This is part of a series of Hortense’s letters. A lot of the point of this deep scholarship is to show that because this story is true - anything unearthed will validate and only enrich the already delineated narrative. Napoleon always behaves like Napoleon. Hortense always behaves like Hortense. The previous letters are here.
Hortense writes to Eugene about peace and his predicted marriage to a Bavarian princess.
This 12 Frimaire [year XIV, December 3, 1805].
Dear Eugene,
What happiness, my dear Eugene: Peace. I hope at least that it will be for good and for a long time. Do you plan to come to Paris? Are you going to Munich? My God, I wish I were a month older. We talk a lot about your marriage and everyone is happy about it. The family of M. de Berchiny is very worried about him. He is in the army of Prince Charles. You would be very kind to find out about him and give me news. When we were small, we played together. He was at boarding school with you.
Goodbye, I kiss you.
HORTENSE.
