Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part One

by Hedy Thalberg James

  “Is this a normal occurrence too?” he inquired with a grin, looking at the girls.

  The pharmacist explained in a subdued voice the latest developments in research and science, being not only aware, but also grateful for the Reinhardts’ involvement in it. Their conversation spanned from heart to lungs and liver to kidneys. They discussed the city's unsanitary conditions and also his wife's bone disease and Otto's painful rheumatism, when finally Mrs. Romberg announced that the table was set and ready to serve up their coffee and cake.

  The patient was opening his eyes now, slowly turning them up towards the ceiling, causing the girls to laugh. “Would you like a strong cup of coffee, Mr. Holzinger?” He looked somewhat dazed and grunted. “Must have fainted again. So sorry, Mr. Romberg!”

  “It's quite all right,” Romberg answered sympathetically. “If I should ever have to have a tooth extraction, I might do the same!”

  Holzinger put his money on the desk and left, still a bit shaky. “I could swear that was Mr. Reinhardt talking and laughing, but after such a spell, one probably sees ghosts,” he mumbled.

  ∼

  “Karl, this is my dearest and closest friend, Louise,” Christina announced in a rather formal tone of voice.

  He stood and turned around slowly, looked at her and nodded with a warm smile, taking her extended hand, suddenly feeling a pleasant quiver going through his body. It was something he had never felt at previous introductions to any of the ladies.

  “I am Christina's brother,” he joked, repeating her parents’ comments at his first encounter with them.

  “I am glad to meet you, finally!” she said sweetly, already sorry to have added the 'finally'.

  Her other two sisters, Anne and Elisabeth were already seated at the large table together with their gentlemen friends, including Baron Altmann, Louise's former fiancée, and a Bohemian-looking baritone, Bruno Kraus, a stage-struck student of the fine arts, who was so far being supported by his rich but dismayed parents.

  Karl was being referred to as Christina's long-lost brother, and was not only enjoying the variety of superb pastries, but also the easygoing manner and conversation. He was, for once, thoroughly convinced of his being accepted for himself, not as Karl Reinhardt, a visitor from Vienna's upper class.

  He confided to himself that in all honesty, he had never had a better time with anyone anywhere. He glanced at Louise at every given opportunity and found that she was becoming ever lovelier as time went on. It was clear to him now that Christina was right when she had said he didn't know how the other half of Vienna lived. It was a lesson that no university or professor could have taught him.

  Eventually, the conversation turned to music and the upcoming Mozart opera. Bruno Kraus commented on ‘The Magic Flute’ since this was his first chance to have the part to sing the 'Papageno'. The four girls agreed to not miss this opportunity, when Mrs. Romberg emphasized that Mozart was Mozart, but if Bruno would ever sing Schubert, she and her husband would certainly be there to hear him.

  Christina, who had had plenty of experience in witnessing their arguments about their preferences concerning music and operas, decided that the time had come to leave, but not before extending personal invitations to her mother's upcoming birthday party. “Now that you've met my elusive brother, it shouldn't be too difficult to come to a nice evening at our house, dancing included,” she said with a wink.

  The Rombergs promised to think on it, “health permitting.” They were, however, primarily worried about the proper attire for such an occasion. Anne and Elisabeth jumped with joy, their boyfriends also accepting, grateful to be included, which left Louise in a pensive mood, looking a bit hesitant. “I'll think about it,” she said noncommittally, adding, “There is still plenty of time to do just that.”

  “Don't forget your father's medicine,” Mr. Romberg reminded them. “It is, after all, what brought you here.”

  “I wonder!” Karl responded with a smile and waved good-bye, leaving the money on the table.

  “What a likable, down-to-earth fellow!” Mrs. Romberg acknowledged.

  “Not a bit different from his parents or Christina,” agreed Louise. “Only quite a bit older looking for his age!”

  “Let's call it mature,” Anne stated in his defense.

  “I would call him very wise, for someone that young!” Therese corrected, not wanting to add any more compliments.

  “And I call it a long day. So good night all!” the pharmacist concluded, helping his wife to reach their bedroom.

  Altmann and Kraus were conspicuously quiet, each in deep thought, wondering what life would or could be like, being a Reinhardt. Baron Altmann reflected that he would throw away his uniform in a hurry, since it only brought him a meager salary and a sloppy salute here and there. Bruno Kraus, on the other hand, assured himself that even with all the advantages of a Reinhardt, he was not willing to let go of his desired career and would still continue to sing, as the sound of applause and the opera were truly what he lived for.

  Louise closed her book of poems by Goethe, pledging to herself that she would read more of him, as she really enjoyed and understood his works better than she did Schiller's. She waited for her sisters to say something more, but nothing was added. Both sisters’ thoughts were in the clouds fantasizing. “If... If... If ever!” and they left it at that, before entering their bedrooms.

  ∼

  “Good Lord, Karl!”

  “Yes? That's my name.”

  “All jesting aside, dear brother—you were so charming and pleasant tonight. I am really quite proud of you!” Christina praised like a mother who had been worried about her child's behavior on a special visit. “It just meant so much to me for you to like the Rombergs, since I've spent so many evenings with them. I call it my “Biedermaier-Time” at the Romberg cafe or pharmacy. I surely wouldn't want to trade it for anything in the world!”

  “Now you are indebted to me,” he teased her, she linked her arm into his, as it was dark, cold, and slippery. “If one is so welcome there, I am wondering now why I've never met any of the Rombergs before.”

  “Very simply answered! They have not only one, but three beautiful daughters. Anne is the most striking of them all, don't you think?”

  “That is about the poorest excuse I've ever heard!”

  “Well, think about it. To me it isn't. The way you behaved at times! And got away with it, I might add. I certainly didn't want my best friends to be exposed to that. I would have died of shame!”

  “Many of the so-called ladies ask for that type of treatment. And before you decide to die of shame, why don't you tell me about the exception to the rule,” he suggested speculatively, not giving any hint that he was actually interested to hear about Louise.

  “There's really not much to tell about the Rombergs other than that their twin sons are graduating this summer as pharmacists and have positions waiting for them already. Therese is the eldest. I would say about twenty-five and has been engaged to Bruno for nearly two years! They have to wait to get married until he’s able to support her on his own, as the silk merchant Kraus doesn't care much for the Rombergs.”

  “Why wouldn't he? Pharmacy is a perfectly respectable profession.”

  “It's money, of course. Money—the age-old evil. The same holds true for Baron Altmann. The old baroness is a widow, with a small pension, and I understand he has to help her out financially. And this may sound very strange considering that their sons are welcome at the Rombergs’ whenever it suits them, but neither of the girls has ever been invited, not at the Kraus's nor the Altmann's home!”

  “Well, I don't know anything about Bruno Kraus, though he seems a likable chap. But the Baron— there is something very peculiar about him. I haven't quite figured him out yet. Just can't put my finger on it!”

  “Funny that you have the same odd feelings about him! I might be prejudiced because for two years he was engaged to Louise and then told her one day, out of the clear blue sky, he couldn'
t go on pretending and that he had fallen in love with her sister! Can you comprehend that?”

  “Had she never suspected anything?”

  “No one ever did! Not even I. The poor thing was so devastated that she thought about entering a convent! Of course, I did my very best to talk her out of it, and finally convinced her that it may just be fate in her favor,” she declared with pride.

  Since he couldn't yet tell her that he is now the one indebted to her, he said casually, “One would never have guessed, the way they behaved toward one another.”

  “Everyone is expected to always behave respectfully at the Rombergs’. They were glad that he had been honest about his change of mind, or heart, before the wedding and did not interfere. Except for the brothers, who had joked and asked him whether he might have Therese on his mind! Poor dear Rombergs. At the rate those girls are going, they may never leave their nest! But then again, I’m hardly one to talk. It's just not easy these days to find the right partner,” she sighed.

  “Quite true!” he agreed, laughingly entering the palace.

  “How did you manage to keep Karl there this long?” Stephany smiled at them, leaving the library with a stack of books.

  “We had a grand time!” Karl stated without hesitation.

  “The Rombergs might have acquired a new visitor to their Biedermaier-time.” Christina beamed in delight.

  “Which wouldn't surprise me at all. They are truly the kindest family we have ever known. Father will be so glad to hear about it!”

  “How is Papa doing?” both asked simultaneously.

  “He fell asleep with Romberg's miracle tea. You did bring more of the medicine, yes?”

  “Yes, we have it, but there might just be something to Romberg's art in mixing these little potions. He certainly earned my respect! He is so knowledgeable on science and medicine!” Karl remarked with candor, before ascending the stairs, thanking Christina for the pleasant evening.

  “The pleasure was all mine!” She smiled, relieved, thinking that in the following weeks, she would have had to introduce him to Louise, regardless of his or her wish to do so or not, and she was glad to have cleared this hurdle without having to worry about his often sarcastic conduct or whatever he would come up with when meeting one of her girlfriends, since they were having their portraits painted, and Louise had offered to stand in for her on those long motionless sittings, staring always in one direction. She as well as Karl really hated this chore, especially when there were so many other things to be taken care of for the upcoming birthday party, the painting of her and Karl being only one of many surprises for their mother.

  The harder Karl tried to go to sleep and put his enjoyable evening to rest, the less he was able to. Since he was wide awake, he thought that he might just as well get up and either read or draw for a while. Or maybe this would be a good time to take stock of his life. He decided on the latter. Unlike his father, who had had his first sexual encounter with his wife Stephany on their wedding night, Karl had, unknown to anyone, brought behind him a few torrid love affairs with married women. The affairs had usually ended as fast as they had started, without any regrets on either part. All concerned had always considered this a perfect arrangement, as no one was ever to elaborate on such short-lived liaisons, not wanting to bring about any scandals, aside from the consequences that these hot but short affairs might bring forth.

  He had, so far, not taken any interest in any of the ladies within his or his parents’ social circle, knowing of his own quick inflammability for another temporary infatuation, which left some of his female friends and acquaintances with false hopes and possibly vindictive rumors following.

  His father's early warnings that he might be considered a good catch by any means, especially by social climbers and fortune seekers, as well as the honest advice that while one should marry for love only, one also should also use the mind to the fullest in making such a far-reaching decision as marriage, since a body alone is hardly a guarantee for a life-long happiness. “Your dear mother and I are of one mind and body.”

  “And I shall be just as selective, Papa. I certainly wouldn't want to be unhappy for a lifetime, so I'll just wait until the right one comes along. I want you to know this!” he had assured his father.

  This promise had strengthened Otto in his belief that his son would take his time, and observe and pay attention to single, engaged, or married friends, while also not experiencing any grave disappointments and wait in making his choice until absolutely sure he could keep such a commitment to the lady of his liking, until death do them part.

  While his mother fully supported her husband's wise advice, she also had cautioned him and had made a few suggestions of her own. “Try to find a wife who is not only a lady for all occasions, but also someone that will be willing to share your many interests and can also be a friend whom you can always count on and be comfortable with. You know, of course, that in our social position, we must see that she is a confidante, one that can be entrusted with everything that is important to all of us. In other words, dear Karl, a Reinhardt woman has to be a very special lady or it won't work.”

  “Well said, dear Mama! All I now have to do is to find another you!” he had mused.

  She had ignored his flattery with a modest smile and added, “I hope Papa and I have set good examples for both of you children. And I believe we have!”

  “Oh yes, you have, but this is why it is so hard to find someone for poor Christina and me. We are probably subconsciously looking for another mother or father, and there just aren't any like you around!”

  “Like Papa said, take your time and keep on looking.”

  It seemed to him as if it had been just yesterday that this conversation had taken place, yet it had been so long ago.

  At the moment, Karl felt an obligation to himself as well as the object of his desire, to determine if it was his season for a brief fling again or if in fact real love had caught up with him in the person of Louise, whose large, soft brown eyes reminded him of a graceful doe. “It was a sobering thought, but one worth thinking about,” he reflected, before he finally fell asleep.

  6

  If Moses hadn’t brought down the commandment for a day of rest each week, the Reinhardts, with their foresight, would have invented one. It was of extreme importance to each of them to have one day to themselves to do as they pleased. They also required their servants only to do the absolute necessary minimum of chores, unless unforeseen circumstances would force them to help out occasionally in a bad weather situation at harvest time.

  It was not unusual that one or the other of the Reinhardts skipped the Sunday breakfast, all of them congregating at dinnertime. The same held true for morning sermons, since another was usually held in the evenings. They mostly refrained from doing anything that did not require immediate attention and could wait until Monday. However, as always, there are those proverbial exceptions to the rule, and Christina had no choice but to conform to this exception, since their favorite painter would only be able to come to Lindenfels on Sundays. Karl also needed, therefore, a stand-in for the next two weeks, as he had to attend an annual seminar at the Melk monastery, west of Vienna. Christina had been sure that he had taken care of it, since they had frequently discussed it. She was, however, not the type to take any chances and she had left a reminder with his valet who was now patiently sitting outside Karl's bedroom, waiting to finally be called in. It was, after all, Sunday and his day of rest as well.

  Otto and Stephany had just finished their dinner when Karl entered, cheerful as usual. “Glad to see you up and well again, Papa! Good morning, or rather good afternoon, Mother dear! I will only have coffee with you, as I am invited for dinner at Auersbachs.”

  “Great, son! Is he traveling with you again this time?”

  “Yes. We will even take their horse and carriage for a change.”

  “That's good to hear,” they both answered, glad that he had a companion for the rather tedious ride.
r />   “Mother tells me you had a very nice evening with the Rombergs.”

  “Delightfully good time, really! They are quite different from any family I've met so far.” He was glad his father had brought up the subject. This would give him the perfect opening to casually pry a little further, especially since he had had a long wakeful night with Louise's face right in front of him. He sought desperately to find a way to hear more about her without appearing too eager and possibly creating any queries.

  “I feel extremely sorry for Mrs. Romberg and her bad health. Although she seems to be in such good spirits!” He kept the conversation flowing.

  “It's their strength and virtue. No one can get this family down. Right, Otto?”

  “Absolutely!”

  “She was one of the great beauties in Vienna,” his mother added.

  “Watch what you are saying! No one surpasses my wife!” Otto scolded her laughingly.

  “Seriously, her three daughters are almost exact replicas of her! Their jet-black curly hair, brown eyes, and almost sculptured faces are very unusual. A young man like you must have noticed that much, yes?” she asked Karl, amused.

  “One cannot help but notice, Mother.”

  “Don't be caught in a trap, son. Women have a certain way of doing that to us!” Otto advised, not really serious.

  “Christina will assure you that their sons are equally handsome.”

  “Oh. Anything in the air I should know about?” Karl asked lightly.

  “Oh no! Max Romberg told her in no uncertain terms that it would take a man's total salary to be able to take care of her daily expenses.”

  “That is really down to earth honesty. Pride as well as decency! Their offspring seem to be made of the same mold,” Otto conceded, satisfied.

  “I always wished there was something I could do for Romberg. It's not that we haven't tried or offered!” Otto mused

  “Our Christina keeps all the girls well dressed. I don't know how she manages it without offending them,” Stephany answered proudly.