Sometimes he took me out for a short walk in the garden and more or less he made his peace with Mopsi… Well, he bribed her as I found him feeding her under the breakfast's table, just to get rid of her. She's very possessive of me and does not like if he's around on top of me. Once, when we were on the garden, Konrad told me: “I can't live without out you, Guntram. Promise me that you will stay with me.” He sounded so desperate that I was speechless. “I love you more than my own life. Don't you ever go away!” I could only say: “I love you too, but it's not in my hands. I'll love you till my last breath.” He hugged me to the point of almost breaking my ribs and whispered:
“Promise me that nothing and no one will split us up! Only God!” “Konrad, I love you because you made me want to live again. Before I only wanted to die but now, I want to get better and grow old with you!”
“You will live many years and I will do all what's in my hand to make you as happy as you make me. No one ever made me feel what I feel next to you. You're my life, Guntram. I never knew how empty my life was till you came to me. You're a present from God.”
I was speechless; so moved I was and could only smile and kiss him. “I'll stay with you my love as long as I can.”
We returned to the house and Friederich decided to take a photo of us. Coming to think, there's not a single picture of us together. Konrad accepted gladly and I let him do it because I knew it made him happy.
Friederich took several in the garden, covered by the snow and in the yard near the cherry tree. Konrad said that he wanted one copy for his office and I blushed.
I was surprised to hear that he had cancelled the Christmas lunch with Ferdinand's and Albert's families. He told me that I needed to rest and he was very tired after the past week. He had invited Albert, his whole family, Elisabetta and Armin, the eldest (Albert's younger brother, a bohemian who is a film maker) and his wife and children for New Year. A total of twelve people more. I asked why Ferdinand was not invited and he only told me that he was having some troubles with him and his wife and preferred to keep distance till everything was sorted out.
On Christmas Eve we had a light dinner in the small dinning room and went to bed early. The whole staff was very happy that day. I guess this year's bonus was nice.
On Christmas morning, Konrad was like a child, an oversized one, but so sweet in his eagerness. He shook me awake at 7 a.m.!
“Is it not possible to sleep longer one single day in this house?” I complained jokingly.
“You're the one who sleeps the longest! Look, you want to sleep now instead of checking if you got something for Christmas!”
“What makes you think that you got something?” I asked, doing my best to be serious.
“I was very good this year,” he said haughtily and I laughed, rising from the bed to kiss him. “But I got my one already,” he returned my kiss with much more passion, making me lay against the pillows while he climbed on top of me.
Just when I was thinking that I was going to get finally lucky—against the doctor's orders; absolute bed rest for two weeks—he broke the kiss and jumped out of the bed, completely dressed and shouted; “Hurry up or you'll miss it!” He dashed out of the room, toward his studio.
Sighing, I left the comfortable and warm bed. It's useless. He lives on a permanent caffeine rush. I washed and got dressed very informally with black corduroy trousers and light blue shirt and beige jersey, before joining him in his studio. He closed with a loud thud the folder he was reading and took it with him before going the stairs down, to the big (monster size) Christmas tree that had arrived yesterday and we had been decorating under Friederich's frown.
Friederich had been very kind as to help me hide Konrad's present—yes, despite the size of this castle and who knows how many rooms it has, it's very difficult to hide anything from him!— and had left it, wrapped under the tree. I was surprised to see other two large square boxes under the tree, obviously wrapped for children because of the old toys paper, topped with a large red ribbon.
“Konrad, if you think that two boxes will keep Albert's children happy, you're seriously mistaken,” I joked.
“They're not for them! They're for Klaus and Karl, but I think it's fine if you open them.”
“It's not all right to open children's presents,” I said, thinking that perhaps those were the children of one of the maids. “Come, open mine!” I gave the painting to him. Honestly, what do you give a man who has a fat bank account? Not many options left. A painting; well a watercolour. Like a child, he tore the paper and got the painting out of its tube. He was looking at it enraptured.
“It's…”
“San Capistrano, the view from the terrace.”
“Yes, that's when you told me that you loved me.”
“I always loved that place and it was my place to run away when everything was too much for me. The loneliness of the plain was always very appealing to me. It was the perfect place for me to ask you to be my consort.
You have captured its essence, but it has a new light at the same time.”
“I'm happy you like it.”
“It goes to my office, I know exactly where.”
“Please don't do that! You have real things there!”
“It's my office and I decorate it as I like. Now, open your present! He nudged me like a child and showed me again the boxes.
“Konrad, this is for two children!” I protested but he shut me up with a kiss.
“Open it, my love. We can wrap it up together later,” He whispered in my ear, knowing that I can't resist his voice. I knelt on the floor and saw that both boxes had the names of “Klaus Maria” and “Karl Maria” written in his perfect handwriting. Still feeling bad about it, I carefully removed the ribbon, hoping it wouldn't be ruined, from the “Klaus” box and opened the paper by carefully removing the tape. Inside was a box with a large Steiff teddy bear in a brass colour, with a serious expression. Still puzzled I looked at Konrad and he only showed me the other box. I repeated the process and inside was another teddy bear, but in a dark brown shade for “Karl”.
“I thought it would be a good idea to protect our own ones. They are the 1920 model and in a size that a small child can carry.”
“I don't understand.”
He only gave me the folder he had been carrying and I opened it. Inside were several pictures of an ultrasound in 3D of two babies.
“Those are our children, Guntram. Klaus and Karl. They're four months old. They will be born on May 15th according to the doctors,” he told me very softly and I was petrified, unable to remove my eyes from the pictures.
My eyes were glued to them, memorizing each little detail and unable to believe that they were there.
“Is it true?” I croaked and he had to steady me because everything turned around.
“Yes, my love. Our children.”
“I…” Lord, I was on the brink of a collapse. So unexpected but so wonderful!
“I didn't tell you before because there are risks in any pregnancy and I didn't want to make you suffer till we were sure that the babies were fine and on their way. Are you happy?”
“Are they real?”
“Of course, two boys so far. Klaus Maria is the name for the eldest and Karl Maria for the second. Do you like the names?”
“They're perfect,” I whispered.
“Are you all right?”
“I'm in shock. They're so beautifully wrinkled and they have fingers already.”
“Children improve with time, Guntram,” he told me and I blurted a laugh. “The law does not allow me put you as father in the papers, but I will name you their legal tutor and Guardian of Estate in case something happens to me. They will be as much yours as mine. We are a real family know. Promise me that you will always be there for them.”
“I swear I will love them as my own flesh,” I promised and got lost in them again, so happy to see them and know that they were really coming to us. “This one puckers the chin exactly as you do.”
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“NO! Children can change a lot! And I don't pucker my chin!” He said, holding me tighter than before as I caressed reverently the two bears. “Guntram, you have already one teddy bear. If you want another, just say it.
Those are for Klaus and Karl,” he joked and I hit him with the folder, making him laugh.
“We have nothing ready for them!” I realised.
“We have two teddy bears and they will arrive in May!” He chuckled at my concern.
“That's not enough time! They need a crib, diapers, clothes, a doctor, toys, milk and who knows what else!” I nearly shouted with him. He brings two babies home and has no idea of what to do? I thought he was the responsible person here!
“Friederich will look for the nurses and they will make a list of what they need. We'll need three according to the pediatrician Wagemann recommended. I was thinking to send them to the old nursery, where your studio is. You can check on them as much as you want.”
“Don't give the babies to nannies! I want to be with them!”
“I'm not giving them away. They will look after them and you can be with them as much as you want, but the sleepless nights are for them. It might be too much for your health my love, and we need you healthy and ready to cope with the three of us.”
“I'm very happy. No, happy is not the right word. I could burst with joy.” I jumped to his neck and kissed him till I heard a cough and quickly disentangled myself from him.
“Excuse me, sir. Has the young sir, taken his morning pills?” Friederich—who else?—said from the entrance, carrying a small tray with a glass of water and my beloved medications. All of them. I sighed and took them.
After all, I have to be nice, obey the doctors, only for the babies.
We had breakfast together and Konrad told me that he had a present for me… A painting made by my own mother, Cécile Dubois Strinberg. A private investigator had found it in Lille and it dated from 1978. It was an oil of a young woman combing her chestnut hair by an old wooden window.
I was moved to see it. Nicholas Lefèbre had told me that my mother had been an artist without much luck but I had never found a reference about her or a painting from her.
“How did you get it?”
“It was not easy. It belonged to a family who had gotten it as a present from one of your mother's Aunts and didn't want to sell it. They did it only when the person told them that it was for her son. The investigator followed the wills of your mother's aunts and discovered that these people had one of her works. It's a beautiful painting, although it has not your mastery of technique.”
“I just love it. It's incredible to see it. Thank you so much! Did you meet her?”
“No, never. You were born in 1982 and by that time I had no contact with your family. I know that your father was very sad after her passing, but nothing else. We were not friends.”
“My father loved her very much. He told me so. He also said that I had her sweet and peaceful nature.”
“Yes, fortunately you're nothing like him. He was an excellent lawyer, but we never had anything more than a professional relationship.”
December 28th London
“Boss is going to give me an ulcer!” Pavel Mikhailovich complained, collapsing on the kitchen chair.
“Give me a vodka, I do need one.”
Massaiev smirked as he took the bottle and poured a shot for the man. “Hard task?”
“No, chauffeur duties. Easy job. This morning, Irina, his secretary called me and told me that I had to pick up a “Stefania di Barberini at Heathrow from Rome at 5:45 p.m. and bring her to the house in Knightsbridge for dinner with the boss. I thought it was a mistake as the girl is new and I wrote Stefano di Barberini and waited there with the sign, standing like an idiot. At some point a brunette comes to me and shouts, very crossed that she's Stefania di Barberini to meet Mr. Karamazov. No one told me, we were playing again “Great Works of the Russian Literature”
again and I almost blew it up because she was a fucking woman!”
Massaiev chuckled at the mistake. “I got her Louis Vuitton's suitcase in the face and she started to run to the car. She was almost exploding when I told her to move her ass to the parking lot. I'm not a fucking chauffeur! I'm a group leader! Boss should send one of the newbies to pick up the whores!”
Massaiev sighed. 'So different that when Guntram was arriving! He was grateful that a car was coming for us and was never that rude to any of us.' “You might be a group leader, but this Stefania di Barberini is Lintorff's former favourite whore; ten years in the position. She got fired the minute the animal saw Guntram.”
“Yes, I remember him. Nice kid, and I was expecting someone in this line, but no. I had to drive a bossy, haughty bitch! Can you believe that she went to the back side of the car and waited for me to open her door?”
'Guntram would have never done that. The men were running by themselves to open the door for him.
He was always doing his best not to be a burden and treated the men with respect. I think I never heard a derogative remark from him to any of them. Only a few shouts with me at the end when he was at the limit,' Massaiev recalled dreamily.
“I drove the bitch here and if she was Lintorff's fling, no wonder he jumped on Guntram! She's old, haughty and rude. Do you think he will ever be back?”
“Boss is working on it. When do you have to return her?”
“After dinner, to her hotel.”
'With such a bad taste, Lintorff does not deserve to keep my angel for one minute longer!' Constantin thought once more while he used all his patience and coldness to keep his amiable façade of the “models” manager from Russia. 'I have to recover my Guntram before that miserable German ruins him more! In Rome he was terrified and almost shouted at me. Lintorff has completely ruined his training!' “So Boris, will you tell me about your project in St. Petersburg?” Stefania said, fidgeting with her dinner in what was a clear proof of her deficient education in front of the Russian's eyes. He had enough and decided to go for business before he would literally kick the vulgar woman from his house. 'My angel would have never done something like this. It's disgusting and contemptuous to your host. No matter what was served, he never complained. I couldn't tell if he hated some food or not. I only know what he liked best.'
'Boris? Who gave you permission to speak to me like this?' “My name is Constantin Ivanovich Repin, madam. Boris Karamazov is one of my underlings and he does not need any help for running his agency. I would like to speak with you about a mutual acquaintance.”
“Whoever you are, this is outrageous! You brought me here with lies!”
“I like to keep my privacy, Miss Barberini. I'm a discreet man.”
“I'm leaving right now!” She shouted and rose from her chair.
“Very well, send my greetings to Konrad von Lintorff, if he ever again answers a call from you.”
Constantin smirked and secretly enjoyed her astonished face. “Now that I have your attention, I would like to discuss business with you.”
Stefania sat back and whispered: “I'm listening to you, sir.”
“Years ago someone said that some people preferred oysters and others snails. Lintorff always kept an open mind and preferred them both, especially if he could take them from some other people's table.”
'What is this crazy Russian telling me? I'm not into animals and much less those disgusting creatures!' “I think I don't follow you.”
'Forget about subtlety! I will have to draw pictures so she can understand!' “Madam, I'm aware that the Duke decided to transfer his attentions from you to a young artist named Guntram de Lisle.”
“It's not like that! I found him on the couch with the little…”
“Please, madam, let's do not be vulgar. We can discuss all this in a civilized way, without adjectives.”
Constantin would have never let her pronounce a word against his angel in his presence. Many had died for it.
“Perhaps you're not well aware of the c
ircumstances of his change of heart.”
“Of course I am. His cousin Gertrud, a good friend of mine, told me everything. He brought the boy from Russia and kept him in his residence at Zurich, introducing him as his ward while he was still with me! The boy was the friend of a very rich man, but not rich enough as he traded him for Konrad!”
'Very unlikely but it serves my purposes.' “I'm the wealthy man from Russia. Guntram was living with me till Konrad von Lintorff took him away. I want him back with me and I'm willing to do everything to achieve my goals.”
“He's just a clever little whore!” 'Gay and cuckold. As good as it gets,' was Stefania's thought, doing her best to hide the contempt from her eyes. 'What's wrong with them? One blue eyed idiot makes dove eyes at them and both went crazy? I should have seen it much earlier! Lintorff never cared if I was with other men because he was using me to cover his own shit! He was not the idiot I thought!'
“Keep your opinions to yourself, madam,” Constantin growled and his dark eyes shone in a feral way, terrifying Stefania. “Do not compare Guntram with the likes of you. When Lintorff took him, he had just partly recovered from a serious accident and was very confused. Somehow, he blamed me for it and wanted to go away even if his health condition was very serious. He risked his own life when he left with Lintorff. He never was after your patron, madam. I'm convinced that Lintorff cornered Guntram till he accepted him. Tell me, was he in bed with him when he arrived to Switzerland?”
“I don't know. I went to a party once in Zurich in March, but the boy was nowhere to be seen. Lintorff told me he was in bed because he was sick. Later I saw the boy with him in Rome, in July, at San Capistrano and he insisted Konrad to go out with me,” Stefania confessed.
“Did they look like lovers? Women know such things immediately.”
“No, the boy was sitting next to him, but he was drawing and I thought that I was a fool to be jealous of him because he had no intentions or was competition for me.”
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