Kaiser Wilhelm, and the Emperor Napoleon, had stayed there too; the composers Berlioz and Brahms; and several of the Russian writers. Tolstoy’s novel, Anna Karenina, had been set partly in Baden Baden, although it had been given a different name in the story.
Jane, listening to the commentary, thought to herself that that was one of the books that she had always intended to read, but had never got round to it. It was not so much the length of it that had put her off, but the unfamiliarity of the Russian names. She found her mind wandering a little until Mike started to tell them of the attractions of the town and the places of interest.
‘You ladies will think you’re in Wonderland today,’ he said. ‘I hope you haven’t spent all your euros, although credit cards are very acceptable, of course, provided you don’t get carried away. I’m rather glad my wife isn’t here! You’ll find shops there to rival those in London or Paris; boutiques and jewellers and antique shops, whatever takes your fancy.’ He laughed. ‘Bill and I will be heading for one of the taverns. Not to drink, I assure you – you know our strict rule about that – but to have a jolly good meal. You’ll find plenty of eating places to suit every pocket. I know you’re all going to have a great day. Now, I’ll shut up for a while and let you enjoy the scenery.’
He put on a tape of ‘easy listening’ music, some of the lighter pieces by Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart.
Shirley, also, started to listen intently when Mike told them about the shops in Baden Baden. She nudged her friend.
‘Did you hear that, Ellen? It sounds as though it might be my lucky day, that is if what he says is true. We’ve seen nothing so far that I’d look at twice.’
‘Yes, I heard what Mike said,’ replied Ellen resignedly. Thank goodness for that, she thought to herself, for something to put a smile back on Shirley’s face. They had both been pleased to hear the news about Arthur, but Ellen knew that it still niggled at Shirley and hurt her pride that she was unable to look her best each day in her smart holiday clothes.
‘We’ll have a good browse round the shops, Shirley,’ she assured her. ‘I might even treat myself if I can find something that I like.’
‘To wear, you mean?’
‘Yes, why not? I rather like the nice trousers and tops that some of the ladies wear. I’ve never really liked to wear trousers. My father used to say that they weren’t for women; that trousers were only for men.’ She chuckled. ‘What he really meant, of course, was that he had to be the only one in the house to wear the trousers!’
‘Very true,’ agreed Shirley. ‘Your father ruled the roost, didn’t he? And you and your mother had to toe the line, if I remember rightly. You were a good obedient daughter, Ellen. I know jolly well that I’d have rebelled; but it’s time for you to please yourself now. We can’t live in the past, none of us.’
‘Yes, I’m realizing that,’ said Ellen. ‘We’re having a good time, aren’t we? We were all upset about Arthur, and it’s hard to go on enjoying yourself when someone else is in trouble. There’s not much we can do, but I said a little prayer for him …’
Shirley smiled at her fondly. ‘You’re a saint, Ellen.’
‘No, I’m not!’ her friend retorted. ‘Far from it. I had some very un-Christian thoughts about my father sometimes, and my mother, too, for kowtowing to him like she did. But I knew that I mustn’t upset them … I know I’ll never get married, not now,’ she added in a whisper. ‘That was something I really wanted at one time, but my father disapproved of the young man I liked. But I’ve got used to being single now, and I’m quite happy with it.’
‘Why shouldn’t you be?’ Shirley laughed. ‘Who needs men, anyway?’
It seemed a long way to their destination. They had a brief stop after a couple of hours, what Mike called a coffee and comfort stop, then arrived at Baden Baden at twelve o’clock.
‘Now, we have a nice long stay here,’ he told them. ‘Be back at the coach for half past four, and please try to be on time. I’ve arranged for us to have our dinner a little later tonight, so that we can make the most of our day here.’
He showed them the way to the town through the Kurhaus gardens, a place where they could linger on the way back. They were all anxious, though, at the moment, to get to the town to have a meal and to savour the delights of the shops, particularly so for the ladies.
‘You won’t want to spend all day with me,’ Jane said, tactfully, to Dave. ‘I remember how my husband used to get bored with the shops after so long. I’ll stay with Shirley and Ellen, if that’s OK with you?’
‘That’s fine with me,’ Dave assured her. ‘I shall find some antique shops to browse around, or book shops. I may not understand the language, but they usually sell all sorts of other things as well. You go and have a good time with the ladies.’
Christine also had a word with Bill. ‘You spend today with Mike,’ she told him, ‘and I’ll go with my sister and our new friends. I’m sure boutiques and jewellers are not much in your line. I’ll see you later tonight … that is, if you still want to?’
‘Of course,’ replied Bill. ‘Off you go and spend your money. We’ll have a drink together after dinner.’ They had been getting along well together since they had sorted out the problem with Olga. The receptionist seemed to have got the message now, and Bill had to accept that she was ignoring him. He would have preferred them to part more amicably, but he knew that he had only himself to blame. He might, unwittingly, have given her false hopes. He decided that he must not make the same mistake with Christine. It must be one girl at a time from now on for Bill. He had a feeling that this one might well be the right one for him.
Jane had decided at the outset that she must not be too ‘clingy’ with regard to Dave. Besides, she would welcome a day with ‘the girls’. She suggested to Shirley and Ellen that she might spend the day with them, if they didn’t mind, and they seemed delighted at the idea.
Dave walked on ahead, catching up with Mike and Bill. There didn’t appear to be any other men on the coach tour who were on their own; but Jane was sure that Dave was the sort of man who would not be bored with his own company.
The extensive gardens of the Kurhaus housed the famous casino and conference centre which attracted people from all over the world. They walked through tree-lined avenues and flower beds ablaze with colour at the start of the summer season. Those that were able walked at a fast pace to reach the town and find a place to eat.
Baden Baden did not disappoint them. It was a mixture of the old and the new. There were wide streets with all kinds of modern shops, whilst the old town was a maze of picturesque cobbled streets and narrow lanes. There were exclusive boutiques, and small quaint shops selling all manner of things – jewellery, antiques and other ‘collectibles’, second-hand books, handmade chocolates, perfumes and body lotions – as well as bistros and taverns, and cafes with seating both inside and out.
Shirley had to be discouraged from stopping and staring in every shop window.
‘Lunch first,’ the other two told her. ‘We’ll come back afterwards,’ said Jane. ‘If we start shopping we’ll have no time to eat.’
Shirley was reluctantly steered away from a very tempting boutique. ‘I only hope we can find it again later,’ she said, as they walked up one little lane and down another. ‘We must try and remember where it is.’
‘I feel it might be rather expensive anyway,’ remarked Ellen, ‘and there are plenty of other shops in the modern part of the town.’
‘It depends on what you want to buy,’ said Shirley, with a longing glance at an emerald green trouser suit at the front of a shop window. There was no price ticket on it, though, which was sure to mean that she couldn’t afford it.
She sighed. ‘OK then, girls. Lunch first, as you say. Look, there’s a place over there that looks promising. Let’s go and see, or we’ll be wandering around all day.’
The bistro looked clean – which was an important consideration – and inviting, with gaily patterned tablecloths and at
tractive menu cards with the items written in English and French as well as German. There were several people dining there which, again, was a good sign, but there was still plenty of room.
They opted to go inside rather than dine out on the street as the pavement was not very wide and the streets were crowded. They chose a table by the window, then pored over the menu. There was an extensive range, as there seemed to be in all these places, but their choice was simple. Pizzas for each of them, though with different toppings, sprinkled liberally with Parmesan cheese, accompanied with a drink of fresh orange juice.
They decided against a sweet, as the pizzas were enormous, and they would, no doubt stop for refreshment again later in the afternoon. They did, however, have coffee to end the meal, strong and fragrant, such as they rarely had at home, but to which they were becoming familiar. It was a pick-me-up that was favoured on the Continent more so than in the UK. When they had sorted out the bill and worked out how much the tip should be, they set off for their afternoon shopping spree.
Closer scrutiny of the garments in the boutique windows proved that the prices were way out of their range, so they decided – reluctantly on Shirley’s part – not to venture inside the little shops. They bought some handmade chocolates, though, for themselves, and some as a little treat for Mavis, from the three of them. It was such a shame that she was missing today’s trip and would, possibly, have to forgo the other excursions as well.
They fared better – as Ellen, in her practical way had suggested they might – in the larger shops in the more modern part of the town. There were numerous shops there selling ladies clothing, and Shirley was forced to admit that she had been wrong. The clothes were not of a fuddy-duddy style, suitable for German hausfraus. They were, in the main, very stylish and modern.
Besides being able to replenish her stock of necessary underwear, Shirley, as was only to be expected, had a whale of a time.
‘Go steady, you’ll get your suitcase back tomorrow, won’t you?’ Ellen reminded her. But she took little notice. She was like a child in a sweet shop.
When their shopping spree was finished she had bought a pair of flared trousers in royal blue, and two snazzy tops, one striped and one with polka dots that would go well with the trousers. Also, a floaty chiffon skirt in pastel shades, a pair of high-heeled blue sandals, and a blue and white shoulder bag that was suitable for day or evening wear.
‘Now, come along, Ellen,’ she kept urging her friend. ‘You said you wanted some trousers. I’ll help you to choose them.’
Ellen could not be persuaded to buy flared ones. She preferred the straight style, and the others admitted that they suited her better. She felt she was being extravagant as she was coaxed, though not unwillingly, into buying two pairs, one in navy blue and the other in fawn. She bought two pretty tops as well, not as bold as the ones her friend had chosen, but in colours that she liked, lemon and coral pink.
‘And for heaven’s sake, ditch those old-fashioned cardigans of yours,’ Shirley told her, ‘and buy a nice smart jacket.’
She did as she was bid, choosing an edge-to-edge terylene jacket which, she told herself, was a serviceable colour and would go with most things. Never had she spent so much money all in one day. Never had she used her credit card so much. Her parents had paid for everything in cash, with the occasional cheque, and she had always done the same. She was surprised that she did not feel guilty, but she knew she had money in the bank to cover the expense. She knew she must watch herself, though, and be careful not to turn into a spendthrift.
Jane, not to be outdone, treated herself as well. She enjoyed watching her new friends choosing their clothes. She didn’t very often have the chance to go shopping for clothing, and when she did she invariably went to her favourite store, Marks and Spencer, or to Debenhams.
With Shirley’s help she chose a floral dress in a silky fabric, in shades of green and blue, ankle-length with elbow-length sleeves – she did not like to show too much bare arm – and a neckline that was not too low. ‘For those special occasions,’ as Shirley told her.
There had not been too many of those recently, but Jane was hopeful that there might be in the future. She also bought some green summer sandals and a bag to match. Then she decided that that was enough; but she couldn’t remember when she had enjoyed a shopping expedition so much.
Mike and Bill invited Dave to join them for lunch in a little place they knew of near to the main square of the town. It was a tavern, rather than a restaurant, with subdued lighting and wood panelled walls, giving it a more masculine feel. They assured him that the food, and the drink, too, was excellent, although the two drivers restricted themselves to a small glass of lager each, then went on to apple juice. Dave indulged himself with a pint – or the equivalent – of Dunkles, a strong dark German beer. At their recommendation he dined, as they did, on goulash, so full of vegetables that you could stand a spoon in it, with crusty bread rolls (brutchen) and butter.
Dave found the two men very affable and easy to get along with. In their forties, he guessed, as he was, but possibly a few years younger. He learned that Mike was married, as he had thought, and that Bill was single and had not yet taken the plunge into marriage, as he put it.
‘But he’s hopeful, aren’t you, Bill?’ said Mike. ‘He’s met the girl of his dreams this week.’
Bill laughed. ‘I wouldn’t go so far as to say that. It’s early days, and I nearly messed it up at the start. I’d been seeing Olga, the receptionist, you see, and Christine wasn’t too pleased when she found out – neither was Olga! But enough said about that. Yes, she’s a really nice girl; well, young woman, I should say.’
‘You’ve been let off the leash today, haven’t you, Bill?’ teased Mike.
‘Well, I spent yesterday with her at the lake, and we’ll have a drink together tonight. But, like I said, it’s too soon to … well, you know. She wanted to go shopping today with her sister and their new friends, so I thought that was a good idea.’
‘Yes, so did Jane,’ replied Dave. ‘I’ve … er … got friendly with the lady who sits next to me. It was totally unexpected. I wasn’t looking for anything, neither was she, but we just seemed to hit it off.’
‘Yes, we’d noticed, hadn’t we, Bill?’ said Mike. ‘Not that we’re being nosy, but we are aware of what goes on with the passengers, to a certain extent. None of our business, of course, any of it, but we have to try to get to know them all, one way or another. Not always easy, is it, Bill?’
‘Good grief, no!’ replied Bill. ‘It’s the elderly ladies, all with grey hair and glasses. I do get them confused, but that’s usually on the tours at home. Over here the clientele is rather different, younger on the whole. We do get elderly couples, though, like Mr and Mrs Johnson. And it’s not the first time we’ve had to deal with someone being rushed into hospital. All in a day’s work, isn’t it, Mike?’
‘Yes, that’s true. We have to be prepared for anything and everything.’
‘You mean … like somebody dying?’ enquired Dave.
‘Yes, it does happen, occasionally. It’s only happened to me once, thank the Lord! Bill wasn’t with me. I was on my own, doing a tour at home – in Torquay, actually – so it wasn’t quite so complicated as being abroad. Traumatic, though; it puts a downer on the holiday. We’re just hoping the old chap will be OK, aren’t we, Bill?’
‘I’ll say we are! For his sake, and his wife’s, of course. Anyway, let’s look on the bright side, eh? This lady you’ve met – Mrs Redfern, isn’t it? – she seems a very pleasant person. Are you hoping to go on seeing her when we get back? Not that it’s anything to do with me …’
‘I certainly hope so,’ replied Dave. ‘I intend to say something before the holiday comes to an end. It’s complicated, though. Family issues, you know …’
‘You’re single, though?’ enquired Bill.
‘Oh yes. I’ve been married, but I’m not now. But we live miles from each other. Not Land’s End to John O’ Gro
ats, but far enough. Jane’s in Lancashire and I’m in Shropshire.’
‘Not far on the motorway …’
‘No, but Jane has an elderly mother; rather a harridan from what I gather! And there are other things on my side that I haven’t mentioned yet.’
Dave didn’t explain any further, and Mike and Bill knew better than to ask.
‘I hope it works out well for you, Dave,’ said Mike. ‘And for Bill here, of course. But that’s a different problem. It could put an end to gadding about on the Continent … That reminds me, I must ring Sally tonight and see how things are at home. She’s not too happy about me being over here so much.’
They talked for a little while about the pros and cons of working abroad, then when they had settled the bill they went their separate ways.
Dave mooched around the old part of the town, enjoying himself in his own quiet way. He had never been bored with his own company; sometimes he liked to be entirely on his own for a while. It would be good to meet up with Jane again, though. And Mike’s remark had reminded him that he must ring up his son that evening and see if everything was going well at home.
They were all walking back through the Kurhaus gardens at roughly the same time, making sure they did not arrive back late at the coach. Dave caught sight of Jane with the other two ladies and hurried to catch up with them. They were all laden with carrier bags and were chatting and laughing together.
‘Oh, hello Dave,’ said Shirley. ‘We’ve had a great time. Mind you, we’ll have to live on bread and corned beef when we get back!’
‘So I see,’ said Dave, laughing, knowing full well that all of them had good jobs and could afford to indulge themselves occasionally. He guessed that for Jane it would have been a real treat. ‘You’ll be dressed in your new finery tonight, will you?’ he asked Shirley.
‘You bet I will!’ she replied, ‘But we’ve all had quite a spree.’
First Impressions Page 15
