The time came for the party on the estate to celebrate the end of bottling the vintage. There was nothing much to celebrate, for it was a poor, scanty wine. Yet tradition demanded the party should be held, and certainly it would give spirits a little lift.
It was impossible not to invite the billeted officers. To have shut them out would have been a downright insult. Besides, the company of infantrymen who had turned the stables into a little German village were sure to take part, because they had girlfriends by now among the families of the locality.
Thus it came about that on an evening at the end of June, Delphine found herself waltzing with Lieutenant von Kravensfeldt in the decorated shed at the far side of the estate. The atmosphere was lively. A little band from the infantry company was playing German and Viennese tunes. Pretty coloured globes had been put over the gas jets, the gas supply having been restored. The scent of new wine and flowers was in the air.
‘It’s very hot in here,’ suggested Lenhardt. Indeed, for him it was very hot, in stiff-collared dress uniform and white kid gloves. By contrast Delphine looked cool in her gauzy crinolined gown of light blue.
She submitted to being led outside to the arbour of vines which were allowed to grow for decoration outside the main shed. Other couples were sitting on the benches, however. Lenhardt led her on to the shadows of the oak trees. It was about ten o’clock. Beneath the oak boughs there was almost complete darkness.
Lenhardt took the gloved hand that had been resting on his sleeve. He raised it to his lips.
‘Mademoiselle Delphine,’ he murmured, ‘you are the most exquisite creature I ever saw.’
Delphine frowned in the darkness. But he couldn’t see her expression. Since she made no sound, he went on: ‘You must know how much I admire you. I beg leave to tell you that I have chosen you for my wife.’
‘Your wife!’ It was pure startlement. She had never been more than coolly polite to the young man. What could he mean, speaking in this fashion? Had he drunk too much?
‘Certainly. You couldn’t think my feelings for you would lead me to offer less than the most honourable alliance? I believe your mother will give her consent. Say I have your agreement to ask her.’
‘Not at all!’ Delphine cried, twitching her hand from his grasp. ‘You must be insane! Marry a Prussian?’
‘Oh, if that is your only objection, then all is easy,’ Lenhardt cried, totally misled by his own preconceptions. ‘Your mother doesn’t feel any enmity towards us, I am certain ‒’
‘But I, sir! I feel enmity,’ Delphine broke in. She turned to run back to the party. He seized her arm.
‘Oh, wait!’ Then, shocked at his own bad manners, he drew back. ‘Forgive me, Delphine. But I can’t let you run off without giving me your answer. May I look forward to offering you my hand and heart?’
‘Please do not,’ she said. Her chin came up. ‘I have to accept that you are living in my home, in unavoidable proximity. But never speak to me again on this subject.’
‘But, Delphine ‒ why not? You like me, don’t you?’
‘Whether I like you or not has nothing to do with it. I could never marry a Prussian.’
This time she made her escape. She went back to the party and ensured her safety by dancing with one after the other of the men from the wine-house. She withdrew early, so that she was in her own room when the celebrators at last straggled homeward and the German troops, singing harmoniously to the last, fell into bed.
Lenhardt was puzzled by Delphine’s attitude. She had been perfectly polite and complaisant since they took up residence in the house. Of course, she hadn’t encouraged him, but he hadn’t expected encouragement: that would have been improper.
Next day he consulted his commanding officer. He warned him first that it was a personal matter, then set out his wishes concerning Mademoiselle de Tramont.
‘Well, well … When I told you to build up good relations, I didn’t quite foresee this.’
‘But you have no objections, sir?’
‘None at all. In fact, I believe there have been one or two engagements and marriages already, elsewhere in the occupation zone. Well, von Kravensfeldt, when is the happy day?’
‘Herr Oberst, Mademoiselle de Tramont did not give me much encouragement. She … her mother had already mentioned to me that Mademoiselle Delphine has very strong feelings of patriotism. She seemed unwilling to entertain any offer from a member of the occupation force.’
‘What nonsense! In a year or two this war will be quite forgotten! Oh, my dear boy, don’t let that stand in your way. What does the mother say about the match?’
‘I haven’t yet approached her, sir.’
‘Well, do so, do so! You won’t get any further until you have her approval.’
‘The point is, sir … I’m not very good at this kind of thing. I should be quite at a loss if Madame de Tramont upheld her daughter’s viewpoint. I never thought of myself as ruled out of court simply because I’m a Prussian.’
The idea was to him almost incredible. He was a professional soldier. He had done his duty when his country went to war. The war was now over. Everyone could now be friends. No one, surely could hold it against him that he had fought for his country?
‘My dear Lenhardt, what do you expect from me, then? Nothing can happen until you’ve spoken to The Widow Tramont.’
‘No, sir … As a matter of fact …’
‘Yes?’
‘I wondered if you would speak to her, sir? You’re so much better than me at this kind of thing. And of course if we were at home, it would be my father who would speak to the parents.’
‘Aha! You wish me to act in loco parentis?’ Von Jarburg was amused. ‘All right, I see no objections. I’ll call on her tomorrow.’
‘Thank you, sir! Much appreciated!’
Colonel von Jarburg was quite a young man, who had risen quickly in his career after distinguishing himself with the Prussian army in the Battle of Sadowa. He had got himself just the wife he wanted, with a handsome fortune attached. He had good looks, ability and confidence: he was sure there was nothing he couldn’t do.
His message to Nicole brought forth only consternation, to his astonishment.
‘But, dear lady, why do you react in this way? I assure you, von Kravensfeldt is an excellent match. He’s a younger son, it’s true, but his maternal grandmother has left him a very handsome property north of Berlin and he has a fine career ahead of him in the army. True, he’s only a lieutenant at present, but his promotion is in the pipeline already for good service in the war.’
Nicole managed to recover herself.
‘This is most unexpected, colonel. My daughter hasn’t mentioned any approach from the lieutenant.’
‘Waiting to have it done in proper form, as is only right. Normally Baron von Kravensfeldt would be discussing these matters with you ‒’
‘Has the Baron been informed of his son’s intentions?’
‘I believe not. But there can be no problem there. Baron von Kravensfeldt is hardly likely to object to a match with the daughter of The Widow Tramont.’
‘I see.’ Nicole was searching wildly for a good excuse to dismiss the idea.
‘I gather from the lieutenant that there is already a rapport between himself and your family. He seemed fairly certain you had nothing against him as a suitor?’
‘Oh, not in the normal way,’ Nicole said, floundering, and annoyed with herself as a result. ‘But you see … my daughter …’
‘He mentioned to me that she had some objections on nationalist grounds. But, dear lady, those can hardly be taken seriously when weighed against the attractions of the match. Von Kravensfeldt ‒ the father, I mean ‒ was a member of the bodyguard of our Kaiser when he was King of Prussia. The son is likely to follow in the father’s footsteps. And think how advantageous, madame ‒ when the husband receives royal notice, the wife does too.’
‘I don’t think that is likely to be an attraction to my daughter ‒’
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‘I think you’re wrong there, madame. There’s something about being at court that is very appealing. And you know, von Kravensfeldt himself is a very good fellow ‒ doesn’t drink or gamble more than he should, goes to church regularly …’
‘I’m sure what you say is true. I have found him just as you describe. But then you see, it is my daughter who would have to live with him. And she isn’t likely to want to.’
‘But why not? Apart from the nonsensical reason about his being a Prussian?’
Nicole hesitated.
‘The young lady is not already promised elsewhere?’ the colonel asked sharply.
‘No … But there was a young man …’
‘There was a marriage in view?’
‘Certainly not!’
‘Then what about this young man?’
‘She is still grieving for him.’
‘Ah? He’s dead? I understand! Well, really, the sooner she gets over that, the better, don’t you agree? Unless you plan to allow her to become an old maid?’
‘No, that was not my plan,’ acknowledged Nicole. She was vexed with herself at not having pursued a match for her daughter, but so many other things had claimed her attention. Besides, she’d sensed that for some time Delphine would still say no to everyone she proposed.
The same remained true of Lenhardt von Kravensfeldt.
‘I really feel it’s no use to press the matter with her, Colonel. Delphine is not of a mind to accept an offer of marriage.’
Colonel von Jarburg frowned. He was a little put out to find he wasn’t winning this argument. Moreover, what was the lady thinking of, allowing her daughter to say yes or no as she pleased to suitable offers?
‘Allow me to speak to the young lady,’ he suggested. ‘I could perhaps lay arguments before her ‒’
‘Oh, no, colonel ‒ really ‒ and besides, Delphine is out at the moment.’
‘Ah, too bad. Well, let me invite her to tea one afternoon. We could have a little chat. I’m sure I could persuade her.’
‘I think not, colonel.’
‘Please, madame. I must insist,’ said von Jarburg. He wasn’t accustomed to having civilians say no to him. He softened it by adding, ‘I promised Lenhardt to do my best for him. I really feel I must put his case earnestly to the young lady.’
There seemed no way out of it, short of telling him he was an interfering young ass. Nicole sighed and bent her head.
‘I shall expect her … let me see … the day after tomorrow? Afternoon tea à l’anglaise ‒ it’s quite the fashion at the Prussian court.’
‘At what hour shall we call?’
‘At about four? But please, madame ‒ I should like the young lady to come alone. I’ll send a carriage for her.’
Delphine, given notice of this appointment, went pink with annoyance. ‘What can he imagine he’ll achieve? I’ve already told the lieutenant it’s out of the question!’
‘I think the colonel is a man who needs to have it said to him in person,’ sighed Nicole.
The appointed day was a Thursday. On that morning a letter arrived from Paulette for Nicole. She had clearly written it when extremely depressed after having had the results of Robert’s latest tests.
‘My dearest sister, I wonder whether it is worth your while spending any more money on the fees of specialists. They are agreed that Robert is likely to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. I have decided to reconcile myself to the fact and wonder if you shouldn’t do the same. God knows I have prayed for some miracle to intervene, but without result.
‘As to Robert himself he is, naturally, very low in spirits. He told me this morning that he wished the Prussian guns had finished him off instead of leaving him only half a man.
‘I believe, Nicci, it will be best to take him to some quiet retreat where he can live without upsets. We cannot return to our home in Strasbourg without having to live as Germans, which I suppose would make him miserable. I think it would be best to sell out my business interests in Rethel, such as they are, and settle in a healthy seaside town.
‘Let me have your views on this. If you insist on his continuing to see other doctors, I will of course obey, but I think it is useless. Yr. affec. sister, Paulette.’
Nicole folded the letter hastily and put it by on her desk. It was imperative not to let Delphine see it without first preparing her for the news. Unfortunately Delphine, coming in later while her mother was out in the vaults, saw her aunt’s handwriting and as usual took up the letter to get the latest news of Robert.
What she read was like a blow to the heart. So when, later that day, two Uhlan troopers arriver with a gig to take her to her appointment with their colonel, she was in no mood to be respectful.
‘Well, dear young lady,’ said von Jarburg when she was shown into his office in the mairie, ‘it is charming to have your company.’ In her dark green afternoon costume of fine silk, she was a delightful sight. He didn’t blame young Kravensfeldt for wanting her.
He waved at his servant who, sparkling like a diamond in his polished buttons and small white apron, poured tea into porcelain cups. ‘Milk or lemon? Lemon, Hans. Sandwich? No? I think I will have one.’
He waited until the manservant withdrew. Then he said, ‘Dear young lady, with your mother’s permission I address you on behalf of Lenhardt von Kravensfeldt ‒’
‘You needn’t bother,’ Delphine said, the picture of Robert before her eyes. ‘Nothing you could say would make me accept him.’
‘But why not? Here is a young man, a good career in the making, chances of a post at the Imperial court, a fine fortune in his own right ‒’
‘I’m aware of all that. I’m also aware that he is a member of the army who wrecked someone very dear to me ‒’
‘Put all that behind you, mademoiselle,’ urged von Jarburg in what he thought was a winning tone. He smoothed his moustache before adding, ‘War is of course cruel. That is why men fight the battles, dear young lady. Women should not think too much about such things. I gather that you have strong feelings about the late war, but I must insist to you that patriotism, though a manly virtue, is not something ladies should take too much to heart when a good marriage is in consideration.’
Delphine put by her tea-cup. ‘I am entitled to my opinions,’ she exclaimed. ‘I didn’t come here to be lectured on such a topic!’
‘Well, well … Certainly it is about the lieutenant that I principally want to speak. Since I gather you are not promised to someone else, it is your duty to consider him seriously. Over-sensitivity about the past can never be healthy. You should overcome it. I’m surprised your mother permits it.’
She leapt up, disregarding the fine porcelain cup which slopped its tea all over the little gilt table.
‘How dare you!’ she cried. ‘Who are you to tell me how I should feel and what I should think? I find you impertinent!’
On the pavement outside the mairie the guard was being changed. The sergeant marching the new sentry to his post glanced up at the sound of a woman’s voice raised in outcry from the open window above. He made an inquiring grimace.
‘Fine young lady with the colonel,’ explained the sentry going off duty. ‘Brought in with a two man escort. Oh, she’s a looker, I can tell you!’
‘New light o’ love for the colonel?’ asked the new sentry.
‘More likely a spy, if you ask me,’ joked the man going off duty. Salutes were exchanged, the sergeant took the old guard off to smoke a pipe behind the guardroom.
Upstairs in the headquarters office, the colonel was trying to repair the mistakes he’d made. That was the problem about trying to do diplomatic things in a foreign language: you weren’t quite sure if you had the words exactly right. ‘Mademoiselle, please don’t take what I say amiss. I speak for your own good. Why, back in Berlin, young ladies would give their eye-teeth for a young man like Lenhardt ‒’
‘Then let them have him, by all means! He means less than nothing to me!’
‘But joking apart, mademoiselle, you ought to think about it. Besides, the poor fellow’s mad after you.’
‘That is his misfortune. I have already told him I don’t wish to hear any more on this subject.’
‘But your mother is quite willing to have you consider him. She tells me you aren’t engaged ‒’
‘My affairs are not a matter for discussion between other people!’ cried Delphine, beside herself with vexation at having a stranger meddling in her private life. ‘And why you should take it upon yourself ‒’
‘But Lenhardt asked me to ‒’
‘Good God, does he really think I would listen to a silly little man like you?’
‘Mademoiselle!’ He was affronted.
‘Oh, don’t open your mouth and look astonished. What did you expect if you interfere where you haven’t been invited?’
‘Nevertheless, one doesn’t expect abuse ‒’
‘Oh, be quiet!’ She made for the door. Surprised, he got in her way as she attempted to leave. She tried to go round him. He put out an arm. She pushed it aside. ‘Don’t dare to stop me. I’m leaving ‒’
‘Mademoiselle, please ‒ don’t leave in this hysterical ‒’
‘Hysterical? I’m not hysterical! Just because I don’t want to listen to your patronising nonsense ‒’
‘Mademoiselle!’ He was hurt and angry. So this was what you got for trying to talk sense to a high-strung young French girl. ‘I demand that you stay and hear me out!’
‘I shall do nothing of the kind! You may command the army post, but you don’t command me!’
‘But I’m speaking to you about marriage ‒ about a chance to make a brilliant match ‒’
‘A brilliant match! The only man I ever wanted to marry is beyond my reach ‒ no strutting Prussian will ever take his place!’
She darted under his outstretched arm and out of the door. She was halfway down the stairs before he recovered his wits. He rushed after her. ‘Mademoiselle! Mademoiselle!’ His cry echoed in the stone staircase.
The Wine Widow Page 31