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Authors: Miriam Minger
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rose-colored taffeta gown edged with delicate gold ribbon, she knew they
made a stunning pair.
"I'm so happy you are here with me,
Kassandra," Isabel enthused, raising her voice to be heard. The din that
echoed off the high frescoed ceilings was almost deafening, laughter and
conversation from bewigged gentlemen and their sumptuously dressed ladies vying
with the festive melodies being played by court musicians beneath an arched
alcove.
Kassandra forced a bright smile. Though she knew she
could not match Isabel's enthusiasm, she was determined to give the evening
half a chance. She stared around give wide-eyed, at the gilded splendor of the
Hapsburg court. Though her father had come here several times for audiences
with Charles VI and his ministers, this was her first visit to the Hofburg. She
had to admit she had never seen such a ballroom, not even at the royal palace
in London.
Mirrored walls reflected the light from a long row of
gleaming gilt chandeliers, each one holding hundreds of slender tapers that
flickered brightly, their radiance casting a golden glow on the richly colored
paintings on the ceiling and the polished parquet floor. High, arched windows
looked onto the magnificent gardens, and pairs of liveried servants,
resplendent in white powdered bob wigs and uniforms of blue brocade edged with
silver threads, stood at attention beside tall, latticed doors that opened onto
a curved terrace.
At one end of the ballroom tables had been set up for
the banquet that would follow the formal reception, the fine Bruges lace
tablecloths graced with gleaming silver candelabra and crystal wineglasses. The
white chairs placed around the tables were upholstered in a
plush red velvet brocade; white benches with gently curling legs and
matching red cushions were set against the walls for guests who needed a
respite from the constant standing.
"Kassandra," Isabel said reproachfully,
though her eyes twinkled, "you're staring as if you've never seen a palace
before." She slipped her arm through Kassandra's and guided her along.
"Come, we must first be presented to Their Majesties and Prince Eugene of
Savoy. Then we must find Stefan. I haven't seen him yet, but I'm sure he's
arrived by now."
Kassandra felt her face grow hot at Isabel's teasing,
but she quickly swallowed her embarrassment as they took their places in the
winding receiving line. In no time at all she was standing in front of Their
Imperial Majesties, Charles VI and his consort, Empress Elisabeth, who were
seated on a raised dais at one end of the room. She curtsied deeply as she was
introduced, her gown spreading out upon the floor in shimmering ripples of
silvery satin.
"How lovely you are," the fair-haired empress
murmured kindly, after Kassandra had kissed her hand and risen to her feet. She
turned to her husband, who sat stiffly at her side.
"Charles, this is the daughter of Lord Harrington.
If you recall, Countess Isabel von Furstenberg is betrothed to marry the good
ambassador upon his return to Vienna."
As the emperor acknowledged her with a nod, Kassandra
thought fleetingly how truly like a Hapsburg he looked, with his prominent chin
and protruding lip. His somber black court dress was in striking contrast to
the iridescent blue silk of his wife's gown and the richly colored fabrics worn
by his courtiers. Isabel had told her that the emperor chose to follow the
strict code of etiquette and dress adhered to in the Spanish court, where he
had spent most of his youth.
"I had heard Lord Harrington had a daughter, and
now I wonder where he has been hiding such a charming young woman these past
months," Empress Elisabeth continued, glancing back at Kassandra. She
smiled sweetly. "For I believe this is your first time at court, is it
not?"
Kassandra nodded, blushing. "Yes, Your Majesty," she said.
"Well, now that you have graced our court, we hope
to see much more of you during your stay in Vienna. I'm sure that we have many
young gentlemen who would be
made a stunning pair.
"I'm so happy you are here with me,
Kassandra," Isabel enthused, raising her voice to be heard. The din that
echoed off the high frescoed ceilings was almost deafening, laughter and
conversation from bewigged gentlemen and their sumptuously dressed ladies vying
with the festive melodies being played by court musicians beneath an arched
alcove.
Kassandra forced a bright smile. Though she knew she
could not match Isabel's enthusiasm, she was determined to give the evening
half a chance. She stared around give wide-eyed, at the gilded splendor of the
Hapsburg court. Though her father had come here several times for audiences
with Charles VI and his ministers, this was her first visit to the Hofburg. She
had to admit she had never seen such a ballroom, not even at the royal palace
in London.
Mirrored walls reflected the light from a long row of
gleaming gilt chandeliers, each one holding hundreds of slender tapers that
flickered brightly, their radiance casting a golden glow on the richly colored
paintings on the ceiling and the polished parquet floor. High, arched windows
looked onto the magnificent gardens, and pairs of liveried servants,
resplendent in white powdered bob wigs and uniforms of blue brocade edged with
silver threads, stood at attention beside tall, latticed doors that opened onto
a curved terrace.
At one end of the ballroom tables had been set up for
the banquet that would follow the formal reception, the fine Bruges lace
tablecloths graced with gleaming silver candelabra and crystal wineglasses. The
white chairs placed around the tables were upholstered in a
plush red velvet brocade; white benches with gently curling legs and
matching red cushions were set against the walls for guests who needed a
respite from the constant standing.
"Kassandra," Isabel said reproachfully,
though her eyes twinkled, "you're staring as if you've never seen a palace
before." She slipped her arm through Kassandra's and guided her along.
"Come, we must first be presented to Their Majesties and Prince Eugene of
Savoy. Then we must find Stefan. I haven't seen him yet, but I'm sure he's
arrived by now."
Kassandra felt her face grow hot at Isabel's teasing,
but she quickly swallowed her embarrassment as they took their places in the
winding receiving line. In no time at all she was standing in front of Their
Imperial Majesties, Charles VI and his consort, Empress Elisabeth, who were
seated on a raised dais at one end of the room. She curtsied deeply as she was
introduced, her gown spreading out upon the floor in shimmering ripples of
silvery satin.
"How lovely you are," the fair-haired empress
murmured kindly, after Kassandra had kissed her hand and risen to her feet. She
turned to her husband, who sat stiffly at her side.
"Charles, this is the daughter of Lord Harrington.
If you recall, Countess Isabel von Furstenberg is betrothed to marry the good
ambassador upon his return to Vienna."
As the emperor acknowledged her with a nod, Kassandra
thought fleetingly how truly like a Hapsburg he looked, with his prominent chin
and protruding lip. His somber black court dress was in striking contrast to
the iridescent blue silk of his wife's gown and the richly colored fabrics worn
by his courtiers. Isabel had told her that the emperor chose to follow the
strict code of etiquette and dress adhered to in the Spanish court, where he
had spent most of his youth.
"I had heard Lord Harrington had a daughter, and
now I wonder where he has been hiding such a charming young woman these past
months," Empress Elisabeth continued, glancing back at Kassandra. She
smiled sweetly. "For I believe this is your first time at court, is it
not?"
Kassandra nodded, blushing. "Yes, Your Majesty," she said.
"Well, now that you have graced our court, we hope
to see much more of you during your stay in Vienna. I'm sure that we have many
young gentlemen who would be
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