If one reads or listens to Hortense’s memoirs, one may become a bit frustrated that she falls for the hard to get, hot and cold seduction tricks of suspected plant Charles de Flahaut. Hortense shows how her emotions and misery are used against her as she falls for a disgraceful situation. We may have the story of the infiltration and subversion of Hortense Bonaparte. Her relationship with Charles de Flahaut surely must have created friction between Napoleon and Hortense, perhaps one of the intended goals of the infiltration.
The following passage shows that it is Napoleon who picks up on what was happening to Hortense because he was so highly tuned into her.
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The passage:
“I had nothing to fear from a man who informed me that he had another liaison elsewhere. This proof of his confidence in my discretion was sufficient to convince me of Monsieur de Flahaut's respect and admiration. I could ask no more. Yet how fierce are the storms which sentiments we seek to subdue can arouse in our bosoms.
“No one was aware of the cause of my troubled looks and emotion. The Emperor, struck like everyone else by the change in my manner, said to my mother, who repeated his remark to me "Hortense no longer has her fine complexion. Her husband is making her unhappy. One of these days we must be prepared for a violent outburst of some kind. If she ever falls in love, she will feel it very deeply, and love makes one commit all sorts of follies."
"Ah," replied my mother, "but Hortense is so sensible."
“True enough, but her emotions are acute."
“She is so gentle, so subdued; she never acts in a hasty, impetuous manner."
“Don't be too sure she could not do so upon occasion. Look at the way she walks. Listen to what she says. Everything about her reveals a highly keyed nature. If she were otherwise, she would not be your daughter."
