Not Made For Marriage

Part XIII

Mrs. Petek's problem still on his mind, Janos went to meet the Grums in Annagasse. He had been looking forward to the outing with them, and was determined not to let the Posony Peteks spoil his day. He had done what he could, under the circumstances. It was not his fault that neither party was keen on reconciliation. For a moment, he considered giving up his guardianship in favour of someone else -- not the Peteks, of course, but someone like von Hertenberg, maybe. But to him this seemed as if he were letting Petek down -- and he had never done so while Petek had been alive. Letting him down now, when he had trusted him to take care of his family -- it was not to be thought of, and Janos dismissed the idea, angry with himself that he should contemplate it even for a moment.

Just as he was walking along Annagasse, Countess Potocka's sleigh turned around the corner and stopped in front of the Grums' house. The Countess had decided that they should travel in style, Janos thought with a grin. Her horses were a sight to be seen -- not even the Emperor had better horses in his stables than the Countess Potocka. Along with the ornate sleigh displaying her coat-of-arms, she had sent her own coachman and two footmen wearing her livery. Janos exchanged a few words with the coachman, informing him on where they wanted to go and which route he was supposed to take, and then rang the doorbell to summon his friends.

The moment Janos saw Miss Grum emerge from the house, everything else went straight out of his mind. Her beauty and her good humour accomplished something that no one else had ever done -- she managed to soothe him with her sheer presence. On seeing the sleigh that was waiting for them, she said to Janos, "Is this what hired sleighs look like in Vienna?"

"I did not hire it, Miss Grum. I borrowed it."

"Who lent it to you? This is an elegant piece of work! I daresay I will feel like a Duchess!"

"Nearly correct. Countess." Janos said with a grin.

Miss Grum's smile vanished for a moment. "Did it ... did it belong to your sister?" she asked, with a worried glance at him.

"No," Janos said. "I would never ask my brother-in-law for anything, you can be sure of that. This elegant piece of work, as you termed it, is the property of Countess Potocka, a good friend of mine."

" Countess Potocka, a good friend of mine," Miss Grum repeated and laughed. "I am in awe, sir!"

Janos laughed along with her. "You should not, Miss Grum. Countess Potocka is the least awe-inspiring person in the world."

"I suppose so," Miss Grum said teasingly. "If she were daunting, I suppose you would not have dared to ask her for her sleigh."

"For my friends I am ready to face anything," Janos merely said. "Even daunting Countesses."

Once the ladies were safely seated in the sleigh and carefully wrapped into an assortment of blankets and furs, they started their journey towards the Vienna Woods. As the sleigh darted through the streets of Vienna, Miss Grum suddenly said, "I think I have seen the Countess Potocka once. At a concert, I believe. Someone pointed her out to me. But I never dreamed I would travel in her sleigh one day."

"Life is full of surprises," Janos said.

"She was with her daughter that evening ... no, wait, her niece. I think it was her niece."

"Very likely, for the Countess has no daughter," Janos said. "She does have a niece, though, who is staying with her at the moment."

"Do you know them well? The Countess and her niece?" Miss Grum gave him an earnest look.

"Yes, I do," Janos said. "Countess Potocka was well acquainted with my sister, and I have often met her at my sister's parties."

"Miss Potocka is very pretty," Miss Grum said, with an unmistakable undertone.

"I know," Janos said calmly.

"One hears a great deal about her," Miss Grum continued. To Janos it looked as if she wanted him to talk about Miss Potocka -- but would take grave exception if he talked of her too well.

"Does one?" Janos wondered where this conversation would lead them -- and he was secretly amused that his acquaintance with one of Vienna's most sought-after ladies seemed to upset Miss Grum. He was not alone, it seemed -- there was a broad grin on Grum's face.

"You seem reluctant to talk about Miss Potocka," Miss Grum said. Her tone suggested that she did not think that was good news.

"Though not reluctant to talk to her," Janos said, deciding to tease her a bit. He liked the furious flash in Miss Grum's eyes. "Miss Potocka is a very charming young lady."

Miss Grum turned away from him, her eyes flashing indignantly. She looked at the passing scenery, pointedly ignoring Janos for a while. He realised that he might have gone too far.

"She is charming," he therefore said, "but she has her faults."

"I have heard she is a bit of a flirt," Miss Grum said, hopefully. She was all eagerness to hear about Miss Potocka's faults.

Janos laughed. "She cannot help it, I suppose. It is in her blood. I trust you have not met her brother -- or you would remember him. Compared to Henryk Potocki, his sister is a saint. Besides, everyone flirts with her. She has to flirt back."

"I have heard," Mrs. Grum said, "that Miss Potocka has often been seen in company with an English gentleman."

"Tilney," Janos said, nodding. "I know him. He is a good chap."

"Do you think matters are serious between them?" Mrs. Grum asked curiously.

Janos laughed. "Honestly, I do not know," he said. "I am not Tilney's nanny, Mrs. Grum, and it takes more than my poor intellect to fathom Miss Potocka's mind."

It was quite evident that Miss Grum now thought there had been enough talk about the famous Miss Potocka. She had listened to them quietly, but had made it plain by her expression that she did not relish the topic after all. Probably Janos had not abused Miss Potocka to her satisfaction. He wondered whether it was a good sign that Miss Grum did not want him to speak too well of other ladies -- young, pretty, rich and single ladies. Was she jealous because he meant something to her or did she merely resent the attention he paid to other women as a matter of principle?

"Something strange happened today," she suddenly said and turned to her sister-in-law. "Tell Major Horvàth, Julija."

"Oh yes, do, Mrs. Grum," Janos said with a smile. "I like to be in on everything strange that happens in town."

Mrs. Grum laughed. "We had an invitation to a masquerade," she said.

"Strange, indeed," Janos said dryly. "And in the carnival season, too!" He laughed when he saw Miss Grum's indignant look.

"That is not so very strange, I admit," she said stiffly. "But - the invitation came from Fanny von Arnstein!"

"Congratulations," Janos said. "Consider yourselves lucky. Fanny von Arnstein is the most popular hostess in town."

"I know," Mrs. Grum said. "But we are not acquainted with her! This is why I think it strange that she should send us an invitation."

"She wishes to become acquainted with you, then," Janos said. "I cannot blame her," he added with a look at Miss Grum.

Miss Grum blushed. "I wonder why," she said. For a few moments, no one said anything in reply to that.

"Did you have anything to do with this?" Miss Grum suddenly asked bluntly, giving Janos a searching look as if she hoped his expression would betray him.

"With the invitation?" Janos shook his head. What made her think that he had procured the invitation for them? He was not in a position to ask Fanny von Arnstein for a favour. "Me? What makes you think so?"

"You are acquainted with her," Miss Grum said, simply.

"So I am," Janos said. "But that does not oblige her to invite my friends to her parties. She often invites people who might be of use to her husband, though, and your brother is in the same line of business as Arnstein is."

Mrs. Grum was obviously relieved to finally have a good reason for the invitation. "That might be it, Major!" she exclaimed. "I did not think of that. We were wondering whether we should decline the invitation."

"By no means, Mrs. Grum," Janos said. "Never do that! Offending Fanny von Arnstein would be social suicide. Besides, you would miss a splendid evening."

Miss Grum's eyes glowed with enthusiasm. "Are the Arnsteins' parties really so wonderful? I have heard about them -- and I am really looking forward to this one."

Seeing Miss Grum so happy pleased Janos, but one thing worried him nevertheless -- who had procured the invitation for the Grums? Janos suspected that Kodaly had had his hand in this affair. Kodaly was friends with the Arnsteins' son. It would be an easy thing for him to do -- and any young lady who had had such an honour bestowed on her by his interference would feel obliged to show her gratitude. Janos shuddered to think of what Kodaly might expect of Miss Grum in return for his services.

~~~~o~~~~

It was a glorious day in late January. The sun was shining brightly, and the surroundings of Vienna were covered in freshly-fallen snow. Lina enjoyed herself immensely. Though her brother had once taken her and Julija to the Kahlenberg in October, she had not often left the town during her stay here. She was looking forward to seeing more of the surrounding country, and the beautiful villages that were along the way.

"Where exactly are we going?" she asked Major Horvàth. "In what direction?"

"Towards Klosterneuburg," the Major replied. "Though we will not go all the way there -- it would be too far for a day trip. I am going to take you to a place I used to visit very often when I was a boy -- my uncle often took me there. Apparently, my father liked it very much, too."

"You never talked much about your father," Jakob said. Lina silently agreed with her brother -- and thought it was strange that Major Horvàth had never done so.

"That is because I do not have much to tell about him," the Major said slowly. "He died when I was seven years old, and I did not know him well. He spent most of his time in Vienna, while we were in Hungary."

"Was he a soldier like you?" Lina asked. She could think of no other reason why a man might choose to live separately from his family.

"No, he was not," the Major said. "But he preferred town life to the quiet life we led in the country. Besides, he did not like my mother overly much. The more distance there was between them, the better he did like her."

Lina noticed the wistful note in his tone of voice. "Then why did he marry her?" she asked.

"I do not think he had a choice," the Major said. "The marriage was arranged, and my grandfather, I am told, would not be opposed. My parents' marriage, I am sorry to say, was not a happy one, Miss Grum. So it was just as well they did not see much of each other."

"But surely your father must have been fond of his children," Lina said. A man had to be fond of his children. It was only natural to be fond of one's children.

"As long as we stayed away from him, I suppose he was." The Major's voice sounded bitter. "He did not want to be bothered with us."

"Oh!" Lina tried to imagine what the Major's childhood had been like -- with a father who wanted nothing to do with his family, a mother whom marriage had made miserable, and a little sister he had to look after because no one else seemed to care what became of the children. What this man needed, Lina decided, was someone to take him into her arms often. Someone to tell him that she loved him -- and who meant it when she said so. It did not look as if that had happened to him very often.

"A penny for your thoughts," Major Horvàth said, looking at her with an amused smile.

"I.... I was not... not thinking of anything in particular," Lina stammered. "I just wondered ... was your childhood a happy one, sir? It does not sound as if it were."

"Lina! What kind of question is that?" Julija admonished her. "Major Horvàth will think you quite impertinent."

"I did not mean to be impertinent," Lina said quietly.

"Despite your opinion, Miss Grum, I think I was reasonably happy," Major Horvàth said. "I was afraid of my father, fine, but show me the boy who is not. I distinctly remember your brother's anxiety at the end of every term, when he knew his father would get his school reports and might even come for a visit."

"Indeed," Jakob said with a droll grimace.

"My father, as I said, died when I was seven, and my uncle, who was -- and still is - very fond of me took over the responsibility for us. I spent most of my holidays on his estate in Hungary, and committed about every foolishness a boy is supposed to commit -- with a minimum of consequences. According to my uncle, I had proper spunk. According to my aunt, I was a nuisance, likely to drive her into an early grave. It was she who sent me off to school -- and to military school, once she found out that the monks were not able to control me. She thought to punish me -- but in fact military school suited me much better."

"Even though you knew that you would be a soldier in the end?" Lina asked. "That they would send you off to war?"

"At fourteen, that did not bother me much," Major Horvàth said. "War was just a great adventure everyone was looking forward to. I signed up, a bright young lieutenant full of ambition to prove himself, ready to face death or glory. And then my first campaign hit me right between the eyes. -- You see that hill over there?" To Lina, it was obvious that he tried to change the topic. His life in the army, it seemed, was not a thing he would discuss with her.

"What about that hill over there?" she therefore asked, putting up a cheerful smile.

"Behind that hill there is a village," Major Horvàth said, "and at the end of that village there is the inn we are going to. I hope you are hungry -- the place is renowned for its excellent cook."

"I am going to give the place a fair chance," Lina said, smiling. "What are we going to do after lunch?"

"We might go for a walk," the Major suggested. Lina laughed.

"A walk! How proper," she teased him. "And very unlike yourself, I should say."

"I am very fond of walks," the Major said.

"Indeed?" Lina smiled. "I think it is a very sedate pastime. Ideal for Julija, perhaps. But not for me."

"Then what would you suggest, Miss Grum?" The Major laughed. "I am ready to listen to your more outrageous suggestions."

"We will see," Lina said. "I will have to check on the place's possibilities first. What about those ruins?"

They were now passing the hill, and on its summit she could see the ruins of an ancient castle.

"What about them?" Major Horvàth asked.

"We could climb them," Lina said.

"No, we can't," the Major said. "It is too dangerous, Miss Grum. The place might collapse any moment."

"Fine. No climbing then," Lina said. "But I would like to have a closer look nevertheless. Shall we go there and look at them?" She gave the Major a pleading look. "Surely you cannot have any objection to that?"

"No, I have no objection to your going to see the ruins," the Major said, smilingly. "But only if you promise me you will not attempt to climb them."

"I will not attempt to climb the ruins," Lina said. Major Horvàth gave her a doubting look.

"Word of honour?" he asked. Lina could discern a hint of laughter in his voice, despite his look of grave concern.

"Word of honour," she assured him.

In the meantime, they had reached the village, and the sleigh was slowing down as it passed the farm houses and cottages on either side of the road. The road widened to form a kind of square towards the end of the village. On one side there was the church and the graveyard, with the vicarage next to it. In the middle of the square there was a fountain. A huge stone trough was there to collect the water coming from the fountain -- in summer, Lina thought, it would provide water for the farm animals, and it would be a welcome meeting point for the villagers. She remembered a similar fountain in Marburg, where the local children would jump into the trough to have a quick, cooling bath when the summer sun became unbearably hot. She, too, had been one of these children once. With a smile, she remembered one Ivo Jelcic, who had forced her head under water. She had kicked him hard to make him let go -- and had probably hit his most vulnerable spot, for he had not only released her but also refrained from ever getting near her again. Even now he avoided her. Fair enough -- she had never liked him anyway.

"Why are you smiling?" Major Horvàth asked her.

"Childhood memories," Lina said, grinning, and turned to her brother. "You remember Ivo, don't you?"

Jakob began to laugh. "I will never forget that incident," he said, and added, "Believe me, Horvàth; you do not want to know."

"Who is Ivo?" Major Horvàth asked, frowning. He did not like her referring to a man by his Christian name, Lina thought. The thought pleased her.

"A friend of my brother's," she merely said.

"Ivo is not a friend of mine, and has never been," Jakob protested.

"There was a time when he came round to our place nearly every day during your summer holidays," Lina said.

"Yes, but he didn't come to see me," Jakob said with a sly grin.

"Then I do not know why he was forever coming to our house," Lina said indignantly, "for no one really wanted him to."

"This Ivo quickly becomes an object of compassion to me," Major Horvàth said, smilingly. "Especially since you seem to feel none."

"Of course not," Lina replied quickly. "He tried to drown me once!"

"I agree, this is not the way to win a lady's affection," Major Horvàth said with an amused laugh.

"He was fourteen then," Jakob said. "He may know better by now." He winked at Major Horvàth. "Although my dear sister never really gave him a chance to prove that."

Furiously, Lina replied, "If he tried, I'd give him a set-down he'd remember for the rest of his life!"

"Oh, he still remembers the set-down you gave him once," Jakob said with a laugh.

The sleigh stopped in front of a large building -- an inn, called the "Golden Eagle". The building was substantial, with thick walls, small windows, and a painted front. The moment they stopped, the landlord bustled out of the front door to welcome them with a glass of brandy to "warm them".

Then Jakob and Major Horvàth got down from the sleigh and assisted the ladies to do likewise. Major Horvàth firmly took hold of Lina's waist and lifted her out of the sleigh as if she weighed no more than a feather. He held on to her for a moment when her feet were already firmly planted on the ground, looking into her eyes. There was a strange, tender expression in his eyes, and Lina's heart missed a beat. This was how she wanted him to look at her, she thought. He looked as if he was in love with her -- and she wanted him love her, because she knew she was in love with him.

"Shall we go in?" Jakob's voice broke the spell, and Major Horvàth released her from his hold. Acting like the perfect host he was, he offered her his arm, smiling, and they went into the inn to have their lunch. Lina hoped that, at some point, she would have the chance to be alone with the Major. She would suggest a walk to the ruins. It was far, but that would only mean that Julija, in her condition, would not be able to come along, and Jakob would not leave his wife alone in a foreign place. There would be an opportunity for Lina and the Major to talk and ... well, talk.

Part XIV

Lina liked the interior of the inn. It was a warm, friendly, cosy place. The innkeeper showed them into a private parlour, where a table had already been laid for four persons. He informed them that their luncheon would be ready soon, and discussed the contents of his wine cellar with the gentlemen. Major Horvath, an expert in wine as well as in horses, dispatched the man to the cellar with his orders before sitting down next to Lina.

"Do you like it here?" he asked her with a smile.

"Oh yes, this is a delightful place," Lina replied.

"Would you like to sit nearer to the stove? It was chilly outside, and I do not want you to catch a cold again," he said anxiously.

"Thank you very much, sir, but I am perfectly comfortable," Lina said, smiling at his solicitude. Even if she had been freezing, she would not have traded her place next to the Major to one next to the gigantic tiled stove. It might give warmth, she thought, but it was not much of a conversationalist.

"You've only got to say the word if you need anything," the Major said.

"You can trust me that, should I need anything, I will say the word," Lina said with a laugh.

"True," Jakob said dryly. "You're known to be quite to the point when it comes to expressing your wishes."

"You are saying this as if it was a bad thing," Lina said. "Yes, I know young ladies ought not to be so forward, but on the other hand gentlemen are not accustomed to picking up gentle hints."

Major Horvath laughed. "I am sorry to say that most of us are not blessed with psychic powers, Miss Grum."

"I do not expect any of you to be," Lina said smilingly. "That is why I prefer to express myself in a clear, unmistakable manner, instead of waiting till Judgment Day for anyone to notice I want something."

"Very sensible of you," the Major said, smiling.

"Isn't it?" Lina agreed with a laugh.

Their conversation was interrupted by the landlord entering the parlour with several bottles of wine and some glasses, and the ensuing ten minutes were spent in another discussion on the merits of this particular vintage. Lina did not have anything to say to that -- apart from admitting that one wine was very much like another to her, that she could only distinguish white wine from red, and that she preferred white wine.

Had it not been for Major Horvath, Jakob would have embarked on a lengthy monologue, instructing her in the basics of oenology. The Major thankfully put an end to this well-meant endeavour, and merely said that he hoped Miss Grum would enjoy the wine he had chosen, even though it was red.

"Next time you dine at my place," he said, "I will take care that you get some really excellent white wine."

"I am afraid it will be wasted on me," Lina said ruefully. "I am not likely to value it the way I ought to."

"I do not think so," the Major said. "If you enjoy it, it will not be wasted on you. There is no need for you to give me a lecture on why you ought to appreciate it, which is what some people think is necessary. More often than not they simply display their ignorance instead of impressing me with their connoisseurship."

"Knowing you as I do," Lina said with a smile, "you do not hesitate to tell them so."

He laughed. "I admit I can be a bit unpleasant sometimes, but as a host I usually swallow my snide remarks. I do have a bit of good breeding, though according to my aunt, not much. But tell me, Miss Grum, have I ever insulted you? I hope not!"

"No, but I have witnessed enough of your set-downs to be convinced that I would not wish to be on the receiving end of one of them." Lina smiled.

"My reputation in that respect is worse than I deserve, Miss Grum."

The landlord and one of his sons came into the parlour again, this time bringing their food. It was excellent -- Lina enjoyed it very much, and so did the others. Julija even went so far as to ask for the recipe for the soup. The landlord went to the kitchen to inquire, but came back regretting that his wife did not wish to part with the recipe.

"It is an old family secret, my wife says," he said apologetically. "Has been passed on from mother to daughter for several generations, and she says she isn't going to make an exception to that rule. I'm sorry, ma'am."

Julija thanked the landlord nevertheless, and when he left the room to get the next course from the kitchen, she called on Lina's help to identify the contents of the soup. They were not very successful in that enterprise, but it provided them with enough to talk about during the main course.

After lunch, Lina asked the Major if he would take her to the ruins on the hill.

"If you promise not to climb them," the Major said, smilingly.

"I think I have already done so, haven't I?" Lina asked.

"In that case, we may go there -- if it is not too far to walk." He turned to the landlord and asked him how long it would take them to walk to the ruins and back to the inn. The landlord informed him that it would take them about an hour either way.

"I am afraid that is too far," the Major said, turning to Lina. "Two hours is too long. We should be back in town before it gets dark -- once the sun is gone, it gets too cold to be outside in an open sleigh. I am very sorry, Miss Grum, I know you were looking forward to the excursion, but we will have to give it a miss."

Jakob and Julija agreed with the Major -- Julija, especially, felt that she could not endure the cold if it got too late on their journey back to town.

"But we can take a short walk before we go back, can't we?" Lina asked, disappointed but determined not to show it. "I need a bit of exercise."

"We will walk," the Major promised, helping her to put on her coat. "But two hours, I hope you will agree, is too much."

They went out of the house, and Lina cast another longing glance at the hill. She could see a path winding up towards the castle -- and realised that most of the way to the castle led upwards. Upon seeing a couple of sledges leaning next to the inn's door, she had an idea. She turned to the landlord.

"Whose are these?" she asked, pointing at the sledges.

"They belong to my children," the landlord replied.

"May we borrow them?" Lina asked.

Both the landlord and Major Horvàth were taken aback by her question.

"What for?" the Major asked, while the landlord assured her that she was welcome to the sleds if she wanted them.

"Look at the way to the castle," Lina simply said. "If we walk up, but sled down, we might still go there. How long do you think will it take us to sled down that hill?"

"Not very long, because it looks awfully steep to me," the Major said.

"You see?" Lina asked. "We walk up to the castle, which will take us an hour. Then we will sled down the hill, and Countess Potocka's sleigh will pick us up at the base of the hill. If Julija and Jakob do not want to join us, they can wait for us there."

The Major looked at the sleds doubtfully.

"Are we not a bit old for that?" he finally asked.

"That is just another way of admitting you are afraid of doing it," Lina said challengingly.

"Afraid of sledding down that hill?"

"Yes." Lina shot him a mischievous glance.

"Me?"

"You."

"It is exceedingly impertinent of you to say so." The Major's eyes sparkled roguishly.

"I know. I should not embarrass you that way, should I?" Lina retorted.

"You did not embarrass me. It is not true," he said.

"Prove it," Lina said.

"I shall," the Major said determinedly and suddenly began to laugh. "You always manage to have things your way, don't you?" he asked, while picking up the strings of one sledge to tie it to a second one.

"Most times I do," Lina agreed and turned to Jakob. "Will you join us?"

Both Jakob and Julija refused to walk all the way up to the castle with them, but they were quite content to walk with them a little way. Lina was glad they did not want to see the ruins -- she could not wait to be alone with the Major, even though she was not sure what she wanted to happen once they were by themselves. He might take her into his arms, she thought, or even kiss her. She was not sure whether she was going to like being kissed, but she was not averse to giving it a try. How she was going to coax him into kissing her, Lina was not certain, but then the way to the hilltop was a long one. Plenty of time to think about this, she thought.

They walked off in the direction of the hill, the Major pulling the sleds behind him, Lina walking next to him and Jakob and Julija bringing up the rear.

"I still cannot believe I am doing this," the Major said after they had walked silently for a couple of minutes. "The last time I was on a sled I was twelve. I think."

"About time you tried it again then," Lina said with a smile. "You are too grown-up at times." She turned to her brother, who was following them close behind. "Don't you agree, Jakob?"

Jakob, who had been listening to something his wife had said, had not paid attention to Lina's question and was therefore unable to answer it.

"You take life too seriously," Lina continued when her brother refrained from saying anything on the subject.

With a sad smile, he said, "Maybe I do. But do not forget that I have many serious things to deal with. A great deal of people depends on me, you see."

"Who?" Lina asked.

"My mother, for one. My uncle. Mrs. Petek and her children. People working on my estates in Hungary. My subordinates in the regiment."

"I wonder you can sleep at night," Lina said with a smile.

"Who says I can?" He gave her an earnest look. There was a pause.

"But enjoying yourself from time to time does not mean that you are letting anyone down," Lina said after a while.

"I know," he said. "Even if it is hard to believe."

"You take too much on your shoulders," Lina said reproachfully. "You cannot solve everyone's problems."

"I wish I could solve mine, at least," the Major said with a sigh.

"What you need is someone to look after you," Lina said with conviction. There was an amused twinkle in the Major's eyes.

"I have someone to look after me," he said. "Simon." There was a hint of laughter in his voice.

Lina turned to him with a saucy smile. "Simon does not count."

"Harsh words, Miss Grum," Major Horvàth said. "He is actually doing an excellent job."

"You are well aware I was not talking about your valet, sir," Lina said with a laugh.

"Batman. Not valet."

"That is the same thing."

"No, it isn't. Simon would very much object to being called a valet," Major Horvàth said with a grin. "A valet is a servant. In civilian life, Simon is a tailor -- which means he is his own master. Only during his time in the army he will serve me. After that, I will have to send him back to his father's."

"And that is why Simon does not count," Lina said, laughingly. "He will not stay forever."

"No one stays forever," the Major said. Suddenly, he looked rather gloomy again. Something bothered him, Lina thought, but it was quite impossible that he should confide in her. Not yet, at least, but she would make him do so sooner or later.

~~~o~~~

Leaving Grum and Mrs. Grum behind at the base of the hill, Janos and Miss Grum started their way up to the castle ruins. Janos walked ahead, but stopped and waited for Miss Grum when he realised she could not keep up with his pace.

"Shall we turn back," he asked her when she reached him, quite certain that she would defy the notion.

"Now that we have got so far?" she merely commented. "I shall have a look at these ruins, and nothing will get me down from this hill until I have done so. Walk ahead, sir, you need not regard me."

Janos extended his hand to Miss Grum. "Come," he said. "I will help you."

"I do not need your assistance," Miss Grum replied, but took his hand nevertheless. Janos adjusted his pace to hers, and assisted her when he realised she was getting tired. At last, they reached the outer walls of the former castle. Miss Grum examined them with great interest.

"I am quite impressed," she said. "This must have been an enormous fortress."

They walked on and reached what had once been a large courtyard. A cistern was in the centre of it, covered by some boards to prevent accidents.

"I wonder how anyone would manage to destroy such a huge building," Miss Grum said quietly. "It must have been magnificent."

"I suppose it was blown up," Janos said. "Probably during the Turkish Wars. It cannot have been Bonaparte."

"Why?"

"Because the castle was already in ruins when I was here as a boy," Janos said. "Long before Bonaparte reached these parts."

"What I meant was why would anyone demolish the castle?" She gave Janos a puzzled look. "Where is the sense in that?"

"It does not do to leave the enemy with a stronghold," Janos said. "So it was either our own people who destroyed the castle to prevent its falling into Turkish hands, or..." He shrugged. "That's what war is about."

Miss Grum shuddered. "This sounds terrible. And such a shame, really! Look at what they have done to the place! The poor building!"

Janos smiled. "I'd rather pity the people, not the building," he said.

"Why, yes, but would it not be wonderful if we had an intact castle to explore instead of just ruins?"

They walked on through a derelict archway to the inner courtyard.

"The question is, would we be allowed to explore it if it were still intact," Janos said with a smile. "I suspect the owners would not let us in."

"And I suspect, quite strongly, I have to add, that you are trying to spoil my fun, sir," Miss Grum protested.

Her indignant tone made Janos laugh. "I am very sorry, Miss Grum, I did not want to," he said. "Please imagine the castle still intact. Shall I impersonate Sir Hugo, the evil knight who captures fair maidens to hold them for ransom in the castle dungeons?"

"There aren't any dungeons," Miss Grum said laughingly.

"Would you like to place a bet on that probability?" Janos asked, smiling and slowly advancing towards Miss Grum. She moved away, sensing his intent.

"You would have to get at me first," she said warily.

"That shouldn't be much of a problem," Janos replied and darted towards her. Miss Grum, shrieking and laughing, ran away. Just as Janos reached out to seize her, she jumped on a wall that looked as if it was going to collapse any moment. The game was suddenly getting serious.

"Watch out, Lina!" Janos called before he could stop himself. Miss Grum stopped and turned around, looking at him as if she were not sure what to do next. Janos approached her, lifted her from the wall and pulled her into his arms before he knew what he was doing.

"I do not want you to get hurt," he said softly, looking into her eyes. "I could never forgive myself if anything happened to you." He pulled her closer, realising that he would not be able to stand losing her -- he loved her too much. She looked up at him, and never had he been more tempted to kiss a woman. For an instant, it seemed as if he was going to give in to this impulse, but then he realised what this would mean. An engagement. Marriage. It meant that Lina would get involved with the scandal concerning him and Mrs. Petek. He could not do this to her. He could not propose marriage to her while he was generally believed to have an affair with another woman. It would be improper -- and highly unfair.

A whimpering sound coming from the other side of the wall startled Lina. She moved away from him, and the magic of that moment was gone.

"What was this?" she asked, clearly afraid.

Janos laughed, not because he felt like it but because he wanted to hide his emotions from her. "I do not know. Ghosts?" he suggested. "Sir Hugo might object to the fact that one fair maiden escaped him."

"Are you trying to frighten me?" she asked. "For fairness' sake, I ought to tell you that others have tried that before you and failed miserably."

"It was meant to be a joke, actually," Janos pointed out. "But I will keep in mind that you are not easily frightened."

Another whine could be heard, this time more distinctly.

"Though I am beginning to feel slightly alarmed," Lina said. "Not because I believe in ghosts, but I do believe that someone or something is in need of help."

Janos agreed with her. "It is coming from behind that wall," he said. "Shall I go and have a look?"

"Please do. It sounds as if someone is hurt."

Janos turned to her while climbing the wall. "It sounds like an animal rather than a person," he said.

The truth of his conjecture became apparent when he saw a small puppy tied to a tree next to a wall. The animal looked up at him with big, frightened eyes that instantly appealed to him. Janos jumped from the wall and landed on his knees next to the dog. He swore under his breath to get rid of the pain.

"Did you say something?" Lina asked him from the other side of the wall. "I do not understand Hungarian, you know."

Janos laughed. "Be glad you can't," he said. "No need to be alarmed, Miss Grum. It is only a dog."

"A dog? Here?" The sounds coming from behind the wall suggested that she, too, was trying to climb it, and Janos reminded her of her promise not to climb the ruins.

"I am not climbing them," Lina said behind him. "I walked round the wall. Which is what you could have done, of course, but I know gentlemen prefer a more direct approach."

Janos had to laugh despite himself. He turned to the puppy and tried to undo the string that held it in place.

"It is a dachshund," Lina said next to him. "Isn't he sweet?"

"She," Janos said.

"It is a female?"

"You can trust me on that," Janos said. "I can tell males from females."

Janos lifted the dog and handed it to Lina. "I think I know why she was tied to this tree here," he said. "One of her hind legs is crippled. That dog is useless - seems a breeder feared for his reputation."

"So he tied her to this tree to either freeze to death or starve?" Lina asked with an expression of disgust.

"Instead of shooting her, which would have been more merciful," Janos said grimly.

"Shoot her? I think not," Lina said with great determination. "No one shall hurt my dog."

"Your dog?" Janos asked sceptically.

"Yes, my dog. Since no one else seems to want her." She looked at the tiny dachshund in her hands. "I shall call her Diana. She'll be the dread of all the badgers in Marburg and its surroundings."

Janos imagined the badgers sniggering in their holes while the Goddess of the Hunt limped past.

"I know what you are thinking," Lina said reproachfully, "and I do not like it."

Janos burst out laughing. "I apologise," he said. "Have you any idea how to get the bloodhound to Vienna without her freezing to death?"

Suddenly, Lina looked very unhappy. "No, I haven't," she admitted. "The poor thing must have been here for days -- there are no footsteps in the snow to indicate who took her here, and it hasn't snowed for a while. She must be very cold, and starving, and..." She looked at Janos helplessly. "What shall I do?"

"Give her to me," Janos said, unbuttoning his overcoat.

"What are you going to do?"

"She needs to be kept warm, doesn't she?" Janos asked. Reluctantly, Lina handed him the puppy. It looked up at him, apparently not sure whether to trust him, but too weak to offer any resistance. Gently, Janos placed the animal inside his coat and buttoned it up again until only the dog's head peeped out. "That'll do," Janos said, "until we can give her a place next to the kitchen stove."

"She needs something to eat," Lina pointed out.

"She will get something, once we get back to town. Shall we get our sleds?" He smiled at her.

Lina nodded. "Jakob and Julija will wonder where we got to," she said. Then, halfway to the main gate where they had entered the ruins, she stopped. "I quite forgot!" she exclaimed. "Julija hates dogs! I will not be allowed to keep Diana!"

"Your sister-in-law hates dogs? Why?"

"She was bitten once when she was a child," Lina said. "She will not permit me to bring a dog into her house. But what can I do? I cannot abandon the poor thing!" She gave Janos a pleading look. "Would you...?"

"You want me to take care of the dog?"

"Only until I have found another place for her. Please?"

Janos doubted that she would ever find another place for a lame hunting dog. On the other hand, she could get people to do anything for her. She could get him to do anything for her.

"I will hand her over to Simon," Janos said, grinning. "He can use a bit of work."

"Thank you," Lina sighed. Then she gave him a distrustful look. "You are not going to shoot her dead, are you?"

Hurt, Janos said, "Whatever makes you think such a thing?"

"You said it would have been the most merciful thing to do with her," Lina pointed out.

"That was before I looked into her eyes," Janos said. "I will not harm her - I do not have the heart to do so."

"Good. I am glad," Lina said and smiled. Then she took her sled. "The last one at Countess Potocka's sleigh is a chicken!" she announced, smiling mischievously. Janos watched her as she dashed downhill.

"I think she forgot I have you to take care of," he murmured, addressing the puppy that had snuggled up inside his coat. He sighed. "What have I got myself into?"
The dog was unable to answer the question, but then so was Janos.

Part XV

A sharp rap at his bedroom door roused Janos from his sleep. It was still dark, and Janos doubted it was already time to get up.

"What?" he demanded. Anyone acquainted with him knew that Janos, woken up in the middle of the night, was not the most agreeable of creatures.

The door opened, and Simon entered the room, carrying a burning candle in one hand and Diana, the dachshund, in the other.

"Sorry to disturb you sir," he said apologetically, "but I think we have a problem."

"We?" Janos demanded, glaring at Simon. There had better be a good explanation for this kind of behaviour, or Janos knew one person in the room who would soon have a problem.

Simon met his glare without any signs of perturbation. "It's about the dog," he said.

Janos gave an exasperated sigh. The dog. Why did Simon think this would justify waking him up in the middle of the night?

"She's pining, sir."

"She's what?"

"Pining."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You see, sir, from the moment I took her away from you, she kept whining and scratching at the door, which is dashed uncomfortable if one is to sleep in the same room with that dog. So I thought she might want to get outside, and I took her outside. Only, when going back to my room, she stopped at your door and didn't budge, and when I picked her up she snarled. Seems to me she wants to be with you, not me, sir."

That dog, it seemed, was going to be more trouble than Janos had foreseen. He sighed. "She doesn't want to spend the nights in your room? You seem to have your way with females," he said.

"Looks to me as if she prefers your way with females, sir." Simon said with a grin.

"Stop that insolent grin, man, or there will be consequences. Now listen. I refuse to have this fleabag in my room. That's just it, and she will have to get used to it."

"Very well, sir," Simon said. "But what do you suggest? It is dashed upsetting to hear her whimper and scratch at the door all night ... and it may seem extraordinary to you, sir, but I do need to get some sleep. Not that I want to complain but ... is there nothing we can do about it?"

"Take the shirt I wore yesterday and line her basket with it," Janos snapped. Simon stared at him, not quite believing what he had heard. To use one of Janos' shirts for such a purpose was a sacrilege in his eyes. Janos was well aware of it. But it was the only solution he could think of at this time of night.

"What are you waiting for?" he snapped. With a sigh that would have softened a heart of stone, Simon took the shirt he had folded up the previous evening and left the room, carrying shirt and dog in one hand, and his candle in the other.

Janos let himself fall back into his pillows. "On top of everything else there's a lovelorn puppy I have to deal with," he muttered. "Lina, you owe me something."

~~~o~~~

Despite the nightly intermezzo, Janos awoke the next morning fresh and rested. One look at Simon told him that his sleep had left a lot to be desired. He came into the breakfast room carrying Diana, who struggled for freedom the moment she beheld her saviour. She sat down at his feet, staring up at him expectantly. Janos suspected she waited for a piece of bacon to materialise in front of her nose and chose to ignore her. The sooner that dog learned her place the better it would be for everyone concerned. Diana did not seem to agree with him -- she lifted her paw and scratched Janos' boots to attract his attention.

"Someone needs to teach you some manners," Janos said, giving the dog a stern look. "Go away!" Diana returned the look as only a puppy could.

"Simon, take her away till I have finished my breakfast. I can't eat with those huge eyes staring at me as if I were a heartless monster."

Simon tried to call the dog to heel -- without much success - and finally picked her up and carried her out of the room. Shortly afterwards, Janos' mother came in and took her seat at the table. After having wished him a good morning, she inquired whether he would need her this morning.

"I am afraid we will have to call on Mrs. Petek, yes," Janos said.

"Would you mind doing so immediately after breakfast?" Mrs. Horvàth asked. "I have an appointment with Mrs. Schiller later, and I do not want to miss it."

So, when Mrs. Horvàth had finished her meal, they set off towards Mrs. Petek's house. They were received by a panic-stricken Mrs. Petek and an unnerved housemaid.

"Thank God you are here," Mrs. Petek exclaimed when she saw who her visitors were. "You will know what to do! Oh, to think what a burden we must be on you!"

Janos realised that something was seriously wrong -- he had never before seen Mrs. Petek so distracted. Gently, he led her to a chair and made her sit down.

"What is the trouble, Mrs. Petek?" he asked her.

"The children," Mrs. Petek said and began to sob. "They are ill! It started off a couple of days ago, but last night it got so bad..."

"Has a doctor seen them?" Janos asked.

"Not yet," Mrs. Petek said bitterly. "No doctor wishes to be roused in the middle of the night to attend to a widow's children if their mother cannot pay him."

"Janos," Mrs. Horvàth said, "run off and get Dr Levy here. Now. I will go upstairs and have a look at the children."

His mother managed to surprise him every time, Janos thought. In only a moment, she had taken charge of the situation -- and what was even more amazing, no one offered her any resistance. The maid led the way upstairs, and his mother followed her, instructing her on what she would need.

Janos turned to Mrs. Petek. "Will you manage?" he asked her. Mrs. Petek nodded. "That's what I always do. I manage." She sighed.

"I'll be back soon," Janos promised, left the house and ordered the coachman to drive him to Dr Levy's. When he returned to Mrs. Petek's house with his old family doctor in tow, he found his mother sitting with Mrs. Petek, talking to her gravely. While Mrs. Petek took Dr Levy upstairs to see the children, Mrs. Horvàth turned to her son.

"This is serious, Janos," she said earnestly. "I am pretty sure they have whooping-cough -- I am only waiting for Dr Levy to confirm it."

"Whooping-cough," Janos asked. "Is it dangerous?"

"One might say so," his mother replied. "People have been known to die of it."

Janos sighed. "Of all things! If anything happens to one of her children, I am not sure whether Mrs. Petek will be able to stand it."

"No mother could," Mrs. Horvàth said. "Listen, Janos. I am going to stay here with Mrs. Petek for a while -- the household, with two children who are seriously ill, is getting too much for her, and I cannot let her down. I shall send a letter to your old nurse and ask her to come here; she can take my place then. But the children must not go on a journey -- neither to Györ nor Posony. They will have to stay here. Do you hear?"

"Perhaps it is not whooping-cough after all," Janos said hopefully.

"I know whooping-cough when I see it," his mother said, ruthlessly destroying all his hopes. "I've seen you both have it, Ilona and you. I remember sitting up all night with you, not knowing whether you would make it. They have the same symptoms, Janos, and Mrs. Petek is in the same situation as I was then -- alone, with two sick children on her hands."

"Apart from the fact that my uncle did not threaten to ruin your reputation unless you handed us over to him." Janos said grimly. He had a dim recollection of severe illness in his early childhood, but had not known what kind of illness it had been.

"No, he would never have done so unkind a thing," his mother agreed. "He was constantly at my side trying to help instead. I sometimes thought -- though it is a terrible thing to say, after all I was married to your father -- that your uncle was the better of the two brothers."

"I am inclined to agree with you," Janos said, and turned towards the door as the doctor and Mrs. Petek entered the room.

The moment Janos saw Dr Levy's face, his hopes were crushed entirely -- the children were seriously ill. Dr Levy confirmed Mrs. Horvàth's fears. The children were suffering from whooping-cough, and a journey was not to be thought of -- it would be fatal for both of them.

Janos' mother turned to him. "Tell my maid to pack my things and send them here," she said. "I will stay with Mrs. Petek until Jolanta comes. We cannot leave Mrs. Petek all to herself in such a crisis. You understand that, don't you?"

Janos nodded. He would do as he had been asked to -- and besides, he would have to break the news to Laszlo Petek, who, he felt, would not be very sympathetic.

~~~o~~~

"You know I am quite jealous," Eva Polgàr said. She was sitting in the Grums' drawing room with Lina, and had just been told that they had received an invitation for Fanny von Arnstein's masquerade. "I never get invited to such functions. Which is just as well, I suppose, because I do not like masquerades overly much myself. I am not good at thinking of costumes for myself, though I like discussing other people's. What are you going to wear? Is there a motto?"

"No, there is not," Lina said. "I am glad there is not -- I like having enough possibilities to choose from."

"Any ideas yet?" Eva asked smilingly, taking a sip of coffee.

"Yes, but since Julija and I have not decided yet who is going to be what we will keep it to ourselves," Lina said. "You may come and see my costume when it is ready, if you want to."

"I most certainly do," Eva said. "Is your brother not going to dress up for the party?"

"He said if he had to wear fancy-dress he would not go. But Julija will make him relent, just you wait." Lina laughed. "She manages to twist him round her little finger if she cares to."

"This is a good sign," Eva said. "And what about you? Can you twist someone else round your little finger yet?"

To Lina, it was quite obvious about whom Eva was talking and she blushed, recalling the events of the previous afternoon.

"Well?" Eva asked teasingly, with a mischievous smile. "Any news? Did you not spend yesterday afternoon with Major Horvàth?"

"Yes, I did," Lina admitted. "But nothing happened, really. Major Horvàth was very kind and considerate, as always, but he never crosses the line of what is pleasing and perfectly proper."

"How boring," Eva said, with a laugh. "Who would have thought it of him? In my -- admittedly not really vast -- experience, gentlemen forget all about propriety when they fall in love."

"Perhaps the Major is not in love, then," Lina said wistfully. Then she remembered the moment he had taken her into his arms, and the way he had looked at her then. Was this how a man not in love acted?

The door opened, and the servant announced Captain Kodaly.

"I had better leave, then," Eva said quietly, taking her reticule.

"Don't you dare," Lina whispered. "I need you here with me, especially since Julija is not feeling very well, and I know that he will not do anything improper if you are with me."

"Do you mean to say that he would do something improper if he were alone with you?" Eva asked, frowning. "Because if he does, I will have to talk to my father about it. We cannot have our officers act in such a shocking manner."

"He does not do anything, really," Lina murmured. "It is just ... I would like to have someone with me nevertheless." She then turned to Captain Kodaly who had come into the room, looking dashing as always and fully aware of it.

"Good morning, sir," she said, in a tone of voice calculated to discourage him.

"Miss Grum," he said, coming towards her with a charming smile, taking her hand and kissing it. "You look fresh as the morning dew, if I may say so. -- Miss Polgàr, good morning." He favoured Eva with a curt nod that bordered on incivility. Eva replied to his greeting without much enthusiasm. Lina could not blame her.

"What brings you here, sir?" she inquired. "An officer up and about at this time of day -- it is extraordinary!"

"You do us wrong," Captain Kodaly said. "Be assured, most of us are early risers."

"I can readily believe that," Eva said sweetly. Captain Kodaly shot her an irritated glance that did not escape Lina's notice.

"But still you are not willing to reveal why you have come here, it seems," Lina said. "Are there any hidden motives, sir?"

"None whatsoever," Captain Kodaly said. "I can admit without a blush that my main motive was seeing you."

"So now that you have seen me, your visit has done its purpose," Lina said laughingly.

Captain Kodaly gave a theatrical sigh. "Who would have thought that such an angelic face could hide such cruelty?" he said. Lina wondered where he could have found that sentence. Some rubbishy novel, perhaps. The words were not his own. Hopefully.

"I am not cruel, sir," she said. "Neither is my face angelic. You must be talking of someone else."

"With you sitting next to me?" Captain Kodaly protested. "How can I think of any other female when I am with you?"

His compliments did not improve, it seemed. But he came to the point at last.

"There is a display of fireworks in the Belvedere Gardens tonight, Miss Grum, and I was wondering whether I could escort you to them, provided you and your sister-in-law wished to see them."

"My sister-in-law is not feeling very well today," Lina said. "So I am afraid we will not be able to accept your invitation. But thank you very much nevertheless -- it is the thought that counts, after all."

"I am sorry to hear that your sister is unwell," Captain Kodaly said. "What if I found some other lady to chaperon you, Miss Grum? Would you be willing to come along then?"

"I do not think it would signify," Lina said. "My brother would not let me go. He has very strict notions of propriety." Jakob would be much surprised to hear that, Lina thought. For someone who had strict notions of propriety he took a very lenient view on such matters as his sister walking up hills to see ruins with unattached gentlemen.

"In that case, I am afraid there is not much I can do," Captain Kodaly said, with a hint of exasperation in his tone. "But I will see you at Baroness von Arnstein's, will I not?" he added, with a bright smile.

"You are invited to the masquerade?" Lina asked.

"Of course. The Arnsteins are good friends of mine," Captain Kodaly said. "So, will you be there?"

"I do not think I shall miss it," Lina said.

"Will you dance a waltz with me then?"

"If you manage to find me among all those masks," Lina said playfully.

"Perhaps you could give me a hint," he said. "What are you going to wear, Miss Grum? What is your costume going to be?" He gave her an expectant look.

Lina shook her head. "I am not going to tell you, sir," she said laughingly. "You will have to find me without my assistance. And if you do, you may ask me for a waltz."

"And now tell me once again you are not cruel," Captain Kodaly said with a laugh. "You know very well how to torture a man."

"I am doing my best," Lina said dryly. With a laugh, Captain Kodaly took his leave. Eva gave Lina a pensive look.

"Be careful, Lina," she said. "Captain Kodaly has his mind set on you, or I am very much mistaken."

"Do not worry, Eva," Lina said. "I am sure if I want to, I shall be able to ward him off. Thank you for staying with me, by the way. It hurts me to see how he treats you, and I really appreciate how you put up with his behaviour for my sake."

"You're welcome," Eva said with a smile. "Now, I really have to go and do some shopping. Do you want to come along?"

Lina certainly wanted to.

~~~o~~~

Janos stayed at Mrs. Petek's until the doctor had given him -- and Mrs. Petek -- exact instructions on how to treat the children's illness. He told Janos that a journey was not to be thought of.

"How long is it going to take the children to recover?" Janos asked.

"There is a saying concerning whooping-cough," Dr Levy said. "They say it takes six weeks there and six weeks back."

"You mean to say that it will take three months?" Janos asked, horrified.

"If everything goes well," Dr Levy said earnestly.

"And there is nothing we can do?"

"Nothing apart from the things I have told you," Dr Levy said.

Janos sighed. "Very well," he said. "You will keep your eye on the children, I hope. Send your bill to me, I will see to it."

Mrs. Petek protested, but Janos cut her short, telling her that since he was the children's guardian, one of his duties was to see to it that they got the best treatment available whenever they fell ill. This was no time to argue about responsibilities -- or money. He was perfectly willing and able to pay Dr Levy's bills, while he knew that Mrs. Petek was not. Janos' mother agreed, and Mrs. Petek was silenced for the moment. Yet she made it plain that she did not wish to be beholden to Janos.

Seeing that he could not stay any longer without getting into everyone's way, Janos took his leave and decided to walk home. This was, most likely, the only breath of fresh air he would get all day. There was a huge pile of paperwork on his desk at the barracks, and it would take him some time to finish it.

When he passed an art dealer's showroom, however, his thoughts of work were forgotten. In the window there was his sister's portrait -- the one she had sat for shortly before her marriage, the one she had given to her husband as a wedding present. He remembered the evening when his mother had come home crying, telling him that Bàthory meant to sell Ilona's portrait. So he had finally sold it.

Janos sighed. He would buy the picture, of course, because he knew his mother would want to have it. But he did not want Bàthory to know that he had done so. He would have to find someone to act for him -- someone whom no one would connect with him immediately. That ruled out von Hertenberg, who would certainly have performed this office for him if he had asked him to. The same went for Simon and Kodaly. They were known to serve in the same regiment and, in Simon's case, to serve him. Perhaps Grum would do it... or, even better, Mrs. Grum's cousin, Mr. Straub.

There was a mystery attached to this, Janos felt. Bàthory would not sell the picture if he did not have to. It would be worth while to inquire into Bàthory's financial affairs.

Walking down the Graben, Janos met Lina and Miss Polgàr. Lina greeted him enthusiastically, and immediately wanted to know how "her lovely little dog" was doing.

"Did she spend a good night?" she asked eagerly. "Did she eat? How is her leg?"

Janos answered her questions as well as he could, telling her that Diana had probably spent a better night than he and Simon had, that his cook had adopted her and that the "bloodhound" would soon be the most spoilt dachshund in the Empire, if not Europe.

"I knew you would take excellent care of her," Lina said triumphantly. "Do you think you can take her round to see me today? I would really like to see how she is doing."

"What about your sister-in-law?" Janos asked. "I thought she was not fond of dogs?"

"She despises dogs," Lina said, "but she is not going to leave her room today, so I guess it will not bother her if you bring Diana to see me."

"Your sister is not feeling well?"

"No, she is not. I suppose it has something to do with her ... current state of health." She blushed, and Janos surmised that Mrs. Grum's ailment was in some way connected to her pregnancy. Which was exactly why he could not call on the Grums today -- not after having been at Mrs. Petek's house. The very last thing he wanted was to cause a pregnant woman to be infected with whooping-cough, and so he told Lina.

"Oh," Lina said, disappointed. "Too bad! But you are right, of course, we must not put Julija in any danger of infection. -- I do hope Mrs. Petek's children will be well soon."

"So do I," Janos said with a sigh.

"Perhaps if I called on your mother, I could see Diana," Lina continued.

"My mother would be charmed to see you," Janos said. "But unfortunately she is not at home. She has stayed at Mrs. Petek's to render what assistance she can."

"I see." Lina sighed. "It cannot be helped then," she said. "I will have to wait until I get a chance to see Diana somewhere else."

"Perhaps you will contrive to meet her on her morning walk," Janos said, smiling at Lina. He would give Simon strict instructions to loiter about until Miss Grum had come across them.

"Perhaps," she said with a smile. "I suppose you have a busy day before you, sir?"

"Yes, I have," Janos said laughingly. "Thank you for reminding me. Have a pleasant day! Good bye, Miss Grum -- Miss Polgàr." Janos bowed, and hurried towards his house. There was just enough time to send his mother's maid on her way to Mrs. Petek's before heading towards the barracks.

While he was talking to his mother's maid, giving her Mrs. Petek's address and telling her to pack whatever she thought necessary for Mrs. Horvàth's prolonged stay in Mrs. Petek's house, the butler came in to inform him that Mrs. Schiller had called and refused to go away until she had talked to either him or Mrs. Horvàth. Janos suddenly remembered that his mother had had an appointment with Mrs. Schiller, and followed the butler to the drawing room.

He made his apologies on his mother's behalf, and told Mrs. Schiller what had prevented Mrs. Horvàth's keeping her appointment.

"You know we are acquainted with a Mrs. Petek, don't you, Mrs. Schiller?" Janos asked. He saw Mrs. Schiller's lips tighten. So she was one of those people who thought he had an affair with his friend's widow.

"Her children are ill," he continued, "and once my mother had heard about it, she was quick to offer her assistance. You know my mother; she always offers her help to anyone in need."

"Your mother called on That Woman?" Mrs. Schiller said indignantly.

"Of course," Janos said. "I see no reason why she should not."

"And she is now staying with her, helping her with her children?"

"Exactly," Janos said. "Why should she not?"

"I do not know," Mrs. Schiller said, seemingly reluctant to give him the reasons for her protest. "But I am surprised that your mother keeps company with such a ... person."

Her son's mistress, she means to say, Janos thought and decided to reprove Mrs. Schiller.

"There is nothing wrong with Mrs. Petek, Mrs. Schiller," he said stiffly. "My mother is very fond of her, and I see no reason why she should not associate with her. If you are referring to certain rumours concerning Mrs. Petek's person, I think it will be only fair to inform you that there is no reason why either I or Mrs. Petek ought to be ashamed of our friendship. Our relationship is perfectly respectable."

Mrs. Schiller gasped, and too late Janos realised that, instead of repudiating the rumours, he had added some fuel to them. But it would not do to tell Mrs. Schiller that he was not engaged to Mrs. Petek -- that would only convince her even more.

He could only hope that Mrs. Schiller would keep her conjecture to herself. Though he would have nothing against it if she shared it with her daughter...

Mrs. Schiller left in a hurry, and Janos could finally start towards the barracks to get some work done.

~~~o~~~

In the evening, Laszlo Petek came to call on Janos. Janos had sent him a note from the barracks, inviting him to come and see him after dinner to discuss their further actions concerning Mrs. Petek's children.

Janos informed Mr. Petek that the children were ill, and that the doctor had strongly advised him against letting them travel anywhere.
"They are to stay here, in their mother's care, for at least three months," Janos said calmly. "Afterwards, we may discuss the matter again."

"Whooping cough," Laszlo Petek said incredulously. "Am I supposed to believe that?"

"I can give you the doctor's address if you do not believe me," Janos said, angry but not showing it. "He will be able to dispel your doubts, sir."

"Doctors," Mr. Petek snorted. "They are all the same. Of course he will say what you want him to, after all it is you who pays him!"

"In that case, sir, you pay him and see what he will say then," Janos said, with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"You can be certain that I will send someone of my choice to see the children," Petek said. "And those children had better be ill, or there will be trouble."

Mr. Petek had hardly time to finish his sentence. Before he knew it, Janos had grabbed hold of his collar and pulled him up from his chair.

"Isn't it moving to see how caring an uncle you are?" he said, his voice trembling with fury. "I am sure you'd rather see those children dead and buried than with their mother."

Still holding on to Mr. Petek's collar, Janos pulled him towards the door. "Leave before I forget myself," he ordered him and pushed him out of the room.

"I will not put up to being treated like this," Mr. Petek protested. "Just you wait, Horvàth, there will be consequences."

"Mr. Horvàth to you, if you please," Janos said coldly and slammed the door in Mr. Petek's face. He did not care if there were consequences. He had to keep Mrs. Petek's children in Vienna at any price.

Part XVI

That night, Janos was not able to ward off Diana. As he went upstairs to his room, he found the dog seated in front of his bedroom door, wagging her tail and giving him an expectant look.

"Simon left you here on purpose, I have no doubt," Janos said. Diana barked. "Listen, you are not going to sleep in this room," Janos said. "And if Simon does not want you, we will put your basket into the kitchen, which will serve you right for behaving as you did last night."

Diana got up and went towards him. Was Janos imagining things, or was her limp more pronounced than before? Her demeanour gave him the impression of someone patiently enduring the monstrous wrongs of life. Janos sighed.

"Fine," he said. "Have it your way, then." He laughed. "You are Lina's dog," he said. "You manage to have things your way. But," he added, as Diana bounced towards his bed, "You will not sleep in there. A dog in my room, perhaps. A dog in my bed, no. That's where I draw the line!"

With a yawn, Diana curled up on the rug next to Janos' bed and gave him a look that told him that, as far as she was concerned, negotiations on that point had not ceased yet.

~~~o~~~

Lina was a morning person -- the kind who woke up and felt like singing. That had led to some problems between her and her brother during their childhood -- for her brother was someone who hated getting up in the morning. In Vienna, he was luckily not obliged to rise before noon, and therefore "his two ladies" had the mornings mostly to themselves.

After breakfast, Lina went to the drawing room to catch up on some reading, while Julija stayed in the breakfast room with her sketchbook. She joined Lina shortly before ten o'clock, however, beaming at her.

"Look, I have had some ideas concerning our costumes for the Arnstein masquerade," she announced and handed Lina her sketchbook. "What do you say?"

Lina looked at Julija's sketches and was impressed. "Julija, you are a genius," she exclaimed. "Lovely! I do wonder how you got the idea. Why cannot I be as imaginative as you?"

Julija blushed, and pointed to one of the dresses in her picture. "I thought this one might do for me," she said. "Blue suits me, and that blue-and-silver arrangement looks quite nice, don't you think? Should I go for light-blue or take a darker shade, what do you say?"

"Go for whatever strikes your fancy," Lina said. "Dark-blue is, of course, a colour of the night... on the other hand, light-blue goes well with silver, and suits you very well, so...choose whatever you like."

Julija nodded. "And this, I thought, would look ever so nice on you."

Lina looked at the costume and imagined herself wearing it. "Will it be ready in time for the ball, do you think?" she asked doubtingly. "It looks very elaborate."

"It is not," Julija said. "The embroidery can be done very easily, I assure you, and it does not take up much time."

"I see," Lina said meditatively and looked at the sketch once again, breaking into a smile. "Am I allowed to wear red for once?" she asked. "It would be perfect for the costume, would it not?"

Julija laughed. "No, you are not going to wear red. Imagine what your mother would say! You will wear ivory with a touch of gold, and you will look stunning!"

With a laugh, Lina said, "Well, it was worth a try. Besides, it is a costume, not a dress. Are there not different rules for costumes?"

"Get ready," Julija said, ignoring Lina's plea. "We will need to go and find the perfect fabric for our dresses." She tore the page from her sketchbook, folded it and put it into her reticule. "The sooner we go, the better it is."

Just as Lina wanted to leave the room to dress for going out, a servant came in and announced Captain Kodaly. Their shopping expedition had to wait.

He greeted Julija politely, but made it quite clear that he had come for the sole purpose of seeing Lina, by speaking almost exclusively to her during his stay.

"You have been lucky to catch us at home, sir," Julija said. "Had you come five minutes later, we would have been gone."

"I shall thank my good fortune then," Captain Kodaly said with a smile. "If you are in a hurry, Madam, may I offer my escort? I would by no means keep you."

Quickly, Lina said, "We are not in such a hurry, are we, Julija?"
She did not want Captain Kodaly to see the fabric for her costume -- that would make it easy for him to recognise her at the ball, and she did not want him to.

Julija cast a questioning glance at Lina, and said, "No, indeed, we are not in a hurry."

To lead Captain Kodaly away from the topic, Lina said politely, "Did you see the fireworks in the Belvedere Gardens yesterday evening, sir?"

With a mournful expression, Captain Kodaly told her that he had not. "It was not worth while seeing the display when there was no one to share one's enjoyment," he said.

Mockingly, Lina said, "Do you mean to tell me that you found no lady willing to go with you?"

Captain Kodaly gave her a wounded look that, had she not known him, would have made her feel sorry for him.

"None whose company I wished, Miss Grum," he said. "None who really mattered. Therefore I stayed at home."

"I shall make a point of finding out which tavern it is that you call home, sir," Lina said laughingly. His theatrical behaviour amused her -- and she might as well make it clear to him that she did not believe a single word he said. However, one of Julija's gentle nudges made her realise that her comment had been rather ill-bred. It was not a lady's place to enquire too closely into a gentleman's evening entertainment.

"Can it be that you have formed an ill opinion of me, Miss Grum?" Captain Kodaly asked, sounding sincerely hurt. "True, my lifestyle may, at times, have given rise to all kinds of speculation, but believe me my behaviour was never out of the common way. I may not have been an angel, but I have certainly never been a devil either."

"No doubt, sir," Lina said. "But believe me when I say that I am far from speculating on anybody's private lives except my own."

"Yet you censure me," Captain Kodaly said.

"Did I give you that impression? I am sorry. It is surely not my place to censure you, sir, and if I did I am sure you would not heed me -- which would serve me right."

"But your opinion matters to me, Miss Grum," he said with an earnest look. "Can it be that it has been influenced by someone else's prejudices?"

Lina was quite certain whom he meant -- Eva Polgàr. In defence of her friend, she replied, "My opinion of you has been mainly influenced by my own observation, sir."

"Then there is still a chance for me to improve it," he said, with a hint of smugness in his voice. "Your observation will tell you I am a better man than you may have given me credit for."

"One should never give up hope," Lina said coldly, meaning to discourage him. She did not like the allusions in this conversation.

Captain Kodaly turned to Julija. "Mrs. Grum, on a lighter note, have you yet decided on your costume for the masquerade?"

So now he tried to use Julija for his purpose?

"Oh yes, I have," Julija said. "Lina and I were just about to go out to choose the material for our costumes when you arrived, and ..."

"But don't you agree with me, Julija, that part of the fun of attending a masquerade is finding out who is hiding behind the masks?" Lina interrupted her sister-in-law before she could betray their plans to the Captain. "I do not want to know about other people's costumes in advance, and I would by no means spoil other people's fun by telling them about mine." She gave Julija a significant look.

"Well, I suppose you are right," Julija said vaguely.

"I see you are determined to keep your costume secret until the ball," Captain Kodaly said to Lina.

"Quite determined, sir," Lina said.

"But be assured, Miss Grum, that I shall know you nevertheless. My eyes have a way of detecting what is important to me."

Lina laughed. "Prove it, sir."

"I shall," Captain Kodaly said, rising. He took his leave, and shortly afterwards Lina and Julija went out on their shopping expedition. Lina looked around surreptitiously and was relieved to see that Captain Kodaly was not following them. For some reason, she would not have put it past him.

~~~o~~~

Janos started his day by writing a couple of notes and sending Simon off to deliver them. The first note was to his mother, inquiring after the Petek children's health, the second to Jakob Grum asking him to meet him at Hugelmann's for a game of billiards. Janos believed that, in the relaxed atmosphere of the coffee house, he could approach the topic of Ilona's portrait and what to do about it. That Grum would offer his assistance was a certainty, Janos thought. Grum had always been a helpful fellow, and would be glad to do Janos a favour. But he did not want to make Grum feel he was obliged to do this, so he would mention the topic as casually as possible.

Simon came back with the replies to his notes soon. Janos' mother had included instructions for the housekeeper to send some remedies to Mrs. Petek's, and told her son that Mrs. Petek's children had not improved, but that their condition had not grown worse either. They had spent a relatively quiet night, and Mrs. Horvàth was positive that they would soon get better.
Janos, who had not slept very well that night for fear of being awakened any time to deal with the worst case -- one or even both of the Petek children dying --, was greatly relieved to read this. He would be able to attend to today's business without this burden weighing on his mind.

Jakob Grum had sent him a note telling him that they would meet at Hugelmann's at four o'clock, a time that suited Janos very well.

At the barracks, Janos was greeted with many a curious look, and a message from the Colonel to come and see him immediately. Janos wondered what he had done to excite his superior's wrath, and decided to get the interview over and done with a soon as possible.

Colonel Polgàr received him in his office, coldly surveying him. "I suppose you know why I have sent for you," he finally said.

"I am afraid I do not, sir," Janos said. Years of training had taught him to keep his expression blank when speaking to his superiors. Showing feeling -- any kind of feeling -- was impolitic.

"Your way of life makes it necessary for me to take you to task," Colonel Polgàr said. "Your name has been mentioned in connection with a certain lady very often."

So that was it? Janos refrained from making a comment. The Colonel would soon regale him with his view of the matter. Polgàr had never been one to hold back his opinions.

"Yesterday, my wife has been informed that you are planning to get married," the Colonel said, accusingly.

"Conduct unworthy of an officer of this regiment, I suppose," Janos said sarcastically before he could stop himself. That sent the Colonel over the edge.

"I will not have your insolence, sir," he yelled. Janos did not even wince, which seemed to enrage the man even further.

"Do I have to remind you that you have to apply for a marriage licence before even THINKING of marriage? We cannot have our officers marry just anybody!"

"I shall keep it in mind, should I ever wish to marry," Janos said calmly. "Besides, sir, I would like to assure you that I would not marry just anybody. I am not that desperate."

"That woman is unsuitable," the Colonel snapped.

"Before we discuss my alleged fiancée's suitability, sir, may I know who it is that I am supposed to marry?" Janos asked, in a tone of exquisite politeness. He knew, of course, who his supposed bride was, but he wanted the Colonel to tell him. He did not need to ask who his source of information had been.

"Stop playing stupid, man," the Colonel growled. "I am talking about Mrs. Petek, of course."

"I see," Janos said. "Mrs. Petek is unsuitable to marry an officer of this regiment, you say."

"Exactly. It is just as well you know."

"I do wonder, sir -- did Petek know that? He was an officer of this regiment, wasn't he?" Janos was hard put not to smile at the Colonel's expression. If he had been able to, Colonel Polgàr would probably have degraded him to the rank of a corporal. But as long as Janos kept up his semblance of politeness, he could not. Which, of course, annoyed him to no end. Janos' degradation would have meant promotion for one of the captains, and Janos had a very clear picture of who would get promoted.

"Don't you try to be smart with me," the Colonel barked.

"I am sorry, sir. I did not mean to be insolent, I was just a bit ... puzzled, that was all. I hoped you could make matters clear to me." The Colonel eyed Janos suspiciously, and Janos met his gaze with a remarkably frank and innocent expression that would have sent any of his former teachers off to search their beds for specimens of the local fauna, reptiles in particular. Luckily, the Colonel had not known Janos during his school days.

"There was nothing to be said against her when she was betrothed to Petek," he said gruffly. "It was not a remarkable match, to be sure, but she was respectable, and it is not my business to keep a young man from making a fool of himself if he chooses to. But, Horvàth, matters are different now. My sources are telling me you have been visiting her very often lately, at very odd hours too, and she seems to have encouraged your attentions in an unseemly manner."

Janos wondered for the moment if Mrs. Petek's house was being kept under surveillance. He had been visiting her at odd hours? Except for the rare occasions he had been invited to dine with Mrs. Petek and the children, his visits had been the usual morning calls. Odd hours?

"Indeed," he said. "And therefore I am not supposed to restore Mrs. Petek's honour by asking her to marry me? I thought the regiment had a certain policy concerning such matters."

"We do," the Colonel admitted. "But on the other hand we cannot allow our officers to marry women of doubtful reputation."

"Thank you for pointing this out to me, sir," Janos said politely. "I am much obliged." Again, the Colonel gave him a suspicious look, but could not detect any sign of insincerity in Janos' demeanour. Of course not. Janos took care to look like a statue.

"You see," Colonel Polgàr said, softening a bit, "I know you have no father to advise you in such issues, and therefore I found it necessary to give you some counsel." He looked at Janos, who inspected a portrait of the Emperor with sudden interest.

"It was very kind of you, sir," Janos said, perceiving that an answer was expected. "I shall always think back on this moment with gratitude."
Perhaps he had overdone it, he thought, but it did not look as if the Colonel had picked up his irony. Janos felt he had to escape from the Colonel's office before laughing in his face. The thought of the Colonel's fatherly affection for him nearly overrode his self-control. Besides, he just had to share that joke with von Hertenberg -- the only one of his friends who would be able to fully appreciate it.

"Was this all, sir?" he therefore asked as blandly as he could. "Or do you have some further instructions for me, sir?"

"None at the moment," the Colonel snapped. "You have realised, I suppose, that one of your monthly accounts is due tomorrow."

"I have, sir. Until when do you wish to receive it, sir?"

"I am going to meet the General at fifteen-hundred hours," the Colonel said. "Make sure it reaches me half an hour beforehand, so I can make myself acquainted with its contents."

"Certainly, sir," Janos said, saluted and left the office to give way to a fit of laughter. Luckily, no one heard him.

~~~o~~~

Jakob Grum already awaited Janos as he entered Café Hugelmann shortly after four o'clock. He graciously excused Janos' tardiness and told him that he had not been waiting for long.

"Thank you for providing me with an excuse to leave my home for a while," he said. "The ladies are running wild with their preparations for Baroness von Arnstein's masquerade. They want me to dress up too, but I will NOT have it. Are you going to dress up for the ball?"

"Of course. I'll dress up as a hussar."

Grum laughed. "So I have your support in the matter? I shall tell my wife so."

"Oh no, you will not," Janos said. "She would never forgive me. Can't you be persuaded to wear a mask at least, for your wife's sake?"

"I told her I'd wear a mask but no more. She said she'd like to see that." Grum said with a humorous grin.

Janos laughed. "So would I," he said, and then added, "Coming to think of it, no, I'd rather not."

"I shall tell her you are not going to wear fancy dress," Grum insisted.

"Do not tell falsehoods," Janos said, arranging the balls on the billiard table. "My gala uniform is fancy. It is the outfit I look best in -- and you should have realised by now that we are a vain lot, my brother officers and me."

"I got that impression from some of your brother officers, but I am afraid I could not quite fathom the extent of your vanity," Grum said, grinning. He pulled a coin out of his pocket. "Heads or tails?"

"Heads," Janos said. Grum tossed the coin.

"You win," he said with a laugh. "Probably for the last time this evening."

"You have become nearly as disrespectful as von Hertenberg lately," Janos complained as he chalked his cue for the first shot. "I wonder why I am putting up with this."

"Because, according to your own testimony, not many of your friends agree to play billiards with you in public places," Grum said. "By the way, my sister wishes me to make a complaint on her behalf -- you did not come to see her today, she said."

Janos frowned. "I did not say I would, did I? I met her yesterday, and told her why I could not visit your place just now. I thought she had understood." He did not want Lina to feel neglected.

"She seems to have expected it nevertheless," Grum said, shrugging. "That's womenfolk for you. Give them an inch..." He made his shot. "I suppose you did not ask me to come here to talk about my sister, though."

"I do not mind discussing your sister," Janos said with a smile. "Though, perhaps, not here and now."

"Good. I'd thank you not to bandy my sister's name about in the coffeehouses," Grum said.

"I never did so, and I shall not start doing so now," Janos said. "You were the one who mentioned her, if you remember."

"So I was," Grum agreed. "Why did you want to see me?"

"Are you interested in art?" Janos asked.

"Do not tell me you came here to discuss the Old Masters with me, for I shall not believe it," Grum said dryly.

"I asked you to come because I thought you might want to have a look at this art dealer's place in _____gasse," Janos said.

"What you mean to say is that you want me to have a look at the place," Grum said. "Why don't you just ask me to?"

"I am not one to ask for favours," Janos said curtly.

"I know. But I am quite happy to do you a favour in return for the many acts of kindness you have bestowed on me already," Grum said. "What do you want me to do at that art dealer's?"

Hesitantly, Janos explained to his friend the situation regarding his sister's portrait. He told him why he did not wish to be known as the buyer interested in this particular piece, and why he wanted to buy the picture.

"You see, I do not think it right that it should fall into a stranger's hands," he said quietly. "I do not relish the thought of my sister adorning some complete stranger's drawing-room wall. Besides, I know that my mother wants the picture. When she found out that Bàthory planned to sell it, she was devastated. She even cried -- in my presence. She has never done so before, which just shows you how she feels about the affair. Would you mind very much going there and acting on my behalf? I know Bàthory will not sell it to me, out of spite. If he had wanted us to get it back, he could have given it to us without sending it off to some art dealer's."

"Unless his financial situation is not as it seems," Grum said. "Perhaps he was obliged to sell the picture."

"Answer me one question, Grum. If you were in straitened circumstances and owned about a hundred paintings -- which one would you sell first?"

"Certainly not a portrait of my wife," Grum said grimly. "I shall go there immediately -- just in case."

"I knew I could count on you," Janos said gratefully.

"Of course. You always could," Grum said. They finished their game in silence, and left Hugelmann's together. Grum turned towards _____gasse to see the art dealer about Countess Bàthory's portrait, and Janos headed to his own house, which would be rather lonely with no one there to keep him company. He was almost glad to have Diana.

© 2004, 2005 Copyright held by the author.

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