page85 (1/2)
“There was never any question in ave his son a fond, proud look “You did your duty as a physician and helped others That’s all you’ve ever done”
Morning Chronicle, London
24 October 1793
page 2
The execution took place on Wednesday the 16th
Nothing like sorrow or pity for the Queen’s fate was shewn by the people, who lined the streets, through which she had to pass On her arrival at the Place de la Revolution, she was helped out of the carriage and ascended the scaffold with seeed the office of Confessor She was in a half- dress, evidently not adjusted withtied behind her, she looked around, without terror; her body being then bent forward by the machine, the axe was let down, and at once separated the head from the body After the head was displayed by the Executioner, three young wo blood of the deceased Queen
30
Duty
OCTOBER 1793–DECEMBER 1799
Marcus had lived in England for years and had gotten used to searching through newspapers for news froe was always dominated by playbills, advertisements for medical cures, real estate notices, and the sales of lottery tickets News froe three Marat’s assassination back in July had warranted e two
Still, he was surprised to find the story of the trial and execution of Queen Marie Antoinette relegated to the sae, the two of thee bedfellows in death
“They executed the queen,” Marcus told Fanny quietly It had becoether and drink coffee and read the papers “They called her a vampire”
Fanny looked up froazine
“Not in so many words,” Marcus hastened to add “Marie Antoinette,of Louis Capet, has, since her abode in France, been the scourge and the blood-sucker of the French”
“Widow Capet” Fanny sighed “How has France come to this?”
Every bit of news co from France told a fresh horror story of death, terror, and betrayal Philippe and Ysabeau had fled Paris e at the fa violence The Jacobins pledged to give a guillotine iment of the arressed across France
“Do not worry The family has weathered worse storms within these walls,” Ysabeau had written to hirandmother “No doubt ill survive this, too”
But it was not just his grandparents ere in danger So, too, were Lafayette and his family The marquis was a prisoner in Austria, his wife and children under house arrest in the countryside Thoainst Robespierre and the other radicals in the National Convention
And there was Veronique, about who
“We should go back,” Marcus said to Fanny over the wide expanse ofPlace
“Far doesn’t want us back,” Fanny observed
“I need to know Veronique is safe,” Marcus said “It’s as though she has utterly disappeared”
“That is how vampires survive, Marcus,” Fanny said “We appear, we disappear, we transfore, phoenixlike, from the ashes of our former lives”
John Russell burst into the rooht frohtly dyed porcupine quills and glass beads It alaitered linen trousers, which marked him as a man who had utterly abandoned decency and tradition
“Did you hear? They’ve killed that Austrian girl after all I knew they would, in the end,” John said, flourishing a newspaper of his own He paused a , Fanny”
“Do sit, John Have so surface Since Marcus left Edinburgh and returned to London a proper doctor, she had beco card parties and receiving visitors in the afternoon
“Much obliged” John dropped a faently on a flaxen strand that had escaped from the intricate pile on her head
“Flirt,” Fanny said, returning to her reading
“Hoyden,” John said fondly He took one look at Marcus and knew so “Still no word from Veronique”
“None” Every day Marcus expected a letter to come When it didn’t, Marcus searched the newspaper for a notice of her death, and took solace that he didn’t find it—even though the fate of such a woman would not be neorthy to anyone but him
“Veronique has survived plague, famine, war, massacres, and the unwanted attention of men,” Fanny said “She will survive Robespierre”
Marcus had been enmeshed in revolution before, and knew the course of liberty could take sudden, disastrous turns In France, the situation was made more complicated as vain and self-iht over the soul of the nation
“I’ out,” Marcus said He drank the last of his coffee “You co, John?”
“Hunting or business?” Russell asked, hedging his bets
“Bit of both,” Marcus replied
—
MARCUS AND JOHN HEADED EAST froh the bordellos and theaters of Covent Garden, and into the twisting thoroughfares of the ancient City of London
When they reached Ludgate, Marcus rapped on the carriage roof to rear as there at all hours of the day and night The ruler of this part of London insisted that all creatures entering the square e Marcus had never clapped eyes on the man, as known as Father Hubbard and seehly akin to that of Gog and Magog, the ancient giants who guarded London from her enemies
Their tribute paid, Marcus and John got stuck in traffic (one of the chief hazards of London life) and proceeded on foot to Sweetings Alley It was narrow and dank and smelled like a piss pot They found Baldwin in New Jonathan’s, trading futures and cashing in his chits with the rest of the stockjobbers and bankers
“Baldwin” Marcus took off his hat He had stopped bowing, but when faced with one of the elder de Clern of respect
“There you are What kept you?” his uncle replied
Baldwin Montclair was the last surviving full-blooded son of Philippe de Clerer-headed, with a tereen stockbroker’s suit he had theacross Europe oracross bank accounts, Baldas a formidable opponent Fanny had warned Marcus never to underesti this piece of advice
“Always a pleasure to see you, Baldwin,” John said, his voice dripping with insincerity
Baldwin looked John over from the tip of his fur-trimmed cap to the heels of his boots and made no reply He returned his attention to his table, which was covered with es, inkpots, account books, and scraps of paper
“We’ve heard about the queen’s execution,” Marcus said in an effort to capture his uncle’s attention “Do you have any more news from France?”
“No,” Baldwin said shortly “You must focus on the work to be done here The brotherhood’s estates in Hertfordshire are in need of attention There are two probate cases to settle, and the surveys are years out of date You will go at once, and see to them”
“I don’t understand why Philippe bothered to send rumbled “All I do is write reports and drarits and affidavits” o;There was never any question in ave his son a fond, proud look “You did your duty as a physician and helped others That’s all you’ve ever done”