On the Night of the Seventh Moon

Every time I heard the sound of horses’ hoofs in the courtyard I started, desperately hoping it would be Maximilian. I yearned to talk to him, to sift the reason for Dr. Kleine’s strange behaviour from all the mass of mystery which surrounded me.

Frau Graben said: “It’s the Duchess. It’s Wilhelmina.” I heard myself say in a voice which sounded haughty but this of course was due to nervousness: “What does she want?”

“She’s come to see you.”

To see me! “

“That’s what she says. She’s over at the Rittersaal.”

Dagobert said: “Is the Duke with her?”

“No,” answered Frau Graben.

“She’s all alone at least she’s alone in the Rittersaal. She has two of her women waiting in the carriage.”

“I’ll go at once to her,” I said.

“I can’t imagine why she wants to see me.”

I told the children to go on reading from the book of fairy stories which we were studying.

As the door shut on us Frau Graben looked at me, her eyes dancing with excitement, and lifted her shoulders.

“What does this mean, I wonder,” she whispered.

“She did say she wanted to see meT ” She certainly did. And there’s a look in her eyes . “

“What sort of look?”

“Reminded me of icebergs,” said Frau Graben.

“Not that I’ve seen an iceberg. Cold. Very cold. Shivery cold, I’d say. And I’ve been told that there’s a lot more ice in icebergs than you see on the surface.”

“I wonder if She knows anything? Couldn’'t say. News leaks out particularly bad news and this could be bad news to her. Still, you’ll soon know.

Just go in and call her Your Grace and show the proper respect. You can’t go wrong then. “

I found that I was trembling. I had seen this woman on one or two occasions, but only from a distance. The fact that she believed herself to be Maximilian’s wife made her alarming, to say the least. I felt that I was wronging her, which was not so. It was neither her fault nor mine that we were in this position.

She was seated at the table when Frau Graben opened the door.

“Here’s Miss Trant, Your Grace,” she said, and I stepped into the room. I was aware that Frau Graben had not shut the door. She would be standing very close, listening. The eavesdropper in this case was rather a comfort.

“You are Miss Trant?” The coldest blue eyes I had ever seen were appraising me. They were expressionless and it was impossible to tell from them what she knew. She was beautiful in a certain style, I noticed with a pang of jealousy. How absurd to feel thati He loved me and he had never loved her.

She was beautiful as a statue is beautiful-remote and so cool. Her fair hair was swept up from a pale, rather long face, her nose was aquiline and patrician; her mouth matched her eyes unsmiling. Her velvet cloak fell back to display the lace ruffles at her wrists and neck. Diamonds sparkled on her fingers and in the lace at her throat.

They suited her. I could not imagine her ever glowing with passion; yet aloof as she was there was something deadly about her as there is about a snake.

But I believed she was feeling more interest in me than she would normally have for a teacher of English. She knows, I thought, if not all something.

“I hear you teach the children English.”

“That is so.”

“And are they good pupils?”

I replied that I was satisfied with them.

She said: “You may be seated.” She pointed to a chair close to hers and added: “There.”

“How long have you been in Klocksburg?” she went on.

I told her.

“Why did you come here?”

“Frau Graben came to England and we met. She thought I would be suitable to teach the children English.”

“Frau Graben! Why should she decide that the children should be taught English?”

“Perhaps she could tell you that.”

The eyebrows were imperceptibly raised. I hoped I did not sound impertinent. I did not mean to be. I was merely horribly nervous because she was in the position which should be mine, because she believed herself to be married to Maximilian and was not. I could not imagine what her reaction would be when she knew the truth. She was proud and haughty and I should think would be very humiliated. The loss of dignity would mean a great deal to her.

“We are living through difficult times. Miss Trant,” she said.

“It might be well if you returned to your country.”

I was sure there was an, even colder glitter in her eyes.

She knows! I thought. She is telling me to get out. I had the impression that she was offering me escape or the consequences of remaining here.

Go home! Leave Maximilian! As if I could! Was he not my husband? But I was sorry for her. I would be sorry for any woman in her position, be she proud princess or humble woodcutter’s daughter.

I knew in that moment that I was going to fight for what was mine.

Because my visit to Dr. Kleine was fresh in my memory, I thought of the children I should have; and it must be my son, not hers, who should be his father’s heir. For myself I did not seek great riches. I knew that I should have been happier if my husband had been in a less exalted position; but for my children I would fight as any other mother would.

“I have no wish to return to my country,” I said.

“I propose to stay here.”

She bowed her head. What secrets those eyes held! Indeed she was like a snake. Her eyes were steady; her mouth cold; one sensed the poison dart was ready, waiting.

“We could be at war at any moment. The Duke, my husband, is most concerned.”

I felt the colour flush my cheeks. I wanted to say: No! My husband.

And do you think / do not know of his concern?

This was foolish, of course. I was not being reasonable. She had no notion that I was Maximilian’s wife. This cold appraising manner was the one accorded to all those whom she considered far beneath her.

“I should advise all foreigners to go,” she said.

“But you do not wish to. You are enthralled by your post.” Her lips curled, but there was no smile in her eyes; it was as though she were shrugging her shoulders at my folly, telling me that if I were wise I would go; but if I would not, then stay and take the consequences.

“I prefer to stay. It is good of Your Grace to concern yourself with me.”

That was hypocritical for I knew very well that there was nothing good about her concern. She was not in the least anxious for my welfare.

She wanted something.

“Since you will stay,” she said, T will call upon your help. I wonder whether you will do as I ask. “

I sensed that she was playing with me tormenting me in some way. I was convinced in that moment that she knew; but in the next I was telling myself that I was fanciful.

“The war is coming,” she went on.

“There is no doubt of it. I plan to turn one of the smaller schlosses into a hospital. We shall need all the helpers we can get. Are you prepared to join us. Miss Trant?”

I was astonished. What an absurd imagination I had! Had she after all merely come to ask my help in a hospital! And here I was imagining that she was planning to murder me!

I was tremendously relieved and I think I showed it.

“I would do anything I could to help,” I said warmly.

“I must tell you, though, that I have had no experience of nursing.”

“Few of us have. We may have to learn. Then, Miss Trant, can we count on your help?”

“If this war should take place then I should be eager to give my services.”

“Thank you. Miss Trant. That is good of you. I have the schloss in mind. It is called the Landhaus because the Government used to sit there years ago. You have seen it?”

I said I had not.

“It is on the other side of the mountain and easily accessible. I trust that we may not need it, but we have to be prepared.” The cold eyes looked straight into mine.