CHAPTER 18 - Fersen's jealousy

The next morning, as agreed, Oscar went to Versailles with Andre. They left the manor in silence, just looking at each other, and drove half the way without saying anything. At one point Oscar stopped and dismounted from her horse.

- Come down, Andre! - she ordered imperiously, and he obeyed without hesitation.

She walked over to him and kissed him hard, with a courage she would never expect from herself. She was brave, of course. But not in terms of human relationships. And in love she had practically no experience. Even so, she was kissing that man she hadn't even known a year ago, with fervor and fever. Where the harsh and icy commander had gone, she did not know. At that moment, she was just a woman in love.

- Andre - she said when the kiss was over - We're going to Versailles, the most elegant place in France. But don't let its beauty fool you. Many of the people who surround the queen are genuinely immoral, indecent, and sometimes downright evil. Not everyone accepts me there, some would do a lot to harm me. So we have to be very careful. If any of my enemies were to suspect something, we'd both be in big trouble.

- I understand, Oscar - he replied calmly - I will behave impeccably - he smiled at her mischievously.

- Thank you - she replied with relief - I hope you understand that nobody can see us.. like that - she waved her hand pointing at them two, hugging each other.

- How exactly? - he asked innocently.

- Andre! - Oscar was indignant with a laugh, released him, jumped on her horse and immediately rode away so quickly that he had to chase her.

They reached the palace in a few minutes. At the gate they were greeted by the guards who, stretched like a string, saluted their commander. They left their horses to the groom and went to the command headquarters. In front of Oscar's office, Captain Girodelle was waiting, looking curiously at the man who had arrived with the Colonel. Oscar made a quick presentation and, without going into details, invited them both into the room. She and her deputy spent an hour discussing the details of the next dance party and the concert, which was organised in two days time. During that time, Andre was sitting at a distance, admired how easily the woman coped with every detail of the tasks and how confidently she gave orders.

He was impressed by the view from the windows that overlooked the courtyard and the park in the distance. Everything was huge, vast, and the green was regular and manicured. Tastefully dressed, elegant people were strolling along the alleys. Andre has never seen such splendor and wealth. Eugene's castle was, of course, magnificent, but it could not even be compared to Versailles. Andre wondered for a moment how it all affected Oscar. She did not seem to pay attention to sophisticated clothes or excessive accomodation at all. She was equally at ease among those rooms dripping of gold and at his uncle's house.

When the meeting was over, they headed for the park that Andre could see outside the windows. Marie Antoinette and her entourage were walking there peacfully. Leaving Andre some distance away, Oscar walked over to the queen and greeted her. Then she nodded to the man standing next to Her Majesty and returned promptly.

They both stood for a long time talking. Oscar explained briefly to Andre etiquette and customs in the royal court, and told him a little about her own duties. Suddenly a man approached the conversing couple. Andre thought that he looked very elegant and dignified, he was also very handsome.

- Good morning, Mademoiselle - the man greeted politely, holding out the hand that she squeezed, with a slight, almost invisible, hesitant.

- Good morning, Count. Please see - Oscar said formally and looked at Andre standing next to her - Count Hans Axel von Fersen, my friend from Sweden - looked to Fersen - Andre Grandier, my friend from Normandy.

The men shook hands in silence, looking at each other suspiciously. Andre thought that the man, though cordial as he seemed, was looking at him a little weird.

- Very pleased to meet you, Count - he said aloud, and bowed his head slightly.

- Nice to meet you too - Fersen replied – Hovewer, I didn't know mademoiselle Oscar had friends in Normandy - added with a little surprised voice.

- I have, as you can see - Oscar replied and quickly added - Forgive us now, we must go.

- Oscar - the count grabbed her arm gently to stop her - Could we talk?

- Not now, Fersen, I have a lot of work to do - she replied, feeling Andre's gaze on her. She wondered what he would think about this whole situation.

- Allright, I don't want to disturb you. So maybe later - added Fersen, staring at her suspiciously. The woman nodded and walked away with her companion.

„Oscar is acting strange" - Fersen thought.

Previously, talking to this man, she had seemed full of joy, and now she looked like a hail cloud. A terrible suspicion began to build up in the count's head. He had to talk to her, absolutely.

The next day was a day off for Oscar. Happily it happened because she could spend more time with Andre. They ate breakfast separately, of course, she in her living room, he in the kitchen with his grandmother and the rest of the servants. After breakfast, Oscar ordered training. The pretext was Jerome's continued indisposition, but it was clear for both of them that she would not miss the opportunity to duel with him. It was an unusually warm end of October, so they took their swords and headed for the garden. They practiced tirelessly for an hour, pausing only at some remarks from the woman and the raising of Andre's sword, who occasionally soared high in the air and stuck into the lawn, making them laugh. They were about to finish their training and go to the mansion for tea when they noticed a man leaning against a nearby tree and staring at them in consternation. It looked like he had been standing there for some time.

Oscar frowned. She thought she was clear when she told him not to come to her house anymore. She handed her sword to Andre and asked him to give her a moment. She had to explain it immediately.

- Good morning, Fersen - she walked over to him.

- Hello, Oscar - he replied uncertainly - I'm sorry to bother you like this, but I really need to talk to you.

- Allright - she sighed heavily - What's going on?

Fersen was silent for a moment, as if he were weighing his words, and finally blurted out.

- Who is he, Oscar? - he asked, looking at Andre, who, meanwhile, was standing, hands clasped in front of his chest, leaning against a tree, looking at them grimly.

- I already told you yesterday, Fersen. A friend - replied the woman irritably - I don't know what you want.

- Don't cheat on me, Oscar - the man hissed – Do you think I can't see the way you are looking at him?

- It's none of your business, Count - the woman snapped back. Fersen was getting on her nerves more and more.

- Of course it's my business! - he raised his voice - You are my.. - he hesitated for a moment.

- Who exactly, Fersen? I'll answer instead of you because you probably forgot. A friend. That's what we've been calling each other, haven't we? We are only this, nothing more! - Oscar said, looking him in the eye angrily - You have no right to ask me such questions!

The man stood still, breathing hard, trying to suppress the anger that was flooding him like a wave.

- You're crazy, Oscar - he drawled through his teeth - Do you want to get yourself into trouble? He's just a commoner! - he pointed at the man standing nearby.

Oscar felt her irritation turn to aggression.

- What are you implying, Fersen? - she retorted furiously - That we cannot be friends because he was not born a nobleman?

- You know what I'm talking about! Don't make a fool of me, Oscar! - Fersen shouted in shock, waving his hands vigorously.

Andre stopped leaning against the tree and took a few steps towards them, but the woman stopped him with a movement of her hand. So he stood still and was only looking at the whole scene, very agitated.

- No. I don't know what you're talking about and I don't even want to know - Oscar said firmly.

Fersen looked at her with sparks of anger in his eyes, then spat out what had been in his heart from the beginning.

- Are you sleeping with him? - he gasped quietly, that only she would hear him.

The woman looked at him arrogantly.

- I'm not sleeping with my friends, Fersen - she said, staring at him intensely.

The man froze, as if the words had to enter his mind. He even seemed to stop breathing. Meanwhile, Oscar turned, wanting to leave. There was nothing else to say, she decided. Fersen seemed to suddenly come to life, grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to him.

- Is that your answer, Oscar? - he muttered a few inches from her face.

She looked him in the eye for a long time.

- You know I've always appreciated your intelligence - she replied with polite disregard in her voice

The man released her immediately and stood dazed for a moment. Meanwhile, Andre ran and stood next to them. He could no longer wait motionless in the face of such a scene.

- Are you okay, Oscar? - he asked, looking at her with concern.

- It's all right, Andre - she replied confidently - The conversation is over. The count is already leaving.

Fersen looked at them with a mixture of anger and surprise, fixed a distrustful gaze on Andre's face for a moment, then nodded and walked away without saying goodbye.

- It's complicated, Andre - Oscar said, seeing the man still staring at her.

- I'm not going to ask you anything - he said quickly - You will tell me, if you think I should know. Are we going back?

- I need to cool down - she said with a sigh - Would you mind if we went for a quick ride now? It always helps me deal with my anger.

- We'll go, Oscar. I'll bring the horses.