Margit Sandemo - The Ice People 07 - Nemesis

If it had merely been a matter of dealing with Leonora Christina, Cecilie probably would not have had so many misgivings about sending Tancred off to the Netherlands. But he was to be the servant of Corfitz Ulfeldt – and Cecilie couldn’t stand the man. He was definitely presentable and the people’s favourite – for the time being – but he was also arrogant and terribly self-centred. Besides, he was unreliable. He would take the law into his own hands when it suited him, which could put Tancred in conflict with the Royal Family. She knew that Alexander would never allow that.

If only Alexander had been here! But he was somewhere on the estate or someplace.

Before she had had time to think it over thoroughly, she gave a quick reply and maybe somewhat rashly said:

“Oh, Your Highness,” (Leonora Christina loved being addressed as such) “this is awful. Of course we would have accepted the honour, but Tancred has other plans. Right now, he’s on his way to help my sister-in-law in Jutland. She lives on her own and has broken her leg. She’s helpless and needs Tancred’s help for a few months. She can’t cope with the estate on her own and has no other relatives she can ask for help. I’m sorry, but we can’t go back on our promise.”

Leonora Christina looked slightly sour and said briefly that she was sorry that Tancred could not join them.

Cecilie for her part hoped that the King’s daughter would not meet Alexander or Tancred as she left.

Tancred was extremely disappointed when he and his dad returned shortly afterwards.

“But Mum! You’re denying me a trip to the Netherlands and to see a bit of the world – and on such a prestigious mission!”

Cecilie looked at her young son. He was very handsome. Twenty-one years with his shining dark hair in a pageboy haircut around his noble face. The women at Court were rather taken with him, which was why Cecilie wanted to send him away for a while. She didn’t want her son getting spoiled by adventurous ladies at Court. But so far he seemed pretty ignorant about his charm. He was focussed on his dream of being like his dad and having a career as an officer.

“And now I’ve got to go to Aunt Ursula,” complained Tancred. “She’s so strict. She always bosses me around and treats me like a twelve-year old.”

“Your Mum acted quite rightly,” said Alexander curtly. “Ulfeldt is travelling without the approval of the Council of State. It would be very dangerous to get involved in the struggle of prestige between him and the King. Anyway, you don’t have to stay in Jutland for very long. Shall we say two months?”

“That’s two months out of my prime, isn’t it?”

“I suppose so,” smiled Alexander. “You’ll have the chance for other experiences later on.”

Tancred wanted to say that he would be old by then. Only he did not know how far he could go before his Dad would get angry. So he said nothing and accepted his bitter fate.

“Has Aunt Ursula really broken her leg?”

“Not as far as I know,” said Cecilie lightly. “But I had to think of something, didn’t I?”

“Then I suppose I’d better trip her up,” said Tancred. “In case Ulfeldt has sent spies out.”

“That’s hardly likely,” said Alexander. “Don’t overestimate your importance.”

“It can’t be overestimated,” smiled Tancred.

Tancred was down with a bad case of the flu, so he did not leave for Jutland until early March. The large entourage for the Netherlands had already left by then, which meant that he could relax a bit. But in order to be on the safe side, Tancred still had to go to Jutland – in case anybody asked. He was so happy when he was promised that he could make do with a fortnight’s stay instead of the two months, which was the original plan.

Ursula was very surprised to have her presentable nephew visit her.

“Oh, Tancred! How wonderful! You’ve arrived at the exact time of our annual get-together with the neighbours. Thank God you’re so tall because that means you can fasten these paper chains to the ceiling. But be careful with the chandeliers. They’re a bit loose here and there. Here’s a ladder.”

Taken somewhat unawares, Tancred began to put up the paper chains and the servant girls giggled with delight. They continued their job with much more glee.

“What a pity,” shouted the aunt from down below. “I’m off to Ribe to attend to my blessed late husband’s business affairs. It turns out that the man I’d asked to attend to the matter has cheated me exceedingly.”

Tancred did not doubt for a moment that her husband was blessed – after having escaped her everlasting grumbling.

“Yes, what a pity,” he said, trying to sound upset. “That you’re compelled to leave. I hope you haven’t lost too much from it all?”

“Not too much. There’s still a sufficient amount for you to inherit,” she said dryly. It was only a joke because she knew of Tancred’s half-hearted interest in wealth. It was the kind of indifference shown by those who do not know what it is like to be poor. “But I’m thinking of you, my dear boy, who’s travelled all this way to see me in vain.”

“Not at all, Aunt Ursula. I’ve just had a bad case of the flu and have been sent here to recover. I can take care of myself and mind my own business here. I don’t get the chance to do that at home because there’s always somebody who bosses me around.”

“Now, then. Have you thought of finding a girlfriend fairly soon?” said the aunt without noticing the sting in his words.

“No. Lots of people are thinking on my behalf, so I don’t need to. Here’s a confounding little paper chain that won’t ...”

“Tancred!”shouted the aunt in falsetto. “Don’t you swear in my house!”

He looked down at her in surprise and nearly lost his balance.

“Did I swear?”

“Yes, you did! You said ...” and in a whispering voice Ursula spelled the terrible word “c-o-n-f-o-u-n-d-i-n-g.

“Is that a swearword? It’s just a confounding good word of expression ... Oh, forgive me, I said it again! I’ll try to restrain myself so that I don’t besmirch this fine house with such foul language. When will you return from your journey to Ribe?”

“I’ve no idea. It may take a while. But I’ll hurry so that I’m back before you leave for home.”

“That won’t be necessary. You just take the time you need. Such matters should be taken seriously.”

“But I’ve just replaced my domestic staff – the previous ones were getting on in years. I don’t know whether they can wait on you properly.”

“Don’t worry,” said Tancred, giving the servant girls a pleasant smile. They giggled in delight.

Ursula didn’t notice anything. “And how are your dear parents, Tancred? I’m sure they asked you to send greetings to me.”

“Of course they did, I always seem to forget that. Anyway, thank you for asking. Dad is growing grapes at the moment but without much success, and Mum is working hard on not beating Dad at least once a week. In chess, I mean. Mum is such an eternally young woman in spite of her 47 years now. Dad’s 54, isn’t he?”

“Yes, you’re right. He’s my younger brother, I always took care of him.”

She began daydreaming.

“They’re so happy,” said Tancred. “I hope I’ll be just as happily married one day.”

“Yes,” said Ursula absentmindedly. “Your mum is a remarkable woman. She’s done more for Alexander than we can imagine.”

“Mum?” he said in surprise and nearly fell off the ladder once more. “I thought it was Dad who had raised her status when he married her? She was only half-nobility.”

Ursula sighed. “Well, you don’t know the full story... Now hurry, my boy. You’ve tied two paper chains together without fastening them to the lamp. How are they to hang across the room like that?”