Despite Marie Louise’s jealousy regarding Josephine and the rumors that Napoleon and Hortense were really lovers, Marie Louise and Hortense seemed to have no trouble getting along. We see Napoleon frequently trying to force Hortense on Marie Louise in Mlle. Cochelet’s memoirs and in those of Hortense herself.
After the first abdication in 1814, it was Czar Alexander who was bizarrely making every attempt to push for an invitation to see Hortense. Hortense rebelled and went to visit Marie Louise instead. Hortense was stunned at what she found. Marie Louise who acted like she couldn’t bear any separation from Napoleon whatsoever while he was Emperor - changed her whole manner entirely in regard to her husband and the father of her child.
Hortense writes:
Usually docile and easy going concerning all the little things in life, nothing can stop me from carrying out what I regard to be good, and the more it is against my self interest, the more I pay to do it.
Neither letters nor entreaties had any effect on me and I went to Rambouillet as I had decided to do (1).
On my way, I encountered the French cavalry which was withdrawing to Normandy. The gloomy and dismayed air of these brave men, whom their chief, the Duke of Ragusa, had just handed over to the enemy which they thought they were fighting, gave me a deep sigh.
Soon I arrived at the enemy outposts. It was the first foreign uniform I saw. I felt a tightness of heart which only increased when when I entered the castle. I found the Russian guard doing the service of the Empress Marie-Louise.
I arrived deeply moved and willing to offer her all the consolations that I had to give. I did not know if I was going to meet the Emperor's brothers with the Empress, but I learned there that they had all left for Switzerland (2) and that the Empress was alone with the King of Rome at Rambouillet (3).
They announced me. What was my surprise! She made the answer that she was suffering, that she wrote to the Emperor, that she would let me know when she could receive me!
It seemed to me that in a common misfortune, of which her heart must be even more torn than mine, a mark of interest should touch her and not disturb her.
I went to the King of Rome. Poor child! He was playing in his living room, peaceful and ignorant of the future. I kissed him with emotion and tenderness and then I went to my apartment where, some time after, they came to tell me that the Empress would see me.
I found her in her bed, sad and dejected. She gave me news of the Emperor, complained a lot about his brothers and the tenacity they had shown in wanting to make her go further. According to the express orders of the Emperor Napoleon, this they did, it is true. It was so that the Empress and the King of Rome would not fall into the power of foreigners.
"I would prefer," said the Emperor, "to see my son in the Seine rather than in the hands of the enemies of France."
It was even this fear which had so impolitically precipitated the departure from Paris. The Emperor's brothers therefore had to take the Empress and her son to safer places, especially when they had not dared to break this order even at the loss of the capital. It still became necessary to execute these orders.
Well! Can we imagine the kind of vertigo that had gripped everyone in these fatal circumstances? Everyone found the acts of the Emperor's brothers towards the Empress cruel!
She asked me what I intended to do. I replied that I had only thought of coming to console her. She looked embarrassed and added: “I am expecting my father tomorrow morning (4) and I will be very glad to see him alone; moreover, as he does not know you, I fear that he will be embarrassed in front of you.”
I assured her that I had come to Rambouillet only in the hope of being useful to her for something, that I had only consulted my heart and that, being unable to be of any use to her, I would leave the next day early to join my mother who wanted me dearly.
After this explanation, she seemed to put herself at ease: "You are happier than I am" she said to me, "no one has abandoned you, and I hardly have any ladies in waiting anymore."
What stirred her the most, however, was the idea of seeing her father the next day. I could not imagine where such a great disturbance could arise and I tried to reassure her when she said to me: “Ah! My sister, do you think my father wants to force me to go to the island of Elba?”
I remained, I admit, in astonishment which deprived me of the strength to respond. How? 'Or' What! Is this the same woman who could not leave the Emperor for a single day and who had confused all my reasoning by the appearance of the most lively affection, for I did not understand this excessive love for a man whom it was natural to admire but it seemed to me, raised like she was . . .
(1) She arrived there on April 15.
(2) Louis arrived on April 15 in Lausanne. Jéróme had left Orléans on April 12 to head slowly to Berne. Joseph left Orleans on April 18 to go to Allaman Castle.
(3) Marie-Louise was in Orléans since April 9, she left on April 12 and arrived at Rambouillet on April 13 at noon.
(4) The visit of François I to Rambouillet took place on April 16. T. II. 14
Malgré la jalousie de Marie Louise à l'égard de Joséphine et les rumeurs selon lesquelles Napoléon et Hortense étaient vraiment amoureux, Marie Louise et Hortense ne semblaient avoir aucun mal à s'entendre.
On voit Napoléon essayer fréquemment de forcer Hortense sur Marie Louise à Mémoires de Mlle. Cochelet et dans ceux d'Hortense elle-même.
Après la première abdication en 1814, c'est le tsar Alexandre qui faisait bizarrement tous les efforts pour pousser à une invitation à voir Hortense. Hortense s'est rebellée et est allée rendre visite à Marie Louise à la place.
Hortense était stupéfaite de ce qu'elle avait trouvé. Marie Louise qui a agi comme si elle ne pouvait supporter aucune séparation de Napoléon que ce soit pendant qu'il était empereur - a complètement changé sa manière à l'égard de son mari et du père de son enfant.
Hortense écrit:
Let’s look at the planetary transits in Marie Louise’s natal chart on this surprising day. Disruptive Uranus at the top of the chart is on the way to the midheaven (reputation) across the constellation of foreign matters, Sagittarius and in the house of the same, the 9th. Foreign affairs of a high order are being disrupted by Marie Louise’s new way of presenting her feelings. Her reputation is undergoing major shocking changes. Pluto (transformation) and Chiron (wounds) transit Marie Louise 1st house of identity.
Regardons les transits planétaires dans le thème natal de Marie Louise en ce jour surprenant. Uranus perturbateur en haut du graphique est en route vers le midheaven (réputation) à travers la constellation de matières étrangères Sagittaire et dans la maison de celui-ci, le 9. Les affaires étrangères de haut niveau sont perturbées par la nouvelle façon de Marie Louise de présenter ses sentiments. Sa réputation subit des changements choquants majeurs. Pluton (transformation) et Chiron (blessures) transite par Marie Louise 1ère maison d'identité.
Hortense’s Uranus (shocks) transits Hortense’s 3rd house of thinking and writing. This account which Hortense wrote is conveniently left out of innumerable books about Marie Louise - even though Hortense’s credibility is about as strong as anyone’s anywhere. Saturn (limitation) transits Hortense intense stellium of Jupiter (expansion), Pluto (transformation) and Mars (fire) in the 5th house associated with the Sun and royalty. Hortense is losing a lot at this moment.
Uranus (chocs) d'Hortense transite par la troisième maison de pensée et d'écriture d'Hortense. Ce compte rendu écrit par Hortense est commodément omis des innombrables livres sur Marie Louise - même si la crédibilité d'Hortense est à peu près aussi forte que n'importe qui ailleurs. Saturne (limitation) transite le stellium intense Hortense de Jupiter (expansion), Pluton (transformation) et Mars (feu) dans la 5ème maison associée au Soleil et à la royauté. Hortense perd beaucoup en ce moment.
