Above: Alexander Baltazzi (1850-1914) (Detail)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

10. The Crisis (continued)

Given that Mary was unlikely to abandon her pursuit of Rudolf Helene decided that the only answer was to marry her off as quickly as possible.

In this emergency the only plausible groom was Mary's own uncle, Alexander Baltazzi. According to Helene's friend Princess Nora Fugger Alexander agreed to whisk Mary away to Constantinople for a fast wedding. It was not to be a real marriage, but a ruse designed to give Mary the status of a married woman.

Helene's plan was was unveiled to Mary later that same Saturday in yet another stormy scene with Alexander Baltazzi present. As might be expected the effect was to make Mary even more desperate.

Nevertheless, once tempers had cooled Helene gave Mary permission to visit the Countess at the Grand Hotel. Mary left about 2:30 p.m. and did not return home until six, claiming that she had lost track of the time. Perhaps she felt that the less she saw of her mother the better.

That night both Helene and Mary attended a gala reception at the German Embassy in honour of the Kaiser Wilhelm II's birthday. Rudolf and Crown Princess Stephanie also attended, but Rudolf and Mary deliberately minimized their contact so as not to attract undue notice. Nevertheless their relationship had reached the palace gossip mill and Mary attracted a good deal of attention.

Meanwhile, Rudolf took the opportunity to tell Count Hoyos that the date of the hunt at Mayerling had been moved up to January 29. He asked Hoyos to pass on the news to Prince Philipp.

Rudolf left the reception with Princess Stephanie about midnight, but not to meet with Mary. Instead he visited Mizzi Caspar and drank champagne with her until three in the morning. He even invited Mizzi to join him in a suicide pact, but she did not take him seriously and laughed off the idea.

Clearly Rudolf was not as obsessed with Mary as she was with him. Two weeks earlier Mary had written (about another event) "I hope to get away from the ball on Saturday, and then I'll hurry to him!"