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15 September 1890 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Monday. 15th September [1890]. Wrote & practised before breakfast. Painted with Nela. Gave out stores. Mr W. H. Smith came from the Pandora with his daughter & Mr & Mrs Riler to see our pictures at 11 & Henry took them to the Frari to see the Archives. Lady Elizabeth Biddulph & Miss Adeane came to luncheon– Ct Seckendorff sent over to say the Empress was going out at 3 & wished some of us to accompany her– So Nela & I went & we were all in the steam launch when they said they must have the tea basket so I went back home for it & Pss Victoria accompanied me. While I was getting the tea basket Pss V. seized Miss Adeane & Daisy & said they must also come so we all hurried back to the Empress surprise & were a tight fit being H.M., the 2 Princesses, P. Adolph, Herr v. Alton, Ct Seckendorff, Ct Wiedel, & Ct Bruhl eleven of us. We went to Torcello & landed & I made the tea wh we drank standing & started off at 5.30 but it was past 7 when we arrived home & H.M. had told Mr Smith to go to her at 7. On the way had an interesting talk with H.M. She began by saying that today was the birthday of the little boy she had lost—& went to speak of Pss Alice’s death & then of the 2nd marriage of the Grand Duke of Hesse. She said she had been there at the time—& that someone had told the secret marriage to the Empr Frederick—at wh she herself had gone to the Gd Duke & asked him if it were true at which he merely showed her his marriage ring. He was a good loyal man & had no idea what a bad & designing woman she was & she had also got round the young Princesses who of course cd not suspect her. I asked if the Gd Duke still cared for the woman & she said that she began to hope now but only now that he had given up thinking of her but that he gave her a larger income than he could afford & wh was to the detriment of his own daughters. Mr Hare dined with us & went out with the Du Cane girls afterwards. Patience & early to bed. | |
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