Northern Exposure - 49. Chapter 49

March 26, 1801

The Winter Palace

St. Petersburg, Russia

 

As Granger got out of the vozok, he noted that while the temperatures were still frigid by British standards, the weather was not as cold as it had been. Not only that, but Granger was arriving at 5:00 in the evening, and it was still light outside. Spring was due to make its debut, and when that happened, the Royal Navy would begin its assault on the Danish fleet. Granger had not gotten any indication that the new Tsar would change Russia’s course and try to repair the rift with Britain, but that had been implied in the entire coup effort. He wondered if some sort of truce or détente could be agreed to quickly, such that further bloodshed in these northern waters could be forestalled. He remembered the bloody chaos after the Battle of the Nile and cringed at an unnecessary battle that was just as hard fought as that one had been.

He pushed those thoughts aside and studied the huge edifice that was the Winter Palace, even as he walked toward the door. Alexei Stroganov, with his passion for architecture and art, had given him a history lesson about this place. It was not one palace, but a complex of them, including the Winter Palace itself and the Hermitage. It was also relatively new, having just been built over the past century. The footmen smartly opened the door for him, revealing a chamberlain who stood next to Panin.

“Welcome to the Winter Palace, my lord,” Panin said, and strode forward to take Granger’s hands in what was an overly warm greeting, considering that the last time they’d met, Panin had been his prosecutor.

“What an unexpected honor Your Excellency does me by greeting me personally,” Granger said, responding just as fulsomely.

“You are scheduled to attend His Imperial Majesty, then he has commanded your presence for a meeting after that, my lord,” Panin said. “You will understand, I think, if we surreptitiously have you guided to his quarters.”

“That is fine, Your Excellency,” Granger said, understanding quite clearly the bad impression it would give if he were known to be sequestered alone with the Tsar.

“It was my intention to fill in the time until those events by showing you this palace, my lord.”

“I am at His Imperial Majesty’s disposal, of course, but I am thrilled to have a chance to see the magnificence of this building and some of the art that is rumored to be housed here,” Granger said. “To be able to do that while spending time with Your Excellency is truly an added honor.”

“I am glad you think so, my lord,” Panin said in a jocular way as he led Granger through the entry rooms. “Not everyone would agree with you.”

Granger smiled. “I would have to believe that it is impossible to rise to such an esteemed position as yours without making a few enemies along the way, Your Excellency.”

“An astute observation, my lord,” Panin said. “I am hoping that it is limited to just a few.” Panin led Granger through various rooms, all of them seemingly built to awe and impress a visitor, then ushered him into the Hermitage, which was much more intimate. Granger had been largely unimpressed by St. Michael’s Castle, but he thought the Winter Palace was really quite exquisite.

They found themselves alone in a corridor, marveling at a Titian masterpiece. “I am amazed at those who have talent to create such a piece of art,” Granger noted, thinking that if he were given a brush with paint, he would be lucky to be able to illustrate as much as a mere square on the canvas.

“It is not a talent I have, which perhaps makes me more appreciative of his efforts,” Panin agreed. “I am glad we have a chance to talk alone. I want to apologize for my role at your hearing.”

Granger smiled. “Please think nothing of it. I did not see you as my prosecutor, but rather as a guide.” That was not really true, but Granger decided that some diplomacy would be best in this situation.

“I was hoping you would view it in just that way,” he said. “One of my rivals created that forgery, and rather than denounce it as such, I considered it wiser to let the facts reveal themselves.” That was incredibly shrewd of Panin, since that rival had no doubt been significantly embarrassed when his plan backfired, while Panin’s reputation had undoubtedly risen.

“And what would you have done if I had not been able to prove that it was indeed a forgery?” Granger asked.

“I would have had to intervene to make that point, which would not have had a good result,” he responded. If he were being truthful, he would have said that he probably would have done nothing, and let Granger suffer whatever fate an angry Tsar threw at him. “I was relying on your brilliance in working your way out of that situation, and it appears that was a good call on my part.”

“I would not call it brilliance, but I was glad to have the opportunity to be able to so clearly denounce that document,” Granger said.

“There has been much fallout from the death of Tsar Paul,” Panin said quietly.

“Indeed?” Granger asked.

“Count von der Pahlen has been relieved of his posts and compelled to withdraw to his estates,” Panin said.

“That is indeed a surprise,” Granger said as they strolled slowly down the corridor. Von der Pahlen had seemed to hold all the strings of power in St. Petersburg. He had the least to gain from a change in Tsars, so the fact that he had taken the risk to stage a coup suggested he had been confident in his ability to retain his influence. Apparently that had been a major miscalculation on his part.

“A surprise to you and me, but not as big of a surprise as it was to von der Pahlen,” Panin said. Before Granger could ask him what caused such a huge change, Panin answered his unspoken question. “It was done at the request of the Dowager Empress.”

“I did not realize she had that much animosity toward von der Pahlen,” Granger noted.

“She blames him for the death of her husband and has told the Tsar that she will not support him if von der Pahlen is allowed to remain in St. Petersburg and is allowed to retain his posts.”

“My understanding was that she was contemplating trying to seize the throne much as Empress Catherine had, so I would suspect that was an easy deal for His Imperial Majesty to agree to,” Granger said.

“You are correct, although I think she envisioned such a seizure to be easy, when in fact it was bordering on the impossible,” Panin said. “I am impressed with how well-versed you are in Russian politics.”

“It is not so hard when you are surrounded by such charming and brilliant people as I have been,” Granger said, referring mostly to the Stroganovs.

“The Dowager Empress has agreed to confine herself to her appropriate rank and position provided she is recognized as the first lady of Russia,” he said.

“And what does that mean?” Granger asked.

“That means that she has precedence over everyone but the Tsar, and that includes the new Tsarina,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“That is not likely to make the new Tsarina happy,” Granger noted, although that was just a guess, as he had not had a meaningful conversation with Alexander’s wife.

“It is not,” Panin said.

“I hope you will excuse me for asking this, but how is it you have escaped from the former Empress’s wrath, when you were present when the Tsar was killed?” Granger asked this in a whispered tone, but it still alarmed Panin, so much that this skilled diplomat allowed his emotions to break through his otherwise impenetrable mask.

“Who was there is not entirely clear,” Panin said, using an equally low volume. “I think that she allowed von der Pahlen’s banishment to satisfy her desire for revenge.”

“We can hope,” Granger said, noting that Panin was, at least right now, in a most precarious position.

“I have been confirmed in my post as His Imperial Majesty’s foreign minister,” Panin said, with a noticeable degree of pride. Granger hoped he did not think that insulated him from the future wrath of the Dowager Empress but decided Panin’s political travails were not his concern.

“You are to be commended for landing on your feet,” Granger said with a smile, one that Panin returned.

“I am anxious to resolve the issues between our countries,” Panin said, changing the topic. “I agree with Lord Grenville’s words to you, that Russia and Britain are natural allies.”

“As do I,” Granger avowed. “How will you achieve that goal? How will you reconcile our nations?” Granger asked.

“I would envision a message to your government proposing that all hostilities cease and that we begin lengthier discussions to agree on specific points of a resolution,” Panin said. “Do you think your government would find that acceptable?”

“I do,” Granger said, realizing that by uttering those words, he had greatly overstepped his authority and was exposing himself to serious censure when he returned to London. But this was what Britain needed, and he was willing to suffer the consequences for doing the right thing. Besides, as he had traversed all this way and risked his own neck, he felt that gave him the right to make the decision.

“Are you granted the authority to enter into such an arrangement?” Panin asked, deducing correctly that Granger was outside his bounds.

“I am not, but if Lord Daventry and I signed off on such a document, it would be difficult for the government to refute it,” Granger said with a smile. He thought about how the government would be in a box over this, since they had hidden his trip to St. Petersburg from the public so they would be hard-pressed to turn around and denounce him for agreeing to such a treaty.

Panin must have come to the same conclusion himself and found it funny enough that he actually laughed out loud.

“If you find they run you out of England, you may return here,” Panin said.

“That would be quite dangerous,” Granger said. “If that happened, I would have to bring my wife, and I fear that within a few years it would be she who was ruling Russia.”

“I can well believe that. I have heard of your formidable wife,” Panin said amidst laughter. “There is one more thing.”

“Go on,” Granger said.

“It has raised eyebrows that you and Lord Daventry are in St. Petersburg and were here when the Tsar died,” Panin said. “There are already scurrilous rumors spreading that this is a British plot funded by British gold coordinated by the two of you.”

“That is preposterous!” Granger said, forcing the outrage since it was not preposterous at all.

“You are correct, but then again, rumors are usually based on lies,” Panin said. “Especially at this point in Tsar Alexander’s reign, you must understand that appearances are extremely important.”

“I am concerned that this conversation will lead to me ending up in jail after all,” Granger said in a jocular way, even though that was a reasonable fear.

“I can assure you that will not happen,” Panin said sincerely. “Rather, you and Daventry are to be banished from Russia, and escorted to the border.”

“Banished from Russia and hustled out of the country as if we were…” Granger grasped for a comparison.

“The King of France?” Panin asked, referring to Louis XVIII’s eviction not too long ago.

“That is an apt description, and I should perhaps be flattered that Russia only banishes the most exalted of royal and noble visitors,” Granger said with a joking ruefulness.

“Perhaps,” Panin said.

“When is this to happen?” Granger asked.

“Most likely within the next few days, largely depending on our ability to get an agreement done in that period of time,” Panin said.

“I am unclear as to how having Daventry and me being cast out of Russia in an ignominious fashion will help the situation,” Granger said, rebelling against the idea of being so unwanted that he was evicted. It seemed debasing and struck at both his pride and honor.

“First of all, it will demonstrate to the people that the Tsar is not the puppet of anyone,” Panin said. “It will also allow him to distance himself should any proof surface to validate the rumors that his ascension to the throne was fueled by British gold.”

“Because he immediately cast Daventry and me out of his realm,” Granger concluded.

“Correct,” Panin said. “If he were involved in a plot with you, it would be unlikely he would throw you out.”

“Actually, that would make it more likely,” Granger observed.

“That is very correct, but you and I can see that, while the rest of the Court will take it at face value,” Panin said. “There is another benefit that is more aligned with your own goals.”

“Indeed?” Granger asked.

“I sense that you are most anxious to return to England, and are also committed to trying to stop further battles between England and the Northern powers,” Panin stated.

“That is an accurate assessment on your part,” Granger agreed.

“Then by banishing you and escorting you to the border, His Imperial Majesty will be ensuring that you have a quick and safe trip, perhaps to a port that is not frozen such as Konigsberg, where you can hire a ship and more quickly reach Copenhagen,” Panin said.

Granger pondered that for a bit and realized the advantages Panin spoke of. Before, when traveling to St. Petersburg, Granger had been concerned that they would be stopped by Imperial troops or harassed by zealous locals. With the Imperial Guard escorting him, there would be no interference, and they would be able to demand lodging and supplies if needed, as opposed to begging and asking for them. “I can see your point.”

“I understand that this will cause you some consternation, that you will worry it will negatively impact your reputation,” Panin said, deducing Granger’s concerns in an irritatingly accurate way. “I think that we can ultimately come up with a way to make sure you are not damaged by this.”

“And what would that be?” Granger asked.

“I have not finalized things, so I would prefer not to be specific,” Panin said. Granger almost rolled his eyes at this diplomat and his Byzantine schemes.

“Then I will place my trust in you,” Granger said, surprising the man. In fact, Granger did not entirely trust Panin, and knew that the man would take few risks over Granger’s reputation, but he really had no alternative at this point. “I can see the benefits of the plan you have laid out.”

“I am glad you are agreeable,” Panin said, as he started to reverse course back to the Winter Palace. “I have grown to appreciate you as a fellow aristocrat and as a diplomat, and would not want to have a falling out over something like this.”

“I am certainly no diplomat,” Granger insisted, trying to pretend that being considered one wasn’t mildly insulting.

“You most certainly are,” Panin said. “But now we must go pay court to His Imperial Majesty. I was led to believe that Lord Daventry was going to join us, but I have not seen him yet.”

“He may be indisposed,” Granger said, manfully wrestling down the giggle that threatened to emerge from him. Daventry was no doubt with the Dowager Empress.

They climbed up the Jordan staircase, which was truly incredible, and got to a chamber that was filled with courtiers. “If you will excuse me, I will take my leave of you, my lord,” Panin said. His use of Granger’s correct form of address indicated that their informal chat was over.

“Of course, Your Excellency,” Granger said. “Thank you for guiding me through this amazing palace, and for providing me with stimulating conversation.” Panin smiled briefly, they bowed to each other, and Granger started to scan the room, looking for Pavel or Daventry. He was fortunate enough to spot Daventry talking to some Baltic German nobles, and with a slight nod of his head, indicated to his friend that he should leave his current group and join Granger at the edge of the room.

“I did not see you when I first arrived,” Daventry said.

“Panin took me on a tour of the palace,” Granger said. They were both speaking in whispers, and they were also speaking in English, a language which was not well-used in this milieu, making it almost impossible for someone to eavesdrop on them. “We are to be evicted from Russia within the next few days.”

“Evicted?” Daventry asked, stunned.

Granger gave him a brief nod. “Imperial Guardsmen will escort us to the border.”

“This is an outrage!” Daventry exclaimed, almost a bit too loudly.

“As Panin would explain it, by banishing us it makes it look less likely that we had anything to do with the coup that put him into power,” Granger explained. “And by escorting us to the border, it will ensure that we are able to travel through Russia in its frozen state as quickly as possible.”

“And why is speed so important?” Daventry asked.

“Because you and I are going to execute a letter of understanding to basically end hostilities between His Majesty and the Tsar,” Granger said. “And as it is most likely that a fleet is already preparing to weigh in Britain to neutralize Denmark, if we arrive in time, we may be able to avert unnecessary bloodshed.”

“I see your point,” Daventry said. “I am wondering if I would better serve His Majesty by remaining here.”

“Why?” Granger asked.

Daventry lowered his tone even more, as if that were necessary. “I seem to have a calming influence on the Dowager Empress.” Granger tried not to giggle at that, but wasn’t entirely successful, and got an annoyed look from Daventry in return.

“That’s as may be, but my understanding is that an arrangement was worked out with her such that she will not try to make herself Empress. If that is the case, your work here may be done?” Daventry looked confused. “She will no longer require your efforts to calm her,” Granger added, then giggled again.

“I’m so glad you find this amusing, George,” Daventry snapped. “I have turned myself into a prostitute for our country.” Granger could not stop from actually laughing at his statement, and Daventry found the comedy in it as well and laughed along. Granger was initially worried that would attract unwanted attention, but it actually made their conversation less conspicuous, since other groups were acting the same way.

When their laughter had subsided, Granger addressed Daventry’s initial objection to leaving. “It really isn’t our decision at this point.”

“I guess we will have to see how the next few days progress,” Daventry said fatalistically, and with that they ended their conversation and rejoined the other guests.

Supper was a grand affair, with the new Tsar clearly intending to impress the select courtiers who were invited. The entire atmosphere was ebullient, as these people celebrated their freedom from their previous maniacal Tsar and looked hopefully at the handsome new Tsar who promised so much for Russia’s future. Of course, no one voiced those thoughts, but they were first and foremost in everyone’s minds. Granger found himself seated next to Countess von Lieven on one side, and a rather boring baroness on the other.

“I suspect Your Lordship is pleased by the change in regimes,” von Lieven said, in a slightly accusatory way.

“I think that should be understandable, ma’am, since Tsar Paul had me all but locked up in his palace, subjected to neglect and mistreatment by the staff,” Granger said.

“Mistreated?” she asked, but a bit sarcastically.

“Indeed,” Granger replied. “It was all we could do to get enough fuel for the fire, and the food was bad and not very plentiful. But the worst part is that my personal servants were assaulted.”

“You will forgive me for noting that there are worse things than what you have described,” she said.

“I would suspect that you would not feel that way if it were you who were in that position,” Granger said. “But then perhaps you are not accustomed to how a household is supposed to operate.”

“My household is perfect,” she said defensively.

“I’m sure it is,” Granger said sarcastically, enraging her. She retaliated by turning away from him and talking to the man on the other side of her, while Granger did the same thing and flirted with the tedious baroness. Their plates were replaced in preparation for the next course, at which point Granger sparked up a conversation with von Lieven again. “This food was excellent.”

“I am glad you approve of His Imperial Majesty’s household,” she said with a sneer. “I am sure he will be relieved to hear your opinion.”

“I approve of this Imperial Majesty’s household, not the prior Imperial Majesty’s household,” Granger said a bit irreverently. “I am quite sure that His Imperial Majesty would appreciate my opinion, as that is the mark of a good host, or perhaps you did not know that, despite your perfect household?”

“You are quite awful, my lord,” she said petulantly. “Still, I cannot help but wonder that you surely must have had a role in this change,” she said very quietly, trying to bait him.

Granger was annoyed in the extreme that she would raise such an issue in public, and was fortunate that their voices were muted enough that no one probably overheard.

“I did not,” Granger said firmly. “I was pleased, as we have already discussed, but I am not the only one who felt that way. In fact, I am confident that your late brother would have shared that emotion.”

She had to have known of her brother’s sympathies, if not his more active role in planning the coup, a suspicion concerned by the evident irritation of her expression. “Perhaps. His loss still haunts me, and it probably always will.” She’d let down her guard when she said that, and showed the kinder side of her that was usually buried.

“His death was painful for all of us, and a tragedy for your family,” Granger said sympathetically.

“It was, but you do not seem overly sad,” she said, as if Granger were still supposed to be in mourning.

“Unlike you, I have learned to keep my emotions and feelings inside, and thus do not inflict them on others,” Granger riposted, then changed the topic. “Your mother is not here chaperoning you?”

That brought back her annoyed look. “She has trained me so well, there is no need,” she said in a smarmy way.

“She has trained you, indeed,” Granger said, chuckling. “You have learned to be as shrewish as she is, and you will end up just as unpopular.”

“My mother is not unpopular,” she asserted defensively.

“No?” Granger challenged. It was hilarious to taunt her like this, and to get her enraged such that she was almost visibly flustered.

“What would you know of her popularity, or of society here at all?” she asked.

“I would suggest that often outsiders are much more able to identify things that those who live in an environment never notice,” Granger said.

“That’s as may be, but you are still wrong,” she said.

“I am not, and you are being narrow-minded and not opening your eyes to reality,” Granger said. “You have taken your mother’s frosty and self-important personality and merged it with your youth and inexperience. The result is that what you take to be charming conversation is nothing more than schoolroom taunting.”

“You insult me!” she said, outraged.

“Rather, I see the potential in you if you would open your eyes and see that you can be quite engaging if you shed this evil skin you’ve opted to wear,” Granger said. “Much like a snake.”

“You are just impossible,” she said, and turned away from him again. It was all Granger could do not to laugh out loud.

He again engaged the baroness in conversation, dull as it was, until the plates were replaced again, and so the cycle repeated. “Look at the other people around this table,” Granger told von Lieven.

“I would rather exchange places with any of them so I do not have to talk to you,” she said through almost gritted teeth.

“Well, since you cannot do that, I think you should do as I ask,” he said. He gestured with a mere nod of his head at a Russian General and a Duchess laughing and smiling.

“They appear to be having quite a good time,” she said.

“I have certainly not laughed, at least out loud, while sitting here with you,” Granger said. “I do not recall the gentlemen on your other side showing much joy while you were engaged with him either.”

“Perhaps it is the two of you, and not me,” she said.

“Let us ask him,” Granger said, and leaned over as if to talk to him. She pushed him back into his seat.

“Do not cause me problems,” she hissed.

“It is you who cause yourself problems,” Granger said. “If you truly want to be influential, you must learn to make people enjoy your company. If people do not laugh or smile with you, not at you, when you are having a conversation, you have failed.”

“Those may be the rules in your country, but not mine,” she said.

“That may very well be, but as you are a Baltic German, this is not your country, you are just one of the many conquered people who are attached to the Russian Empire,” Granger said casually, knowing that would really anger her, having all but thrust a lance into her pride.

“You make it easy to despise you, my lord,” she spat, then turned back to talk to the other gentleman. Granger internally rolled his eyes at this, her way of pouting at an Imperial Banquet. It was some time before she had presumably cooled down enough to converse with him again.

“You still did not make him laugh,” Granger said.

She actually smiled a bit. “If you have established it as my mission to make him laugh, I think you have set me up for failure.”

Granger laughed at that, and that brought out her charming smile. “I have not had better luck with the woman to my right.”

“I think that even if we were the most skilled conversationalists, we would find ourselves facing dour counterparts,” she said, making him laugh again.

“You see that,” Granger said. “That is your natural charm coming through. You must let that out as often as possible. If you do, there is no limit to what you can achieve.”

She thought about that for a bit, and then seemed to realize the point Granger had been trying to make. “Thank you,” she said sincerely. “I will have to find time to practice on you.”

“That would be an honor, but unfortunately I will be leaving Russia shortly,” Granger said. He was surprised that she seemed genuinely saddened by that.

“Why must you leave now, when it is still so cold?”

“Because the Tsar is going to order me to,” Granger said.

“Then I will have to hope our paths cross again,” she said.

“I will look forward to that, and to seeing the woman you become in the years ahead,” he said. When the dinner ended and they stood up to escort the ladies to a drawing room, she stopped Granger before he could leave her and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Safe travels, my lord,” she said, and seemed to have tears in her eyes.