Hungarian Rhapsody

by Wendy Teller

  "Thank Mother for protecting you all these years."

  "No!" She would not thank Mother.

  "Very well. Marry that fool Ede, who still wants you. Marry him, obey him, and thank him every day."

  She wouldn't marry Ede, but no point in arguing.

  "Or, if my Virgin Mary is too good to marry him, let Father put you in a convent."

  She expelled a bitter chuckle.

  "Now, I have to find Ede, who is out combing Budapest for you."

  He turned on his heel and left.

  Ella stared, seeing nothing. Was she lucky?

  No.

  If Miklos and Ede had left her alone, if that thug had not kidnapped her, she would have found her way back to Tante Cecile's.

  She grasped the lock of hair at her right ear, sliding the strands between her fingers.

  She was just about to find work, to support herself, to be independent.

  But now what? What must Rózsa think? What must Tante Cecile think? She had to get up and find them.

  As she tried to push herself up, her stomach churned and the room spun before her. She gasped, unable to fill her lungs. She fell back to the pillows.

  Ede's Question

  Aunt Ilona instructed Flora, her cook, to set the full tray on the table.

  "You need to eat and drink, my girl."

  Aunt Ilona poured a cup of tea, placed a bed tray over Ella's lap, and handed the tea to her. She pulled up a chair and settled by the bed.

  "Thank you." Ella placed the tea on the tray.

  "What's that?" Ilona held an ear trumpet to her ear and turned her head, so that Ella was staring at the instrument's shiny metal.

  Ella smiled. "Thank you, Aunt Ilona."

  Her aunt put the instrument down and beamed at Ella. "What I can't understand is why you didn't tell me you were coming. I'd have met you at the station or sent someone to fetch you."

  Again Ella was confronted with the ear horn. "I should have done that."

  No reason not to agree with her agreeable aunt. She clearly didn't understand the situation. It was a relief to be with her, someone who just wanted to be kind and helpful.

  "Yes, yes." Aunt nodded. "And poor Ede was so upset you weren't here. He and Miklos came right here looking for you."

  Ella nodded again. That seemed easier than trying to make her aunt hear her. Or trying to explain the situation to her, if she could explain the situation.

  What was she going to do?

  "Ede seems like such a nice man. You are so lucky to be marrying him."

  Ella nodded and smiled. No need to try to explain that she wasn't going to marry him. She wouldn't explain yet. Not until she could get out of bed and find Tante Cecile and Rózsa. She was feeling better. She was sitting up. Did she dare try to get out of bed?

  "You need to eat." Ilona dished food onto a plate. "Some sausage. Bread. And a little fruit."

  She placed the full plate on the bed tray, which Ella managed, with difficulty, to keep balanced.

  "Flora got these raspberries at market today. Very good, I think."

  Ilona settled back in her chair.

  Ella took in a good breath and yelled. "Thank you!"

  She wondered whether she could eat, whether her stomach had settled enough to keep food down.

  Ilona smiled and nodded. "That Ede. Very handsome. Such a lucky girl!"

  Ede was handsome. Ella felt like she was lying, not correcting her aunt's understanding of the situation. But right now she needed to think. She needed to be well.

  She nibbled at the bread and discovered she was hungry. She took a bite of sausage, relishing its tang. She was better!

  "I am hungry!"

  "Good."

  "How have you been, Aunt?"

  "Oh, the knees hurt. And the back." She shrugged. "The wages of living too long."

  Ella nodded as the sweet-tart flavor of a raspberry filled her mouth.

  Ilona sighed. "But the good lord will take me when He is ready."

  Mischief twinkled in her eyes, but then, as if she would only allow herself so much fun at God's expense, she crossed herself.

  The door swung open banging into the wall. Ede stood in the doorway, his face dark, his eyes set on Ella.

  "You are here." He strode forward. "Thank God!"

  "Ede!" Ilona rose, offering the chair to him. "You will want to talk to your bride."

  She disappeared, closing the door behind her.

  Ede stood behind the chair, leaning on its back, looking down on Ella.

  "Why?" He shook his head. "Why did you leave?"

  She did not want to answer that.

  "I went off with your necklace. But I have it." She touched the stone's facets. "I just can't take it off, with my arm...."

  He blinked. "Never mind the necklace."

  Were those tears gathering?

  "I will never find another woman whose eyes match that stone. It's yours, just as I...."

  He turned his head so she could no longer see his face, shuddering as he exhaled.

  He looked back at her with hard eyes. "Never mind the necklace. It is yours. Someday you may need it."

  His voice was louder now, more insistent. "Why did you leave?"

  She shook her head. "Is it true what Miklos says?"

  She didn't want to tell him why she left. She didn't want him to be here. She wanted to escape back to before the detective had ruined her plans.

  "What does he say?"

  Better this topic, she supposed.

  "That I was lucky that I wasn't raped or beaten or sold to a brothel or taken to Russia like a pet dog."

  "Yes." He pursed his lips. "Yes, you were lucky."

  He leaned farther down. "Why did you leave?"

  She was not going to answer that question. She tried to tap into his crusade, his desire for a better Hungary. "How can we live in such a world?"

  A smile came to his lips, almost a sneer really.

  "Yes, my darling. How can we?"

  His face grew even darker.

  "Right now, however, the only thing I must know is why you left."

  She shook her head. "I cannot tell you."

  "Ella, Ella." He pulled the chair behind him and sat. His voice turned mellow. "You can tell me anything. We have always told each other everything."

  His gentler gaze warmed her heart. But no, she would not explain. Better that he be angry. Better that he think she didn't love him.

  "I decided that I didn't want to marry."

  His face whitened.

  Ella wondered at herself. How could she be so cruel? "Ever."

  His eyes were blank.

  "I don't want to marry. Anyone. Ever."

  She wasn't lying.

  Not exactly.

  That was not the reason she left. But it was true that she had decided not to marry.

  He stood abruptly, the chair falling behind him with a clatter. He didn't seem to notice, but stomped through the door, slamming it behind him.

  The stillness of the room filled Ella. She sobbed. She didn't know why she was crying.

  She must not cry.

  She must get better and find Rózsa and Tante Cecile.

  Miklos Reconsiders

  Ella woke to the sound of footsteps. The moon shone in the window and her brother's silhouette paced back and forth across the room.

  "Miklos?"

  "Ah, you're awake." His tone was softer than during his outburst of the afternoon. "I hope I didn't wake you, but I need to talk to you."

  She tried to sit up, but a streak of pain rushed through her shoulder when she put weight on her left hand. She collapsed back.

  "What time is it?"

  "Just after midnight." He stood at the bed and looked down on her. "I was frantic earlier."

  She pushed herself to a sitting position with her feet and her right arm.

  "It's OK." She stared at his lined face. He seemed ten years older. "Are you all right?"

  As he exhaled, his body seemed smal
ler, vulnerable. He shook his head.

  "So much has happened and I lose my good sense." He sank to the bed. "I probably shouldn't have said all those things to you."

  "Perhaps."

  She was still perturbed. She would have found her way to Tante's. But she also wanted a clear view of the world and he had educated her.

  "I needed to know."

  He smiled. "Yes, you would say that, my dear sister." He chuckled. "My dear, curious sister."

  "But it's true!"

  She thought of Sour Breath. She now understood why young women did not travel alone. If someone had explained that to her, she would have.... What would she have done? She wasn't sure.

  "I'm not sure I agree with you, but...." He laughed. "Whether it's good or not, now you know."

  "Yes." She settled back on her pillows.

  "But, now that I'm calmer, I've reconsidered my advice." His smile dissolved. He stared into her eyes. "I don't think you should marry Ede."

  "Oh?"

  After her talk with Ede this afternoon, she knew Ede wouldn't marry her. But she wanted to hear of Ede. She hungered for news of him.

  Miklos held her gaze. "You should not marry Ede."

  "Why not?"

  Apparently Ede had not talked to Miklos, not since she had told him she didn't want to marry. Where was Ede? What was he doing? Was he all right?

  She cleared her throat, trying not to cry.

  Miklos' eyes wandered to the window.

  "He has strange ideas. About Hungary. About society."

  Ella knew what Ede's ideas were, but she wasn't sure that these were what worried Miklos. And she wanted to hear more about Ede.

  "What kind of ideas?"

  Miklos refocused on his sister. "He thinks society should change. He thinks we should have universal suffrage, that all adults should be allowed to vote."

  She didn't see why everyone shouldn't be allowed to vote. In particular she thought women should be allowed to vote. Ede was right. Sweet Ede was right.

  "Is that bad?"

  "Yes. It's bad." Miklos shrugged, his palms turned upward. "How can ignorant people, people who can't read, be able to make good choices?"

  She thought to herself, maybe we should teach them to read. But she didn't want to argue with Miklos.

  "I see your point."

  "And do you know why he wants to live in Budapest?"

  She knew, but she didn't want to end this conversation. It was, somehow, a tie to Ede and she didn't want to let go.

  "Why?"

  "He wants to work toward this, what he calls, this new, modern, Western Hungary."

  Of course he did. "Is that bad?"

  "I think so. I think it will tear apart our good Hungary. We are doing well, ever since the Austrians made us their partners. We are growing and prospering. We have built railroads and factories and people have more money, are living better."

  She could not argue with her brother because she didn't know these things. Ede could. What would Ede say? She nodded.

  "And Ede." He stood and walked to the window. Turning back to her, he said, "Ede doesn't want to be a lawyer. Did you know that he will not practice law?"

  They had talked about it. But now it didn't matter. Ede would go his way and she would... she would find a way to Vienna.

  "He wants to spend full time on this...." Miklos shook his head. "I'm not sure what he would call it. I call it nonsense."

  He paced to the bed and back to the window, his hands deep in his pockets. He shrugged.

  "He was more reasonable before he went abroad to study."

  "But Miklos, you went to Germany to study too."

  He stared at her, apparently considering this.

  "Yes. Yes, I did. But I studied something real. Engineering. Something useful." He shook his head and shrugged. "But Ede. He studied sociology."

  He approached her bed. "Do you know what sociology is?"

  She shook her head. In truth, she didn't know.

  "It's a made up subject. Not a science. Some new field where people pretend they can understand society. They call it science. They think they can not only understand it, but remake it."

  Maybe understanding society was more important than science. "Is it bad to make society better?"

  "I suppose, if they knew what they were doing, it would be fine." Miklos exhaled. "But I don't think they know what they're doing, Ella. I think it will lead to bad things."

  Ella remembered her talks with Ede. What he wanted couldn't be harmful. "Bad things?"

  "Yes. What these sociologists plan to do will lead to unrest. It will be unsafe."

  Ella swallowed.

  "Anyhow." He smiled, but his eyes were soft and sad. "I plan to go home tomorrow." He sat on the bed again. "I think you should come with me."

  Ella thought about home. She would never go home to grim Mother and all the rules. She could not do that. Now that she had tasted this Budapest life, where women could be educated and work and even choose their beaus. She would never go back to that life where women were... something less than men.

  But she doubted that she could explain this to Miklos. Ede would understand.

  Oh, she had broken with the only person who would understand. She closed her eyes and inhaled, willing her voice to be calm. "I don't think...."

  "I know. Mother is hard. But she has been shocked. I think she'll be kinder to you now."

  Ella nodded, not trusting her voice to be steady, not trusting that she would not cry.

  "And going to a convent might be a good place. You enjoy books. Maybe we can find a place for you at a school."

  She had to smile. She needed no convent. She had found something better here in Budapest.

  "Or, if you want, I think we can still find a husband for you. A good husband. A good Hungarian husband."

  She shook her head.

  Miklos, as kind as he was trying to be, didn't understand her at all. She might try to explain, but she was too tired. Too tired to explain or to fight with him. Better to save her strength for what was important, finding work.

  "And you will be safe."

  Safe, but not the person she wanted to be, the person she knew she could be.

  "So what do you think?"

  She shook her head.

  "Or maybe you could just live at home. Help Mother. Goodness knows Father can afford for you to stay at home."

  "Miklos, I don't...." She looked at him. "I think I will stay in Budapest."

  He sighed. "OK." His brow furrowed as he compressed his lips. "I could stay here another day, if you want to think about it."

  "Thank you for...." She thought how much he had changed since Therese had died. "Thank you for caring so much for me. Thank you. But I'll stay here."

  He nodded and walked to the door. "I'll be gone by the time you wake again."

  He walked through the door, but then turned to face her again.

  "Good luck, Sister."

  Getting Better

  Ella heard Aunt Ilona's voice. "Is she awake?"

  "I don't think so." That was Flora's voice. "But her fever is gone."

  "Really?" Ella felt a hand on her forehead. "You're right!"

  Ella opened her eyes and looked into Aunt Ilona's brimming eyes. "Oh, my dear girl. We thought we would lose you!"

  "Lose me?"

  Aunt Ilona picked up her ear horn and turned it toward Ella.

  "Lose me?"

  "Yes, yes. You've been in and out for the last several days."

  Ella tried to put together her situation. She looked around the room, the furniture simpler than her mother's, the walls a cream. She was at Aunt Ilona's.

  "What day is it Aunt?"

  "Friday, my dear."

  Ella was glad to see aunt's ear horn pointed toward her.

  "What was wrong with me?"

  "We think the doctor might have given you too much morphine." Her aunt sighed. "These doctors. Sometimes you don't know if they do more harm than good."

&nb
sp; "Morphine?"

  "For the pain, Ella. The detective dislocated your shoulder. The doctor said some tissue must have been damaged too since you were in pain even after he relocated the shoulder."

  The detective.

  Ella remembered the thug!

  She remembered Miklos' rant and his recant.

  She remembered Ede's dark face and the slammed door.

  "Oh." She gulped.

  "You were running a fever. Maybe it was not the morphine. Maybe it was flu." Aunt Ilona went to the table and started placing things on a lap tray.

  "But you seem better now." She brought the tray to the bed.

  "Maybe you will have something to eat?"

  "Yes. Thank you."

  Ella remembered the slammed door. She had told Ede she didn't want to marry. She didn't want to marry because... she remembered Tante Cecile and Rózsa.

  Oh! She must see them.

  "My dear girl, you must eat!" Her aunt's voice was more commanding than she had ever heard before.

  Ella looked at the tray on her lap and took a bite of bread.

  "And Ede!"

  Aunt's angry tone startled Ella. She thought of Aunt Ilona, unlike her mother, as someone who was always sweet.

  "Ede has not been here to look after you!" She snorted. "Is that the way to treat your bride?"

  "Aunt, we will not marry."

  "Eh?" The silver horn now faced Ella.

  "We will not marry."

  "Oh?"

  Ella didn't know how to explain this. Even if her aunt could hear, Ella could not explain. She slowly shook her head as she stared at her aunt.

  "Oh."

  Aunt Ilona's eyes filled and she dabbed them with her handkerchief.

  "Maybe it was not the morphine or the flu. Maybe it was a broken heart?"

  Ella wanted to hug her. "Maybe."

  She nibbled her food.

  Ede.

  She must not think of Ede.

  She must figure out what to do.

  She must see Tante Cecile.

  Rózsa would be furious, impossible. She would say Ella was unreliable. She did not show up when expected, she did not return materials, and worst of all she had lost the pamphlet.

  But maybe Tante Cecile would understand. It was not her fault that she was abducted, though the story of her angry fiancé was embarrassing. But if anyone would understand, Tante Cecile would understand.