by Eric Flint
Christine looked over at Margarethe, who was listening intently. "Off you go, girl. Maybe this one's the one."
"Oh, Margarethe."
"Go on, off you go, girl."
Christine put down her carding paddles and ran barefoot after her brother.
***
Christine opened the envelope as she walked away from the town hall. There was the usual cover letter from Wives of Distinction and a thick envelope. The cover letter was from Frau Saling and said that the enclosed letter was from "Ronald of Magdeburg." She stuffed Frau Saling's letter into the pocket in her work apron and concentrated on the letter from Ronald. It was addressed simply to "Christine," which was all the address he should have for her.
She found a bench to sit on, spread her apron across her knees, and emptied the contents onto her apron. She welcomed the photographs. The last couple of men hadn't included any. Ronald of Magdeburg wasn't a young man, and he wore spectacles, but he wasn't unpleasing to the eye, and he had a nice smile. He certainly looked as if he still had all his own teeth, unlike some people she could think of.
"Can I see?" Claus asked.
Christine passed over the photographs and continued to look through the contents. There was a pencil, one of the fancy new ones that Claus dreamed of having. She'd have to keep a firm hold on that. There was also good quality writing paper and reply-paid envelopes. It certainly looked as if Ronald of Magdeburg really wanted to hear back from her. That was a change after the last man. He'd seemed to think Christine should up stakes and move to his village just because he wrote to her. She knew her situation wasn't good, but it wasn't that dire.
She looked at the envelopes. They were addressed simply to "Ronald Chapman, Magdeburg Concrete Inc, Magdeburg." She stuffed those with the writing paper into her apron pocket. That left the letter.
"Well, is he better than the last one?"
Christine hastily shoved the letter protectively into her apron pocket. Margarethe had finally caught up with her, and she wasn't the only villager standing around looking interested. "Yes."
"What's his name? And what does he have to say for himself?" Margarethe asked.
"His name is Ronald Chapman. He's nearly forty, never married, and lives in Magdeburg where he has worked for Magdeburg Concrete for over two years."
"That's nice. It sounds like he can afford to support you and your brother and sister," Margarethe said.
Christine pulled out the letter and continued reading. "He says Claus could go to any of the Latin schools in Magdeburg, that Ilsa can attend the local St. Veronica's Academy, oh! And if I'm interested, I can enroll for classes at the Duchess Elisabeth Sofie Secondary School for Girls." She hugged the letter to her breast. "I could go to school, just like Claus."
"It sounds as if you've found yourself a rich man this time," Anna Cratzmann, mother to Fritz Winkler, interrupted. "You'd be wise to snap him up whilst you've got the chance and save the village the cost of your support."
"Oh shut up and leave the girl alone, Anna. Go on, Christine, tell us more. Where does he live?" Margarethe asked.
Christine searched through the letter. "He says he's recently moved into new accommodations on the seventh floor of a new apartment building, and that there is plenty of room for all of us."
"The seventh floor! Who'd want to live on the seventh floor? Think of all the stairs. Maybe he's not so rich after all," Anna said.
"I'm not looking for a rich man, Frau Cratzmann. Just a good man who will care for me and the children."
"Well, you haven't had much luck to date. Maybe you should catch hold of this one."
Magdeburg
Ronald looked at the envelope Katherine had just dropped on his desk. It was one of the envelopes he'd sent Christine and surprisingly enough Katherine had failed to open it. He waved it gently. "You on strike?"
"I thought that you would prefer I didn't open it." Katherine came back with the sweetest of sweet smiles.
Ronald wanted to take that comment on face value. It was unusual for Katherine not to read any mail that came to him through the office, but then, she knew a letter from Christine was likely to be personal and confidential. He slit it open and was pulling out the enclosed letter when he realized Katherine had moved to stand just behind his shoulder. He glared over his shoulder at her. "Do you mind?"
"This letter is important to me," she protested.
"How do you work that out?"
"Because it might be from the future Mrs. Ronald Chapman."
"Kathy, if you behave yourself I might let you look at it after I've finished reading it, but you're not going to read it over my shoulder. Okay?"
It was obvious to Ronald that it wasn't okay, but it was equally obvious Katherine was ready to concede some ground. He waited until she was back at her desk before he pulled out the letter and opened it.
November, Arendsee
Christine sat staring at the latest letter from Ronald. "Margrethe, he wants to meet me."
"Progress at last. I thought he'd never ask. After all, there're only so many ways you can beg him to come and rescue you without actually saying so."
"I haven't been begging," Christine protested. Yet, she thought. It might have come to that if Ronald hadn't asked this time though, but now that he'd written saying he wanted to meet her, she was terrified. She didn't want her desperation to scare him off. "But I'm not ready. How do I convince him to marry me?"
Margarethe patted Christine gently on the shoulder. "I didn't outlast three husbands without learning a thing or two about men and what makes them tick. Are you still a virgin?"
"Yes." When had she ever had time to be anything else?
"That's a good start. Now, what you have to do is…"
Magdeburg
Ronald leaned back in his chair and reread Christine's letter. She was happy for him to visit. That was a major step. He pulled his old Rand McNally atlas from the bookshelf and flipped it open to central Europe and looked at the small dot that was Arendsee. It was about fifty miles away as the crow flew, or about eighty miles following the modern roads. Unfortunately, he had no idea what roads actually existed that far north of Magdeburg here and now, and with work commitments and winter upon them this would probably be his only chance to see Christine in her home town before next spring.
He frowned at the thought. Reading between the lines Ronald was pretty sure Christine was living hand to mouth, which meant she might not be around next spring. He had to see her soon and persuade her to marry him.
He froze. Where the hell had that thought come from? Ronald stared unseeing at the atlas. Was he really thinking of marrying a seventeen-year-old girl? He fingered her latest letter and traced a finger over her signature. It sure looked like it, but why? He wasn't in love with her. He couldn't be. He'd never met her, and surely you couldn't fall in love with someone you've never met. Maybe her situation was dire, but rescuing her and her family from near certain death was hardly a good reason to marry her. He could always send her money. He had enough of it. He pulled open his top drawer and pulled out Christine's photographs. He sat and stared at them and found that they still had their power to arouse him. Sex? Was that why he was prepared to marry Christine? Was safe sex a good enough reason to marry anyone? Ronald placed the photographs back in their drawer and stood up. It might not be a great reason, but it was more realistic than imagining himself in love with her. Besides, maybe he'd find that they didn't suit each other and all this worry was just wasted effort. Anyway he needed to tell Katherine she'd be minding the office for the next week or so.
***
Katherine looked up as Ronald approached her desk. The fact that he was carrying the atlas suggested he might be going on a short trip sometime soon. About bloody time, she thought. He'd shared Christine's letters with her, so she understood the terror Christine must be feeling as Ronald dilly-dallied about.
"I need to be out of the office for a few days."
"You intend traveling to Arendsee?"<
br />
"Yes. It's past time I met Christine. Letters just aren't a good enough way to get to know someone."
Katherine reached into a drawer and removed a folder. She passed it over. "Travel documents, tickets and two thousand dollars in cash." She reached back into the drawer for a draw-string purse which she placed on top of the folder. "And five hundred dollars in coins, just in case the smaller villages in the old Brandenburg territories don't accept paper money." She traced along the River Elbe on the map. "The steam ferry can carry you as far as Werben. From there you'll need to hire a horse or walk about twenty-five miles to Arendsee. At this time of year that's nearly a full day's travel, so unless you want to arrive tired and exhausted as the sun sets, I'd advise you to stay overnight at Seehausen."
"You seem to know a lot about that area of the world."
"The travel arrangements are the same as those Joachim used last time he visited his parents. He had to pass through Arendsee on his way to Salzwedel. Now, the real question is, having decided to meet Christine, will you be asking her to marry you while you're in Arendsee?"
"I wouldn't be going if I wasn't seriously thinking of asking her to marry me."
"Good, and if you ask I'm sure she'll accept." My God, was Katherine sure Christine would accept. She passed Ronald an envelope. "Then you'll want this."
Ronald accepted the envelope gingerly. "What's in it?"
"Character references and a copy of your tax returns. You'll need them to convince Christine's legal guardian to give permission for her to marry."
Ronald fingered the envelope. "I'm more than twice Christine's age. Do you think there'll be any trouble getting her guardian's consent?"
Biting back a grin Katherine shook her head. "No. I doubt there will be any trouble." Was she ever sure there would be no trouble! Ronald was offering to rescue the village from the possibility of having to support Christine and her brother and sister. Whoever the council had appointed as the family's guardian wouldn't hesitate to consent to the marriage, as long as the documentation was all in order. "Finally, you'll need a betrothal gift. I can get something suitable…"
"No, I'd better do that."
Twelve months ago Ronald would have been only too willing to allow her to purchase a betrothal gift. Katherine hoped the future Mrs. Ronald Chapman would be properly appreciative of how well she'd trained her husband. "I'd recommend that you look for something small and pretty, like some decorated combs or even an enameled cosmetic box. Anything too big would be a nuisance to carry that far and fine gloves or shoes would only be a good idea if you had an idea about her size."
"Shoes? As a betrothal gift? I can understand the others, or even jewelry, but what woman would want shoes?"
"Ronald, strange as it may be to you, most people consider themselves lucky to have one pair of shoes. A new pair of shoes would be a magnificent betrothal gift."
She followed Ronald's stare down to her feet. Today she was wearing a pair of red low-heeled pumps. She smiled. "Obviously, I'm not most people."
"Obviously. Well, Christine can buy all the shoes she wants when she gets to Magdeburg. I guess I'd best look at some fancy combs."
"With her mass of hair, combs are a good choice. If you tell whoever serves you that they are to be a betrothal gift, you'll be shown something suitable."
Arendsee
Ronald hadn't realized just how unfit he'd become over the years. He'd certainly thought all the walking he did just going to and from work, as well as coping with seven flights of stairs twice a day, would have prepared him for the hike from Werben to Arendsee. How wrong he'd been. Of course, the fact that it started to rain just as he left the ferry at Werben and hadn't let up since hadn't helped. He could have hired a horse, which would at least have lifted him out of the sea of mud that was the road to Arendsee, however, never having ridden a horse in his life, Ronald hadn't thought that this trip was the best time to start.
Where did he start looking for Christine? The church was surely the center of everything in such a small community. At the very least there would be someone there who could point him in Christine's direction.
Someone dressed like a Lutheran pastor answered the door. "Excuse me, but could you tell me how I could find Fraulein Christine Niemand?" Ronald asked.
The pastor didn't look at all friendly while he studied Ronald. "I could."
Ronald waited patiently. It didn't look as if the pastor wanted to help him find Christine. In fact, he didn't look happy to see him at all, and it wasn't as if Ronald was standing in the church dripping all over the floor. "Yes?" Ronald prompted.
"Are you the man from Magdeburg that Christine is expecting?"
"Yes." Ronald certainly hoped he was.
For a moment he thought the pastor was going to slam the door in his face. Instead the man asked, "Please wait outside while I locate a guide."
The door was shut before Ronald could get a word out.
Several cold and wet minutes later, the pastor returned with a boy. Ronald realized who his guide must be just as the pastor introduced him.
"This is Claus. Christine's brother. He will guide you." The pastor turned to Claus. "Hurry right back."
They were a safe distance form the church before Claus broke the silence. "Are you really going to marry Chrissy and take us back to Magdeburg with you?"
He was happy to hear that Christine had openly talked about marrying him and moving her family to Magdeburg. It gave him hope. "If we find we like each other I was actually thinking that we'd marry in Magdeburg."
"Like each other? But you have to marry Chrissy."
"Why?" Ronald had his guesses, and even though he was sure Christine wouldn't be happy to know he'd questioned her brother, he felt he needed all the information he could get if he was going to persuade Christine that she really wanted to marry him.
"Chrissy isn't really earning enough to support us and she won't be able to catch any eels when the lake ices over. Not that I'll miss eating eel." Claus stepped in front of Ronald and stared up at him. "We won't have to eat eel, will we, in Magdeburg?"
"I don't think I've ever eaten eel."
"You wouldn't like it," Claus replied authoritatively.
"Then I can promise you eel won't be on the menu unless someone asks for it."
"You mean Chrissy? That's all right. I don't think she likes eel either."
"Then I'm sure you won't be expected to eat eel in Magdeburg."
"Good."
They walked on in silence for a few minutes before Claus started talking again.
"You're awfully muddy."
Ronald smiled down at the boy. "And wet. Don't forget wet. It started to rain just as I landed in Werben."
"Werben? Did you come down from Magdeburg in the steam ferry? Are we going to travel to Magdeburg on the steam ferry?"
Right there Ronald knew how he could gain Claus' support for his marriage to Christine. "Are you interested in steam engines?"
"Oh, yes, especially the new steam turbines American Electric Works is developing. I've read everything the newspapers have reported about them."
"The new opera house just across from my apartment is supposed to be getting a steam turbine early next year. I know some of the people involved and I might be able to arrange a visit, if you're interested?"
"Interested? In seeing a steam turbine? Oh, yes, Herr Chapman."
"Then when we get to Magdeburg I'll arrange for you to be shown around the new power plant. Of course, your sister might not want to marry a man twice her age."
"Oh, Chrissy wants to marry you, Herr Chapman. You might be nearly forty, but at least you're not a dried up old stick like Pastor Heyl."
Ronald assumed Pastor Heyl was the man back at the church. No wonder he'd been so short, the poor guy must have wanted Christine for himself. Well, tough titty. It looked like the better man had won.
***
"Chrissy, Chrissy, he's here. Herr Chapman's here to take us back to Magdeburg," Claus called thro
ugh the open window.
Christine put down her carding combs and hurried to the door. "Come on in out of the rain." She held the door open for Ronald and Claus. "Get those rain capes off. Claus, you hang them up."
"Pastor Heyl said I was to go straight back after guiding Herr Chapman here."
Christine cursed quietly to herself. Not only was her friend Margarethe out when she most needed her, but Claus was about to desert her as well. "Very well, off you go." She turned back to Ronald who had taken off his rain cape and was standing looking a little lost. "Here, give me that." She took the dripping cape and hung it from a peg.
She turned and had her first good look. He was looking back at her just as intensely. Christine hoped he liked what he could see. Not that he could see much. She'd bundled up as best she could in an attempt to stay warm while she carded wool. She was nervous and didn't know what to say or do.
"I don't suppose I could warm myself in front of the fire?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. You must be near frozen. I'll just add some wood." Christine hastened to add some wood to the fire and then moved to close the shutters. It was silly to build up the fire when the window was open. This darkened the room, making it feel much more intimate than she liked. "If you stay where you are, I'll light a candle."
"No, don't bother. I've got a lantern."
Christine watched a flame appear in Ronald's hand, and then there was the yellow glow of a lamp.
***
Ronald set the storm lantern on the mantelpiece and had another look around the room. It didn't look any better in the lamplight than it had when he first walked in. Three people actually live in this tiny little hole? It was smaller than the room he'd had in the hotel and that was saying something. The window Christine had been working by had been the only source of light, and he was only calling it a window as a courtesy. It was just a rectangular hole in the wall that could be shut off by closing a couple of heavy wooden shutters. Certainly there was no glass to keep out the elements. No wonder she was bundled up, she must be nearly freezing. "There's no way you can stay here. How soon can you be ready to leave for Magdeburg?"