Georgiana received a gift: a pearl headdress that looked very much like a coronet.
Anyone could wear such a thing in the twentieth century, especially little girls at birthday parties, but Georgiana felt it would hardly be appropriate to wear it to Napoleon's birthday banquet.
The man who had sent her this gift was Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai. He had once proposed the Law of Suspects alongside Cambacérès, one of the authors of the Civil Code, and it was precisely this law that had led the French Republic into the Reign of Terror.
She did not know why such a man would send her a pearl coronet, but Georgiana still entertained the visitor with coffee.
"I heard the land reforms in the west have been progressing smoothly, especially in Normandy. If the weather is favorable next year, we will have a bumper harvest," Merlin said.
"I'm very glad to hear that." Georgiana smiled.
"Mont Blanc Province as well. The places where you have stayed always seem capable of creating wealth." Merlin paused. "But I heard that you once ordered the people of the Special Tribunal not to punish criminals too severely."
"I believe in The Return of the Prodigal Son." Georgiana's smile faded. "Every criminal deserves a chance to repent."
"Do you truly believe that, or did you merely want to acquire slaves?"
"What?"
"You put those criminals into forced labor, just as Toussaint Louverture did." Merlin stared at Georgiana. "You really don't look forty-eight."
Georgiana remained expressionless.
"Louverture is the same age as you. I would think people of your age should have learned caution by now." Merlin sounded rather arrogant.
"And how old are you?" Georgiana asked with a false smile.
"I was born on October 30, 1754. We are the same age." Merlin smiled. "How does it