On the Night of the Seventh Moon

The Prussians under Bismarck have become a militant people. His slogan of “blood and iron” speaks for itself. We shall defend ourselves if the French should attack us, and military opinion through out Europe is that war is imminent. We have a treaty with the Prussians. It was to ratify this that I was so long in Berlin. But I will not bore you with politics. “

“They are your concern and therefore they must be mine.”

“Yes,” he said solemnly.

“Now that we have found each other you will share my life. I shall bring my burdens to you. I will discuss affairs with you. But our task now is to make plans. We must. I long to have you with me, Lenchen, all the time and openly. But I fear this is not the moment to let it be known. I almost told my father this morning but he was so ill so feeble. He is overcome by the burdens of state. He is afraid of Napoleon. Only this morning he mentioned Klarenbock and said that since I had married Wilhelmina at least we need not expect trouble from that quarter. I fear, Lenchen, that my father cannot have long to live.”

I understood well the effect such an announcement would have on an ageing man weighed down with responsibilities, and for the time being it was enough for me that I had found Maximilian.

I said: “Let us wait awhile. This is something which cannot be decided in a few minutes. But the Princess!

“A marriage of convenience that was no marriage ” How will she take this? “

“I am unsure. I have always been unsure with Wilhelmina. It was a marriage of convenience for her as for me. There is no doubt that when she learns that her marriage was no true marriage she will feel degraded. There may well be trouble. We have to face that, Lenchen. We must give a lot of thought to how it should be done.”

“With as little heartbreak as possible to everyone concerned,” I agreed. I longed to be with him, to share his life completely, but I could not be entirely happy, I knew, and nor could he if, by making the truth known, it brought about the death of his ailing father and discredit to the Princess. I was conscious of a twinge of jealousy for that proud woman whom I had briefly glimpsed and who had been accepted as his wife. Proud, cold and royal as she was, I could imagine what her feelings would be when she was confronted with the fact that she, a princess, was no true wife. Oh yes, indeed we had to tread with the utmost care.

“For the moment,” decided Maximilian, ‘it is best for us to keep this secret. I shall come to Klocksburg tonight. I shall think of nothing but you and how best we can arrange our lives. I long for us to be together. “

“In the meantime,” I replied, ‘we shall have to be careful. It would never do for your father or the Princess to learn the truth through another source. You will visit me frequently . Promise. “

“I swear it and never did I more gladly swear anything.”

“And we must act as we have been acting as though things were as before.”

“Ah,” he said tenderly, “I can see what a help you will be to me, Lenchen.”

“It will be my mission in life to care for you, to give you every comfort.”

“Ah, dearest, when I think of all those wasted years.

“Don’t think of them. They are past. The future is before us. Perhaps they have not been entirely wasted. We have learned something from them. To be with you again ... to have found you.

I care for little beyond that.”

We clung together; we could not bear to separate. He wanted to ride back to Klocksburg with me, but I thought the children would see him and wonder why we were together. I pointed out to him that we had to be careful. The future was gloriously inviting, but to reach it we had to hurt other people. I wanted-and I knew Maximilian did too-to hurt them as little as possible.

So we said goodbye, with assurances that that night we should be together.

I turned towards Klocksburg. I didn’`t want to leave the forest yet. I was considering our problem, trying to discover a solution, when the sudden rustle of undergrowth startled me; the sound of a horse’s hoofs not far off was unmistakable. For the moment I thought he was coming back. But it was the Count who came through the trees.

“Miss Trant!” he cried.

“I am charmed to meet you. But I do wonder why you have deserted your duties to ride through the forest at this hour of the morning.”

I replied: “The children are busy with the Pastor.”

“I hope their English is not suffering.”

“I think you will find great improvement if you care to question them in that language,” “One thing. Miss Trant, you have great confidence in your own powers.”

“Confidence is necessary to succeed in teaching.”

“As in most things, I think you will agree.”

“I dare say you are right.”

“You are gracious this morning. Miss Trant.”

“I hope I am never ungracious.”

“Shall we say there is a little touch of asperity now and then?”

“I had not noticed it ” I did. Perhaps because I was the target. I wonder whether you served it to my cousin. I think not, from what I observed. Oh yes, I did see you. You seem to have become well acquainted in a short time. Unless of course you knew each other previously. “

“Your cousin?” I murmured to gain time.

“His Royal Highness, the Prince. I have the honour to be his cousin.”

“Oh congratulations.”

“Condolences would be more acceptable. Imagine if I had been the Duke’s son instead of that of his brother . ; ” Why should I imagine it? “

“Then you could picture me in his position. Perhaps that would mean you would be as affable to me as to him.”

I wondered how much he had seen, from where he had been watching us; and I thought that there would always be people to watch the actions of a man in Maximilian’s position.

I said: The Prince and I discovered that we had met some years ago. I was a pupil at one of the Damenstifts in his country. “

“And you came back to us. That is a compliment. Miss Trant, I am sure.

You must have liked our country very much. “

“I find it very interesting.”

“I should like to show you my own castle. You must bring the children over to it one day. Better still, you could come alone.”

“It is kind of you to suggest it.”

“But you think it unwise to come?”

Did I say that? “

“You don’t have to speak always for me to know what you are implying.

Your cool English manner does that very adequately. “

“I am sure you must find it extremely unattractive. So I won’t burden you with my presence.

“On the contrary, I find it interesting, and I assure you that if I found your company a burden I should not seek it.”

“Have you sought it?”

“But surely you know the answer to that?”

“I’m afraid I don’t, Herr Count.”

“I should like us to be better acquainted. I really don’t see why we shouldn’`t be on such pleasant terms as you are with my cousin? We are very much alike. You must have noticed it.”

“There is a facial resemblance.”

“More than that. Some can’t tell our voices apart. We have the same arrogant manner, don’t you think? We have the same vices. He has always been a little more diplomatic than I. It’s rather necessary in his case. He suffers restrictions which don’t bother me. In some ways it is better to be the Duke’s nephew than his son.”

“I dare say you are right.”

He had brought his horse close to mine and caught my arm.

“I have more freedom,” he said, ‘to do what I want. “

“I am sure you find that very gratifying. Now I must get back.”

“I’ll ride with you.”

I could not refuse to ride with him and we went back to Klocksburg.

“It will be a surprise for the children,” he said.

“I’ll take them out. I want to see how they are progressing with their English. How is your special protege?”