As Erika and her father acknowledged the other guests, Christian scanned the room. He didn’t know any of these people, but he had been around court circles long enough to be able to discern those in the crowd who were genuinely interested in the Swedish delegation and those who looked down their noses at the foreigners.
“Prince Christian, let us get you introduced to a few select people this evening,” said Count Jansson.
He followed Erika and her father as they made their way through the crowd, nodding his acknowledgement to the guests who bowed or curtseyed to him as he passed by.
It was vital he got off to a solid start with the English, for them to see him as someone worthy of their respect. An adversary that they should not underestimate when it came to trade negotiations.
He caught up with Magnus and took him by the arm. “I know you want to stick to protocol and introduce me to other dignitaries, but what I need is to make the acquaintance of the power brokers here in London.”
Magnus frowned. “But, Your Highness, don’t you wish to meet members of the English nobility?”
“Not particularly.” Christian leaned in close. “What I need is to find the people in this room who can get me in front of the right cabinet minister. We cannot hold trade negotiations if the English are not even aware that we want an agreement.”
Erika stood a few feet back while her father presented yet another guest to Christian. This had been going on for almost two hours and her back was beginning to ache, while her old knee wound throbbed.
Christian, however, didn’t appear to be flagging in the least. He paid close attention to what was said to him, nodding slowly as he listened. He broke into what appeared to be a genuine smile whenever someone made a light remark. She doubted he understood all of what was being said. Instead he appeared to be cleverly using the reactions of those around him as the cue for responding to any comment he may not have quite caught. If they laughed, he laughed.
He was polished, and perfectly gracious. Someone in Sweden had clearly put hours into training him for the life of a diplomat. It was certainly paying off if the number of smiles and people uttering his name was any indication.
When Christian finally drew away from the gathering, Erika was pleased that he came to her side.
“I shall have to take notes about all the people whom I met tonight. Remembering all these names is going to be quite the task,” he said.
She nodded. “Actually, I know pretty much everyone who you have been introduced to this evening. We could sit down tomorrow and put a list of their names and details together. It would help you to move more freely through society in the coming months.”
“Thank you. I would really appreciate your help. If I can at least get people’s names and titles correct, it might help to smooth things when my English is a little rough,” he replied.
Erika drew in close. “How much have you comprehended this evening?”
He held out his hand tilting it back and forth. “Most, but then some not at all. I need to get my English up to speed and quickly. I have to be able to communicate easily at private dinners.”
She understood his problem only too well. Her father’s English was still not at the standard that he would have liked it to be and he had been in the country for over two years. But Magnus didn’t try to speak anything other than Swedish when at home, whereas Erika made every effort to speak the native tongue whenever possible. “Yes. The sooner you can converse properly with people, the better. My father and sometimes the baron rely upon me to translate, which is all well and good when it comes to formal events such as these where I can also attend. Private parties are a bit more of a problem.”
His brows furrowed at her words. “Why are private gatherings an issue?”
“Because we don’t get invited to them.”
OceanofPDF.com
Chapter Twelve
This was not what Christian wanted to hear. Select intimate functions were where many international deals and agreements were first conceived. Little wonder the envoy and his deputy hadn’t been able to make much headway.
If he was also excluded from the inner workings of English society, it would be almost impossible for him to get close to those in power. And if that was the case, the trade agreement would never happen.
His concern was obviously written all over his face if Erika’s responding frown was any sort of indication. Until now, he had thought his mastering of the language was the biggest hurdle in front of him. But Christian suddenly had a moment of cold clarity, and it gave him insight into the real problem.
The gates of English high society were locked against them. “Do you know why you are not graced with invitations?” he asked.
“Apart from the fact that the baron likes to work via official channels and is not one for social events? I think the problem for my father, and I is me. I am unwed—a status that thetonplaces major social restrictions upon. If you ask Magnus to a dinner party then I will also have to come, which presents a whole range of issues,” she replied.
Christian nodded. With Erika being considered an innocent, guests at a private party would feel obliged to behave in her company and mind what they said. Cordial behavior did not engender close relationships. And those were the sort of connections which greased the wheels of diplomacy.
What am I to do? There has to be a way to gain entry to the inner circle.
“Do you know any of the wives of the men who would be likely to participate in the trade agreement talks if we can get them?” He had to start somewhere—begin knocking on doors and trying at handles, until one of them was opened to him.
“I know Lady Lynch. Her husband, Sir Vincent Lynch, is a cabinet minister. Baron von Rehausen has said he will likely be the politician advising the British in any negotiations.” Erika pointed a finger in the direction of a group of society matrons.
