in all, very different and, in a certain sense, rather ill-assorted. But he has learned to see the man behind the war-chief and the loving father had done a lot to help in that direction. But deep inside he could feel inhumanity in his brother's core.
"That's why neither we nor Napoleon must ever try to change what the people think they are. If you change their environment, they will fatally begin to change because they will adapt to the new setting but they won't feel compelled. It will come slowly, perhaps only with the next generation but if the sons are French the fathers will have no choice but to accept the new reality. Normal, sane men don't fight their own flesh and blood."
Fitzwilliam could only approve d'Arcy's analysis. Men could be won over if you learned to treat them with respect and kindness.
"We'll see if we can do something in Washington to stop the war."
D'Arcy shrugged and made a face.
"I doubt there's a way to sway Napoleon. He hasn't moved one hundred thousand men to another continent just to accept apologies. He'll see it through."
"As you said to me a few years ago: the only battle you're sure never to win is the battle you refuse to fight! I'll try and we'll see."
_oOo_
Rupert
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"It is beautiful" whispered Lizzy to her sisters while they were all sitting together in the forward lounge. Mrs. Bennet was in the kitchen with most of the kids –Rupert was sleeping in his mother's arms- trying to explain them why her diet was better for Mankind. Since Jane had already shown that she was attracted it was a little easier. But not really easy because pies were loved by all the youngsters and creating pies with only raw vegetables and fruits was a real challenge Mrs. Bennet had tackled head on. With better results than Lizzie had thought. For the last few days all desserts had been manufactured by their mother and the kids and even if raw they had been more than exquisite. The men were in Fitzwilliam's office probably speaking about the incoming war.
"The whole Earth is a marvel" agreed Jane. "And we must protect her, while our men scheme a new future for Mankind, we must think about ways to preserve such beauty for the kids. And we must plan for ways to give those kids a better life." She shook her head. "You've seen the poverty in Mexico? I know it was not better in London twelve years ago but there is no longer such poverty anywhere in England so it is possible to stamp it out without pouring gallons of blood on the streets, we must…"
"We will, I'm sure of it" interrupted Kitty who was slowly rocking her son's crib with a satisfied smile on her lips. Since her experience with Rupert her relationship with him had changed. She had been ashamed when she had fathomed her primary relation with her beloved son. She had really seen him as a burden. Not a real human yet, just a promise that one day would stop to be a mindless thing to become a beloved creature. And now she knew that he was already a superb and resourceful human being who loved –like his father- to invent new words. She shot a guilty look at her sisters. Josephine was in the kitchen with the kids, more to learn about Mrs. Bennet's new diet than to look after the kids as was her excuse. The news that she was dying had more than rattled her and she was really looking into everything –hence their mother's cuisine- to find a way to survive. So, there were only Jane and Lizzie present. She could, perhaps, finally find the courage to speak to them.
"I have something to confess" she finally blabbered out.
Jane turned and looked at her one of her most sisterly expression on her face.
"About Rupert and you?"
Kitty was dumb stricken by her sister's comment. How could she…
"We're not yet senile, Kitty" added Lizzie. "We've seen you looking more and more often at your son with a very unusual frown on your brow."
"As if you would be concentrating on something" furthered Jane. "Listening perhaps?"
Kitty couldn't help but let a smile invade her face. She was relieved to be able to speak about it –hiding things from her sisters was no longer something she could do easily. So much had changed since that first double marriage. They had all known for a long time that Lizzie and Jane would find a way to stay near to each other –even geographically- but it had never been so clear with the other sisters. But things had evolved in a very interesting matter. Their husbands loved to band together and so all four were often together. These last five years they had spent more than half a year together. And it was so fulfilling to be able to share your problems with them… She would not want it to stop. The only sister who was quasi never with them was Lydia and she regretted the time when they were together, accomplice and foolishly girly.
"He just went on like when we were twimsing" confessed she finally. "It was as if he hadn't made the difference between twimsing and not-twimsing. As if he had find a way to communicate and was not ready to stop using it."
"Too stubborn, surely" teased Lizzie. "Like his mother…"
"Indeed" smiled Kitty. "And he got a few pints more from his father's side!"
"So, he speaks with you?"
"And yells if I'm not reacting fast enough" said Kitty with a sigh. "I was rather disturbed because I have no means to correct him the same way he speaks to me. I have no idea about how he does it and how would you have reacted if I have yelled at my little son for nothing…" She sighed. "Well nothing you could notice."
"Interesting dilemma" sighed Lizzy. "Not only on the educational side of the matter. We need to make him understand that yelling at his mamma is not acceptable."
"And we have to understand how he does it. It would be interesting to do as he does" said Jane while thinking aloud.
"It is probably because he learned to twims while a babe" said Kitty. "It has perhaps opened some channel that we, as we are too old, will never be able to open."
"Let's not abandon before having tried everything" protested Jane. "You are perhaps right but then you are perhaps wrong and there is a possibility, at least for you, to twims with him. After all you've already done it…" She stopped and frowned. "And I did it with Josephine… I'll look at it through my own channel and I'll let you know if I have found something."
"And what shall I do with Rupert's yelling at me?"
"Well" said Lizzie, "you just let him know that you do not agree with him yelling at you, that's all. Even if it's only in your head. The first times you use as peaceful a tone as possible and if he insists, you'll have to be a little more energetic. They need to know their limits, Kitty, even if they are smart and beautiful and marvelously cute. They are kids and they need to know when their freedom to do anything stops because they pester the grown-ups. You must stop him now or he won't be stoppable at all."
"I tried to make him understand by exiting the room where he was but distance doesn't play a role in twimsing! He's able to yell through doors and bulkheads."
Jane nodded and stood up.
"Well in that case we must act immediately while we are alone with him." She looked at her sister. "You agree that he understands everything?"
"Probably not everything but every emotion and feeling I've sent him while we were twimsing got through, I'm sure of it."
"So, he is able to understand and we just have to make him accept that there are things we will no longer accept."
"We won't hurt him, won't we?"
Both elder sisters shot her an angry look.
"Of course not! You know what we think about hurting a kid and since he is our cute and smart nephew he's even more protected than most. But we must make him fathom that you are our kind and beloved sister and that we won't let him pester you just because he wants everything immediately." Jane shot her a sarcastic glance. "Meanwhile be prepared for his twimsing outbursts! I'm quite sure, remembering how you reacted at being chastised that he won't let this little episode go on without protesting vehemently."
"I was always well behaved…"
"Always? I do remember a few instances where you weren't…"
"Rare and exceptional ones, I'm sure!"
"I don't doubt it for a second that you're sure…" teased Jane while looking at Lizzie. "Shall we help her to refresh her dwindling memories?"
"Indeed we shall, isn't it our sisterly duty?"
Kitty looked towards the heaven.
"I knew I would regret it somehow."
"As my dear belligerent husband likes to say: there's a price to pay for everything!"
"But first let's discuss with young Rupert" said Lizzie. "And let's hope that he is willing to change his new habits…"
_oOo_
Rupert was desperate.
Why had his mamma stopped speaking with him? He really couldn't understand why she was angry with him. She continued to make those silly noises but she had just stopped speaking with him.
He knew she could still hear him because she came when he called her, but no matter what he did she wouldn't answer. What had he done to make her angry?
_oOo_
"Hello little man" said Jane while looking the babe in the eyes. "We need you to listen because there is something we need you to understand that…"
_oOo_
It was the fair one who was always kind and gentle with him. He liked her though she had never spoken with him like mamma had shown she could.
She made the same noises as everybody else but like all the others most of what she was saying made no sense.
Why wouldn't they just speak to him?
He thought feverishly about what he could have done to make everybody angry.
_oOo_
Jane stopped and shook her head.
"It makes no sense, the more I speak, the more he becomes nervous. I feel even that he is afraid." She looked at Kitty. "Why would he be afraid?"
Kitty could only shrug and shake her head. Tears were beginning to swell in her eyes and she was feeling frantic.
"I have no idea, I swear, I never touched not hit him, I swear…"
Lizzie was immediately there and took her in her arms.
"Don't talk nonsense, we know very well that you haven't hit your little baby son. Nobody was implying anything, we are just trying to understand what is happening and you are his mother, you are the person who knows him best. It is normal we ask you, and it really didn't imply that we want to see you confess. Just tell us what happened."
Kitty swallowed her tears and tried to remember how it began.
"The first day after we twimsed he was the most happy little boy I've ever encountered but he was shouting a lot at me. Of course I came to him each time he called but it didn't seem to satisfy him and ever since it has worsened. I don't…"
"I know what happened" interrupted Jane. "And if I'm right we need to do something right now or we are going to lose him."
Kitty was immediately in front of her.
"How? How can we lose him? Is he ill?"
"No, but he is becoming desperate, Kitty. He doesn't call you; he asks you to answer when he speaks to you and you don't. He's probably wondering what he has done to be so punished."
Kitty was immediately at the crib and holding Rupert…
"Love, I'm not punishing you, I can't just answer…"
Jane looked at Lizzie and sighed.
"Please get Maureen we need to form a circle."
"But Mary is not here to direct…" said Lizzie in a whisper.
"We'll have to do with the sisters who are present, that's all" answered Jane. "And we have no real choice; it must be Kitty at the center of the circle. She has the experience of how it was when she was in contact with Rupert. She must recreate it. The only difference will be that we must give her the strength to do it. I wasn't overstating, if we don't very soon reassure little Rupert that he has done nothing wrong his little gentle mind will give way to despair."
_oOo_
And then it happened…
Rupert, Dear…
Mamma, you're back… Why silence? Why not answer? What done?
He felt her kisses and felt her love wallowing over him and he was so relieved he couldn't help but cry and yell his relief.
You did nothing, love, I just couldn't answer. I had forgotten how to answer you. I had forgotten how to speak.
She felt his huge amazement.
How forget? Speaking easy, easy, easy… Not ever forget, ever.
I know love but I was not aware that you could still speak to me, I…
You hear, interrupted Rupert whose anger was tangible. You come and kiss and splurt but not speak…
Another mindvoice interrupted him. A mindvoice who felt like the serene embrace of a loving mother whose calm and soothing authority immediately silenced him.
Your mamma wanted to speak to you, sweetheart, but she wasn't aware that she had now another mean to speak with you. It needed a few days to understand what was happening.
Jane, you're hearing what we say? Kitty's mind voice was mingled with amazement and happiness.
Perfectly clear and with all the emotional nuances of the both of you, added Lizzie whose mindvoice was like a bubbling stream running down a hill. You should let him know how much you love him, he needs that just now. We'll speak about what has happened after we have loved him to sleep.
We will all join you, added Maureen whose mindvoice was like a spring shower, spirited and invigorating. Hello little man, I'm Maureen and we all love you very much.
Love too, love much and love all. Speak with me is happy me.
And we are happy to be able to speak with you sweetheart, said Jane, but to speak with you is a difficult task and we won't be able to do it as easily as you can. Don't hesitate to speak with your mamma but don't be afraid if she can't answer immediately. We have to learn to speak like you. For you speak is easy, but not for us… Please forgive us if we take a little time before answering.
Speak with me, Please?
Of course we will speak with you, my love, said Kitty. As often as possible! And it was as much a prayer to her sisters as a promise to her little boy.
As often as possible, agreed Jane. We'll see what we can do.
_oOo_
As Jane has surmised, Rupert, having been reassured was soon asleep and happily snuggled in his mother's arms.
Well that will not be easy, sighed Jane. We can't spend our days in a mind circle. Our husbands will wonder.
He sleeps a lot, pleaded Kitty, we wouldn't be forced to form a circle at all times.
We will do what has to be done to placate your son's fears, said Jane. He was terrorized that he could no longer speak with you. We can't risk letting him live another such ugly experience. It could damage him.
We can't… pleaded Kitty.
I said we will do what has to be done, interrupted Jane. If that means that we have to form a circle with you as soon as he is awake, we will do it. Let's just hope that a more confined circle has the same effect. At least we would be able to do it in turn.
We could say that Rupert is sick and that he needs to be looked after, said Maureen. So, it wouldn't look suspicious.
I won't lie to Fitzwilliam, indicated Lizzie.
And we won't lie to Geoffroy, agreed Jane, but Maureen is right we need a reason for the crew and perhaps mamma and papa.
We could put them in the loop, finally, advocated Kitty.
We could, agreed Lizzie. I believe they are ready to hear the truth.
I'm not so sure, said Jane who had her doubts about her mother's capacity to accept certain truths, but I won't stop you Lizzie if you want to go through with it. I don't like it but even I agree that it is high time to bring them into our secret. They are our parents they must know what we are and what we can do. I just hope they are able to accept it.
_oOo_
"I suppose that, since she isn't at your side, Jane was not very convinced about talking to me…" sighed Mrs. Bennet.
"She was… reluctant…" admitted Lizzie.
"I can't say that it surprises me" said Mrs. Bennet. "She's always been the daughter with the most distrust for me."
"Jane? Distrust? Are we speaking of the same Jane?" asked Lizzie rather amazed by her mother's comment. "I have never heard her even criticize you, she was always the first to defend you."
Mrs. Bennet smiled at her daughter.
"Lizzie, I'm not speaking about love and loyalty. I'm speaking about trust. Jane's qualities have their own flip sides. She's loyal to a fault and her loyalty goes to everybody she loves. And she really thinks that such a loyalty should always come with love. And on that peculiar level I was the one who disappointed her greatly. She never really forgot that I gave the impression to have chosen the youngest over her and you, Lizzie. She holds no grudge, but it has put a wedge between us. She will always remember that I wasn't there for you and her in the same manner as I was there for Kitty and Lydia. She will never admit it, but she believes I've betrayed you, especially when I accepted your cousin's demand."
Lizzie was more than embarrassed because she couldn't help but feeling the same.
"And you do too, Lizzie. What's even worse, she knows that, had it been her that Collins had coveted, I would have asked her and she would had accepted out of loyalty to the family and because of what she believed to be her duty. And it would have destroyed her to be forced to live at that toad's side. No, I wasn't the mother I should have been to her or you, I know it now but what's done is done and we can only work together in order to never again make the same mistakes. And to begin with I won't allow myself to ever judge either of my daughters again. You've shown that the lots of you are grown women who know what's good for the family. You have my blessing for what it is worth and my gratitude to have come to me to show me that you trust me."
_oOo_
Mamma…
She was immediately at his crib to take him in her arms.
I'm here, love, you don't need to yell. I'm here…
You speak! Happy you speak. Happy, happy, happy…
So am I, sweetheart, so am I.
Others?
The question was out and she felt relieved.
No others, sweetheart, we can speak without their help. I just needed to be guided. Now I know and I no longer need help.
Others?
This time it was more of a demand even if it was still a question.
They'll come soon and speak with you, sweetheart, for now it's just us.
Happy us, but happy others too.
Kitty frowned while looking at her son.
I'll talk to them, but you must accept that they won't all be free to speak with you whenever you ask. We all love you very much, but you must accept that you are only a part in our life.
Love, happy, happy with others.
"Well let's go and give them the good and the bad news…"
_oOo_
"Indeed that's very good news…" said Jane with a smile. "It would have been difficult to manage our journey with your son having demands..;"
"Well" said Kitty while making a droll face, "he still has demands. He thinks that it is funnier when there is more than me in his head."
Jane couldn't help but laugh.
"Sorry but he reminds me of a little girl who wouldn't stop following me all day long with always new questions."
"Seems even very young I had the best of tastes when it came to my idols."
Jane shook her head and embraced her sister and her smiling son.
"Come, I believe I have an idea which could give us a little breathing room with your son."
_oOo_
"Of course, I will" said Deirdre while applauding enthusiastically. "Let me in, oh, let me in…"
"Wait here" said Jane. "I'll call the others and we will make the attempt immediately."
_oOo_
Dirdri, love Dirdri… Happy Dirdri speaks.
Dirdri happy too, Rupert.
Speak normally with him dear, said Jane. The more he hears us speaking normally the sooner he'll be able to mimic us!
Deirdre sent an acknowledgement to her Aunt.
I'm so happy to be able to speak with you. She looked at Jane. Thank you Aunt Jane to give me your trust.
You deserve it, sweetheart, but you'll have to stop giving lemonade to your brother, it is bad for him.
Love Monade, came the immediate outcry. Love Dirdri's monade. Dirdri's monade good.
"I must agree with your opinion, Kitty" said Jane with a smile. "He is more stubborn than you were."
I'll be reasonable, said Deirdre. I'll take care of my baby brother, I promise.
I hope so, answered Kitty. Don't forget I'm with you in the circle. I can speak but also listen.
I have nothing to hide and Rupert doesn't know how to lie, you shouldn't have too much to worry about.
Kitty looked at Jane and sighed.
Of course I know that, sweetheart. Just be careful when you play with him, I wouldn't survive if something should happen to either of you.
I'll be very careful, mamma, I swear.
Kitty took her daughter in her arms and embraced her fiercely.
I know sweetheart, I know. I love you both.
Love mamma, love Dirdri, love monade! Have monade?
Jane smiled and cautiously slipped out of the circle. After all, with Rupert's last demand, it was now family business. She would let Kitty do her own educating. She had enough with her own little monsters.
_oOo_
La Nouvelle Orléans
_oOo_
_oOo_
The two French airships had been on them just after the sun had risen. They could have outraced them, but Fitzwilliam decided that it was of no interest.
So, they were flying in sync with the two military airships. Two single hull models of the Aquila class.
They were very good flyers and had shown their military value in the Berber wars. They had very thick alumen honeycomb armor on the underside that could resist to an impact coming from most modern rifles. Not the most modern ones, thought Fitzwilliam with a hint of satisfaction. He was sure –Anne had confirmed it in her last weapon report- only the British army had equipped his artillery with double-barreled rotating hand canons whose bullets went easily straight through even steal armor. And his armies were either in India or in England.
"What do they say?" asked Charles to the lookout.
"They ask if we have to refuel… There is a depot in the vicinity of La Nouvelle Orléans. They say we are free to stop, and that Napoleon has arrived yesterday."
Fitzwilliam took a few seconds to think. He would have preferred to go directly to Washington without having to speak to Napoleon but he couldn't dodge his responsibilities and even if he still hoped to be able to save the United States, his first and foremost duty was toward Great Britain.
"Let them know that we will stop and would be glad to see the First Consul. He'll probably be glad to have news from his family as soon as possible. Let him know that his family is safe and sound. "
He looked at Charles.
"How long till the depot?"
"We will be there in less than an hour."
"Alea jacta est" whispered Fitzwilliam before nodding toward the coxswain. "Let's go, crewman, we are awaited."
_oOo_
Napoleon had been a perfect smiling host and his reunion with his wife and son had been very familial and not at all formal.
After a little official ceremony Napoleon had guided Fitzwilliam, d'Arcy and Charles toward a little side room where they would be able to speak without being disturbed.
"Well how is it that you are coming up from the South when you should have been in Washington for at least a few weeks?"
"We hit a storm and he has blown us to the South. We had to refuel in the jungle, it took a little bit of time to get here."
Napoleon looked at d'Arcy.
"You've been in Mexico?"
"We stopped for a day" agreed d'Arcy. "You were right, they have removed most of their troops to protect their mainland, they are undermanned. One could even say defenseless. Ripe for the plucking."
Fitzwilliam frowned at his brother. Of course, he knew that even 'dead' d'Arcy was still a Frenchman who was loyal to his birth country but his last comment seemed a little too opinionated. As usual, d'Arcy noticed Fitzwilliam's uneasiness.
"Don't fret, Fitzwilliam, Napoleon didn't need me to get information about New Spain, France has a great spy-net in South America and had been informed for months now that the King was removing troops."
"And I have more than spies, your Majesty" added Napoleon. "I have supporters who long to throw off the shackles of Spain's tyranny. I'm quite sure that there will be uprisings everywhere followed by demands of help."
He smiled at Fitzwilliam.
"And I have learned of lot by looking at your diplomatic successes. I have seen old enemies flock around your banner because you have shown them respect and have been able to convince them that you would respect them also in the future." Napoleon nodded more to himself than to anybody else. "You or perhaps it was that lovely wife of yours, were right, my friend, people do tend to respect promises they make out of conviction. I've shown that I'm able to win over any army my enemies could send against me, my ego –which is quite humongous, I agree- is for the time being rather satisfied with my military achievements. It's now time to reinforce the future of the French realm by highlighting the Revolution's achievements."
He smiled at Fitzwilliam's smirk.
"I do agree that my regime is as autocratic as any tyranny of the past but I did achieve a complete reorganization of the State and a system where commoners who work hard for it can become members of the ruling elite. I'm quite satisfied with how the renewal of France's elite has gone through. I was able to convince most of the old surviving aristocracy to join my regime while I have given thousands of commoners a head start towards wealth and glory. Some of them I even elevated to places of power where their talents are best used."
He let a smug little smile lighten his lips.
"And those schools of yours… I must admit that, in the beginning I was more than reluctant to even look at what you were doing. Thank God, I spent only two years wondering why you had launched such an expensive project before I understood where you were going. Of course, with your new developments in science and technology you needed scholars in great numbers! Even simple workers need to be able to read the procedures and to write reports to improve said procedures. It was so evident once I understood why you were investing such humongous sums in educating commoners. As usual when I work on a project, I even improved it mightily. My schools have better educated teachers and are without a doubt a lot more efficient than those parish schools of yours. We Jacobins, with our love to standardize and centralize everything we will give all our pupils, wherever they are, the best –and same- technical knowledge available."
For a time, Napoleon looked surprised.
"And it really has had unexpected results. My people do admire me as it fits for the greatest of French rulers but now, because my schools are about to lift their children out of poverty and mediocrity, they love me…"
He stood up and placed a friendly hand on Fitzwilliam's shoulder –which was easier for him since Fitzwilliam was seated.
"I will confess that for a few years I did resent your brother's scheme that made me," he looked at d'Arcy and acknowledged the man and his actions with a hint of a bow, "… –out of greed, let's be frank- give up England and Great Britain. But now I have proof that it was an excellent idea. You have shown that Great Britain is a loyal ally whose fleets do keep the world's ocean' under a tight wrap and whose territorial ambitions are not situated where France wants to play an important role. Furthermore, your blooming economy and your efforts to further your country's scientific advance is a constant reminder to my own petty industrialists that there are those who have better results than they."
His smile took hold of his whole face.
"And that, my friend is worth more than I could imagine because these people believe that money is everything…"
His smiled disappeared when he heard d'Arcy's smothered guffaw. He frowned and sighed.
"I know it seems like the pot calling the kettle black, but I'm no longer as obsessed with hoarding more money as I was. I was quite surprised when Alexandre asked me last year why I had fifty-seven estates when I always lived in only three of them and never even have visited forty three of the total number. I tried to explain him that this fortune I was gathering was for him and his mother and he just shook his head and smiled… Not a smile of satisfaction but a smile of commiseration. It did hurt, d'Arcy, it really did."
"They do have their way to your soul, that's a truth!" Sighed d'Arcy. "If you have dismissed hoarding gold and estates, why going on conquering new lands?"
"That's not the same, d'Arcy and you know it. I won't say that I'm conquering a country after another because I want to help the people I conquer. That would be absurd, but I don't do it only to hoard power. I do it because like you did explain to me, once upon a time, this Earth needs unity not diversity. I won't be able to unite the world, I know it. There is too much surface and not enough time to do it." He shrugged. "It is perhaps better for me to concentrate on what I already have."
"Why being here with one hundred thousand men, then?" asked Fitzwilliam.
"Because there is power in numbers, your Majesty. With such a number I have better chances to crush my enemies faster! While losing less of my men. When all is said and done, it is a fact I personally experienced that victories are won more easily when you have a huge amount of soldiers at your disposal. As you probably remember it was the only reason, I won that last battle at Andrinopolis. The Sultan had gathered all his remaining troops and I had the temptation –out of arrogance and pride, I must confess- to go into the battle with only my three current armies. I –for once- listened to Kellermann and waited and succeeded in dodging the Sultan's army till my other armies had joined me at a place of my choosing. And we won at last not because I had found the best strategy or chosen the better place but because we were more numerous and better equipped. That's why I gather such a force here, because, to my great surprise, I had to accept that even I can make poor decisions, and when it happens –should it happen- it is best to have the numbers on my side."
_oOo_
"You stay with your husband?"
"I really want to be at his side… Especially now that I know I'm dying."
Jane frowned at her friend. The older woman had been these last years, a constant presence whenever she needed her to learn how to be the best Queen mom available. Her advice in matters courtier management had been hugely useful and had spared Jane a lot of disillusions.
"You're not yet dead and I really need you to be in Pemberley for the birth. Trust me I'll explain everything once you are there with us, I promise there are good reasons."
"I never doubted your reasons and I will be there, I promise. Napoleon doesn't like it when I'm pregnant. He didn't say it in as many words but while I was awaiting Alexander he was constantly looking for pretexts to be out of the house. He will be happy to have me somewhere else. But I'm really afraid of how he will react if I die while being in your care."
"I'll cross that bridge when I'm in front of it. For now, let's just be very clear: I'm not just trying to placate you fear, I know that I'm going to save you, Josephine. I know it."
"As you knew that Geoffroy was still alive?" And in Joséphine's eyes she could read that she knew the truth.
Jane couldn't help but laugh out aloud. She had always known that Joséphine was a very smart woman. Now she knew that she was not only smart but also very discreet and trustworthy.
"No, not like that, for that it was a mix of faith and blurred memories. For you it is like in 'I know what to do to save you because in Pemberley I have not only the knowledge but also the means to do it'!"
"Nowhere else?"
"Not with certainty, Josephine. What I know is that in Pemberley it can be done!"
Josephine looked at her hands and sighed.
"Jane, will you forgive me if I ask a rude question?"
Jane just smiled and nodded.
"Go on, nothing's rude if it is asked in good faith."
"Are you and your sisters witches?" asked Josephine as quickly as possible. Had she let her mind turn the question in a more polite way she wouldn't have asked at all.
"No" came the immediate answer. "We were invited to become one of them but we refused."
"You refused? But isn't being a witch innate to your very nature?"
Jane took a few seconds to gather her words.
"What's innate in our very nature is God's gift to feel and use the powers that are aplenty in the world. How you use them or if you use them are up to each and every gifted girl. Being a witch, or I should say becoming a witch is a choice made more or less openly. I say more or less because the witches are very crafty when it comes to convince a candidate that their way is the only one who will give them power and safety. But they are lying and deceiving," she smiled mischievously, "as is in their nature, after all… They proposed to teach me all their crafts and let me choose afterwards which path I would wander. I refused because I knew that the message contained in the teaching was what would steer me toward the black arts. So, I choose to renounce the easy way and to step on a difficult one where I would have to discover everything by trial and failure. And I'm very happy and proud to announce that all my sisters backed me up in the choice I made and renounced the easy way to power they were proposed. Even Lydia –but she confessed having hesitated- sent them packing."
She looked Josephine in the eyes.
"You must understand that I would probably have been burned on a scaffold a long time ago if Geoffroy hadn't done everything in his power to put me in a place where nobody could come at me with accusations of sorcery."
"You really believe he…"
"I know it, Josephine. He isn't aware of his real reasons but the fact that I'm at the only place where the witches can't get rid of me by denouncing me as a wielder of powers speaks volumes. While he was alive, he had made it very clearly known that should they strike at me, they wouldn't survive my burning or exiling. But once he was dead everything was open till the moment the Constituents chose my son as the next King. By becoming Queen mom I became a public figure even their best schemes could do no longer anything against me. Meanwhile the situation has settled down. I know personally the Archbishop and it was him who baptized Geoffroy's children but that wouldn't have saved me if they had pushed in the right direction. I needed to be at a place where every one of my gesture could be seen and analyzed. Today I'm –William not yet old enough to interest the public, thank God- the most public person in Great Britain and my doings are published on a daily basis in at least ten different newspapers. Everybody knows that I'm a midwife and that I brew poultices to help to overcome illnesses and injuries. My recipes have been published, commented and are common knowledge throughout Great Britain and Europe. I'm sponsoring medical research all over the world and poultice brewers from everywhere in Europe and India share their recipes with me." She smiled at Josephine. "I have all the makeup of a witch but the secrecy. And without said secrecy there's only the doings of a woman who works to eradicate illness and poverty. Hide in bright sight that's the secret for persons like me to be able to survive. And there's no brighter place than ours, you know that."
Josephine nodded.
"But why Pemberley?"
"We could probably do it with the same results in the Broceliande Forest's lake" answered Jane with a knowing smile. "But it would be a little more suspicious…"
"Ooohh, I see! So, Pemberley is… such a place!"
"There is such a place somewhere in Pemberley" agreed Jane. "And normal persons will walk a hundred times past it without ever even guessing its presence. Only those who have open eyes see the entry to it."
"And there are others?"
"A few…" agreed Jane. "And quite a lot of them are now properties of the Darcy/d'Arcy family and protected with all the means available."
"Against whom?"
"Black witches who want to use them, religious fanatics who want to destroy them, greedy entrepreneurs who want to use their beauty to their profit or misguided politicians who listen to the wrong people, take your pick. There are a lot of human –or perhaps not so human, to judge with our last encounter- beings whose goal is to smother everything which could give our race a better understanding of its true divine nature. And destroying such places had been at the top of their must-do lists for millennia. Such a place saved my life and I feel that it is my duty to protect them with everything at my disposal." She held Josephine's hand. "And when we will have saved your life, you'll be another of those unknown and secret protectors of secret and benign places."
"I'll surely be" said Josephine who even if not totally convinced was in a much better mood than an hour before.
"Meanwhile I'll give you a few of my well-known poultices to strengthen your body, preserve your health and lighten your spirit. We wouldn't want you to die prematurely, now would we?"
_oOo_