Cihlar & Egeler - The Saint and her Fool

The little girl suddenly stands at the door, with a smiling face and now luckily dressed similar to other children. She scampers forward, embraces her new mother and kisses her on the cheek. The Duchess is taken aback by so much emotion. Might the child try to win her with flattery? She turns away and pushes the box of chocolates towards her.

„Would you like to have some or are you not allowed, Rosemarie? Of course, they taste even better when it is forbidden to eat them.”

The child is not aware of any contrary regulation; she has never been spoiled with sweets. She smiles happily and begins to choose with tentative fingers and tastes with delight. The new mother also helps herself to one and they sit together quite amicably; Rosemarie on a small stool, the Duchess on her chaise longue next to a long mirror.

„And Frau von Hardenstein, do you like her?“

„I am very fond of her. She comes to my bed at night to sit with me a while and then she says: God bless you! She once had a son and he died. She always thinks of him when she says good night to me. The way she tucks me in...she then has the feeling of saying good night to him also.“

Frau von Hardenstein would certainly have been very surprised if she had heard this. Never had she spoken about her son during the good-night ritual, but Rose had yet felt that this ‘ bless you’ was also meant for another child.

With a praline in her hand, the young Duchess asks:

„Is it not boring, if someone continuously mourns over the dead?”

Rosemarie does not understand and looks at her step-mother in amazement.

The Duchess feels she has moved onto slippery territory and quickly continues:

„And you surely have much to study with your preceptor?“

„He knows so very much, Mama; things that Miss Whart had never told me about. Miss Whart always said that German history is terribly boring, because we always have so many royalties, who had fought each other for provinces, and that it is impossible and also insignificant to remember it all. That is why I had only heard of Queen Mary of Scotland and King Edward’s children. But Master Preceptor even knows about the Greek and the Romans! I learn everything and when he asks me: Do you still remember what I have said? I always know it, which makes him happy because the boys do not always listen. At first, when he comes, he is like a malevolent crow and he groans and snaps: Well, then...let us simply begin, to get it over with …but when he teaches, his mood cheers up and when he leaves, he says, Fine, fine...just continue like this.”

„Oh, you seem to be extremely well-behaved. My sisters and I had very much fun in upsetting and teasing our teacher. We kept at it until his hair stood on end and his right eye twitched terribly. Megan, my sister, always felt bored with everything and ensured we kept on nagging him until he was almost cross-eyed.”

Rosemarie speaks as though she must apologize: „The boys do upset Master Preceptor quite often.“

„Yes...yes... I can imagine so.“ The young woman feels that she has not been very educative.

Then it is surely nice for the preceptor that you are such a fine example of virtuousness. Now tell me a bit about your tall friend, the painter.”

„Have you seen the portrait of me? It is so nice, but he says it lacks something. He has painted me again on a larger canvas and that is even more beautiful. But Father would not have liked that one and it is important that he has pleasure when looking at it. Father likes this one very well, but Harro is not quite content with it. It is very difficult to please both of them.“ She nods her head wisely.

„The Earl of Thorstein often comes to visit, does he? Even after the painting was finished?“ „Not so often anymore, only when he has time and it seems he is quite busy. He also comes, though, when there is a festivity. The next one is the Feast of the Hazelnuts, as soon as the thick fog rolls in. Then we will go over to the castle of silence; Castle Schweigen. Would you like to attend, too? But you will have to wear a raincoat.”

„Your father and I are planning to visit Castle Schweigen.“

„And there must be a dense fog.“

The Duchess laughs: „I do not see that this is necessary.“

„But you must, because it is the Autumn Festival. In the afternoon, the sun will shine and chase away the fog.” Rosemarie says this in absolute faith that Harro will also arrange the weather to be exactly right for this festivity.

„Frau von Hardenstein will accompany us as well.“

„As the weeping willow,“ laughs the Duchess. „Weeping willows are not to my taste.“

„And certainly Harro will take you along, if you ask him.“

The Duchess gets up and smiles, like beautiful young women smile, when they are satisfied with their image in a mirror.

„Well, he will certainly not be so uncharitable as to refuse.“ She ambles to the piano and her delicate fingers touch the keys.

„Are you able to dance a waltz, Rosemarie?“ She begins to play a contemporary waltz and sways a bit with her hips. „Lift your dress with your fingers on one side, Rosemarie, the way one does, when a partner is not available.“

The child smiles, but remains still. „I do not know that dance. I can only dance the Lily-Dance , which you surely cannot play, and the Dance of the Finches ; that is a cheery dance and, of course, the young ladies evening dance - Harro likes that one best. You actually need wings for this dance and I have been begging Harro to make a pair, but he says he cannot construct them. But I believe he will surprise me with one soon. Maybe if you ask him, he will also make a pair for you.“

The Duke hears the bright laughter of the two fine voices, as he approaches the room and he feels such contentment in his heart. He enters the room, to see his new wife and his little girl smiling.

„The child is so amusing, Fried! Have you ever heard of a Dance of the Finches?“

The Duchess laughs again, but her laugh sounds a tone darker than before.

Chapter 8

Today is the day to visit Castle „ Schweigen ”, for the Festival of the Hazelnuts, and everything is completely different than Rosemarie had expected it to be. It seems Harro will not attend the festivity, for no one speaks a word of him. All morning, she waited in vain, watching the sun burn the thick morning fog away. Mama does not like to get up early and the carriage is instructed to be ready at three o’clock. Rosemarie’s joy is somewhat suppressed, yet she decides to wait, but cannot imagine celebrating a festivity without Harro.

The blue carriage rolls up the cobblestone way; mother and father get in, the child in the back seat, very anxious to be well-behaved as she hides her feet from sight. She knows Mama's opinion of her shoes. For the first time in her life, the child has been able to cleverly comprehend what to do in the company of others. She had not revealed the fact that her treasured shoes are from Harro, nor has she recounted the story of how they had been made especially for her, by the wondrous shoemaker Wurmhaber.

The journey to the castle of silence, Schloss Schweigen, is quite enjoyable. They drive down into the valley, the carriage thundering over an ancient, wooden covered bridge, following a long and winding road up a steep hill. She turns her head and sees the towers of Brauneck shimmer afar against the silky blue, autumn sky. They pass through a dark and dense forest, where the wheels of the carriage roll along almost silently. The forest glows in dark and light colors of gold and purple and bluish-green. Father smiles; he seems happy and she feels that he is pleased with her.