Above Crown Prince Rudolf in 1888 (detail)

Source: Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek (Austrian National Library)

9. Suicide Plans (continued)

Rudolf certainly fed (or groomed) Mary's obsession, writing her "such tender letters." The Countess, as gobetween, delivered their letters back and forth when Mary and Rudolf were unable to meet in person.

Mary told Hermine that the Countess confiscated Rudolf's letters after Mary read them. Rudolf knew better than to let his letters fall into the wrong hands and no doubt demanded them back from the Countess, but Mary copied a couple of them for Hermine:

"Dear Angel, I cannot stay any longer without seeing you again, so come to me. Bratfisch will be waiting for you at the corner of the alley. Your R."

"Dear angel, I can't live without you anymore, just be careful that we aren't discovered, because if I weren't allowed to see you again, I'd go mad. Come to your R soon."

Mary told Hermine that Rudolf gave her an iron "wedding ring" inscribed with the letters I.L.V.B.I.D.T. When Mary asked him what the letters stood for, he told her "ln Liebe vereint bis in den Tod" – "United in love until death."

Hermine was alarmed by Mary's morbid obsession with Rudolf and implored her to break off the relationship. But like everyone else in Mary's life she did not foresee the sinister consequences.

"We didn't attach much importance to the matter," Hermine wrote Hanna, "For all younger girls who are in love babble such nonsense, and who could assume, given Mary's cheerful nature, that she meant it seriously?"