Nicholas rested a hand on her shoulder. “Return to your aunt. I’ll bring zeh doctor as soon as I can.”
Gigi nodded, feeling numb. Perhaps this was all a bad dream and she’d awaken in a few moments relieved. But no, Nicholas had already disappeared down the corridor, and her aunt was likely miserable with whatever affliction was plaguing her.
Soon, Gigi slipped into the shared compartment. Aunt Rowena was still in the same position. She hadn’t moved. Her eyes were closed, and Gigi watched for a moment to determine that her aunt was still breathing.
Tears stinging her eyes, Gigi returned to her aunt’s bedside and placed a hand on her forehead. Still hot. Next she clasped her aunt’s hand. It, too, was overly warm and clammy.
“A doctor is coming, Aunt,” Gigi said. “I found Nicholas in the dining car, and he said there’s a doctor on the train.”
Aunt Rowena exhaled. “Thank you,” she whispered, then squeezed Gigi’s hand.
Now all they had to do was wait. The minutes ticked by agonizingly slowly as Gigi wondered which train car the doctor was in.
When a soft knock sounded at the door, Gigi flinched. She crossed to the door and opened it. There stood a short, round man, appearing hastily dressed. Behind him stood Nicholas, tall and stoic.
“Darf ich rein kommen?”
“He wants permission to enter and examine your aunt,” Nicholas said.
“Yes, yes, of course.” Gigi stepped aside and motioned for the doctor to enter.
Nicholas remained in the corridor; there simply wasn’t room for anyone else inside the compartment.
Gigi relocated everything on the table before the doctor set a medical bag atop it. As the doctor spoke German to Aunt Rowena, Nicholas softly translated. Gigi watched the examination and how her aunt seemed to rally a bit, knowing that she had a doctor’s help.
When he began asking her questions about her health history, Gigi bit her lip at the translations Nicholas gave between the two of them. The doctor had plenty of questions about her pending surgery. The doctor’s manner was brusque, and after a few more questions, he packed up his things and turned to Nicholas.
Gigi wished she could follow the German, but she had to wait for Nicholas’s translation.
“She must mix zis powder in vith vater and drink it three times a day until she can meet vith her doctor at home,” Nicholas translated.
The German doctor nodded, then said something else to Nicholas.
“And . . .” Nicholas hesitated and glanced at Aunt Rowena.
“What is it?” Gigi asked.
Nicholas glanced at the doctor, who gave a firm nod. “Zeh doctor wants her to return home immediately. He says zaht if she does have cancer, zehn it will lower her immune system. She might have a small illness now, but it vill be made vorse because of zeh condition of her health.”
Gigi nodded, her mind racing with too many questions to respond. They were on a train to Bucharest. How did one reverse their route? She had enough clarity to thank the doctor before he left.
She leaned against the door after she closed it behind the men. How did she approach her aunt about this? Surely Aunt Rowena had overheard, even though her eyes were closed again.
Gigi crossed to her aunt’s bed and sat beside her. “Tell me what you want to do,” she whispered.
But her aunt didn’t respond. It seemed that she’d fallen asleep.
The hours of the night passed slowly. Gigi didn’t sleep at all as she listened for any change of breathing from her aunt. As the compartment lightened with the approaching dawn glinting between the velvet drapes, Gigi knew she had to speak to her aunt’s friends. But first she roused her aunt to give her the powder mixed with water.
Aunt Rowena opened her eyes, and her usually bright blue eyes were now dull.
“How are you feeling?” Gigi asked, placing a hand on her forehead again. Her aunt’s forehead was still warm but not as hot. That must be a good sign.
“I’m so tired,” her aunt said. “I feel like I’ve been awake for days and days.”
“The doctor left you more powder to put in some water,” Gigi said. “Here, let me help you sit up.” She helped her aunt move into a sitting position.
After she drank half of the mixture, Aunt Rowena leaned back on her pillow. “I will be fine,” she said, closing her eyes once again with a sigh. “I’ll just rest today in the hotel, and you can join the tour.”
“You need to be watched over,” Gigi said. How could her aunt say she would be fine? She couldn’t even keep her eyes open, and a doctor had needed to be fetched in the middle of the night. Gigi hated that it had come to this, but she was left with no other choice.
“The doctor said we need to cut the trip short,” Gigi said gently. “He says your immunity is lower because of the cancer inside your body.”
Aunt Rowena’s eyes opened at that. “We don’t know if it’s cancer.” She pushed up on her elbows, but even that movement left her breathless. “They won’t know until surgery, and I won’t have a doctor who knows nothing about my condition order me around. Besides, I don’t want my ball gowns to go to waste. The professor said that, on the way back, we’d detour to Salzburg and attend a ball with the Salzburg Maestro. He’s the most revered musician and composer in all of Europe. I brought two ball gowns so that I could decide between them.”
Gigi would have laughed if her aunt hadn’t been so earnest. In fact, Gigi wondered if Aunt Rowena was a tad delirious. She certainly wasn’t thinking straight. This was the first Gigi had heard of a ball with the Maestro, but it didn’t matter; Gigi hadn’t brought her ball gown anyway.
A knock sounded on the door, saving Gigi from responding. Perhaps someone else could help her convince her aunt that things like balls and ball gowns were not important right now. Gigi opened the door, expecting to see Irene or Blanche there, but it was Professor Haskins.
“I hope I didn’t disturb you,” he said in a low voice. “Nicholas told me about your aunt’s illness.”
Gigi glanced back at her aunt. “It’s the professor. I’ll be back in a moment.” She stepped into the corridor and slid the door closed behind her so that her aunt would have her privacy while still in bed.
The professor’s gaze was concerned as he studied her. Gigi had been fine, had been strong, until now. Emotions rushed through her, all of her fears about her aunt, all of her doubts about staying on the trip this long. “The doctor has advised us to return home as quickly as possible but . . .” Her throat tightened, and the words were lost.
“She does not want to go?” the professor guessed.
Gigi nodded.
“I don’t want her to go either,” he said. “But I spoke with the doctor after Nicholas told me. The doctor makes a good argument. Your aunt is putting her health at risk in more ways than one.”
The words felt like a stone in her stomach. The doctor had said the same thing last night, and, hearing Professor Haskins repeat it now only made it all the more real.
“Gigi,” he said in a soft voice, clasping her hand. “If I could come with you, I would. But—”
“You have other members on the tour. I know,” she said, clinging to his hand. His grasp was solid and warm, and she needed his steadiness right now. “I understand, and I’d never expect you to come with us. It’s not like you’re . . . family.”
His smile was faint, and he lifted his other hand to smooth back a bit of hair from her face. “Even so, I wish I could come.”
The intensity of his gaze made her stomach do a full somersault. She would miss this man. If only her aunt weren’t ill, then she’d have more time with him. But that was a selfish thought.
“Will you talk to her?” Gigi said, her voice trembling now. “I’m afraid I’m not able to get past her stubbornness, and she thinks so highly of you. She’s upset about missing the ball with the Salzburg Maestro.
I didn’t know there would be a ball.”
“Ah,” the professor said with a sigh. “That type of thing is optional, and now I’m sorry she’ll be disappointed.” He fixed her with a look that Gigi wasn’t sure she understood.
“What is it?”
“I don’t typically go to them,” he said. “I leave that to the guests. But I might have changed my mind to be there with you.”
Gigi couldn’t quite catch a full breath.
“Georgina,” a voice said from the other side of the door.
Gigi pushed back the heat climbing up her throat. “Could you speak to her?”
“Of course.”
“Wait here a moment.” Gigi ducked back into the room to find Aunt Rowena trying to get out of bed. Her face was flushed with exertion, and perspiration stood out on her brow.
“Aunt, what are you doing?” Gigi asked, hurrying to her side. “You’re to stay in bed at the very least.”
Aunt Rowena settled back onto the bed, her breathing coming in gasps. “What did the professor want?”
“He’s spoken with the doctor, and . . . the professor agrees. We should head home to get you better.”
Aunt Rowena closed her eyes, saying nothing.
“He’d like to speak with you if that’s all right.”
She nodded and opened her eyes. “All right.”
So Gigi opened the door for the professor and invited him inside.
“My dear madam,” the professor said, crossing to her bed. “I’m so sorry you’ve been ill.”
Aunt Rowena’s eyes filled with tears, and the professor took her hand in his.
“We will book you on the very next tour once you’ve recovered from surgery,” he said. “The tour won’t be the same without you, but I hope you’ll permit me to write to you of every detail so that you’ll feel you were here in person.”
Her gaze seemed to warm.
“Now,” the professor continued, “if you’ll allow me to make the arrangements, then help your niece pack, you won’t have to worry about a thing, except to get better as quickly as possible.”
Aunt Rowena patted his hand. “You’re a good man, Professor. I’ll leave all the arrangements to you, then. Georgina can direct you on the packing details.”
Gigi wanted to protest that she didn’t need help packing, but she wasn’t going to turn down more time spent with the professor. It was hard to believe this was all coming to such an abrupt end. She wouldn’t see Bucharest or Constantinople now, but what did that matter in the scale of what was important?
Professor Haskins turned to Gigi. “I’ll be back with information soon,” he said. “We should be arriving soon at the next stop, and we’ll get everything settled as quickly as possible.”
She followed him out into the corridor. The area was still quiet with the early hour, but she could hear the sounds of preparations coming from the dining car.
“Thank you, Professor Haskins,” she said. “You certainly have a way with my aunt.”
He looked like he was about to say something, but then he changed his mind. He nodded and headed down the corridor.
ChapteR FifteeN
Dear Lillian,
I might arrive home before you receive this letter. You will not believe all that has happened in such a short time. Aunt Rowena has taken ill, and because of another condition that she’d kept secret from all of us, the doctor on the train has told us we need to return home at once. Professor Haskins has been wonderful and booked us on the earliest return trip. We will miss the rest of the tour, but it can’t be helped. Aunt’s health is more important anyway.
Irene and Blanche have decided to stay on the tour, and the professor has promised to watch over them. I’m posting this now but will write once we are en route. I wish I could explain more about Aunt Rowena, but it is not my place . . .
“Is there anything else you need, madam?” Professor Haskins asked Aunt Rowena.
She was presently tucked into her new berth on their return train, and her color had begun to return, which made Gigi feel relieved. This train was far from fully booked, and there were several empty compartments, but Gigi still felt better about sharing with her aunt.
“You have been wonderful, Professor,” Aunt Rowena said, giving her best effort at a smile. “Thank you for watching over Irene and Blanche. I know they wanted to return with me, but I insisted they not throw away this trip. Georgina and I will send you letters about my progress.”
“Wonderful,” the professor said. “I’ll look forward to hearing about every step of your recovery.”
He clasped Aunt Rowena’s hand, then bent to kiss her cheek.
Gigi found herself smiling but feeling teary-eyed too.
He turned to her next. “Safe travels, Miss Ballard.” His voice had a new thickness to it.
“Thank you for everything.” Gigi exhaled slowly. She would not cry. No.
“Care for one more stroll?” he said in a quieter voice.
Gigi’s neck heated because surely her aunt had heard what the professor had said. But Rowena made no comment, so Gigi said, “I’d love to.”
Professor Haskins offered his arm, and she slipped her arm through it. They left the compartment, and due to the narrow corridor, their clothing brushed as they walked together.
“Gigi, I . . .” the professor started to say, then stopped walking.
She looked up at him, so close now that she could see the green and brown in his eyes even though there wasn’t full light in the corridor.
The professor drew her toward him as he stepped backward into an empty compartment that had its door open. They were out of immediate sight should anyone come into the corridor.
“I can’t believe this is goodbye,” the professor said.
“I can’t either.” Gigi gazed at this man, this kind and beautiful man who’d had his own heartbreak.
“If only . . .” He exhaled. “If only we had more time. I would have . . .”
“What?” she whispered. And then, she wasn’t sure what possessed her, but she lifted her free hand and placed it on the lapel of his jacket. It was an intimate gesture to be sure, and she’d surprised herself and likely him too.
He didn’t move for a moment, then he placed his warm hand over hers, bringing them even closer together. “If only we had more time,” he said in a rasp, “I would have done this . . .”
Gigi’s pulse had never raced so fast as it did when the professor leaned down and brushed his mouth against hers. Her fingers curled into his lapel, and she pulled him closer at the same moment he shifted his other arm about her waist. Drawing her in, he kissed her again slowly and deliberately as if he’d been thinking of this scenario before this moment.
Gigi tightened her hold on his jacket, keeping her feet from floating off the ground. It was no surprise to her that a single kiss, or three, from the professor could make her forget every man she’d ever met. For in this small train compartment, in this stolen moment, there was only him and there was only her.
The professor pulled her more fully into his arms and then buried his face against her neck.
She clung to him, knowing that this would never happen again. She’d never see him again. Never hear his voice again. This was goodbye. Her heart thumped, and she swore she could feel his thumping too.
She didn’t want to let him go, but she had to. It was time.
“Clyde . . .” She felt his smile against her neck.
“I like it when you use my name, Gigi,” he whispered. “And I like how you always smell like roses.”
It was her turn to smile. If only they could exist in this space and moment forever. If only there weren’t things and people demanding her attention. If only her aunt were healthy and they could remain on the tour.
“I’m sorry,” he said, bringing her out of her reverie.
>
“For what?”
He lifted his head, and his gaze captured hers. The warmth and desire in his eyes was plain, sending a slow heat through her veins. “For kissing you when I shouldn’t have.”
She didn’t want to hear this. She didn’t want to have him regret anything between them.
Lifting a hand, she placed it against his cheek. “I’m glad you did. Now I have a new memory to cherish.”
His gaze sobered just before he leaned down and kissed her again. This time it was brief. Like a goodbye.
“I must go, Gigi,” he said, releasing her and stepping back. “I . . . I’ve probably confused you, and I’m sorry for that. But I wanted to kiss you just this once.”
She swallowed against the pain building in her throat.
“Safe travels, dear Gigi.”
She nodded, tears already trying to escape. “Safe travels, Clyde,” she echoed.
And then he was gone. Just like that. Slipped into the corridor, out of her sight. She waited in the empty train compartment for several moments. After that kiss and after that goodbye, she needed to be by herself for a moment before she returned to her aunt—before she returned home to her life that would soon move on from Professor Haskins and all that they’d shared.
When the conductor called, “En voiture!” Gigi steeled herself to return to her compartment and begin tending to her aunt. Professor Clyde Haskins was now a thing of the past. She moved into the corridor only to nearly run into a man. For an instant, she thought it might be the professor returned to confess that he could not leave her after all, that they must find a way to be together . . .
“Nicholas,” she said when she realized who the man actually was.
He nodded, his dark eyes hooded as he gazed down at her quite intently.
Did she still have tears upon her cheeks? Were her eyes rimmed with red?
“You are returning home, Miss Ballard?” he said in that rich, deep voice of his.
“Yes, my aunt is following the doctor’s orders,” Gigi said. “Thank you for your help.”
Until Vienna (Romance on the Orient Express) Page 11