“Well, of course I’m glad to see you, Rudolf,” she assured him. Then, not to falsely encourage him, was quick to add, “And I’m glad to see Switzerland again and looking forward to seeing Elenore. How is she, by the way?”
He was momentarily taken aback by how she’d steered the conversation away from a personal note. It was not like Marilee to be so talkative, anyway. Usually, she nodded, shook her head, or murmured, seldom taking the initiative, but he’d first noticed the change at the wedding. He was not sure he liked it. “She’s fine,” he said crisply, “and looking forward to seeing you, too.”
They reached the baggage claim area, and when Marilee and Jade pointed to only one wardrobe trunk apiece, Rudolf frowned. He knew how women traveled, and these two were not planning to stay very long if they had packed so lightly. Mustering a cheery tone, he said, “I can see I’m going to have to introduce you ladies to the wonderful shops of Zurich because it looks like you haven’t brought enough clothes for all I’ve planned for you.”
Jade said, “I can’t speak for Marilee, but I’ve brought enough clothes for my stay. I’ll be wanting to get back in case there’s word from Travis or Colt, and I don’t like leaving Valerie all alone, either.”
Rudolf was barely able to mask his annoyance as he lightly warned, “I’m just going to have to make sure you have such a wonderful time, Princess, that I can change your mind. The snows will come soon, and then you’ll see what a wonderland Switzerland really is.”
“She’s seen Switzerland in the winter, Rudolf,” Marilee interjected, noticing his irritation. “Besides, neither of us can stay very long, so let’s not ruin our trip by arguing about it, all right?”
Rudolf really did have to bite his tongue then to hold back an angry retort, because he did not like Marilee’s arrogance. Soon enough, she would learn who was in control.
“And please,” Jade said, gently touching his arm, “don’t call me princess where others might hear.” She smiled to let him know she was not angry.
He nodded to her, then signaled to Hanisch, who had been standing to one side and took care of the trunks.
“If you aren’t planning to be here very long, what do you propose to do with yourself when you leave?” Rudolf asked Marilee.
“I haven’t decided,” she replied absently, glancing about with interest as they left the station. Northwest was the beautifully flowing Sihl canal, a greenish-blue ribbon snaking its way through the city. She could also see the Platzpromenande, the public garden on the triangular spit of land between the Sihl and its tributary, the Limmat, and, beyond, the outline of the city’s large industrial zone.
Things were not going as Rudolf had hoped. Finding out from the first moment that their stay was not to be indefinite had taken the glow off the day. Dully, he handed Marilee her satin-wrapped gift of the gold bracelet. “This was to welcome you. It might as well be a goodbye gift given the duration of your stay.”
She sighed, exasperated. Jade probably regarded his behavior as that of a disappointed paramour, but Marilee had come to know it for what it was—pouting when something did not go his way.
“Rudolf, I appreciate all this,” Marilee said. “The flowers, the gift, but I didn’t promise to spend the entire winter with you. Can’t we just enjoy ourselves the time I am here, and not let the visit be ruined because we aren’t able to stay as long as you’d like us to?”
“Of course we can,” he said tightly, his smile forced. “Forgive a man who merely loves you, my dear.”
Rudolf checked the time. He wanted to postpone their meeting his mother. “We can take the scenic way if you aren’t tired,” he suggested.
“Actually, I am,” Jade admitted. “We can sightsee another time, if that’s all right.”
“Elenore told me all about the delicious teas your mother has,” Marilee said. “I’m looking forward to it this afternoon—and meeting her, too.”
Rudolf nodded to Hanisch and murmured they should take a direct route home.
Marilee knew that the concept of “castles” covered a wide range in Switzerland and France. The German schloss, like the French château, could be either a medieval castle, a Renaissance palace, or even a large country house. When Rudolf’s home came into view, she termed it the latter. Regal, three stories tall, of neat, square-cut- stone, it was, she decided at once, delightful. A wrought-iron fence surrounded the property, which, being not too far from the city proper, probably consisted of an acre or so.
It was impressive, but not opulent, and Marilee thought how it could be made into a warm, cozy place. Now, however, it somehow appeared austere, cold…and neglected.
Hanisch turned into a side gate, drove on across a brick courtyard to stop at the back doors.
“Here we are!” Rudolf announced proudly, opening the car door and bounding out to help them alight.
Just then Elenore came out onto the portico and called a greeting. “So wonderful to see my future sister-in-law!”
Marilee winced.
Jade laughed.
Rudolf wanted to strangle her.
The two girls embraced, happy to be reunited; then Rudolf introduced Jade.
Elenore curtsied. “We are so honored to have a Russian princess grace our home.”
Rudolf shot her an angry look. It would take only one slip like that around their mother and all hell would break loose “I told you she doesn’t like to be called a princess.”
He spoke so sharply that both Jade and Marilee stared at him.
“You asked me at the station not to address you as a princess, remember?” Rudolf quickly said.
“But there’s no need to be upset with your sister,” Jade said, seeing Elenore’s discomfort. “How is she supposed to know that I don’t consider myself royalty anymore, since I’ve been away from court so long?”
“But the main reason,” she confided to Elenore, putting her arm around her shoulder in a gesture of friendship, “is that it’s necessary to be cautious these days about who knows I’m a Romanov. You never know who might be listening. I’m afraid my Russian family is not too popular with certain people right now.”
Maybe not popular, Rudolf thought wickedly, but certainly valuable!
They went on inside, and though the rear hallway was dark, Marilee could appreciate the architecture and asked how old the castle was.
“Maybe a couple of hundred years,” Rudolf told her nonchalantly. “I don’t know how long it’s belonged to my father’s side of the family.”
He motioned them to follow as he led the way. “As I told you earlier, we’re in the process of refurbishing. My grandmother had let the place run down, and it will take a while to get things as we want them, but eventually we will.”
Pausing to slip a possessive arm around Marilee’s waist, he whispered intimately, “I’ll be happy to have suggestions from the lady I hope will be mistress of my castle one day soon.”
Marilee stiffened, made no comment.
“Well?” Rudolf prodded anxiously, seeking some sign of enthusiasm…or affection.
She could only murmur, “You have a lovely home, Rudolf.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”
“And I’ve asked you,” she reminded him, “to give me time.”
He drew a ragged breath of exasperation and dropped his arm from around her.
Elenore took Jade to her quarters, and Rudolf led Marilee up to the second floor.
They walked in silence, and when Rudolf opened her door for her, he stepped back and said quietly, “If you don’t find everything you need, there’s a bell cord by the door, and a maid will assist you. When you’ve finished freshening up, I’ll be in the parlor on the main floor.”
He turned to go, but Marilee suddenly reached out to touch his arm. “Wait, please.” She felt compelled to explain. “I’m sorry if I disappoint you, Rudolf, but please understand that I won’t be rushed into anything. Maybe I was wrong to even come here.”
“No,
you weren’t,” he quickly assured her, his gaze once more devouring as he reached out with firm fingers to clutch her shoulders and give her a gentle shake. She had brought up the subject, so he decided to take advantage of it, since he felt there was no time to waste. “Listen to me. You know I love you. And I swear I’m going to make you love me. If only you knew how I’ve counted the minutes till I could hold you in my arms…for this…”
His lips pressed down on hers hungrily, possessively, as he drew her almost roughly against him, his hands moving up and down her back.
She felt nothing but pretended to respond so as not to hurt his feelings—again.
And Rudolf could tell.
He tensed with anger. Dammit, he knew it was not his fault. He had enough experience to know women found him desirable. He had yet to bed a woman who had not seemed adequately satisfied afterward. He suspected Marilee was just one of those women he’d heard the famous Sigmund Freud lecture about—women who had mental problems that kept them from responding. Accordingly, seduction would be difficult, if not impossible, unless, of course, she were drugged, and he could certainly take care of that little detail.
He released her to save her further embarrassment. With a tender touch, he brushed back a wisp of hair that had fallen onto her cheek. Her “bob” was starting to grow out, and he was glad. He much preferred long, flowing tresses.
“I’ll see you downstairs, my love,” he said, and left. He was anxious to find Hanisch and discuss the possibility of moving faster than originally planned. Too many things could go wrong—Elenore’s nervousness might cause her to make a slip at the wrong time, his mother’s drinking could cause tense situations, but most of all, he was worried that Marilee and Jade would leave too soon for the Zealots to carry out their plan.
Marilee stared after him and knew that as long as she felt no emotion, she would never marry him, or any man. If it meant having to endure the humiliation of pretense when kissed or caressed, then, by God, she would live her life void of love.
And let the wine turn to vinegar!
Chapter Eleven
Rudolf hurried to the kitchen, where Gerda, Hanisch’s wife, was busy preparing, to serve tea. “Where’s Hanisch?” Rudolf asked.
She nodded to the door leading to the courtyard. “Getting ready to leave. He said to tell you he was taking the car—urgent business.”
“What kind of business?” he demanded.
“I’m not sure. There was a telephone call for him. A voice I didn’t recognize. When he rang off, he said to tell you he was leaving. I don’t know anything else.”
Rudolf dashed for the door, flung it open in time to see Hanisch turning the Fiat around. Waving frantically, he called out for him to wait as he ran toward him. Hanisch frowned but stopped the automobile. “I have no time to talk just now,” he said when Rudolf reached him. “I’ve been summoned to headquarters. Don’t ask me why. I wasn’t told anything except to get there as soon as possible. You go back to your guests. We’ll talk later.”
He started to ease away, but Rudolf slammed his hands down on the car door. “While you’re there, you better let it be known we may have to act sooner than we’d planned, with very little notice. They’re not staying as long as I thought.
“Another thing—a bodyguard came with them. And a maid. I’ve stalled bringing them here, saying due to refurbishing, accommodations weren’t available. I persuaded the princess to send them to a hotel for a few days.”
“Princess!” Hanisch sneered, then said, “I’m glad you caught up with me. We needed to know all this. I’ll talk with you as soon as I get back. But don’t worry about the bodyguard. He’ll come in handy to deliver the ransom note to the Coltrane family.”
Rudolf returned to the kitchen and told Gerda the news.
“The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned,” she said. “Hanisch wants us to move to Russia as soon as the Bolsheviks take power, which everyone says won’t be long the way Kerensky is crumbling. I’ve things to do to get ready, and I don’t need to be spending my time preparing tea,” she added with a disgusted sniff.
Rudolf could not care less about her inconvenience. “How is my mother?”
“Your mother!” She gave him an angry look. “Your mother can be quite unpleasant, comrade. Elenore and I had difficulty getting her out of that frowsy robe and into a decent dress. She wouldn’t let us wash her hair, but she did let Elenore braid it. Then she got angry because she said she couldn’t find her ‘tonic’. Of course, she was talking about her vodka, which I found and hid. We heard her tearing around in her room for nearly an hour, and then she got quiet.”
“And?” he flared, annoyed. “What happened then? Have you been up to see her? Is she ready to join us for tea?”
Gerda lost her patience. She found Rudolf arrogant and unappreciative. She wiped her hands on her apron and looked at him with cold, angry eyes. “You listen to me,” she said evenly, “and get down off your high horse. You seem to forget I’m not really your hired help, that I’m only doing this to help the cause—not you. And having to bow and scrape and play nursemaid to your sot of a mother was not part of what I agreed to do. If you don’t like the way things are being done, go and do them yourself!”
Rudolf reeled with fury but was determined not to lower himself to argue with her. Hanisch, however, would hear about his insolent wife, and the task of chastising her would fall on him.
He turned on his heel and strode out of the kitchen, was about to go see about his mother when he heard Marilee and Jade coming down the stairs. Quickly, he returned to tell Gerda, “Find Elenore. Tell her to go see about my mother!”
Pasting on an amiable smile and assuming his most genial air, he met his guests and escorted them to the parlor. He was relieved that they seemed properly impressed with the borrowed furniture. Jade marveled over a Vienna porcelain mantel clock, and he knew he’d have to keep an eye on that, lest his mother sell it. He’d asked Hanisch and the others not to bring in small decorator pieces for that very reason, but they’d felt it necessary for effect.
“Your rooms are comfortable, I hope?” he asked.
“Lovely,” Jade said, and Marilee agreed.
Gerda came in, carrying a silver tea service Rudolf had never seen before. She set it on the table in front of the divan, then hurried out to return with a tray of delectable-looking Swiss treats. Along with rosebud cake squares, there was a plate of Basler Leckerli, a kind of gingerbread; Zuger Kirschtorte, cream-filled meringues; and rissoles, pear tarts.
“Fräulein Elenore tells me your mother fell asleep,” Gerda carefully said, “and she’s had to awaken her and get her ready to come down for tea. She sends her apologies to your guests for being late.”
Rudolf winced, sucked in his breath between clenched teeth. There was no mistaking the hidden message: his mother had no doubt found her “tonic” and fallen asleep after taking a few nips. All he could hope for was that she’d napped long enough for most of the effects to wear off.
Looking directly at Gerda, who was waiting for his reaction, he instructed, “Tell my sister that if Mother isn’t feeling well, she should just let her rest.” He then turned to Jade and Marilee. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid she hasn’t been herself since my stepfather died.”
“You’re very close to your mother, aren’t you?” Jade asked.
“Oh, yes, very!” Holding up his hands, he wriggled his fingers. “These are the reason she was willing to leave the home she loved. She was afraid I’d be called to fight and my hands might be injured. She lives to see me achieve greatness as a pianist. She was willing to give up family, friends, anything.
“I just hope I can live up to her expectations,” he added with an exaggerated laugh of humility.
Jade smiled. “I’m sure you’ve nothing to worry about. Marilee has told me how wonderfully you play. But tell me,” she suddenly urged, “how does she feel about your interest in Marilee? Does she worry you might be putting your career aside for her?”
Marilee promptly cried, “Aunt Jade, I don’t think that’s something we should discuss!”
“Oh, you’re too sensitive!” Jade laughed. “Rudolf has serious intentions, and we both know it, or he wouldn’t have invited you here. And you’ve got some feelings of your own, or you wouldn’t have come. So why pretend otherwise?”
Marilee felt her cheeks grow warm. She did not want to make a scene but could not help resenting that her aunt would broach such a personal subject. “Can we talk about this another time?” she curtly suggested.
“If it bothers you, I’m sorry.” Jade looked at her thoughtfully. “I meant no harm.”
Rudolf felt the tension and quickly said, “Oh, there’s no need for you to apologize, Jade.” Then he turned to Marilee. “Because she’s right, you know. You are too sensitive. Haven’t you told her I proposed to you a long time ago?”
Jade looked from Rudolf to Marilee, eyes wide with pretended surprise. “No. As a matter of fact, she hasn’t.” She was not about to let on that Colt had recounted his conversation with Rudolf, but had wanted Marilee to give her the news herself.
Rudolf shrugged to indicate he was not surprised. “She hasn’t given me an answer. I don’t think she realizes just yet that she loves me, but she does.” He turned to Marilee, hoping he conjured a look of absolute love and devotion. “Because,” he went on, making his voice soft, tender, “when you love someone as much as I love her, they just have to love you back.”
“Rudolf, please!” Marilee shifted uncomfortably.
Jade thought she was just pretending to be embarrassed and teased, “I’m afraid your coquettishness is only making this young man miserable, dear.”
Rudolf readily played along. “Terribly! The truth is, she’s driving me mad, and I think she knows it.”
They both laughed, which only served to infuriate Marilee, and suddenly she took them both by surprise by doing something she’d never been known to do—she lost her temper. “Just stop it, both of you!” She set her teacup down with a clatter, cinnamon eyes sparkling. “Stop talking about me as if I’m not even here, for heaven’s sake.
Love and Triumph: The Coltrane Saga, Book 8 Page 7
