Above: Mary Vetsera (1871-1889) (detail).

Source: Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek (Austrian National Library)

8. The Black Iron Door (continued)

A staircase behind the black iron door led to a corridor through a long, two-storey building called the Augustinergang. A second staircase at the end of this corridor led to Rudolf's apartments. More adventurously, Mary could climb to a terrace on the roof of the Augustinergang and get into Rudolf's apartments through a window.

The Countess provided Mary with cover stories when she went out during the day: Mary was visiting the Countess at the Grand Hotel, or they were going out shopping. Helene was relieved that the Countess provided a trustworthy chaperone to keep her headstrong daughter out of trouble. Helene had no idea that she and Mary were being ruthlessly betrayed by their supposed friend.

Helene was all too aware of the disastrous consequences of openly pursuing a hopeless love affair with the Crown Prince. There could be no question of a royal marriage – the Vetseras were too far down the social scale for that. The best that Mary could hope for was to become Rudolf's mistress of the moment and ultimately to be banished from the glittering social milieu that Helene had planned for her to star in.

The critical necessity was to keep Mary's reputation intact until she was safely married. "As a married woman she could then do as she pleased." (Judtmann 109).

Aristocratic marriages were dynastic arrangements rather than love matches and in a Catholic country where divorce was unthinkable there was a strong incentive to wink at infidelities rather than risk public scandal. This gave wives as well as husbands a license to pursue romantic dalliances if they were so inclined.

However, as a single woman Mary did not have the status that would protect her from the consequences of any indiscretions. Mary was headed down a path that would lead to disgrace, humiliation, ostracism from court life and the loss of her chances for an advantageous marriage.