Josephine glared at her bitterly, then stood up abruptly. ‘Damn you! Damn all you Corsicans!’

She turned and strode towards the door as tears choked her chest. She flung the door open and slammed it behind her. There was a shocked silence, broken by the sound of her footsteps retreating up the corridor.

Caroline glanced round the table and muttered, ‘I always said she wasn’t good enough for Napoleon.’

‘Silence!’ Napoleon snapped at her. ‘You don’t know what you are talking about, you little fool. Is your memory so short? When we arrived in France we were fugitives with no home, no money, no influence. Josephine was the wife of a count, the confidante of the most powerful politicians in the capital, and men lost their hearts to her.Yet she chose me for her husband.When I could barely afford the uniform on my back and I was living in a run-down slum. Do you have any idea what that means to me? I adored her. I still do,’ he added quickly. ‘With Josephine I can be myself. When I am surrounded by lesser men and lickspittles, only Josephine offers me honesty and understanding. I owe her my loyalty. And my love. So don’t you dare try to come between us.’

Caroline shrugged. ‘That’s all very well, but in return she owes you an heir, Napoleon. Where is your child?’

Napoleon’s expression darkened, but before he could respond his mother cut in.

‘Does it matter? That woman is clearly too old for child-bearing. There is only one solution to the problem and the sooner you face up to that the better, my son.’

Napoleon shook his head. ‘I will not do it. I will not.’

‘Not now, perhaps. But regardless of your feelings for her, you have an obligation to your people. There must be an imperial successor.’ Letizia wagged a finger at him. ‘Sooner or later, you must provide France with an heir to the throne. Especially if you go off to war again and place yourself in danger.’

‘Danger?’ Napoleon laughed. ‘Mother, have you not heard? I lead a charmed life.’

‘Your luck will not last for ever.’

‘Why not?’

Letizia shrugged.‘No man’s luck ever does. I’ve lived long enough to know that. And so you must have an heir.’

‘There will be time enough for that.’ Napoleon emptied his glass and pushed his chair away from the table, signifying that the meal was at an end.‘But first there is the small matter of crushing Britain, once and for all.’

Chapter 4 - Arthur

Chapter 4

Arthur

London, September 1805