One summer afternoon at Malmaison
N Impatiently - Joséphine,
here I am, making time to spend with you and I sense you are not pleased to see
me. Come here, my darling, I will soon change that.
J How kind of you to visit, Napoléon, but as you
see, I have this day received a large shipment of roses from my dear friend
Joseph Banks in London.
N Hah! These Englishmen, you have them under
your spell. Even when the English Navy blockades us, they allow you to have all
the roses you desire. [Wheedling tone as
he takes her hand] Do your roses mean more to you than me? [Smoochy kiss on her wrist].
J Not now, Napoléon. [Sweet smile] Maybe later. There are some absolutely new China roses in this shipment. Do come and admire these beauties. My garden is going to be enchanting.
N Deep
sigh
It’s clear I would have more of your interest if I were a rose.
J Mmm, [gives him a quick kiss], Now what kind of
rose would that be, I wonder.
N One day there will be a rose named after you, my Joséphine. But now, let us enjoy the time we have....
[c] Beth Elliott
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| Lamarque - a tea-noisette rose [1] |
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| Fortune's Double Yellow - China rose [1] |
[1] Rose photos from https://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/roses.html
[2] portraits of Napoléon and Joséphine courtesy of Wikipedia.
Wikipedia
The English nursery Lee and Kennedy was a major supplier, despite Britain and France being at war, his shipments were allowed to cross blockades. Specifically, when Hume's Blush Tea-Scented China was imported to England from China, the British and French Admiralties made arrangements in 1810 for specimens to cross naval blockades for Joséphine's garden.[32] Sir Joseph Banks, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, also sent her roses.
