Виктория Холт - On the Night of the Seventh Moon

I changed my dress and combed my hair. I wanted to look as attractive as I could. That would give me courage in the presence of the woman who believed herself to be Maximilian’s wife.

Fifteen minutes after Prinzstein had knocked at my door we were driving to the Landhaus. We drove to the town and then through the valley to the other side of the mountain. There it stood a yellowish-gold coloured castle, smaller than Klocksburg but beautifully perched on the hillside among the pine woods. We drove through the gates under the castellated tower into a courtyard.

We entered the castle and I saw that the Ritterscud had already been made into a ward and several beds had been placed side by side.

Prinzstein led me to a small room at which was a table with chairs placed round it. On the table was a bottle of wine and several glasses, with a plate of little spiced cakes.

“It seems that I am not late after all,” I said.

“Her Grace and the other ladies have not yet arrived. Or perhaps they are inspecting another part of the castle. Equipment is being brought in every day. Her Grace’s instruction was that I was to offer you refreshment as soon as you arrived.”

“Thank you. I prefer to wait for the others.”

“Her Grace said immediately you arrive. She will not be pleased if you refuse. This wine is from the vines of Klarenbock. She sets great store by it and I will warn you she likes everyone to praise it. She will no doubt ask your opinion. She says it is better than anything that comes from the French wine-growing country or the Moselle district.”

“I would rather wait.”

He poured a glass.

“Just taste it,” he said, ‘and as soon as you see her, take an opportunity of telling her how good is the flavour. “

I sipped it. I could taste nothing special about it. He offered me one of the spiced cakes. They were similar to those which Frau Graben ate in such quantities, and I refused.

Prinzstein went on to say that it would not be long before war was declared. He reckoned he would have to go. There would be changes.

Wars were terrible.

He left me sipping the wine and said he would go and see if anyone was arriving. He left me in the room for a few moments and when he came back said that Her Grace had arrived and had gone straight up to the rooms at the top of the castle which would be used for those who were not badly wounded; and she wished me to join her and the others there.

Prinzstein led the way. We climbed a broad staircase to a landing and then mounted a spiral stair. This was very similar to Klocksburg and the room I entered bore a resemblance to the turret-room there.

She was there and, to my surprise, alone. There was something different about her. Her expression was as cold as it had been on that other occasion but there was an excitement behind it. She appeared to be suppressing some inner emotion.

Ah, Miss Tmat,” she said, ‘it was good of you to come so promptly.”

“I feared I might have kept you waiting. I understand you are calling together several of those who will help in the hospital.”

“There is someone here. She will come in shortly. Perhaps you would like to see the view while you are waiting. There is a door leading out to a little tower. It’s called the Cats’ Tower. You have seen such towers before, I am sure. Boiling oil and missiles used to be thrown down on invaders from them. The noise it made was like screaming cats.

You can imagine that, I am sure. Miss Trant. “

Yes,” I said.

The view is magnificent, is it not? Straight down the steep side of the mountain to the valley. Do you wonder what it would be like to plunge straight down to . death. “

“Such a thought had not entered my mind.”

“Had it not? It is a way to die. You know, of course, of the legend at Klocksburg. A young woman years ago threw herself out of the window there. The room is said to be haunted.”

“I know of that-yes.”

“Well, you know Klocksburg well. But you are not superstitious You are practical the sort I shall need in my hospital, I am sure.

That girl killed herself because she had been deceived . a mock marriage with one of the Dukes. One can understand in a way. Can you understand. Miss Trant? “

She was standing very close to me, her eyes inscrutable; and for the second time I had the alarming feeling that I was in great danger. I grasped the stone balustrade firmly. I saw her eyes go to my clenched hands.

“It’s a strange afternoon,” she said.

“Do you feel it? There’s a humidity in the air. Does it make you feel sleepy?”

I replied that on the contrary I felt very wide awake.

“Let us go inside for a moment,” she said.

“There is some thing I have to say to you.”

I was relieved to get away from the tower. She sat down and signed to me to take a chair.

When we were seated she said: “You are aware. Miss Trant, that I know a good deal about you.”

“I have no idea what you know about me.”

“About you and my husband. I have learned that there was a ceremony in a hunting lodge. Do you really believe that was a true marriage?”

I knew I had to speak then. It was a real marriage,” I said.

“I am his wife.”

“In that case, who am I?”

“You are not his wife.”

“It is not possible for a Princess of Klarenbock to be in the position you suggest I am in.”

“It is possible. Moreover, it is a fact.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“I mean that it is not possible for such a slur on our house to be accepted. Do you understand that you are in acute danger?”

I stood up.

“I think we should discuss this when Maximilian returns.”

“We are going to settle it now.”

“How can we without him? He is planning to tell you. It is no fault of his, yours or mine that we are in this position.”

“I am not concerned with faults. I merely tell you that it cannot be.”

“But if it is ?”

“It may be now but it must not be tomorrow. What did you think of the wine? We are proud of it in Klarenbock.”

She was looking at me steadily and a horrible possibility dawned on me.

“Yes,” she said, ‘the wine was drugged. Don’t think we have poisoned you. Not at all. You are just sleepy . nothing more. When you are so far gone that you know nothing at all, you will be carried out to the Cats’ Tower and gently dropped down into the valley. “

I cried: “This is madness.”

“It would be madness to let you live. Miss Trant.”

I could not stop staring at her, although my greatest impulse was to run as fast as I could down the spiral stair and out to Prinzstein and the waiting carriage.

“It will be the old story,” she said quietly.

“The deceived woman, he plunge to death. It is becoming so usual. Even in keepers daughters do it now.”

She laughed in an odd way. Then she looked up at me and went on: “The wine is taking care of you.”

“I scarcely touched it,” I replied.

“A little would suffice. You will feel nothing. It is an easy way out.

Easier than it would have been because this time you will know nothing. They should have managed better. It was a simple thing.

Frieda is quite stupid. “

“You mean that Frieda was aware’s a .”

“People are aware sometimes, Miss Trant. Why don’t you sit down? You must be feeling very strange.” She passed her hand over her eyes and murmured: “The fools. They should have managed better. Where are you going. Miss Trant?” I was at the door and about to leave her when she added: “It is no use. Prinzstein will not let you go. He failed in the Klocksburg room. He will not fail in this one.”

“Prinzstein,” I stammered.

“He is a good servant.”

“A good servant to me. He has served me well and would have done so last night but for that stupid wife of his.”