Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part One

by Hedy Thalberg James

  “I am so glad to learn that. Then you wouldn’t object if I asked them upon our return if I may ride one of their horses? This enjoyable privilege was taken away from us too. We are a sort of persona non grata. It would be only until I join my mother in July,” she explained, then stopped with a tap on her forehead and said quickly, “How can I be that forgetful? Both of the Esslers let even Cpt. Kreibich ride any of their horses and he is a German too.”

  “Never mind the horses or anyone’s nationality,” he answered very forcefully, both now standing but still holding hands. “You are not going to join your mother in July or any other time.”

  “Oh, no? Do you know something that I should know?” she asked with an almost frightful look. Her large green eyes widened and her beautiful face blushed again while getting herself ready to confront a new problem, waiting anxiously for his response. But instead, he put his arms around her and pressed her very close to him, causing her color to turn to the brightest red as he felt her body tremble.

  “The only person you will ever join is me, Miss von Wintersberg, and it will be on October sixteenth in holy matrimony. The reason for the long delay is our required six months period of mourning,” he stated with great confidence, but felt instantly embarrassed at his clumsy, matter-of-fact proposal. His carefully rehearsed wording the last few weeks had been completely forgotten.

  Looking at her expression of bewilderment he knew she was too stunned to give any reply, let alone a fast one. He not only enjoyed seeing her momentary state of confusion and shock at the utmost, but hoped the present impression would last him a lifetime. In this exhilarating state, he began a frantic search for the engagement ring, reaching from one pocket to the next. “The ring I am giving you now is not the one I bought for you yesterday. It was the wrong color and you will get it some other time. The one I am looking for comes from my great-grandmother, to be exact, but was given in later years to Aunt Lillian, who never wore it and was happy to give it to me.”

  Now it was Victoria’s chance to relax and smile while observing Philip trembling as she had just done. She couldn’t even explain to herself her present composure when he declared joyously, “Stay right where you are, Victoria. I remember exactly where I left the ring,” he said with certainty and very jubilant. He started to run and then stopped abruptly. “Victoria, you didn’t even say yes to me!”

  “I never got a chance to say anything at all,” she laughed.

  “Not just anything, Victoria. Only a yes will do.” She continued to laugh, still enjoying his state of excitement while she herself looked very happy, though somewhat dazed.

  “Then may I presume it is a yes?”

  “It is!” she shouted without giving it another thought, still standing under the tree watching him on the run again.

  “Where is everybody?” he said triumphantly, though everyone was right at the door, having watched from the window as they observed him running back all alone.

  “We are right in front of you,” Lillian answered with a big smile.

  “I came for the ring. I thought I had it in my pocket.”

  “It is, Philip,” replied Lillian very elated, knowing he got his anticipated answer.”

  “No, it’s not! I looked at least three to four times,” he confirmed with a look of anxiety, starting his process all over.

  “No, Philip. Remember you put the ring without the box in your pants pocket, as you planned to change your jacket for dinner. I found a ring given without a box improper, but in your frenzy, I let you get away with it,” Lillian commented with relish while recalling Kurt’s nervous state of mind many years ago when she finally consented to his proposal.

  “Never mind all the formality, Aunt Lillian. My only worry was her answer to my clumsy proposal.” He sighed in relief as he found the ring, giving both Kronthalers and Lotte an opportunity to take a closer look at it.

  “How exquisite!” exclaimed Irma and Ernest.

  “She deserves every bit of it and so much more,” Philip uttered grandly, watching anew the reaction on Countess von Wintersberg’s face.

  “So, you went back and exchanged your ruby after all.” She smiled remembering both Lamberts’ honest advice to confer with his aunt about it.

  “Oh, no! She gets the ruby at the first appropriate occasion, perhaps as a wedding present. This is a Reinhardt heirloom and you will get the story about it from Aunt Lillian the moment I leave the house,” he assured with a wink and was on his way again.

  “I had the ring in the wrong pocket all along,” he exclaimed, while reaching for her trembling hand and trying to get it on her finger.

  She showed the same surprised expression as when his proposal took place. “I have never seen a lovelier diamond in all my life,” she stammered.

  “Welcome to the Reinhardts, Victoria . . . even though we are the smallest family in Vienna!”

  “I promise it won’t stay that way for very long,” she pledged in his arms, finally getting her long overdue kiss before returning to an eagerly awaiting mother, friends, and a newly acquired family, all in an ecstatic frame of mind.

  28

  The more cheerful, relaxed, and happy the Reinhardts, the Esslers and Victoria were in Vienna, the sadder, gloomier and downright miserable Verena became in Salzburg. She not only felt rejected by her own husband, but by everyone she considered her closest friends. Her once envied sunny disposition and high spirits had completely vanished, and what was left of her was, to everyone, a great worry and concern. The former Verena Reinhardt was barely recognizable. Even the once so thoroughly enjoyed view towards the inner city of Salzburg had lost its appeal. She only stared, while having already resigned herself that there was absolutely nothing she could do about the upcoming wedding, which was to be attended by family only and right on schedule. And what should have been very pleasing to any future mother-in-law was hurting her the most. The contents of those many arriving letters were full of praise and admiration for the beautiful and most gracious bride to be, who was an excellent choice on Philip’s part and fitted so perfectly in Vienna’s society. She was, in every way, a diplomat’s daughter from head to toe and liked by everyone who had the great fortune to have met her. Not a single word, let alone a sentence, gave the slightest indication about the future Mrs. Reinhardt being a Prussian or German.

  It was, instead, a continuous elaboration of her easygoing charm along with her flawless French. Also, Lillian and Father Christopher were spending hours on a daily basis with her. One to teach the necessary foundation of the Catholic Church, the other to help with the mastery of Vienna’s dialect along with horse jumping, while introducing her slowly to the Essler family and set of friends. Verena managed one of her rare smiles while reading Lillian’s letter, with her usual emphasis on having acquired a lovely daughter, one she was never able to have. She remembered only too well that she felt the same way about Philip. Now that childless socialite and baroness through marriage, who was a former orphan, claims to have two adorable children who she loves with all her heart, while Verena, who gave birth to two sons, sits all alone in her chalet. That chalet that was built thirty years ago and named plein soleil . . . Full of Sunshine. What a joke at present, as not one ray of sun found its way through her permanently shut windows. Even the abundance of her blooming flowers left her at the moment without any feeling.

  She was in the process of opening her last letter, which was for some reason the one from her husband Hannes. They were always in lengthy detail and showed great sympathy towards her plight and her suffering about her beloved Papa’s death. However, they were also very warm with his love for her and conciliatory in regard to Philip and Victoria. And there was always the slight hint that her Papa would have wholeheartedly approved of her. He promised to arrive the following Saturday afternoon to talk for the very last time about attending, if only for a short while, the wedding ceremony at the Esslers’ chapel. After all, he stated, like he had in every previous letter, it would be the only wedding in
the family as there were just no other relatives to speak of, and Stephan’s departure from the monastery was out of the question. So far, any reasonable effort or explanation was either ignored or forcefully rebuked and she still had no intention of changing her mind.

  His announced visit didn’t put her in a better mood either. Her own last hope towards a long and painstaking investigation into the von Wintersberg family background proved fruitless, as absolutely nothing was found against them which would give her any reason to intercede in Philip’s marriage. Even her ever-suspicious mind of a possible fortune hunter was finally put to rest, as the Count was transferred to an asylum in Germany and his hopeless condition was mostly contributed to his daughter’s affair with an Austrian.

  “I regret to inform you,” she still heard the investigator say. “but Vice Consul von Wintersberg called your son every unflattering name imaginable and it was no secret that he detested all Austrians.” She couldn’t remember her rude answer, but as it now all came to an end, it didn’t matter anymore.

  She summoned Elsa and her niece Marlene who went along with her to Ischl, as the caretakers were only there to cook and clean. “I want you two to go for a visit to the city or take a short train ride anywhere, but Mr. Reinhardt and I would like to have the afternoon to ourselves.” She sighed deeply, knowing no further explanation was necessary. “Here is some extra money. Enjoy yourselves.” With a sincere thank you, along with an expression of full understanding, both servants departed after having decided to visit the beautiful gardens. Verena also dismissed the caretakers after her last-moment insistence on taking over the reins herself in order to meet Hannes at the station.

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  “Poor Hannes, you look exhausted.” She greeted him with a hearty embrace, adding that she was, just moments ago, told by none other than the station master that it was a record heat wave for the month of September.

  “They say that every year,” Hannes responded, unimpressed at the statement, but showing visible surprise at her pale, almost sickly appearance. “You should try to be a bit more in the fresh air,” he admonished after his friendly greeting and surprise that she came by herself.

  “Who drove you here?” he inquired, just to be sure.

  “I did. Don’t forget, dear husband, your sister is not the only woman who can handle a Landau,” she answered, tongue in cheek, handing him the reins with a sheepish smile. “I'm so glad to see you, Hannes.”

  “Same here, dear Verena, especially when one has to consider that in all of our thirty years of marriage, we have never been apart longer than a few days.”

  “Don’t ask me why I am here Hannes, as I am a lost soul who refuses even to see any of my friends.”

  “Yes, and they are truly sorry and troubled by it. Especially the Rombergs, who were trying in all honesty to help in any way they could,” Hannes reproached her.

  “I am aware of it. But at the present, I don’t see eye-to-eye with anybody other than goodhearted Elsa and Marlene, who take my awful mood swings in stride. Like Papa used to say, ‘where would we be without our devoted servants?’”

  He could have responded with, ‘or our spouses,’ but since the quote came from Papa again he let it go at that. “Verena,” he said very gently after arriving at their chalet. “I have always agreed with you, and not for the sake of agreeing either, but because we are very compatible in every way. But this time you are in the wrong and I don’t mind telling you so myself. We always took so much pride and comfort in marrying for love only. You and I did, Kurt and Lillian, let alone your— no, our beloved Papa, and grandparents Otto and Stephany, just to name a few of our small family,” he stressed hardily. He omitted Christina’s marriage purposely, as it was the exception, and he was sure it would be brought up rather sooner than later. “Then why,” he continued. “can our son not enjoy the same privilege? He has all the right in the world to do so.”

  “Because his marriage with a Prussian will be doomed right from the start, Hannes.”

  “It’s been a united Germany for more than twenty years.”

  “Don’t try to enlighten me on their recent history,” she answered with a smirk. “They are still Prussians to the boot! Unification doesn’t change their personality. Even after his death, Bismark is still referred to as the ‘Iron Chancellor.” Same with the Emperors, William I or II . . . doesn’t matter. They are still Prussian first. They still govern Germany their very own way. And that Prussian girl will be no different. She will do everything in her power to get her own way,” she predicted, convinced.

  “I doubt that very much, knowing her background quite well. And I have yet to meet the person who tells Philip what to do,” he assured her. I don’t mind telling you, Verena, that so far, my worst fears about her acceptance among our friends were totally unfounded. It was of great concern to me for obvious reasons and I discussed every single obstacle with our son well beforehand.”

  “You mean among all those Esslers and their bosom-buddies who judge one strictly on equestrian skills? Or by Franz-Xavier's large congregation, who expect already many offspring from this union? Then I have no choice but to agree! But this is not what marriage is all about. I know Philip better than you do.”

  “Please, Verena, try not to be so negative,” he pleaded, but she only persisted.

  “. . . and then there are the likes of Papa and me who always lived by our principles. Reinhardts that is . . . as Austria has over the years lost them all!”

  “Since you are talking politics, a subject usually taboo between us, then I may take the liberty and remind you Germany is even on our side now,” he soothed.

  But she simply snapped back. “And I wonder why! Who needs those devils anyway?”

  Hannes felt in need of a different approach in the matter. “Verena, I have a strong suspicion that Philip told Papa all about it on his death bed. Remember how he rushed to his room that night?”

  “Hmm . . . now I am beginning to wonder if that caused Papa to draw his last breath! I mean, upon hearing about it. With his only grandson disgracing the family in the worst possible way, why would a man like him care to go on living? He just gave up!” she exclaimed, full of tears.

  “Are you trying to lay the blame of Papa’s death on Philip too?” he said incredulously.

  “Now that you mention it, I may need to think about it more.”

  “Then I must assume you still haven’t changed your mind about attending his wedding.”

  “What wedding?” she answered bitterly.

  “Then there is nothing more left for me to say, Verena, except that you are the one who is losing in the long run. I feel very sorry for you,” he said somberly.

  “Where are you going?” she asked, seeing him fetch his still unpacked suitcase.

  “Hotel Kaiserhof for tonight, visiting some friends tomorrow, and leaving to see my family again the next day.”

  Her face turned white and her hands began to shake. “I felt all along that once Papa was gone, I would have no one left . . . no one!” she sobbed.

  “You asked for it, Verena. And at this very moment, I not only speak as your husband, Hannes, but as the tough orphan boy Johannes Paul Brehmer, who could be hurt only so much and be pushed only so far without rebelling. You should know that much, Verena Reinhardt!” Without giving her a chance to respond, he was gone.

  When Elsa and Marlene returned, they found a desolate and shivering Verena cuddled up in her favorite loveseat crying quietly. She whispered, “Mr. Reinhardt came and went.”

  “But Doctor Reinhardt will be back, Madame.”

  “I am not so sure. I think I lost him to our son and his Prussian fiancée.”

  “Then please, be at their wedding and everything will be all right.”

  “No, Elsa! How could I do that to my Papa? You know how he felt about those evil people. He would never forgive me for it.” Then came her favorite expression of late. “He is right now looking down on me.”

  “I’ll brew you some
tea to calm you, Madame. You need a good rest.”

  “Nothing will do, Elsa. I hurt this poor man just as much as Philip hurt me. I took my bitterness out on him and it will take quite a while to get over it. I have a feeling a very long time indeed.”

  “I am so sorry, Mrs. Reinhardt,” Elsa said sincerely, and bid her a good night. When she entered her room, she watched Marlene trying to accomplish several different hairstyles.

  “I wish I looked like one of those ladies we have seen this afternoon. Imagine getting closely followed by a servant holding a large white umbrella to shield you from the sun.”

  Elsa only shrugged with great indifference. “In all those years with the Reinhardts, it was never allowed. Their own husbands called it a silly frivolity invented by the nobility. The Reinhardt men enjoyed being perfect gentlemen and showed it most gallantly,” Elsa answered, remembering her parents’ and grandparents’ stories about serving the finest people on earth. Though she had not known some of them, she felt nevertheless an extreme closeness to their ever-present motto ‘to be noble, compassionate, and brave’. But she also remembered Otto and beautiful Stephany, poor Louise, and Christina whose life was so cruelly shortened, and Karl’s endless suffering until his dying days. She tried to remember Alex and Verena, and Hannes and Lillian's arrival. All their joys and tragedies and their will of iron to survive and not blemish the name and traditions of Reinhardt. It became, at times, almost a burden, Christina being the best example of it. Now it’s up to Philip and Victoria. It all seems like yesterday and yet it was so long ago.

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