Hannes finally saw his chance to talk to Philip, entering Essler’s private parlor. “Philip, my son, this is a very special heirloom from your late grandfather,” he said while reaching in his pocket. “It was purchased a few years before his death and it was for me to keep for you until the proper occasion presented itself.” He smiled proudly. “Grandpa often had his doubt about your final commitment. It’s a one-of-a-kind pocket watch from Piaget, with his newly invented movements.”
Philip was astounded, not only at the unusual watch in 18 karat gold casing, but very impressed by the diamond chain it hung on. Though he was never much affected by any of the Reinhardts’ possessions until Aunt Lillian explained the importance to him, he took this generous gift with great pride, knowing his grandfather’s enormous love for him.
“For your wedding dear son, and your obsession with timekeeping,” Hannes added.
Philip was not fully convinced that his grandfather Karl would have accepted his new bride wholeheartedly. Though keeping his feelings well hidden, he was still seething with fury that his own mother had spoiled his big day. And while, so far, no one had even mentioned her name in one way or other, he was quite conscious of the fact that this was the only reason in doing so.
“I know what you are thinking, Philip,” Hannes said quietly, while both inspected the watch with great interest. “Believe it or not, poor Mother doesn’t know what she is doing. She is in bad shape and terribly unhappy.”
“While all of us here are terribly happy,” Philip finished the sentence, mocking bitterly. “But I, for one, will never forgive her, come what may. So please, Father, never ask me to do so,” he finished, somewhat calmer, and father and son let it go at that.
The soft chamber music could be heard from the great hall, with a few young couples still dancing the evening away. But the older generation sensed some tension all along. The forever-cheerful presence of Verena and Karl was terribly missed, though one of them could never be brought back.
Lillian interrupted the pleasant gathering, knowing that her time had finally come to take over. She announced cheerfully that a big New Year’s party with family and friends from both sides of the family would take place.
“Philip and his lovely wife,” she stressed loudly. “just told me that they would shorten their honeymoon to spend Christmas with us!” A spontaneous applause followed, with glowing faces already looking forward to the next great occasion.
Slowly, some guests began to leave, but not before they took one more look at the many displayed gifts, and were still very curious about Anette’s unopened gift boxes.
“All that looks so beautiful, special, and priceless seems to come from the bride’s family,” Countess Thalburg verified to her circle of close friends that stood nearby. “But some of us put our money together and gave her one of the finest French Orlov Trotters. Poor, dear Lady never even owned her own horse. Diplomats, you know. They have no choice but to take what’s offered to them and then only temporarily as they move around so much,” she sighed deeply and sorrowfully.
“They are usually offered the very best,” advised a nearby friend in the know.
Lillian, who couldn’t help but overhear the comments, was very amused. The new Mrs. Reinhardt had, as of now, a chance to call a dozen Lippizaners her very own.
The newlyweds said their many thanks and good-byes with a warm handshake. They decided to spend their first night in Philip’s own place before departing to the south of France and Switzerland. St. Moritz would be visited on their way home for their convenience, and Italy was reserved for some other time. After all, their life together was just beginning.
∼
Anette was the last one to leave and vowed to Kurt and Lillian that she was already looking forward to their next party. Arriving in Alex’s bedroom, she held his hand tightly, telling him all about the great times she had with the Germans, regretting the Kronthalers’ future residence in Rome. She also elaborated about the fabulous wedding and reminded him again that nothing but peace reigned between Germany and Austria. “But,” she continued scornfully. “Verena should be horse whipped for embarrassing her very own small family while preaching about closeness to everyone else. On the other hand, I was glad she didn’t show up. I felt so free,” she concluded with a sly smirk on her tired face. She didn’t pick up a book, as she was in the process of changing her mind about the convent.
∼
Lotte decided to spend her next two nights at the Esslers’ guesthouse, as Kronthaler had the equal time to spare. They all had to catch up with the latest news. Manfred was now in Berlin in a special asylum with no chance of recovery. Her brother, Friedrich, was extremely generous towards Victoria’s wedding, giving many valuables from their own Gerlach estate, feeling his own children were less deserving. Also, Lotte had been shortchanged on her own wedding day, as no one cared for Manfred.
Ambassador von Ritter’s fervent hope also came to pass. His wish of a transfer anywhere else was approved, but once again not to his own liking. Stockholm was not only known for its endless, cold winters, but the Swedes themselves were cold the whole year towards any foreigner, especially Germans. His Excellency, wife and daughter had nothing but bitter regrets at having left a lovely city.
With everyone departed and the overnight guests in their designated rooms, Hannes, Kurt, and Lillian were now alone enjoying themselves with the latest gossip.
“Thanks to Lillian, it was a marvelous day,” Kurt confessed, with Hannes in full agreement. Both were removing their formalwear, looking for more comfort.
“I learned a lot in one day,” Hannes grinned broadly. “as I was mostly listening.”
“I heard more, myself, with Victoria close by and she was winking at me, but kept mum on any kind of guesswork, including all her gifts.” Lillian smiled with relish, still extremely grateful and relieved that everything went even better than planned.
“What an endearing girl! She was, in every way, everyone’s Princess,” Hannes said elatedly, trying his utmost to appear casual and pleased, though he was badly hurt by Verena’s absence.
“Also, our newly acquired relative, Lotte, along with the Kronthalers, made an everlastingly superb impression, chatting in the most flattering way with the old guard who wore their uniforms with a chest full of medals earned mostly against Prussia.”
It was now Kurt who chuckled. “For heaven’s sake, Hannes! They all looked rather comical, and in any case, more harmless than any of the attachés in the German Embassy.” They all laughed aloud, having little choice but to agree. “Anette. . . Of all the guests, Anette took to those few Germans like bees to honey! She ignored all of her relatives . . . us being the exception,” Kurt mused. “Now we have two unpredictable women to deal with brother Hannes!” His face turned to a somber expression, as by now he had read one of her letters and the contents were quite shocking. “Sorry, Hannes. I didn’t mean it badly.”
“It’s quite all right, Kurt. After all, we are alone and I would have talked about it myself as I need some advice from you, being completely unprepared how to deal with it. Verena plans to stay away from Vienna for quite some time to come. She is in the process of purchasing a new villa in Salzburg near the Mirabell’s garden and castle. She leaves our favorite chalet in the hands of caretakers until she decides what to do with it. We were always so happy there,” he said in distress.
“I hate to tell you, brother, but she bought one in the town of Ischl already, feeling she needs the health spas to be cured,” Lillian interjected.
“Cured from what? They are only hot springs! But maybe the daily walks on the Traun River will do her good. What else can I say or do?” Hannes sighed.
“The main thing is she comes to terms with herself,” Lillian soothed softly, but omitted mentioning that the new Villa is called ‘Villa Karl’. She will use it as sort of a shrine in memory of her Papa, Lillian suspected, and hoped for the sake of Hannes that time is again the healer.
“I have one
more letter to read but decided on tomorrow. After all, I had in many other ways a great day.” He went to his own bedroom at the Esslers’ place, departing wordlessly with a pat on the shoulders of his sister and brother-in-law. It was always his own sign how much he appreciated both of them.
“I dread tomorrow already,” Lillian muttered resentfully to Kurt, her lips quivering lightly. “It will hit him the hardest.”
“What will?”
“That she doesn’t even permit her own son on any of her premises as long as he is married to the Prussian woman. Even Franz-Xavier thinks something is severely wrong with her, as she asked him about every possibility concerning an annulment between Philip and Victoria.”
“When did you find all that out?” Kurt stuttered slowly in surprise. “She couldn’t possibly mean it!”
“In her letter to me about a week ago. I kept it all to myself, not wanting to spoil anything. I am sure your relatives who put the bravest faces on know plenty too. Ischl is their preferred vacation spot. Don’t expect them to forgive Verena easily, especially now that they were all taken by Victoria’s loveliness, and reading Philip’s deep disappointment on his face. I think we all expected her to show up at the last moment. Now poor Hannes has to face that dilemma on top of everything else. Those are too many changes for him at one time,” she concluded in sadness.
Kurt put his arm around his dejected wife, wondering himself why such a special occasion had so many dark shadows lurking behind it.
“First my dearest Lillian, you are the bravest woman I have ever known.”
“No, only a great actress on occasion.”
He overlooked her remark. “Hannes, Philip, and Victoria will always have us Esslers on their side . . . along with uncountable other friends, may I add. But, be that as it may, the way I see it, Hannes will never stand for it. His son and his son’s wife will, as of now, come first. Verena may just as well prepare herself for it and get used to the idea!
1900
30
All of Vienna’s church bells had begun ringing only seconds apart, telling the celebrating city that the New Year of 1900 had finally arrived and promised to make a great entrance in spite of the usual misery. For the next few hours there would be only singing and dancing on every street and all happenings of years past, no matter how grievous, would be temporarily forgotten. As usual, St. Stephan’s Cathedral’s very own gigantic bell, affectionately known as ‘The Pummerin’, was the loudest. It had been manhandled with many hammers, as the string pulling may not only have caused the encasing tower to collapse but would also be responsible for any other damage. Since no changes were ever made to any symbolism the city had taken so close to their hearts, the daily ritual of pounding continued until a better solution would present itself.
Victoria, sitting near the fireplace, reflected at this late hour, on her last few years as a Reinhardt, wondering what the newly arrived century would have in store for Austria in general, and also for the future of the Reinhardts in particular. Having just handed her hungry twins, Peter and Paul, to the wet nurses, who, regardless of their own births several months ago, were still overflowing with milk, she glanced from time to time sideways while listening off and on to her mother-in-law, Verena, telling her stories about the different types of bells, focusing mainly on the ‘Pummerin’, and how Vienna got this huge bell in the first place. Victoria doubted whether Elizabeth would remember much of the stories. After all, she had just turned three on the last day of August. Well, if nothing else would capture her attention, the deafening noise coming through the tightly closed windows surely would. Two-year-old Gisela, however, slept through it all, just as it could be expected of her. She had been brought to the main parlor in case her older sister fell asleep. Then, Verena had at least one cradle nearby which would give her a chance to put her rocking and talking to some use.
As far as Victoria and Hannes were concerned, her weekly family visits were a more effective ‘cure’ for her than all the former therapeutic and other treatments in the famous spa of Ischl combined. Philip, however, saw it differently. He was still quite cross but tried very hard to hide his feelings from his family. But as with his own mother previously, one allowed him time and hoped he, too, would eventually come around.
At present, Hannes and Philip were at the Esslers’ New Year’s party. Both had promised, however, to return at the first opportunity, without appearing to be discourteous, though everyone attending would have fully understood. Verena, having spent her first Christmas very happy and relaxed among her newly arrived family, wanted no part of any festivities quite yet. Her four-year long absence had raised many questions and she was in no mood to give any answers, providing she had any to begin with.
Victoria, on the other hand, had no choice in the matter. Her reasons were well-known among the guests, whose prayers were still with her. The birth of her twins was not only five weeks premature but proved to be extremely difficult in every possible way. Although there were two experienced midwives in attendance trying their utmost to save the tiny premature twins, her very own life had barely hung on a thread. The labor pains came fast and unexpectedly. Doctor Reinhardt was in the midst of a life-threatening operation, otherwise he could have been summoned and there never would have been any question whose life would have taken priority, regardless of the Holy Church’s strict opposition. Even Father Christopher had been called, who had been in the adjoining room with Verena, clutching her trembling hand. She had talked obsessively about her own mother’s death at childbirth, avoiding, however, any comparison.
“Papa would have been so much happier with his beautiful wife than with his homely daughter,” she moaned quietly, in tears.
“Verena, you were the best thing that ever happened to Papa!” the priest rebuked firmly.
“Well, if one would consider his life alone with Alex, I’d have to agree. The wonderful man deserved better than that.”
She was not able to go into her habitual details, as a haggard but overjoyed Philip entered and proudly exclaimed, “We have two tiny, but otherwise healthy sons! The midwives performed a miracle! My dear wife and I agreed on Peter and Paul.”
“But how is Victoria’s health?” Verena questioned, visibly worried.
“Poor thing had an extremely hard time, but she is going to be just fine. We also got two wet nurses in a hurry,” he smiled, relieved.
“Thanks to our midwives, November 15th will always be remembered as the date of the answer to all our prayers,” the priest sighed, with Verena replying, “Especially mine!” with big tears running down her cheeks.
Philip paused for a moment to catch his breath, looking towards his mother. “Well, at least the name of Reinhardt is secured, and hopefully for generations to come.”
“I haven’t wasted one single thought on a line of continuance. We Reinhardts were always good about adopting children. Right, Father Christopher?” she cut Philip short and reminded the priest that he was one of them.
“Now that you bring it up, Mother, even by taking the name of Christopher instead of ours, he has come in quite handy lately. Of course, my wedding was undoubtedly the highlight of his calling,” he laughed, tongue in cheek.
“Don’t overlook your parents. This was my very first,” said Father Christopher, smiling. “And I will never forget how nervous I was, either,” he added cheerfully.
“And then came Lillian and Kurt, minutes apart, just to name a few more,” Verena replied in haste, fully aware that it was her son’s chance to rub his own wedding in.
“Dear Franz-Xavier, are you that old already?” Philip said, pinching his cheek in jest, before excusing himself to be at his wife’s side.
Even now, six weeks later, Victoria was facing a few exploratory operations. Vienna’s world-famous school of medicine devoted an enormous amount of time and money in trying to prevent the all too frequently occurring deaths during the birth of a child. With its leading surgeon being none other than Hannes himself, who carefully
selected the best scientists in the field of medicine from all over Europe, the Reinhardts’ shrewd insight and their generous donations, the school of medicine would remain in the most capable hands. He was convinced that all the many benefactors of generations past would be glowing with pride. The progress of this selfless undertaking was tremendous, as anything else would have never been accepted. Many of those men had sacrificed their own lives to give health to others. Verena’s own deformity at birth, which became by the age of fifteen unnoticeable, was living proof that all those many efforts and projects were well worth it and would never be in vain.
Now the only two remaining and equally well-known Mrs. Reinhardts, although each one for their own reason, sat by the fireplace still listening to the fading sound of the Pummerin, as it was also known as the bell that always had the last word.
“Now remember, Elisabeth, the most important year was 1683,” Victoria heard Verena repeat several times. “And the bad Turks always invaded the good Austrians,” she impressed very strongly, while stroking her grandchild’s dark, curly hair. Victoria was always astounded at the Reinhardts’ inbred belief that a child can never be taught too early or too much.
Again, Victoria put her many reflections back to where she left off, and her thoughts went now even further back to her honeymoon. Their trip had gone exactly as planned, and while she was astonished with every luxurious hotel she had encountered, she was more amazed that Philip knew everyone, right down to the last servant’s name and also inquired about their families as well. They had all appeared to be overjoyed at his interest and answered very respectfully, while looking at his beautiful wife and stammering their congratulations.
Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part One Page 47
