Magic In Vienna Part 17

Cordelia was glad to have something to do; she bustled round, tucking in sheets and shaking up the great duvet, disposing piles of towels in the bathroom and making sure that the clothes closet and drawers were lined with scented paper and that there was a book or two on the night table and notepaper on the small writing table under the window. The room looked nice although she didn't really like the rather heavy furniture. She wondered how the doctor's house was furnished and wandered out of the room and down to the hall, picturing what it might be like, so absorbed that when she walked into him on the last of the steps into the hall, she uttered a small shriek.

"Far away, Cordelia, what (are you doing?"

She told him and added, "Eileen's bought some roses, she is going to arrange them when her lesson is over. We bought a box of chocolates for Frau Keppel, she's been very kind. .."

"Ah, yes. I must see her before she goes. Go and tell her, will you?

And then come to the study."

"Now what?" thought Cordelia, poking her head round the sitting room door with her message and then knocking at the study door.

The doctor began without preamble.

"Sit down. My sister 'phoned this morning; their plane gets in just after lunch tomorrow afternoon. I shall go to the airport, of course, and take Eileen with me. I expect they will want Eileen to themselves for a while so I suggest that you take the afternoon off; I expect you've presents to buy and so on. We shall have dinner here of course, you'll dine with us. I should imagine my sister will want to talk to you about her plans for Eileen but certainly not tomorrow."

He wasn't the same man who had danced with her last night and told her that the pink dress was charming; here was the Uncle Charles she had first met, the man who had said that she was rather a dull girl with no looks to speak of; he was so obviously pleased that she was going away.

She said in a wooden voice.

"Very well, Dr Tres...o...b.., I'll see that Eileen's ready for you tomorrow and I shall be glad of a free afternoon."

"That's all Doctor?" She said as she got up.

"For the moment--there is a lot more to say, but that can come later." He got up too and opened the door.

"In a few days you will be gone. It won't be the same without you."

She made herself smile and said brightly: "Well, no. it won't; you'll have peace and quiet and no worries any more."

He smiled faintly and made no comment, only saying: "And you Cordelia? You are happy to leave?"

She spoke very firmly, more to convince herself than him.

"Oh, yes, yes, indeed."

She went past him and hurried to her room where she sat down disconsolately on her bed. She wanted quite desperately to have a good cry but there was no time for that; Eileen would be free from her lesson in another five minutes or so, and the child had sharp eyes. She went and washed her face and made it up carefully and brushed her hair smooth and presently went back to the hall just in time to wish Frau Keppel goodbye as she left the apartment. The doctor came out of his study as she was shutting the door on that lady and hardly glancing at her wanted to know if his niece would care to accompany him to the shops. "A small present for your mother--but I have no idea at all, perhaps you could help me to choose."

"Is Cordelia coming?" asked Eileen.

"I think we might give her half an hour to herself, don't you--put your skates on if you're coming, I have to be at the hospital before two o'clock."

So Cordelia, left to herself, went back to her room, did her nails, went through her cupboards and drawers with a view to packing their contents very shortly and then, since the doctor's half an hour was in reality three times that length, she left the apartment and walked to the Rasmus Park and sat down on a seat in the shade. It was a very warm day, too warm to think seriously about anything. She gave up doing that presently and just stayed, staring in front of her; there was one day left before Eileen's parents came, and perhaps they would want to leave again at once despite what the doctor had said, and after that she would never see him again. A pretty girl might have stood a chance of at least hinting at meeting him again, a clever girl might have done even better. Being neither she had no idea how to bring this about. Presently the pleasant surroundings lulled her futile thoughts and she allowed herself to daydream. It was thus, sitting like a neat statue, her face rapt, that the doctor saw her as he drove along the Doctor Luegar Ring, listening with one ear to his niece's chatter and deep in his own thoughts. Eileen saw her at the same time and cried to him to stop and pick her up.

He shook his head.

"Cordelia doesn't have much time to herself, my dear, she must sometimes wish for an hour alone."

"But she's my governess, and I like her to be with me all the time."

She gave him a faintly cunning look.

"Don't. . don't you like her Uncle Charles?"

"She's what your Granny would call a thoroughly nice girl, Eileen, and yes, I like her very much. And if you so much as hint that to her, I shall wring your neck."

"Oh, I won't tell," said Eileen loftily, 'but it's a pity she doesn't know because then if ever she wanted another job, she could ask you for a reference." She frowned.

"You would give her one, wouldn't you?"

"You may rely on me, Eileen. Here we are, I must go through my post before lunch. Take the present with you will you?"

"I'll put it in your study."

He got out of the car and watched her go in the entrance; a nice child, even if spoilt, and much too bright. He strolled unhurriedly after her and went to his study and didn't come out until lunch time.

By then Cordelia was her usual calm self again, she replied cheerfully to Eileen's chatter, made various and quite unnecessary observations about the weather, replied suitably to the doctor when he suggested that they should take a drive through the city and take tea at one of the cafes, and ate almost no lunch. The doctor, with his eyes everywhere as usual, asked her sharply if she felt well and she told him in her sensible way that she found the warm day a little trying. The grunt he gave could have been of disbelief or there again, acquiescence.

She didn't see him again that day; she and Eileen went for their drive, had tea and since it was so warm, went to the park and strolled around, admiring the flowers and stopping for an ice. After dinner, Cordelia got Eileen to bed, for by now she was getting both excited and peevish.

Downstairs in the small sitting room, she sat down and did neat sums, trying to guess her future. She had saved carefully during the past few weeks, and there was every chance that she would stay with Eileen for a month or so yet, at least until she went to school in September. An? if Eileen had her way; she would stay for years. But she couldn't count on that.

Presently she went to bed, still pondering her finances; she would have to have a new winter coat and a skirt and sweaters, everything she had was shabby and governesses, even if not encouraged to be in the forefront of fashion, were expected to wear clothes suitable to their surroundings. She slept finally, her last thoughts not of clothes but of Charles Tres...o...b...

The morning was entirely taken up with keeping Eileen reasonably calm, listening patiently to her endless queries about what she should wear. By lunch time Cordelia had her dressed, ready and fairly quiet and lunch, which she had been dreading in case Eileen threw a tantrum, went off well, possibly because the doctor exhibited no signs of excitement at the prospect of seeing his sister and brother-in-law again although he was ready enough to discuss their entertainment with his niece.

He was careful to include Cordelia in their talk, not, she felt sure, because she would be involved, but because his manners were too good to allow her to feel left out. But his careless nod as he left with Eileen was meant, she felt sure, to put her in her place, reinforced as it was by his cool: "Don't forget that you are free until this evening, Cordelia."

She said tartly: "I hadn't forgotten. I'm looking forward to it." A remark which called forth a slow smile which disturbed her very much.

Left on her own, she went to her room, got her handbag and let herself out of the apartment. She had hours in front of her; she decided to go window shopping and visit St Stephan's cathedral once more, and then treat herself to tea at Sacher's for the last time.

She was aware that it was an extravagance that she could ill afford, but she might never come to Vienna again.

She Went to the cathedral first, wandering around its magnificent vastness and then strolling to the Graben, where she studied the beautiful luxurious things in the shop windows and then made her way to Kamtner Stra.s.se close by. She was looking at a display of leather handbags when Julius Salfinger came to a halt beside her.

"Ah, the English governess. I have been hoping to meet you again. Idid not like the things Dr Tres...o...b.. said to me, you know. You owe mesomething for that, Cordelia." He had put a hand on her arm, and whenshe tried to free it, he merely tightened his hold.

"I owe you nothing, Dr Salfinger, and whatever Dr Tres...o...b.. had to say to you had nothing to do with me and was certainly not of my doing."

"No? Then how was it that he was so well informed? I don't believeyou; I think that you wished to gain his interest and that was an easyway. No, do not try to take your arm away, it is a small comfort to meto see you frightened."

She said contemptuously,

"Scared? Of you? Don't be silly." She put her hand over his and lifted his hand away.

And at that moment the d ctor, driving his family through the shopping streets so that his sister might get a glimpse of them, slowed in the heavy traffic and saw them. His face went blank and his hands tightened on the wheel but only for a few moments; he drove on at once, pointing out anything of interest as they went.

As for Cordelia, happily unaware of having been seen, she handed Dr Salfinger back his hand, wished him a cold goodbye and walked away.

She would have liked to have run, but that would let him see how scared she was. There were crowds on either side of the street, she lost herself thankfully among them and when she reached Sacher's Coffee Shop, she went inside and sat herself at a table where she could see the street and the door. But there was no sign of him; she drank her coffee and ate her chocolate cake, her pleasure in her afternoon quite gone, and then made her way back to the apartment.

She had a couple of hours before she needed to present herself to her new employers and she could sit quietly in her room until it was time to change her dress.

There were voices and laughter coming from the drawing room as she went in and she walked softly down the hall, intent on getting to her room. She had gained the steps when the study door opened and the doctor put his head out. He looked, she considered, annoyed.

"Back early?" He asked nastily, 'was young Salfinger on duty this evening? Still, you had the afternoon together."

She was so surprised that she could only stand and gape at him. What had come over him? Usually so cool and impersonal, even in his more friendly moments.

She said without thinking.

"Did you see us? We were in the Kamtner Stra.s.se. I thought the airport was in the other direction."

"And so it is, unfortunately for your plans, I drove that way so that my sister could have a look round..." He looked so angry she expected him to grind his teeth at her.

"Plans what plans?" As usual when she was with him, she became less than her usual sensible self. "And we didn't have the afternoon together, what a silly thing to say. . ."

"Do not make excuses," said the doctor coldly, and withdrew his head, leaving her as it were in the middle of a highly unsatisfactory conversation.

Made even more unsatisfactory by Eileen, who came bouncing into her room a few minutes later.

"I saw you," she began at once, 'with Julius Salfinger. Why did you meet him? I thought you didn't like him; Uncle Charles said he wasn't your sort at all, and that I wasn't to play Cupid and you were to find your own love.. ."

Cordelia's bosom heaved with rage, humiliation and deep regret that she couldn't throw something heavy at Charles Tres...o...b..'s head. She said in an icy voice; "Your uncle has no business to discuss me and my affairs and I am quite capable of looking after myself."

Eileen flung her arms round her.

"Oh, darling Cordelia, now you're mad/ at me, aren't you? We weren'tdiscussing you Uncle Charles was giving me a telling off he said youwere a nice girl. . ."

Cordelia gave a hollow laugh.

"I suppose that is an improvement on being a dull girl with no looks."

She went on briskly: "Now love, you'd better have a shower and get yourself ready for dinner. What shall you wear?"

A red herring which was a sure fire success.

Cordelia put on the pink dress; with temper and the unhappy nagging atthe back of her mind, her face was pale and needed whatever help shecould give it. She went downstairs presently with Eileen, outwardlycomposed, her insides frothing with uncertainty; Eileen's mother mightbe a dragon; a female Uncle Charles with cold eyes and cold voice; shecould dislike her on sight. ..

Mrs Kinneard was none of these things, she was a youthful copy of her mother, with a sweet smile, a kind face, exquisitely made up and wearing a dress Cordelia instantly coveted. She came across the room to meet them and took Cordelia's hand.

"I'm going to call you Cordelia--you don't mind? Eileen has told us somuch about you, I feel we've known each other for a lifetime." Sheturned her head towards her husband, talking to the doctor; a thickset, fair haired man with a rugged, handsome face.

"Henry, come and meet Cordelia. You know that when mother wrote to sayshe'd engaged a governess we did wonder what she was like. Mother's nogood at describing anyone, she wrote that you were just right forEileen, Eileen told us that you were an angel who liked clothes--it wasCharles who described you in detail."

By a strong effort of will Cordelia didn't blush. She smiled nicely,darted a dagger look at the doctor who returned it with a bland stare,and patientlyanswered Mrs Kinneard's questions, sitting beside her on the sofa,sipping a very dry sherry which she didn't like much. The two men wereat the other end of the room and Eileen divided her attention upon bothparties.

No one said a word about future plans, it wasn't until Eileen had been coaxed to bed and Cordelia got up to go with her that Mrs Kinneard said,

"We'll have a nice talk tomorrow, Cordelia. Will you come to my room after breakfast?"

Cordelia, sitting by her window, enjoying the cool evening air, wondered what they would talk about.

Both men were at breakfast and for once the doctor hadn't got hishandsome nose buried in his letters. Instead he said carelessly: "Openthese for me presently, will you, Cordelia? I'll have to read thembefore lunch." He turned to his brother-in-law: "Any plans for thismorning. Henry?"

"Sal want's to go shopping, she also wants to see Schonbrunn, the Hof Palace, the Cathedral, and the Vienna Woods, oh, and Sacher's of course. How many days will that take?"