The Engagement: Elisabeth

"Girls! Girls! Come down here quickly! Helene? Elisabeth?"

I sighed, hurrying down the stairs behind Helene, watching as my mother dashed to the foot of the staircase. She looked flushed, and was clutching a letter in her hand.

"I have just gotten a letter from the Archduchess Sophie, your aunt. She has invited Helene to attend a celebration in Bad Ischl, a celebration for the engagement between Helene and The Emperor Franz Joseph."

I heard Helene draw in a sharp breath, and I clasped her hand behind our backs. She was still very nervous about her impending engagement to the Emperor, which had only become more noticeable as time went on.

"She has also requested that Max and I attend along with Helene. Unfortunately, your father left this morning and won't be able to make it back in time for the trip. So…I am going to bring Sissi along in his place."

I looked up at her, my eyes going wide.

"Do you…mean it mother?"

She nodded, a tiny smile on her lips.

"Oh thank you! Thank you!"

I leaped into my mother's arms, wanting to dance for joy. At last, I was going to leave our home, to see a bit of the world, and the Emperor of Austria on top of it all!

"Sissi, Sissi!" She placed her hands on my shoulders, holding me at arms length apart. "I will take you with me, but only if you remember what I've taught you. This event is the most important moment in your sister's life. You will be watched, studied by very high society. You must try to act like a lady Elisabeth."

I looked at her, nodding my head eagerly. I would do anything to travel to Bad Ischl, even if it did mean having to act perfectly prim and proper for a few days.

I swallowed nervously, replacing a few pins in Helene's hair, glancing in the carriage window at our reflections. She looked radiant, her blue dress fitting her perfectly, making her look a bit older than she was. Compared to her I thought I looked very plain and ordinary. The light yellow dress was fitted tightly around my ribs, making it difficult to breathe. There light pink sash that mother had tied around my waist didn't hang quite right on my taller, boyish frame.

Helene stared out the window for a moment, slowly reaching over and grasping my hand, drawing in a shaky breath.

"What if he doesn't like me? What if…what if I forget what I'm supposed to do, or say something wrong or…"

"Don't fret so much Helene."

I shook my head, shifting on the seat beside her, placing my other hand over hers. "You look beautiful, he's bound to love you." I sighed and pulled her into a hug. "You'll be amazing."

"Thank you." She smiled at me as we broke apart. "I'm so glad you're here with me Elisabeth, I don't know if I could do this without you."

I jumped as my mother's hand grasped my shoulder, and I heard her sharp intake of breath as our carriage slowed.

"We're here, oh, I hope we haven't kept them waiting too long."

I took a deep breath as the door opened, and we were escorted into the courtyard. I couldn't keep myself from staring. The palace loomed over us, the turrets jutting into the sky. I winced as mother pinched my arm,

"Elisabeth, don't stare so, it's not proper."

A pair of giant double doors was opened, and we were lead into a grand entrance hall. Magnificent archways, pillars, and stairways stretched as far as the eye could see. There were halls that lead off into every direction, and our footsteps echoed on the marble floors.

Suddenly from one of the archways, a woman dressed in an elaborate gown appeared. Her skirt was huge, the hoop underneath it having to be very wide. I wondered how she could even move in her dress.

She held a fan in front of her face, and her eyes darted about sharply, studying us. Finally, it was my mother who spoke first.

"Sophie!" She walked forward, dropping into a curtsey, then pulling the Archduchess, our aunt Sophie, into a hug. Helene and I both curtsied, watching as the Archduchess broke the embrace, nodding her head to us as she spoke to mother.

"Ludovka, why have you arrived so late?"

"The weather during our trip was very bad, I apologize. Now, if it is of no trouble, my daughters and I will retire to our rooms to rest for a bit before we meet the Emperor."

"Well, I'm sorry, but you can not rest now, the Emperor is expecting you at 4:00!"

"Oh dear, that early? Oh my," she turned to Helene, nervously straightening her skirt and fluffing her hair. "Tell me, how does Helene look?"

I caught the Archduchess' gaze lingering on me, and I suddenly wished that I could simply disappear into the back round so as not to have to glance back at her cold eyes.

"Ludovka, who is this? Where is Max?"

"Oh, well, Max was unable to attend, so I brought Sissi with me." Mother's gaze fell to me, "Curtsey, Elisabeth."

I jumped, then quickly dipped down into a clumsy curtsey, silently praying that I wouldn't lose my balance and fall over. I swallowed hard as the Archduchess' eyes flicked quickly over me, taking in my posture, my clothes, and my overall appearance.

"That dress is completely inappropriate, and that hair simply will not do." Her tone was brisk and sharp, a contrast to the slightly warmer tone with which she had spoken to my mother.

I licked my lips, drawing in a nervous breath before speaking,

"P…perhaps I should go change then…if…"

"No no no, there is no time for that now, you will not make the emperor wait for you, you are late enough as it is."

We turned as an older man slowly approached us, bowing to the Archduchess.

"Your son awaits you in the anti chamber madam, he wishes to greet our guests before the celebration tonight."

The Archduchess nodded curtly at him, then turned back towards us, snapping her fan closed abruptly.

"Follow me."

I fell in behind everyone else as Mother pushed Helene in front of her, fussing with her curls as we walked. I tried hard to keep my eyes down and not stare too much as we came upon another pair of wooden doors that must lead to the anti chamber.

As the doors opened with a loud groan, I stifled a gasp. The anti chamber was bigger than any room I had ever been in before. There was a grand staircase leading down in the middle of the room, and all along the giant hall that made up the room were panels of mirrors. I couldn't help but stare as we walked to the foot of the staircase, a large, elaborate chandelier dangling above our heads.

At the point where the staircase turned to face where we were standing, a man wearing a dress uniform stood, staring intently forward. As we came to a stop in front of the stairs, he gave a deep bow to the Archduchess, then turned sharply to the right, his voice, as he spoke, echoing in the vast hall.

"Presenting his highness the Emperor Franz Joseph I."

Mother pulled me into a bow, hissing at me under her breath to mind my manners. I lifted my head slightly, catching a glimpse of the Emperor as he walked down the staircase. He was wearing a light blue uniform, with a number of medals pinned to the front. His dark brown hair was combed to one side, his dark eyes strong and aware. He had a mustache, the same dark brown as his hair, and I could see beneath it a small smile light up his face as he came to stand before us.

"Rise, rise, you are our guests." I straightened as the Archduchess moved forward to kiss her son on the cheek.

"Franz, I'm sure you remember Ludovka," he nodded to my mother, "and this is her daughter, Helene." I saw Helene swallow as she stepped forward, lightly curtsying to the Emperor. He gave her a slight bow in return, taking her hand and kissing the back of it softly.

"And who is the other young woman accompanying you?" He asked, turning his gaze to me. I felt my breath catch in my throat, and it was a moment before I remembered to avert my eyes, and I sank into a slightly wobbly curtsey.

"Oh, yes of course, this is Ludovka's other daughter, Elisabeth. Max was unable to attend the festivities, so Ludovka brought Elisabeth along instead." I could feel myself trembling as he walked to me, and took my hand in his.

"It is a pleasure, Elisabeth," he spoke softly to me, bringing my hand to his lips, his eyes still gazing into mine. I felt myself blush, and I nervously smiled at him.

"Well then," the Archduchess' voice broke the silence that had fallen over us, "shall we move onwards to the inner chamber? I'm sure our guests are famished from their long journey."

The mood was broken as the Archduchess pulled the Emperor up to the front of the proceeding, along with Helene. Mother and I walked a few steps behind, and I saw mother shoot me a suspicious glance as we climbed the stairs to a smaller room.