The Easter ceremony on April 18 was not only attended by Parisian notables; even Augereau, stationed in the Netherlands, had to return, although he had already submitted a request claiming that he could not come.
When Napoleon launched the Coup of 18 Brumaire last time, Sieyès had chosen him out of necessity. Now that so many generals had gathered in one place, he might have felt he had another chance.
The Concordat was immensely popular in France, especially in the conservative countryside, where people supported the return of the Church. But the army, the Senate, and the Council of Five Hundred were deeply hostile to it. Many among them had once been revolutionaries. The fruits of the revolution had been plucked, and a hero was needed to save them. Who knew which muddleheaded general might be beguiled by Sieyès and want to experience being First Consul for himself?
Among those Georgiana invited were quite a few newly risen notables. Their willingness to buy expensive porcelain was a form of support in itself. Inviting British business figures and relaxing various privileges represented that the government led by Napoleon was not a military dictatorship, and that he was not Cromwell. As for whether he was Caesar, that depended on one's own view.
Earl of Aberdeen's India Act gave Georgiana a little more faith in Britain. The English were not so hopelessly driven by profit after all. When she looked at Napoleon with complete calm and objectivity, the intoxicating magic surrounding him vanished.
In truth, she was no different from those clustered around a king. Soldiers hoped he would be a warlike king, so they would have battles to fight. Commoners hoped he would be a kind and approachable king, so he would listen to their pleas.
"What did Merry say to you