Napoleon considered this for a moment, and nodded.‘He’s certainly ruthless enough. Very well, I will take the necessary precautions. Meanwhile, I need to move quickly to ensure that Talleyrand and Fouché are put in their places. It will probably be best to concentrate my wrath on Talleyrand. Fouché lacks his charm and could not proceed far on his own.Yes, it has to be Talleyrand.’

‘When will you do it?’

‘As soon as possible,’ Napoleon decided. ‘I want you to arrange a meeting of my senior ministers here at the Tuileries this coming Sunday. Then we shall prick the bubble of this conspiracy.’

‘That is good,’ Lucien agreed. ‘Meanwhile, promise me that you will take due care for your safety.’

‘Of course.’ Napoleon flashed a smile at his younger brother and clapped him on the shoulder. ‘I promise I will stay out of danger. After all, I must see my wife. So I shall go to Fontainebleau. That will keep me away from Fouché’s police. I shall be safe enough there.’ Napoleon paused for a moment. ‘But I may as well be cautious. I will have a battalion of the Old Guard sent to protect me.’

‘Thank you,’ Lucien said quietly. ‘I know you believe you are a child of destiny, but even destiny blinks from time to time.’

Napoleon laughed. ‘I have survived shot and shell all these years, Lucien. I think I can survive the petty conspiracies of such men as Fouché and that milksop Talleyrand.’

‘I hope so, brother. But don’t ever underestimate the dangers of politics. It is as deadly as the battlefield, where at least you can see your enemies. Take care. I shall see you on Sunday, then.’

Napoleon clasped Lucien’s hands and kissed his brother on both cheeks. ‘Until Sunday.’

Josephine was entertaining her friends when Napoleon and his escort arrived at their château at Fontainebleau. She heard the commotion outside as the carriage and scores of horses crunched up the gravel drive and went to see who had arrived. Her eyes lit up as she saw Napoleon alight from the carriage and she hurried down the steps to embrace him. Napoleon closed his eyes and breathed in her scent, feeling the familiar increase in the beating of his heart as he held her close. They stood like that for a moment before she drew back and looked at him.

‘So few letters from Spain, and so brief.’

‘Believe me, my love, there was barely a chance to stop and even consider writing to you.’

There was a pained look in her eyes. ‘I thought of you every day, many times. Praying that you were safe and would come back to me soon.’

‘And here I am.’ Napoleon forced a smile. ‘Now let us go inside.’

‘I have guests. A small gathering of friends.’