Not Made For Marriage

Part XVII

Janos did not sleep well that night. While Diana was sleeping on the rug next to his bed, heaving a content sigh now and then, Janos was tossing and turning and trying to go to sleep. The Mrs. Petek issue was getting out of hand, there was no denying it. Though, coming to think of it, it was far better for Mrs. Petek if people thought her to be betrothed to him. An engagement, even if not acknowledged by him in public, would save her reputation for now. No one would expect him to announce his engagement while Mrs. Petek's children (his soon-to-be-stepchildren) were dangerously ill. No one would be surprised at it. Once the children were better, he could move the family out of town without further ado, and if, some time later, people found out that the engagement had come to nothing ... the rumours would die down, anyway, as soon as Mrs. Petek had left Vienna.

Had he been the only person concerned, Janos would not have given the matter of his supposed betrothal another thought. The problem was Lina Grum. How would she react if the news came to her ears? What would her opinion of him be? She would have to be a complete fool not to have noticed how he felt about her - and she was anything but a fool. Her consternation upon finding out that Janos was supposed to be betrothed to someone else would be great - and fully justified. He needed to talk to her and set everything straight before someone else informed her. He did not want her to think he was a cad. She would believe him if he told her the truth ... would she? Suddenly, Janos was not so very sure. Only a miracle, he felt, could help him. But he had given up believing in miracles a long time ago ...

Janos was woken up by Diana licking his face. Somehow the dog had managed to get onto his bed, and was now trying to catch Janos' attention.

"What did I say regarding dogs in my bed," Janos muttered, picking Diana up and placing her on the floor again. "The bed is mine. Mine, do you hear? No dogs in this bed."

Diana gave him a doubting look and, as soon as Janos turned his back on her to go back to sleep, clambered onto the bed again.

"No! Dammit! Bad dog!" Janos cursed and put Diana back on the floor again. The dog gave him an injured look that nearly made him relent.

"Listen, Diana," he said, tickling her behind her ears. "The bed is for people. Not for dogs. It may be nice and warm and soft, and I can quite understand why you want to sleep in the bed but it will not do. The bed is mine, and I'm not going to share it with a female." Realising just what he had said, he added, "Dog. A female dog."

Diana yawned, and then gave Janos an expectant look, wagging her tail. She obviously wanted him to get out of bed and provide her with some entertainment. Janos looked at his pocket-watch. It was six o'clock in the morning. Sleep was overrated anyway.

~~~o~~~

Feeling the effect of a nearly sleepless night, Janos decided to go for a brisk ride in the Prater before setting out to the barracks. Some fresh air and exercise, he mused, was just the thing to make him alert and capable of facing today's challenges.

He therefore ordered Turul to be brought round, and after breakfast set off towards the Prater, taking Simon with him to see what result his riding lessons with Lajos had had on him. Janos was quite content with his companion - Simon did not talk much, so he could follow his own train of thought. Besides Simon gave everyone the impression of a passable horseman. True, there was room for improvement, but Janos felt that there was no reason to be ashamed of his batman, and so he told him. Simon tried to downplay the compliment, but his embarrassed grin and slight blush betrayed that he was well pleased by it. However, when Janos suggested racing the full length of the main avenue and back, Simon demurred. He felt not up to following Janos in one of his wild starts, and said that he would wait for him at the main gate. With a laugh, Janos spurred Turul into a gallop. The main avenue was not enough - Janos went nearly all the way round the park at top speed, and enjoyed himself immensely. When he arrived at the main gate to meet up with Simon again, he came across Lina, who was about to take her daily turn in the park, with Lajos in attendance.

"Good morning, sir," she said, smilingly. "I see you make the best of this fine weather we are having. So am I - Dido is in need of exercise."

"Turul has already had his exercise," Janos said with a smile. "But I do not think he will object to escorting his neighbour. Will you, Turul? - See, he did not say anything against it."

She laughed. "Does Dido need an escort, do you think?"

"She certainly does," Janos said, turned round and dismissed Simon, telling him that he should go home and prepare his uniform for him.

Then they set out, at a sedate pace, with Lajos following them in a respectful distance.

"We have not met for a while," Lina remarked after a pause during which Janos had debated with himself how to bring on the topic of Mrs. Petek without offending her.

"We only met the day before yesterday," Janos reminded her.

"It seemed longer," Lina said, looking at him earnestly.

"I told you why I could not come to see you, Miss Grum," Janos said. "I thought you had understood."

"I did understand," Lina said. "Mrs. Petek's children are ill, and you do not want to bring infection to our house. But that does not mean I liked your staying away."

This was the perfect moment, Janos thought. She had brought up the topic, so he could talk about Mrs. Petek without fear of offending Lina. Females did not usually appreciate it if a gentleman talked to them about another woman.

"Mrs. Petek's husband used to be a friend of mine, and when he died he left his children to my care. I am the little boy's godfather, and the children's guardian. That means I have to go and see them from time to time to see how they are doing. Especially now that they are ill."

"But you seem to exert yourself very much on Mrs. Petek's behalf."

"Of course," Janos said, smilingly. "Taking care of the children sometimes involves taking care of the mother as well - though she does not let me do so very often. In her opinion, she ought to manage without anyone's help. But she does not. There are some people who do not let her."

"Who?"

"Her husband's relatives, for one. There is a reason why Petek did not leave those children in their custody, Miss Grum. György Petek knew that they would use the children as a weapon to hurt their mother. This is what they tried to do - and are still trying to do. I have found out only recently that there were some nasty rumours that made it very difficult for me to assist her."

"I think I have ... heard about these rumours," Lina said quietly.

"Did you believe them?" Janos gave her a searching look. She blushed.

"I did not know what to believe," she finally admitted. "I did not know you very well then. But Jakob said the rumours were complete nonsense, and I believed him."

"Your brother is right," Janos said. "Mrs. Petek and I are good friends. I am her children's guardian, nothing more." He stopped Turul, taking a look at his pocket-watch. He hated to leave her, but he had to. Polgàr wanted that report. "I am afraid I will have to leave you now, Miss Grum," he said. "I am needed at the barracks."

"Will I meet you some time before the masquerade?" Lina asked him, looking up at him with precisely that look that would make him promise anything. Did she know what that look was doing to him?

"I hope so," Janos said. "I am going to ask Dr Levy whether I am allowed to come to your brother's house without putting anyone in danger. I have some business with him." And I want to see you, but I cannot tell you that.

"Make sure to call on us if you do," Lina said, blushing. "I...we miss your company, sir."

"I shall," Janos said and, with a bow, took his leave. She had as good as told him that she missed him when he was not there. This day, he thought, started well.

~~~o~~~

As Lina arrived back at home, Julija looked out of the drawing room and told her that their costumes for the ball had been delivered in her absence.

"Oh, good," Lina exclaimed. "Is mine in my room? I will try it on directly!"

Julija told her that her dress was indeed in her room, and Lina hurried upstairs to see how her costume had turned out. Julija's sketch had been very detailed, yet it had not been quite as impressive as the real thing was. The costume was an ivory gown, trimmed with golden embroidery. There was a semi-circle on her bodice, and stripes spread all over the front and back of her costume like the rays of the sun. Lina had already made her mask out of cardboard, which she had cut into a sun-like shape and painted gold. For Lina had decided to attend the ball impersonating the sun, while Julija was going to be the moon.

Julija's maid came in and helped her shed her riding costume and get into the ball dress. Looking into the mirror, Lina decided that she did look dazzling, and the moment she had finished putting on her dress she went to show herself to Julija. But as she was halfway down the stairs a visitor was shown in, and to her horror Lina recognised Captain Kodaly. All her efforts to keep her costume secret had been in vain, and the Captain's grin told her that he knew very well what she was wearing at the moment. Without a word, Lina turned on her heels and dashed back upstairs to her room to change her clothes. Then she joined Captain Kodaly and Julija in the drawing room.

Luckily, the Captain lost no word on the subject of Lina's dress, although his smug, triumphant grin made Lina wish she could make proper use of her fingernails. His face was too handsome anyway - a couple of scratches would only serve to make it more interesting.

When he had left, Lina turned to Julija and said, quietly, "I do not feel like going to that ball any more."

Julija stared at her in dismay. "But you must," she insisted. "One cannot snub the likes of Baroness von Arnstein! Besides, why did you not tell me so before we ordered your costume? I am afraid your brother will be quite put out if he has to pay for a costume you are not going to wear!"

"I know," Lina said meekly. "But, you see, just as I was going downstairs to show you how my costume had turned out, Captain Kodaly came in and saw me in my costume, and now... I am not sure if I want to meet him at the ball."

Julija gave her a sharp look. "Does Captain Kodaly worry you?" she asked, suddenly quite different from the pleasant, happy-go-lucky Julija. "Do you want me to talk to your brother about him?"

"No," Lina said quickly. "I can deal with him myself, I think. Only ... I have the strange feeling that I am his latest quarry."

"If he ever crosses the line of what is pleasant, tell me," Julija said resolutely. "Together, we can put an end to that kind of behaviour quite easily, Lina." Speaking as she did, Julija strongly reminded Lina of her mother.

"I will tell you," Lina assured her, but sincerely hoped that Captain Kodaly's attentions would not go beyond a certain limit.

"And you will go to the ball, won't you?" Julija asked anxiously.

"I will," Lina said, smiling. After all, what right had Captain Kodaly to interfere with her plans for enjoying herself? Things had come to a pretty pass if she had to stay at home just to avoid a certain gentleman.

~~~o~~~

The next day, Jolanta arrived. Jolanta had been Janos' nurse when he had been little, and still treated him as if he were not a day older than five.

"Now look at him," she exclaimed to Janos' great embarrassment the moment she entered the house and beheld him waiting for her in the hallway. "Hasn't he grown into a handsome man? Just like his Papa used to be - when are you going to marry, boy?"

Some of the servants present turned aside to hide their amused grin, while Janos did his best to greet Jolanta calmly and lead her off into the library, where they could be alone. Jolanta was not deterred.

"You didn't answer my question," she insisted, just as he had closed the library door behind them.

"Which question?"

"Shall I box your ears?" she asked back. "You're not old enough to be senile."

Only from someone like Jolanta Janos could tolerate such impertinence, and she knew she was quite safe. One did not tell off a woman who had changed one's nappies - because she'd invariably point out that fact to one.

"I am not going to get married any time soon," Janos therefore merely said.

"What's wrong with the girls nowadays?" Jolanta wondered. "Surely Vienna is big enough? There must be some pretty girls around?"

"There are, " Janos said. "Plenty of them, to be sure."

"Then something's wrong with you," Jolanta said. "Someone at your age and still not married...you‘re not getting any younger, if I may remind you."

"I'll turn thirty next month, Jolanta," Janos said wearily. "I am not in my dotage."

"Who is that female you want me to help?" Jolanta demanded. "What about her?"

"Mrs. Petek was married to a friend of mine," Janos said. "She is a widow and has two children."

"Your friend is dead. So why don't you marry her? I'm not getting any younger either, you know."

"I know," Janos said with a certain amount of malice. "Do you really think I'd let you look after my children?"

"You couldn't find anyone better for them," Jolanta retorted. Janos grinned. She was right.

"Anyway, I am not going to marry Mrs. Petek," Janos said. "But I do hope you will look after her children nevertheless."

"Of course. I wouldn't have come if I didn't want to," Jolanta said. "Besides, since you're not in a hurry to provide me with some brats to look after, I will have to take what I can get."

"Good," Janos said, laughing. "You know what, Jolanta? If you were thirty years younger, I'd ask you to marry me."

"No you wouldn't," Jolanta said, flattered nevertheless. "And I wouldn't have you if you did."

"And why not?" Janos asked with a grin.

"I've seen what kind of husband your father was," she said. That was a point. A good point, coming to think of it.

Janos sighed. "I am going to meet a friend in half an hour, and I will take you to Mrs. Petek's before going to his place. My mother will be happy to see you - she has been with Mrs. Petek since we found out her children were ill."

"One has to admit that Mrs. Horvàth has always been good with children," Jolanta said grudgingly.

Then she went to the kitchen, where she was provided with a hearty meal to restore her to her full strength before setting off to Mrs. Petek's.

At Mrs. Petek's front door, they encountered Laszlo Petek who had just tried to see his niece and nephew, but had been denied access to Mrs. Petek‘s house. He greeted Janos coldly, and took himself off in a hurry.

"Who is he?" Jolanta wanted to know.

"Petek's brother. The children's uncle."

"Why doesn't he take care of the children? Why does it have to be you?" Jolanta asked. The Spanish Inquisition, Janos felt, was nothing in comparison to his former nurse.

"This, I am afraid, is a long story," he said. "Just as much - the Peteks are not too fond of Mrs. Petek. They thought she was a scheming female marrying Petek for his fortune."

Jolanta gave Mrs. Petek's house a critical glance. "What fortune?" she demanded.

"Exactly," Janos said dryly.

Then Mrs. Horvàth came out of the house and greeted Jolanta happily. Janos' presence was forgotten - the two women exchanged news about everyone living on Janos' property in Hungary and the surrounding villages, and his mother informed Jolanta about the Petek children's state of health. So, after promising his mother to send her a carriage to take her home later in the afternoon, Janos set off to Annagasse where he was to meet Jakob Grum.

Grum awaited him in his study, and one glance at the painting behind his friend informed Janos that his mission had been crowned with success. Ilona's irresistible smile welcomed him.

"That was the portrait you wanted me to buy for you, wasn't it?" Grum asked with a grin.

"Yes, that was the one," Janos said. "Miss Horvàth, several weeks before her marriage to Count Bàthory. We gave it to him as a wedding present."

"He does not seem to be fond of it," Grum said.

"He was not really fond of my sister either." Janos said grimly.

"Then why did he marry her?" Grum asked.

"You will have to ask him," Janos said. "Thought I doubt he will be able to answer the question satisfactorily. I asked him once, before he married my sister. Even then his reasons for marrying her did not quite convince me."

"Yet you did nothing to prevent their marriage?" Grum gave him a disbelieving look.

"I tried to persuade my sister that he was not the right man for her. I failed." Janos said. "There was nothing more I could do. I was not her guardian, so I had no right to interfere." This was a tender subject with him, and he hoped Grum would soon grow tired of it.

"Sometimes it is hard to be a big brother," Grum said with a smile.

Janos sighed. "But your sister gives you less trouble than mine gave me, I hope."

"I would not know," Grum said and gave Janos an earnest look.

"I know what you mean to say, Grum," Janos said. "There are a couple of things which... keep me from asking your sister to marry me. I want to do that, but not now that there are about a hundred things to take my mind off her. I know she does not want to play a minor part - she would not understand why these things are so important to me. Until she can truly be the most important person in my life, I had better not ask her. But I will. Once I have settled my problems, I will."

"I never doubted your intentions," Grum said. "I know you would not go back on your word. But do not wait too long. There are others who have discovered my sister's good qualities."

"Kodaly?" Janos asked sharply. Kodaly was trouble. Kodaly was just the sort of man to trifle with Lina's feelings and leave her heartbroken.

"Him, too. I am keeping my eye on him, just as you told me, but I do not think he is too serious. I just wanted to warn you, Horvàth. Do not wait forever. She might grow tired of waiting."

Janos nodded. The thought that there was someone who could take Lina away from him was alarming - even if it was only Kodaly. Kodaly might not have marriage on his mind, but he was capable of doing Lina serious harm, merely out of thoughtlessness. He had to be stopped.

"I have found out some interesting facts regarding your brother-in-law." Grum gave him a proud smile. "It will please you to hear he is in serious trouble."

"How would you define serious?" Janos asked.

"Let me say as much - things are going downhill for him. Rapidly. Apparently he is in debt - and, according to the people I asked, he is at the moment trying to recover his losses by making an advantageous marriage."

"With whom?" Whoever she was, Janos pitied the lady. He knew Bàthory could make himself agreeable to females, but only until he had them where he wanted them. After that...

"They did not tell me, but they said it was a young lady with a substantial fortune. Anyway, he is borrowing money on the expectation of said fortune at the moment."

Janos gave a derisive laugh. "This is just what I would expect him to do," he said. "Hopefully his fiancée finds out and cries off."

"You would really like to see him all to pieces, wouldn't you?" Grum asked earnestly.

"Yes, I would," Janos said without hesitation. "And if there is any justice in this world, I will."

Part XVIII

Time passed quickly, and before Lina knew it, she was getting dressed for the Arnsteins' masquerade. Eva Polgàr had been invited for the occasion -- she had expressed a wish to see Lina in all her splendour, a wish that Lina was only too glad to grant.

Eva was dutifully impressed by her appearance. "You will turn heads, Lina," she said with a smile. "The men will queue up for a dance with you."

"I will not dance with any I do not know," Lina said determinedly. "Julija says there are gentlemen who grab every opportunity for some loose behaviour on such occasions."

"You will not dance very often then," Eva said laughingly. "Most gentlemen will be masked, and you will not be able to distinguish those you know from those you are not acquainted with."

"I will," Lina said. "I am good at remembering people's voices."

"And what if, let us say, there is someone to vouch for a gentleman's respectability? What if the hostess introduces someone to you? You will not be able to refuse then, unless you mean to be sitting down all night."

"True. But I am sure the hostess will only introduce respectable gentlemen to me."

"Among the haut ton, she will be hard put to discover any," Eva said dryly. "You must tell me whom you saw at the masquerade when we meet again. And, of course, who was there with whom."

"You want me to share gossip with you?" Lina asked in well-feigned horror. "Me?"

"I quite forgot," Eva said with a grin. "You are not at all interested in gossip, I suppose."

"Not at all," Lina said. "But for your sake, I will bear with it. I would by no means disappoint my friends' expectations."

Eva laughed, wished Lina a pleasant evening and then left Lina to herself. After taking another look at herself in the mirror, Lina went downstairs to the drawing room to show herself to Jakob and Julija. Lina looked at her sister-in-law with a great deal of pride and admiration. Julija, she felt, was one of the most beautiful women she had ever met, and her costume accentuated her beauty. Her figure had become fuller lately, but it became her -- and, judging by the sparkle of delight in Jakob's eyes whenever he gazed at his wife, he fully appreciated that change.

Jakob had been true to his word -- even Julija's most fervent entreaties had not made him change his mind regarding his costume. He wore plain evening-dress, which, Lina had to admit, looked good on him. But the only thing revealing that he was going to attend a masquerade was the mask dangling from one of his hands. He complimented Lina on her attire and said, jokingly, that he would have to keep an eye on her all evening or some gentleman might carry her off. Lina blushed. She did not want some gentleman to carry her off, though she would not mind it if that gentleman happened to be Major Horvàth. Still she was certain that Major Horvàth would never do anything so indecent.

When they arrived at Palais Arnstein, a multitude of people were already waiting to be admitted to the house. This ball was one of the highlights of the season. Lina had known that the Arnsteins' parties were always well-attended, but still the sheer mass of people waiting to gain entrance surprised her. How was she to find any familiar face among so many people? On the other hand, with everyone wearing masks it would be quite a chore to find a familiar face.

Finally they came up to the host and hostess of the party. Lina gave Fanny von Arnstein a close look. She was a lady in her late fifties, who, despite her age, dressed fashionably. Even her dark hair had been done in a style that was quite the rage. Though it might have looked hilarious on another lady of Baroness von Arnstein's age, it did not look ridiculous on her. The Baroness had excellent taste, and Lina could only hope that she, too, would age so well.

The Baroness smiled at her as she was introduced. "So you are Miss Grum?" she said with a smile. Her accent betrayed that Baroness von Arnstein was not Viennese by birth. There was something decidedly Prussian in her way of speaking. "You cannot conceive how curious I was to finally meet you! Your beauty has been praised in the highest terms, and I can only say the praise was entirely justified."

Lina thanked the Baroness, blushing. Who had praised her within the Baroness' hearing? Had it been Major Horvàth after all? Or did she know anyone else who was acquainted with the Baroness?

With an amiable smile, Baroness von Arnstein wished them a pleasant evening, and then moved on to the next guests. As it seemed, she would still have to spend a couple of hours at the top of the stairs to receive her guests. One could not possibly enjoy such an evening as this if one was the hostess, Lina thought.

On entering the ballroom, Lina was dazzled by its grandeur. There had to be thousands of candles lighting the place, and their light was reflected by the crystal chandeliers. Their sparkle alone was amazing. Huge, colourful flower arrangements made the room look like a garden. Lina wondered how one could come by so many flowers in February and just how rich one had to be in order to afford them. The amount spent on the candles and flowers alone, she felt, could feed an average family for years. She had, indeed, arrived in the world of the ton. This was the set Major Horvàth frequently moved in, she thought. And now she was to become a part of this world. Yet, Lina was not sure how she was going to like it. She followed Jakob and Julija across the room, and demurely sat down next to her sister-in-law. These surroundings were highly intimidating.

~~~o~~~

As soon as Janos entered the ballroom at Palais Arnstein, he began to look for familiar faces. He hoped, of course, to find Lina in time to ask her for the first two dances -- one of which was to be a waltz, he knew, and waltzing with Lina was in a fair way to becoming one of his favourite pastimes. He kept a close lookout and walked through the mass of people, greeting anyone who looked vaguely familiar. Finally, he saw her sitting next to her sister-in-law at the far end of the ballroom, looking fairly stunned. He could understand her feelings on this occasion -- he, too, had been intimidated by the splendour Baroness Arnstein habitually showered on her guests when he had first attended an entertainment in her house. He casually walked over to the Grums, determined to set Lina at ease.

"Good evening, Miss Grum," he said, giving Lina a brilliant smile. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, he thought. Hopefully she had not promised those first two dances to anyone yet.

She gasped. "Major Horvàth! How did you know it was me?"

Janos laughed at the indignation in her voice. "I would know you anywhere, Miss Grum, no matter what disguise you wore. But how did you know me?" he added teasingly.

She blushed. "It was ... it was your voice, sir. I am good at remembering people's voices."

"And there I thought my uniform had given me away," he said laughingly.

"Well, that too," she admitted. "I do wonder why I took such trouble with my costume though if everyone keeps recognising me anyway." She sounded piqued -- just a little.

"Miss Grum, you look particularly beautiful tonight," Janos said. "So if you ask me, your costume was worth every effort you put in it, even if people recognise you."

"Thank you, sir," she said softly. The look she gave him warmed his heart. It was full of genuine happiness -- his compliment obviously meant something to her.

"I sought you out on purpose, Miss Grum," he said after a short pause. "I came to you hoping that you would honour me with the first two dances this evening."

"It will be a pleasure," she answered, giving him a smile so sweet he could not help but smile in return. To hide his feelings, he turned to Mrs. Grum and asked her a few polite questions. Then he noticed his friend Carl von Hertenberg on the other side of the room, excused himself and walked over to greet him.

Von Hertenberg was with his family -- Baroness von Hertenberg was wearing something elaborate and tasteless, as usual, and her sour face did nothing to improve the impression she gave. Baron von Hertenberg greeted him politely, but coldly -- this did not surprise Janos, after all he was a close friend of Bàthory's. Miss von Hertenberg was quite happy to see him, and the warmth in her tone of voice as she spoke to him made up for the coldness in her brother and sister-in-law's behaviour. Miss von Laudeck, von Hertenberg's cousin and future wife, if Janos was any judge of his friend's conduct, was not in her usual spirits. The quarrel she had had with the Colonel a few weeks previously had still not been forgiven, and her pointed indifference to her cousin was evident. As was her hostility towards Baroness von Hertenberg, who had started the whole thing.

Von Hertenberg had watched his progress across the room and asked him who his friends were. Janos decided to introduce his best friend to Lina -- even though he would not tell him that he meant to marry her. He did not feel up to being teased about wanting to marry after having said for so many years that he would never do so. Unfortunately, von Hertenberg had an excellent memory in such matters.

"A colonel?" Lina asked when Janos introduced his friend. "Are you not rather young to be a colonel, sir?"

Von Hertenberg laughed. "What makes you think so, Miss Grum?"

"The colonels I have met so far are rather old," she said. "Forty at least."

"At least forty?" Von Hertenberg smiled. "I suppose my comparative youth must give you a good impression of my qualities as an officer then," he said.

"Or a rather good image of the general clumsiness of Infantry officers," Janos said laughingly. "They somehow seem to get themselves killed rather quickly, and make room for younger ones to take their places."

"I'd rather have it known I advanced so rapidly because of my excellent work," von Hertenberg said.

"I daresay you do," Janos said with a grin. "Whether it is the truth remains to be seen."

"You know there's a limit to the cheek I take from a mere major?" von Hertenberg asked him, smiling.

"Is there?" Janos retorted. "But then I know you're no match for me, so I guess I am quite safe."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that."

Lina listened to their exchange with sparkling eyes. She seemed to like Carl von Hertenberg. This was a good sign, Janos thought. He wanted his best friend and the woman he loved to be on good terms with each other, and apparently they were both willing to be on good terms. After being informed that Lina was to dance the first two dances with Janos, von Hertenberg solicited her hand for the second set of dances and was readily accepted.

"With whom are you going to dance the first two," Janos asked his friend.

"Miss Potocka," he said. "Tilney will not here before later in the evening, and she said dancing with me was the next best thing."

"You'd better be careful, or you will find yourself in the Prater at dawn with Tilney," Janos said with a grin. "I thought you would dance with your cousin."

"She told my sister that she would not even dance with me if I were the only man at this party so I refrained from asking her," von Hertenberg said.

"She's thawing," Janos said. "Two weeks ago she'd have said that she would not dance with you if you were the only man in the world."

"Idiot."

"What? I was just trying to cheer you up," Janos said with a laugh.

"Thank you for trying," von Hertenberg said and, with a smile, took his leave of Lina.

The musicians had finished tuning their instruments and the first dance was to start soon. Janos took Lina's hand and led her to the set. This, he thought, was a promising start for the evening.

~~~o~~~

The first dance was a polonaise, and Lina found it rather flat. She did not like the gravity, the formality of this dance. She was glad when the first dance was over and they prepared for the waltz. In Major Horvàth's arms she felt perfectly comfortable, and she could think of nothing more pleasant than dancing with him.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Miss Grum?" he asked her, as they were whirling round and round. The tender tone in his voice did not escape her.

"Very much," she said. "Though the dance is very fast, I admit -- I am losing my breath, sir, and it makes me feel dizzy besides!"

"An unpleasant feeling?" he asked her, intently looking in her eyes.

"Not at all," Lina said. "But it may become unpleasant for you! I am afraid I will have to cling to you!"

"I can think of more unpleasant things than that," he said gently and drew her closer.

"There are several ways of taking a lady's breath away," she said, excitedly. Never before had she been quite so close to a man, but she was definitely enjoying this.

Major Horvàth gave an amused laugh. "There are," he admitted. "But for most of them we'd have to be alone."

"You are outrageous," Lina said, blushing. She could not blame him for being outrageous though -- she had encouraged him in an almost shameless manner, and ten to one he now thought her easy to get.

"You may rest easy, Miss Grum," he said, outwardly earnest but with mischievously sparkling eyes. "I only say outrageous things at balls. I never do them."

"I know I behaved shamefully," Lina said. "I am sorry."

"Blame the champagne," Major Horvàth said with a smile.

"I did not drink any," Lina said.

"That can be mended," he laughed.

"I do not think I should drink anything that makes me behave even more shamefully tonight," Lina said, smiling at him.

"Miss Grum, this is a masquerade, and you are wearing a mask," he said. "If you are intent on making mischief, tonight is the night for it. No one will ever know." He gave her a conspiratorial wink that made her laugh. Her discomfort vanished without a trace. It was his talent to make her feel at ease, no matter what she had said or done, that made her love him so. No other man had ever accomplished that.

When the waltz was over, Major Horvàth took her back to Julija and left her, but not without asking her for the last two dances of the evening. Lina was only too happy to grant him those dances. The fact that they were to round off the evening made her almost hope the ball would soon be over, even though she was enjoying herself so much.

Colonel von Hertenberg was an excellent dancer, Lina felt, and she liked him very much.

"How is your sister, sir?" she asked him as he led her to the dance.

"You are acquainted with my sister?" he asked, surprised.

"I met her once," Lina said. "About a month ago. We were skating on Vienna River -- Major Horvàth was so kind as to teach me -- and there I met Miss von Hertenberg."

"She is here tonight," Colonel von Hertenberg said. "So if you wish to talk to her, I shall take you to see her later."

"That would be splendid," Lina said. She welcomed the idea of furthering her acquaintance with Major Horvàth's friends. "By the way, when we were skating Major Horvàth told me you had been his best friend ever since one fatal detention in military school. He did give me any details, though. Can you?"

Colonel von Hertenberg laughed. "I could, of course," he said. "But I am afraid my friend Horvàth would not at all appreciate it if I did. No doubt he wants to tell you some day."

"Is it a story a lady should know nothing about?" Lina asked.

"No, it is nothing of that sort," the Colonel said. "Just as much, Miss Grum -- before that detention, we used to loathe each other."

"Why?" Lina asked. She could not find anything despicable in either of them.

"At fourteen, it does not take much to make one despise another," the Colonel said. "Horvàth called me teacher's pet. He thought I was a favourite with the teachers because my father was a General."

"And you? What did you dislike about Major Horvàth?" Lina asked eagerly.

"The fact that he called me Teacher's Pet," he laughed. "And a couple of other things. Let us not go into detail here. I am not good at telling stories, Miss Grum. Let my friend tell you all about it."

"I shall," Lina said with a smile. They continued talking about other matters -- Colonel von Hertenberg was able to point out several people of interest, and so Lina enjoyed her dance with him very much. When the music stopped, he took her to see his sister.

Miss von Hertenberg did not recognise her at first -- they had met only once after all, and Lina's mask made it more difficult for her to see who she was. But once she had recalled that Lina was the young lady who had been ice-skating with Major Horvàth, she immediately asked her to sit down with her and they spent a couple of minutes talking comfortably. Then Colonel von Hertenberg took Lina back to her sister-in-law and Lina found Julija had company -- the Schillers. Colonel von Hertenberg greeted Miss Schiller politely, asked her for the next two dances but seemed quite relieved when she declined and told him that she had already promised those dances to someone else. He took his leave before Miss Schiller had the time to offer him the two dances after that. Lina did not blame him.

"I must commend your costume, Miss Grum," Miss Schiller said to Lina when the Colonel had left. "It certainly attracts attention."

"So does yours, Miss Schiller," Lina said. It was the truth -- Miss Schiller's dress was in such bad taste it certainly did attract attention.

"You flatter me," Miss Schiller said with a giggle.

"No, indeed, I am not," Lina said with a bland smile. She hoped the Schillers would soon move on.

"Was it Major Horvàth I saw you dance with earlier?" Miss Schiller asked with pointed indifference.

"Yes, I danced the first two dances with Major Horvàth," Lina said.

"You will not catch me dancing with him," Miss Schiller said maliciously.

Of course not, Lina thought. He won't ask you to. Then she felt ashamed of her petty, unfounded jealousy.

"I hope Major Horvàth has not offended you in any way," she said. "I know he would not wish to do that."

"Don't you think a girl should take offence at being the object of his flirtation when he is actually promised to someone else?" Miss Schiller asked, giving Lina a significant look.

"I beg your pardon," Lina said, "but I do not quite catch your meaning, Miss Schiller."

"Did you know he is going to marry Mrs. Petek?" Miss Schiller asked, closely watching Lina for her reaction on that piece of news. "And yet I have seen him here flirting shamelessly with each of his dancing partners, as if his future wife were not at home, overcome with sorrow! I do not know what name you have for this kind of behaviour, but I call it brazen."

"I cannot credit it," Lina said with all the composure she could muster. "There have been rumours about Major Horvàth and Mrs. Petek before, but they were quite untrue."

"I can readily believe that you are unwilling to think ill of Major Horvàth," Miss Schiller said. "No one was more shocked than myself when Mama told me about his engagement with Mrs. Petek, but I had to believe it when she told me from whom she had this piece of news."

Lina nodded absent-mindedly. Why did Miss Schiller not just go away? Did she really think she would believe even one word of this nonsense?

"My mother had the news from the Major himself."

"What?" For a moment, Lina lost her composure, and she could see a glint of malicious satisfaction in Miss Schiller's eyes.

"Major Horvàth told my mother that he was engaged to Mrs. Petek," Miss Schiller repeated. "Now you do not think that he would lie to Mama, who has been such a close friend of his mother's for decades?"

"No," Lina said weakly. "No, I do not think he'd do that." Something had gone cold inside her. This, Lina thought, was what a broken heart felt like.

"So, my question is, what business has he here, flirting with all those young ladies of the ton while Mrs. Petek is at home, sick with worry about her children? Should he not be by her side?"

Mrs. Schiller turned to her daughter and told her that they would now go and join some friends of hers. They left Lina sitting forlornly next to her sister-in-law. That Miss Schiller's purpose had been of a spiteful kind was evident, of course. But Lina could not doubt what she had said. Major Horvàth was engaged to be married. He was engaged to be married with the woman for whom, he had said to her not too long ago, he felt nothing but friendship. He had lied to her. He had lied right into her face, and he had had the audacity to flirt with her as if there was no one in his world but her. Lina was furious. What kind of game was he playing with her? She would make him pay for this, no matter how. It was at that moment that she found herself addressed by Captain Kodaly.

"Should the sun look so gloomy?" he asked her, with a smile. "Or shall I drive away those clouds that cast a shadow on your beauty?"

"Captain Kodaly," Lina said, looking up at him. "So you have found me?"

He laughed. "It did not take me longer to find you than it usually takes me to find the sun," he said. "May I ask you for the next two dances, Miss Grum?"

Lina made a decision. "Certainly, sir," she said with a sweet smile. "And would you be so kind as to get me some champagne? I quite fancy some."

~~~o~~~

Champagne was a heavenly elixir, Lina thought as she was dancing with Captain Kodaly. When he had given her a glass of champagne, she had drunk it probably more quickly than she should have done, and it had quite gone to her head. It was pleasant, though -- she felt so at ease and light-hearted that she did not mind Captain Kodaly's flirting. Actually, it did her good that at least one man seemed to appreciate her. He made her outrageous compliments that she would have spurned under normal circumstances. Now they only made her laugh. Yes, champagne was wonderful. Lina wanted more of it, and Captain Kodaly was only too happy to provide her with some more.

"You know, there is one problem with champagne," she said to Captain Kodaly as she had finished her second glass.

"Its taste?" the Captain asked, smiling.

"Oh no, the taste is delicious!" Lina said. "It just makes one so uncomfortably hot!"

"That is indeed a disadvantage, Miss Grum, but I may know a remedy for that," he said. "Let us leave the crowd behind us for a while. I know a place in the conservatory where it is always nice and cool. Shall I take you there?"

A tiny voice in the back of her head told Lina that she had better be careful, but she banned that thought from her head. She was here to have fun -- and have fun she would.

"Why not?" she asked, smiling at him. "If you promise to behave?"

"Have I ever not behaved, Miss Grum?" he asked, smiling at her.

"No, you were always as cour ... cour ... polite as can be, sir," Lina said. The effect of the champagne on her was getting stronger.

"There you are then," he said, and took her arm to lead her out of the ballroom. He took her to the conservatory, and Lina had to admit that it was nice and cool there. They sat down on a stone bench, where there was no light but the rays of the moon coming in through the windows.

"It is beautiful in here," Lina sighed, looking about her. "I am glad you showed me this place. The entire house is marvellous, don't you agree?"

Captain Kodaly agreed with her and told her that he was a frequent guest at the Arnsteins'.

"Indeed?" Lina looked at him wonderingly. "How so?"

"I am a good friend of the family," he said.

"Captain Kodaly," Lina said, and turned to him, "Was it you who procured the invitation for us?"

"I did not procure it," he said, "but I cannot deny I brought you to Baroness von Arnstein's notice."

"What for?"

"I thought it might please you to spend an evening here," he said with a smile. "Does it please you?"

"It ... it does," Lina said, and began to laugh.

"Why are you laughing, Miss Grum?"

"Someone told me that, if I wanted to do something outrageous, tonight would be the night for it," she said, still giggling.

"I heartily agree with whoever said that," Captain Kodaly said.

"And you know what?" Lina asked, laughingly. "I have not done anything outrageous yet." She got up and a bout of dizziness nearly made her fall, but Captain Kodaly caught hold of her and steadied her in his arms.

"There must be something we can do about this," he murmured and pulled her close. His kiss came as a complete surprise -- Lina was so taken aback that she offered no resistance. Kodaly's hold on her tightened as he kissed her, and Lina felt vaguely that this was not right. She put her hands against his chest and pushed him away from her. "Don't!" she said quietly.

He stared at her, stricken. "I am sorry," he stammered. "I swear I did not take you here to ... Miss Grum, you have to believe me!"

"Believe what?" Lina asked coldly, suddenly sober. "That you did not make me drunk and get me here in order to kiss me?"

"It was not like that," he said defensively. "Miss Grum, I'd never do anything to you that you would not like -- I gave you champagne, it is true, but only because you asked me for it. And then you said it was hot, and you wanted to go somewhere nice and cool. If I misread the situation, very well, I apologise for that, but ... I did not mean to harm you! I adore you, Lina!" The look he gave her was so troubled that Lina believed him.

"Captain Kodaly," she said quietly, "I admit that...what happened here was partly my fault. Will you promise me never to tell anyone about it? Please?"

"I shall keep silent about it," Captain Kodaly said.

"Is this a promise?"

"Word of honour," Captain Kodaly said, taking her hands. "Miss Grum, please do not refuse to see me in the future. For if you did..." He looked into her eyes. "If you did, you'd make me the most desperate of men. Grant me an opportunity to redeem myself, Miss Grum, I beg you."

Lina could not bear to look into his pleading eyes.

"Will you take me back to my sister?" she asked. "It must be time for the last two dances soon, and I have already promised those dances to ... someone."

~~~o~~~

When Janos came back to Mrs. Grum to claim his dances with Lina, Mrs. Grum informed him that her sister-in-law was dancing with Captain Kodaly.

"But the dance is already over," Janos said with growing uneasiness. He knew Kodaly's ways.

"Perhaps they went outside for a breath of fresh air?" Mrs. Grum asked, indicating the French windows leading to a terrace. "I saw some couples disappear there after the dance."

"I shall go and look for her," Janos said and went to the terrace. It was true, there were several couples outside enjoying the night air, among them Miss Potocka and Captain Tilney, but neither Lina nor Kodaly were anywhere to be seen. Janos began to feel extremely uneasy on Lina's account. Where could they be? He went outside into the staircase, and there he heard Lina's brilliant laugh. It was coming from the conservatory. Janos hurried there, and arrived there just in time to witness their kiss. They did not see him, and obviously they had not heard him either, so absorbed were they with what they were doing. For a moment Janos contemplated stepping forward and demanding to know the meaning of this, but he realised that he had no right to do so. If Lina had struggled against Kodaly's hold, if she had given any sign of discomfort, he could have come to her assistance. But she did not. She did not struggle -- she was probably enjoying this. Janos turned round and left the conservatory before the lovers realised he had been there.

Putting up the sunny disguise only his closest friends knew to hide deepest depression, Janos went back to Mrs. Grum.

"Did you find my sister?" Mrs. Grum asked him, anxiously.

"Unfortunately I did not," Janos lied. "So I shall just wait here -- she cannot be away for long now, can she?"

"Certainly not," Mrs. Grum said. "She knows she is going to dance the last two dances with you. I know she was looking forward to it, too. She will be back before they start."

Lina was back in time for the last two dances. Kodaly led her to her seat, looking as if nothing at all had happened, and apologised to Mrs. Grum for keeping her away so long.

"I was nearly afraid you had forgotten about our dances," Janos managed to say to her, favouring her with one of his most brilliant smiles even though he did not feel like smiling.

She gave him a look he could not quite fathom. She was upset it seemed -- and certainly not as trusting as she had been earlier on. In her eyes, Janos read distress -- and defiance. Perhaps she was ashamed of herself, and hoped he did not know what had happened in the conservatory. Perhaps she knew he had been there, and that look of defiance in her eyes was to tell him that she did not care what opinion he had of her, that he had no right to interfere with the things she chose to do. Now he realised what agonies his sister had suffered in her marriage. No wonder she had drowned herself.

Part XIX

The morning after the ball Lina felt awful. It was not only the headache, although that was bad enough. Lina felt immensely guilty for what she had done. True, Major Horvàth had treated her badly, in a way she had never thought possible. But had that given her the right to lose her dignity and allow one of Vienna's most notorious rakes to kiss her?

Certainly not, she felt. On the other hand, Lina thought, she ought to punish the Major for trifling with her while actually being engaged to someone else. Just for one moment, Lina felt, he should experience the pain she had felt when Miss Schiller had told her that he was going to marry Mrs. Petek. If she was in a position to inflict pain on him that was. It was quite possible that he did not care one jot. A man messing about with a girl's feelings the way he had done might as well be amused at how easy it had been to win her heart. You had better not show him how hurt you are, Lina thought. Let him think you do not know what he is about. Treat him with proper decorum but do not get too friendly with him. And find a way to get rid of Captain Kodaly.

Captain Kodaly was a problem. Lina knew he was never serious with women. Somehow his behaviour at the ball had not upset her even half as much as Major Horvàth's engagement. She had never expected Kodaly to behave like a gentleman. She had heard too much about him before. What upset her was how easy she had made things for him. It had not only been the champagne. It had been her fault -- she had been unpardonably stupid and -- well, there was no other word for it - fast. She, Lina Grum, had behaved in a way that would, she was sure, make her mother blush for her if she ever found out. Worse. It made Lina blush for herself. No one should ever know what a fool she had made of herself. No one should ever find out what had happened in Baroness von Arnstein's conservatory. Thank God Captain Kodaly had promised to keep quiet about the matter. Not that Lina put much trust in Kodaly's promises, but he had given her his word of honour. Not even Kodaly would go back on his word. Hopefully.

Julija realised that something was wrong with Lina. She was a clever woman, and Lina's emotional state had never escaped her. But Julija knew better than to ask unwelcome questions. This was one thing, Lina thought, that made her sister-in-law most likeable. Julija was there for Lina whenever she needed her, but she never pressed matters.
This time, however, Lina did not confide in her sister-in-law. Julija would be immensely shocked if she heard what Lina had done, and Lina could not bear the thought of disappointing her. Not after all Julija had done for her.

"Shall we go riding in the park?" Jakob asked her after breakfast, seeing her gloomy face. "Let's make use of this fine weather!"

Lina did not feel like riding. In the park she might meet all kinds of people. Major Horvàth might be there, exercising Turul or taking his fiancée for a walk. Captain Kodaly might roam the park in search of young ladies stupid enough to fall for his lures. Lina did not want to meet either of them.

Her wish was not granted. Before half of the morning had gone by, both gentlemen had called on her. Captain Kodaly came with a huge bouquet of roses and a puppy-like expression in his eyes. He made no allusion to what had passed between them the night before, but it was undoubtedly his intention to fix his interest with Lina. Julija watched his proceedings sceptically, but since neither he nor Lina crossed the boundaries of proper behaviour she said nothing.

Major Horvàth came soon after Captain Kodaly had left. He looked tired and worn out, and for a moment Lina felt nearly sorry for him. Then it occurred to her that he might have had bad news from Mrs. Petek. He'd be a good father for the Petek children -- he seemed genuinely worried.

He was not very talkative either, but only exchanged civilities with Lina and shared some mild gossip with Julija. He had changed, Lina thought. After a quarter of an hour he left them when, earlier in their acquaintance, he would have been content to stay. Perhaps he had realised how wrong he had been in flirting with Lina without having any serious intentions regarding her, and was feeling ashamed of himself. There was some awkwardness in this encounter, and despite herself Lina longed for the not so distant days when they had been able to converse with perfect ease on any conceivable subject. But things between them would never return to what they had been, and the sooner Lina got accustomed to this, the better it was.

~~~o~~~

Janos had spent a miserable, sleepless night. Try as he might, he could not find a satisfactory excuse for Lina's behaviour at the ball. At the beginning he had really believed he was making progress with her. She had been perfectly comfortable in his arms, Janos thought, or he would be very much mistaken. And then he had seen her in Kodaly's embrace. Kissing Kodaly, of all men. Something told Janos that, if a woman surrendered to someone else's charms so easily, she was not the right one for him. He would not, like his sister, turn a blind eye on his spouse's infidelity in the hope of her returning to him when she tired of her lover. He deserved better than that.

But how could he have been so mistaken in someone? The answer was easy. He loved her. He loved her so much that even now, when there could be no doubt of her double-dealing nature, he was desperately trying to find a plausible excuse for her misdemeanour. Some plausible excuse that would absolve her of guilt and make her the perfect creature he had thought she was. Because that was what hurt him most - that he should be so mistaken in someone he loved. He ought to be grateful that he had found out the truth in time, before he had committed himself. He was not made for marriage after all, even though he had thought otherwise for a while. This was how Janos reasoned with himself. So why wasn't he grateful? Why this misery, worse than any he had ever felt? In looking back, not even Ilona's death appeared to have had such a devastating effect on him.

Seeing Lina again after the ball did not do him good. She looked so lovely, so innocent, that he found it hard to believe she could do something as wrong as kissing Kodaly in the conservatory. Perhaps she was in love with Kodaly? It would make her behaviour more understandable. Kodaly might even have made her believe that he was in love with her. She was certainly unaware of Kodaly's real intentions regarding her. Unfortunately Janos could not warn her. It was highly unlikely that she would heed him. All he could do was watch the events and be there for her when Kodaly broke her heart. That he would do so sooner or later was inevitable. Janos sincerely hoped that a broken heart was the only harm Kodaly would do her. Having seen what that man was capable of, Janos was not sure if there was anything he would stop at. A girl's innocence and respectability did no longer protect her when Kodaly was around. He had been mistaken in Kodaly, too.

When he visited the Grum ladies he noticed Lina's reserve. He did not know what made her act so differently to the way she had done before. But perhaps she had realised that it was wrong to encourage the attentions of two different men - and had made her decision. Janos would have to come to terms with not being Lina's choice.

As he returned to his home after having attended to his duties at the barracks, a letter for him was waiting on his desk in the library. It was from his uncle in Hungary, and did nothing to lift his spirits.

My dear boy, it started. Your mother may have informed you that my health has been more than indifferent lately. This is not surprising; I am not one-and-twenty any more. So far, my sickness did not interfere with my ability to oversee the estate but things have become increasingly difficult of late.

Janos could not remember his mother ever telling him about his uncle's failing health. Most likely she had not wanted to worry him.

I do not want to burden you with my affairs, but I am afraid you will have to take more interest in your own estate before long. If you cannot see to it yourself, I suggest that you find yourself a capable steward to look after the place. I would hate to see it run down because neither of us is able to check on it regularly.

Janos could not help feeling guilty. He had really depended on his uncle for all those years, and since things had been running smoothly he had never given his Hungarian property much thought. But he would take the burden off his uncle's shoulders. He owed it to him. If only he could leave Vienna for a couple of days to pay his uncle a visit... But Laszlo Petek was only waiting for a chance to get his hands on his brother's children. Janos' absence would be put to excellent use - without doubt. No, leaving Vienna was out of the question.

If you can be spared for a while, do me the favour and come to see me - there is so much we must talk about and I fear there is not much time left. I do not mean to frighten you, but my health will not improve. My illness is more likely to grow worse than better.

Mrs. Petek would have to fend for herself then. If Janos asked his friend von Hertenberg to keep an eye on her, maybe the Posony Peteks would leave her in peace while he was gone. Uncle Horvàth needed him, and his claim on Janos was more important than Mrs. Petek's.

When confronted with Janos' piece of news, von Hertenberg was most ready to take the task of protecting Mrs. Petek on himself, and Janos left Vienna for a couple of days, glad for an opportunity to avoid Lina's company. Jakob Grum had noticed that something was wrong and, Janos suspected, had taken measures to reconcile Janos to his sister. He had not asked whether anything had happened between them, but seemed more determined than ever to throw him and Lina in each other's way. His uncle's illness was, at least, an acceptable excuse for Janos to keep away from the Grums.

Janos stayed in Szerdahely, his uncle's place near Györ, for about a week. He was shocked at how pale and weak his uncle looked. Uncle Horvàth had always been a picture of youthful vigour, and the fact that he found it difficult to rouse himself from his easy chair now made Janos most anxious on his behalf. He seriously considered leaving the army for good and setting up house in Zimony, his own estate, not many miles distant from his uncle's. He would take up his duties as a landowner, and relieve his uncle from the worries of taking care of two large properties. Either that, or he would try to find a good steward to attend to his own place. Uncle Horvàth's place could still wait -- Aunt Erszebet was doing a good job there, he had to admit grudgingly. Ever since her husband had been too ill to do much, it had been she who had performed every task her husband's weakness had not allowed him to do. But she blamed Janos for her husband's ill-health, and did not withhold her opinion from him.

She cornered Janos in the drawing room before dinner, on the evening before his return to Vienna.

"So you will be off tomorrow?" she demanded, in that shrill, accusing tone of voice Janos had come to hate over the years.

"I am going to leave early tomorrow morning, yes," he replied.

"Back to enjoying yourself, are you?" she said sharply.

"I am not staying in Vienna to enjoy myself, Aunt," Janos said wearily.

"I was not born yesterday," Aunt Erszebet snapped. "One reads things in the papers."

"About me?" Janos asked, smiling. "May I see those papers? I need to know what I am up to."

"Stop being impertinent," his aunt said acidly. "What I mean is that you are actually capable to leave us to ourselves, with your uncle on his deathbed and me wearing myself out on your behalf."

"Did you expect me to act in any different way, Aunt?" Janos asked sweetly. "Knowing what a good-for-nothing I have always been?"

"I should have believed that there was some decency in you," she said darkly. "I see I was mistaken."

"But Aunt," Janos exclaimed, laughingly. "You had hope for me? You never said so! And there I tried to live up to your expectations in every way..."

"Will you be serious just once? What are you meaning to do about this? Do you really think I shall watch my husband work himself into an early grave just so you can live a life of idleness and dissipation in Vienna? You are mistaken, my dear boy."

Idleness and dissipation. That was a pretty picture his aunt had of him, Janos thought, and wondered what had given her this idea of his lifestyle. Being closely acquainted with her, Janos knew of course she would never offer an explanation for that, and he was also aware that it would be no use to argue with Aunt Erszebet. She had never liked him -- in her husband's heart, Janos had taken the place of the son she had never been able to have, and that was reason enough to loathe him. Knowing that she would detest anyone in Janos' place made it easier for Janos to accept her behaviour -- but in his childhood days, it had often hurt him.

After dinner, Janos stayed with his uncle while Aunt Erszebet retired to the drawing-room.

"I will try to find a steward for Zimony first thing I get back to Vienna," Janos promised his uncle.

"Have you ever thought of coming here yourself?" Uncle Horvàth asked.

"I have," Janos said. "Very often of late."

"I'd love to have you here," Uncle Horvàth said. "Erszebet is doing her best, but...you know her. She terrifies people." He laughed. "She terrifies me at times!"

"But you seem to get along much better than you used to," Janos remarked. His uncle's marriage had been a disaster right from the beginning -- and the scenes Janos had witnessed had made him prefer his father's cold indifference for his family to his uncle and aunt's violent rows that were accompanied by a great deal of shouting, floods of tears and smashing of crockery.

"Oh yes, old age seems to soften her," his uncle laughed. "And I must say I prefer her to terrify others and leave me alone. Besides she's worried. She does not know what is going to happen when I am gone. She's afraid she will have to give up her place, and be ordered about by some capricious young thing you bring into this house."

Janos gave a bitter laugh. "I am not likely to bring anyone into this house," he said.

His uncle gave him a sharp look. "But you thought about it?"

"Well, yes. I did." Janos said curtly, taking a sip of wine. "There is someone..." He broke off. There was no need to worry his uncle with what was no concern of his.

"What is she like?" his uncle asked with sincere interest.

"I thought she was perfect," Janos said with a slight smile as he pictured Lina in his mind.

"But she wasn't," Uncle Horvàth said. "And now do not say it surprised you. No woman is perfect. Neither are men, of course. I thought you had more sense than to expect perfection in a woman."

"It was not that," Janos protested. "The thing is, the lady has ... she has a preference for someone else."

"And you took it hard."

There was no denying it. Janos nodded.

"Is she married?" his uncle asked.

"No, she isn't," Janos said.

"Engaged?"

"No."

"And there I thought you were a fighter," his uncle said. "Why don't you do anything about it? The other fellow can't be any better than you are!"

"He isn't, but that's not the point, is it?" Janos said. "I do not want an unwilling bride."

"Make her willing then. Snatch her away from him! Good God, boy, there must be something of your father in you -- there was a fellow who could make himself agreeable to the females. I will not live forever, Janos, and I would like to see you married before I go."

Janos laughed. "If this is what will keep you alive, uncle, I shan't be in a hurry to find myself a wife. Besides, was it not you who always told me that Horvàths were not made for marriage?"

"Maybe. I've said a lot of nonsense in my day," Uncle Horvàth said calmly, and drained his glass.

~~~o~~~

Back in Vienna, Janos went to see his friend von Hertenberg to find out whether Laszlo Petek had given his sister-in-law any cause for anxiety, and found his friend in a state of radiant happiness. Apparently, von Hertenberg had finally found the nerve to propose to Miss von Laudeck and had been accepted. Another of Janos' friends was getting married, and though Janos was happy on his friend's behalf, he also felt some kind of depression. Once von Hertenberg would be married, he would have little time to spare for his old friends.

After having celebrated von Hertenberg's upcoming marriage in their favourite coffee house, Janos returned home rather late in the evening. He did not expect anyone to be still up waiting for him, but when he let himself into the house, he found Simon waiting for him in the hallway.

"What's the matter?" Janos asked as he saw his batman's anxious face. "Anything wrong?"

"I don't know, sir," Simon said. "But there seems to be. There is a gentleman waiting for you in the library."

"At this time of night?" Janos asked. Cold fear got hold of him. This had to be about his uncle -- but Uncle Horvàth had looked rather well when Janos had left him. What had happened?

"Is it ... is it someone I know?" Janos asked Simon, trying to hide his anxiety.

"He said you knew him well and you would not mind his waiting for your return, sir," Simon said. "But I have never seen him before."

"What does he look like?" Janos asked as he went up the stairs, trying to figure out which of his acquaintances was likely to turn up at his place in the dead of night.

"About your age, rather skinny," Simon said. "Fair hair. And I think he must have gone through some hard times, considering the way he is dressed." Despite himself, Janos had to smile at this last comment. It was very much like a tailor to notice the way a gentleman dressed.

Simon's description did not really ring a bell with Janos, though. It seemed as if the late-night visitor was an impostor, in which case Janos certainly felt up to dealing with him. But nothing prepared him for what he saw when he entered the library. In the dimly illuminated room, sitting in Janos' easy chair, reading one of Janos' books, was -- György Petek.

But this was impossible! Petek was dead. He had been dead for more than two years! Janos had spoken to people who had seen Petek die. People whose judgment Janos had always relied on. They had described Petek's death in vivid detail, and Janos had never believed there might be a reason to doubt their story. Petek was a dead man. Yet he was sitting in Janos' library as if nothing had ever happened, looking at his friend with an expression of considerable amusement in his face.

"I daresay you did not expect my visit," he said with a grin. "Brandy? I do believe this helps."

"But this can't be you - you're dead," Janos protested, realising how stupid he sounded.

"For someone who prides himself on his sound logic, this sounds rather irrational," Petek said dryly.

"That is, I talked to Nemeth. He said he saw you die." Janos said, taking the glass of brandy from Petek.

"In his defence I have to say that I looked pretty dead at the time," Petek said. "I remember being hit, and falling from my horse, and I even remember Nemeth shouting 'Never mind Petek, he's done for! Let's get the hell out of here!' I was quite certain I would die before long, and actually hoped I would. I cannot remember anything that happened after that until I woke up in a cottage, with the local healer attending to me."

"Who found you?" Janos asked. "Russian soldiers?"

"No, I was lucky. It was a civilian. An old man. He took me to his farm and he and his wife hid me and nursed me back to health. Without them I would indeed be dead. It was a close shave, Horvàth."

It took Janos some time to digest that.

"But why did you stay away for so long?" he wanted to know. "You were gone for two bloody years! You could have sent word at least! Do you know what we were going through? You left me in charge of your family, and for two years I tried hard to keep your relatives from taking your children away from their mother. For all I know I have failed. At the moment I am supposed to have an affair with your wife, and some particularly kind neighbours think this has been going on for years. So why the hell did you not let us know you were alive? Not one bloody letter!"

"And what would have happened to those kind old people if I had sent you a letter?" Petek asked. "Hiding an enemy soldier -- an officer -- in their house? Nursing him, feeding him with what little they had? Do you really think I'd have put them into danger of being executed for espionage? Do you really think that letter would have reached you, or anyone else, in time to save me from being taken prisoner and shipped to Siberia? I decided to keep myself hidden until the war was over, and to come back to Vienna then. I knew Anna and the children were in good hands -- that you wouldn't let anything happen to them. That was the conclusion I arrived at, once I was capable of a coherent thought, which was a couple of months after I'd been wounded."

"The Russians were our allies in our last campaign," Janos said. "Surely you knew that?"

Petek shook his head. "The place was a remote one -- which suited me well, after all I was hiding. Those people did not tell me the war was over -- for some strange reason, they had grown fond of me. I had told them I would leave and go back to my wife and children once the war was over -- so by keeping the news from me, they wanted to make me stay."

"And you stayed."

"I had nowhere else to go," Petek said quietly. "You would have done the same, Horvàth. My main object was to stay alive somehow -- and my only thought, in all those months, was about my family and how I could get back to them. It took me a couple of months to come back here, too. It wasn't easy. But I made it in the end -- that's all that matters. Here I am."

"You could have written from somewhere on your way home," Janos said. "A letter from you could have prepared us for your return."

"Would it have made any difference?" Petek asked. "Provided that you'd have believed the story, that is? I know my wife, Horvàth. She would have worried and fretted all the time, wondering if anything had happened to me on my way home. I did not know how long it would take me -- I walked most of the way, Horvàth, stopping at times to work as a farm-labourer to earn some money or a dinner, at least. So I decided to take you all by surprise, hoping I would be welcome even if I had not announced myself."

This sounded plausible, Janos thought, and reached out his hand. "Welcome home, Petek," he said with a smile. The whole situation still seemed unreal to him -- how often did one find one's dead friends sitting in one's library?

With a laugh, Petek took Janos' hand and shook it. "I owe you a great deal, Horvàth," he said. "And now -- what was that about you and my wife having an affair?"

Hesitantly, Janos told Petek the whole story -- the rumours that were set about in Vienna, and how his family in Posony had made use of the gossip to finally get hold of Petek's children. He informed Petek of his plans to get the family out of town once the children were feeling better -- and was immediately interrupted with a demand to know what was wrong with the children.

"Whooping-cough," Janos said earnestly. "But do not worry, Petek. Levy is looking after them. And Jolanta, who used to be my nurse. They'll get better."

"The more I hear of this, the more convinced I am that I came back home just in time," Petek said quietly. "Poor Anna! You know, Horvàth, I strongly feel like going to my place immediately."

"You'd scare your wife to death," Janos said. "Or how do you think she would react on finding her dead husband on her doorstep in the middle of the night?"

Petek laughed. "That is the reason why I came to you first," he said. "I knew you could withstand a shock like this."

"Oh well, I've seen a great deal of things," Janos said with a grin. "But you beat them all, Petek."

"I hoped you would break the happy news to my wife," Petek continued. "She needs to be prepared before she meets me. Say you'll do it!" He gave Janos an earnest look. "Please!"

"You need not even ask," Janos said. "I will do so with the greatest pleasure. Meanwhile, you will stay here."

"I hoped you would offer me shelter for the night," Petek said. "Because, honestly, I'm penniless. Can't even afford a bed at an inn."

"I thought as much," Janos said. "You can stay here for as long as you like -- though I am quite sure you won't have to stay long. Your wife will be happy to have you back."

"Are you sure?" Petek asked, looking anxious. "For two years she has believed I am dead -- she may well have found someone else meanwhile. I would not blame her if she had -- I did not leave her well provided for, I am afraid. It would be only normal for her to try and find someone who can support her and the children."

"There has never been anyone else in her life," Janos said with conviction. "Believe me, Petek. No one has taken your place."

Janos went to the door, called for Simon and ordered him to get a bed ready for his guest. While Simon was doing so, Janos and Petek planned their further course of action. Janos would ask his mother to take Mrs. Petek for a drive in the park the next morning and to invite her in afterwards. That way, Janos could prepare her for the meeting with her husband, and the meeting could take place in Janos' house, where their privacy would not be disturbed. After that, they would have to go and see a lawyer, to initiate all those legal procedures that would formally bring György Petek back to life. It would be a busy day, but Janos was looking forward to it. The miracle had happened. Petek had returned, and that was the end to Mrs. Petek's troubles. Her husband would protect her now, and if Petek saw no reason to question her conduct during his absence, certainly no one else had the right to do so.

I had better start believing in miracles again, Janos thought as he drifted off to sleep that night.

~~~o~~~

Mrs. Petek was quick to grasp Janos' meaning when she saw him the next day. While Janos was still telling her that, in times of war, and especially in the course of a chaotic retreat, mistakes could happen and people could get lost, she immediately demanded to know whether there had been any news of her husband.

"Tell me, Major Horvàth. Did he survive after all?" she asked him, her eyes gleaming hopefully.

"Yes," Janos said. "He did survive."

Mrs. Petek began to cry. "It hardly seems possible," she sobbed. "I have been hoping.... all that time I have been hoping it was all wrong! Yet I thought I was deluding myself! I should have known he would not let us down like that! Where is he, Major Horvàth? Can I see him?"

With a smile, Janos opened the door to the adjoining room where Petek was already waiting. He showed his friend in and left the couple to celebrate their reunion.

~~~o~~~

The following morning, Janos had another encounter with an irate Laszlo Petek. He was shown into Janos' library, fuming.

"What can I do for you, sir?" Janos asked calmly, suppressing a grin.

"I now have evidence for Mrs. Petek's offensive conduct," Laszlo Petek said furiously. "I have seen it with my own eyes!"

"Have you?" Janos asked.

"She was kissing a man!" Laszlo Petek said. "In her bedroom! And as far as I know, he did not leave her house all night!"

"You don't say so," Janos said, inwardly laughing but managing to look serious. "What would interest me, sir, is how you came by that knowledge."

"I was watching her," Laszlo Petek said.

"Indeed? I will have to ask Mrs. Petek to shut her curtains before kissing men in her bedroom, then," Janos said. "We cannot let her corrupt her neighbours' morals, now can we?"

"If it seems a laughing matter to you, sir, I can assure you that this is not so for me," Laszlo Petek said. "For the last time, sir, I ask you to hand over your guardianship for Mrs. Petek's children to me. Such a woman cannot be depended on to bring up her children properly!"

"I am afraid I cannot do that," Janos said apologetically. "I relinquished my guardianship for Mrs. Petek's children yesterday."

"You did WHAT?" Laszlo Petek bellowed.

"I handed over my guardianship of Mrs. Petek's children to a gentleman who is more nearly related to them than I am -- and who, I am assured, loves them like a father," Janos said.

"And who would that be?" Laszlo Petek demanded.

"Mrs. Petek's husband," Janos said, truthfully.

"Her ... her husband?" Laszlo Petek asked, suddenly taken aback.

"The gentleman whom she may have kissed yesterday evening," Janos said. "It is what wives generally do with their husbands, or so I have been told. Sometimes it may even occur that a husband visits his wife in her bedchamber -- although, I am sorry to say, I am not an expert in these matters, not being married myself."

The look on Laszlo Petek's face was priceless. He left the room furiously, without taking leave of Janos who, finally, gave in to a fit of laughter. Too bad he would not be able to be there when his friend Petek visited his brother to tell him that he was back.

Imagining that scene, Janos enjoyed the best laugh he had had for a while, relishing the sense of a huge load being taken off his shoulders.

Part XX

The news of Major Petek's return from the dead spread like wildfire all over Vienna. Within a day, everyone knew all the particulars of the story, and much was added to the original plot. Many people watched the Majors Petek and Horvàth closely to see whether there were any signs of discord between them, any signs that would give a hint as to the nature of Major Horvàth's dealings with Petek's wife. But whenever the two friends were seen together, they treated each other with perfect amity. So the opinions changed in Mrs. Petek's favour: the rumours concerning her virtue had been false. Especially when it became known that Major Petek had threatened to take action against anybody who dared to speak ill of his wife, the gossip stopped. If the husband concerned showed no suspicion, there had probably not been anything to be suspicious about.

Lina heard the news from Eva Polgàr. She came to Annagasse one morning, and told Lina that Major Petek had come back. Lina's first thought was about Major Horvàth. How did he feel about not being able to marry Mrs. Petek after all? She asked Eva whether she had heard from him - Lina had not seen him ever since he had gone to Hungary to see his uncle.

"Was he very disappointed, do you think?" she asked her friend cautiously.

"On the contrary," Eva said. "I thought he looked very happy about it. Which is most understandable, for they have always been the best of friends. Why should he have been disappointed, Lina?"

"Was it not said that Major Horvàth meant to marry Mrs. Petek?" Lina asked.

Eva laughed. "That was the most ridiculous piece of gossip I've heard this winter, and I have heard a few," she said. "Mrs. Schiller came up with that one, believing in earnest that the Major had told her so. My father was in a rare temper, I can tell you. But none of it was true. My father talked to the Major, and told us all about the dispute. At no point the Major actually said that he was going to marry her, and I am quite certain that he would have done so, had he really been engaged to her. He would not have had a reason to keep this quiet, would he? Why should he be ashamed of wishing to get married? A gentleman in his position, at his age -- nothing could be more natural!"

She cast an inquisitive look at Lina, who was blushing violently at the thought of having made an utter fool of herself.

"Lina, you did not believe that story, did you?" Eva said, regarding her friend with disbelief. "You, of all people!"

"I did," Lina whispered, now thoroughly ashamed of herself.

"But why?" Eva asked. "Good God, Lina, you must have noticed how fond he is of you! How could you think he'd have eyes for anyone but you?"

"I was stupid," Lina said. "There is no other explanation for it. But I have to say in my defence that I had no reason to doubt Miss Schiller's word."

"Miss Schiller! That scheming, malicious witch! Lina, she has been after Major Horvàth for ages! She only wanted to drive a spoke in your wheel! She can't have failed to see that he has a tendre for you! What did you do to him, Lina? Own up!"

Eva gave Lina a stern look.

"Nothing," Lina said quickly, wishing to drop the subject.

"Lina," Eva said threateningly.

"Well, I did try to punish him a bit," Lina said sheepishly. "I flirted with someone else..."

"With Captain Kodaly?" Eva asked.

"Well, yes." Lina said hesitantly. "I made a complete fool of myself, Eva. Major Horvàth must never know what I did! I feel so bad about it - especially now that I know he is not engaged to Mrs. Petek."

"It cannot have been that bad," Eva said encouragingly. "You are not such a fool, Lina."

Lina said nothing, but shrunk visibly. Luckily, Captain Kodaly chose that precise moment to enter the drawing-room, so Lina did not have to answer Eva's remark. Never before had Lina been so glad to see him.

He seemed pleased when Lina greeted him with more enthusiasm than usual. Intent on making use of Lina's sudden cordiality, he stayed for longer than he had planned, using his best endeavour to make himself agreeable. Only when Jakob arrived with Cousin Anton in tow, Captain Kodaly excused himself and left.

"That fellow has come here quite often lately," Jakob said to Lina. "Does he have any reason to do so?" He had quite turned into the wary brother ready to protect his sister's virtue, Lina thought. If only he had done so at the masquerade.

"I do not think he has," Lina said defensively. "But I can hardly send him away, can I? It would not be proper."

After a glance at the clock on the mantelpiece, Eva too rose and wanted to take leave, but Jakob asked her to stay. He - and Cousin Anton - had an announcement to make. They were all to come and stay at Cousin Anton's estate in the country.

''In Lent, Vienna will become unbearably dull," Jakob said. "The country will be a welcome change. You are most welcome to join us, Miss Polgar. My sister has grown very fond of your company, and I would hate to deprive her of it."

Eva accepted the invitation, provided her mother would allow her to go.

"Who is going to come, Mr. Straub?" Lina asked Cousin Anton without much interest. She could think of better ways to pass her time than being stranded in the country with Anton Straub, the worst bore in her acquaintance.

"Some friends of mine," Anton Straub replied, blushing. "And some friends of yours - I would not want you to be bored. I hope Miss Polgàr will come - and your brother has asked me to invite Major Horvàth for his sake. But I have not spoken to him yet."

"Haven't you," Lina said, casting a furious look at her brother who, in turn, gave her an impish grin.

"I am pretty certain he will come," he said.

"Oh, you must know best," she replied sweetly. "He is your friend after all."

But deep inside, Lina hoped the Major would decline the invitation. How could she ever face him again?

~~~o~~~

Janos was indeed tempted to turn down the invitation. He was not well acquainted with the host, and what he knew of him did not make him inclined to let their acquaintance go any further. Besides, although the thought of spending a couple of days with Lina appealed to him, he felt it would be better for his peace of mind if he stayed away from her. Apart from that, there were many things to be done. The Peteks still needed his assistance.

The army expected them to repay the pension that had supported Mrs. Petek during her husband's absence. She had not been entitled to it, the army argued, since her husband had been alive. The fact that, having been alive, Major Petek should actually have got his pay which had been a higher sum than the pension his wife had received was set aside. Major Petek was given to understand that, by staying behind in Russia without being taken prisoner, he had deserted and should be grateful that no such charge should be brought against him - apparently, the Tsar himself had pleaded on his behalf.

"How am I ever to pay such a sum?" Petek lamented as he met Janos in the coffee house. "Especially now that I have promised my wife to resign? How am I to earn the money? And there I thought my problems would be solved by coming home, fool that I was! The troubles have only just started!"

"Never mind the money, Petek," Janos said reassuringly. "I can give you what you need."

"No," Petek said. "You've done enough, Horvàth. I'm too deep in your debt already. I'm not going to borrow money I will never be able to repay."

"Take it as a present then," Janos said. "A present to your boy from his godfather."

"A bit of a large present for someone his age," Petek said bitterly. "Thank you Horvàth. This is kind of you, but no."

"You may be able to leave the army though," Janos said after giving the matter some thought. "I am looking for a steward for Zimony. Are you interested?"

Petek stared at him doubtfully. "Why are you doing this, Horvàth?" he asked.

"I'm being selfish," Janos said with a grin. "I need a good man to relieve my uncle from having to look after my place -- and I know you'd be the best man for the job."

"That is the only reason?" Petek asked.

"No," Janos said. "It is not the only reason. You are a friend of mine, and you are in need of an occupation so, being in the position to offer you one, why should I not do so? I can trust you, Petek, I know you will be acting in my interest. I know you are conscientious and hard-working -- I used to work with you after all. Friend or no friend -- I would not offer you this opportunity if I did not know you to be an excellent man.

Zimony is not Vienna, I grant you, but it is a pleasant place. You will have a house of your own -- there is one that has always been inhabited by our stewards and their families, but it is empty now. You are welcome to see it -- and your wife is welcome to furnish it in whatever style she likes. You could sell your house in Vienna to settle your debts, and start anew in Zimony. Think about it, Petek."

"I have to admit your proposition sounds tempting," Petek said. "But I cannot make that decision on my own. I will have to talk it over with Anna, you know."

"Do so," Janos said. "By all means. Tell me when you have made your choice -- either way."

"How can I ever thank you for everything you have done for me?" Petek asked quietly.

"I know of one way," Janos said, grinning. "But I am not going to tell you -- it might influence your decision."

Petek laughed. "By saying this, you have already done so, Horvàth. But I suppose that was your intention."

The door of the coffee house opened and admitted Jakob Grum who, upon seeing his friend, hurried towards Janos. Janos introduced him to Petek, and invited him to join them. For a while, they were talking about commonplace subjects, but when Petek took his leave (to get home in time for his watch in the nursery, he said), Grum approached the topic of the house-party Janos had been invited to.

"Cousin Anton told me you had not answered his invitation yet," he said, glaring at Janos accusingly.

"That's right, I haven't." Janos said calmly. "I am still pondering the exact wording of my refusal."

"You do not mean to come?" Grum stared at him in astonishment. "Why not?"

"I have a lot of work to do in Vienna," Janos said.

"That's a lame excuse, Horvàth, and I am not going to let you get away with it." Grum said firmly. "The reason is that you do not want to come, and what I want to know is -- why not?"

Janos did not answer that question, but instead turned to the waiter to order another bottle of red.

"It is about Lina, isn't it?" Jakob insisted. "Something has happened between you and my sister."

"Nothing has happened between me and your sister," Janos said truthfully.

"So that's what nettles you?" Grum asked. "The fact that nothing happened?"

Janos waited until the waiter had placed a bottle of wine and two fresh glasses on the table before he said, "You do not sound like the sort of brother who worries about his sister's reputation, Grum. Anyone else would have been relieved to hear that nothing was going on between the two of us."

Grum took a sip of wine. "Horvàth, I told you before that I do not want my sister to be hurt," he said. "And at the moment, if you ask me, she does act like someone hurt, and I can't help wondering who might be responsible for it."

"Not me," Janos said curtly.

"Then who is?" Grum insisted.

"I do not know," Janos lied. He was not going to expose Lina to her brother -- this would be mean. Behaviour unworthy of a gentleman. However much Lina's conduct had hurt him, he hoped he would always remember that he was a gentleman.

"Then why are you avoiding her?" Grum asked.

"I am not avoiding her -- or anyone else, for that matter," Janos protested. "My uncle asked me to come to see him, and I cannot in conscience ignore his summons, can I?"

"And how long have you been back in Vienna?" Grum asked.

"A couple of days," Janos said.

"You have been avoiding us," Grum said.

"I haven't," Janos said with a sigh. "What can I do to convince you?"

"Come to the country with us," Grum said. "You cannot leave one of your friends to the mercy of a bunch of females and Anton Straub."

Janos laughed. "This does mean a great deal to you, I gather."

"It does," Grum admitted. "So, will you come?"

Janos sighed. "Very well," he said. "I'll come."

~~~o~~~

Cousin Anton's estate turned out to be a winery on the banks of the Danube, near Dürnstein. The journey there took an entire day, and Lina was glad that Major Horvàth had decided to travel on horseback. That way, she did not have to spend a whole day in a carriage with him, trying to strike up a conversation that did not lead to some discomfort sooner or later. Jakob accompanied the Major on horseback, and so Lina, Julija and Eva travelled in the carriage with Anton Straub. Lina soon realised that Cousin Anton felt slightly intimidated by her, but was perfectly comfortable talking to Eva Polgàr. Glad that she did not have to contribute to the conversation, Lina settled down and spent most of the journey looking out of the window, commenting on the passing scenery from time to time.

They arrived in Cousin Anton's house in the late afternoon, and Lina had to grant that it was a beautiful place. The house was not very large, but it looked cosy. Lina and Eva's rooms were next to each other, with a door connecting them. They left the door open while unpacking their trunks, chattering gaily.

At dinner, Major Horvàth gratified his host by complimenting him on the wine -- it had been grown in Anton Straub's own vineyard, and Cousin Anton took great pride in it. Major Horvàth's praise kept him busy for a while -- he described in great detail how this particular wine was produced, and although the Major appeared to listen to him intently, Lina could tell by the faraway look that sometimes became visible in his eyes that he was only being polite.

Of all the guests, it was Major Horvàth who looked surprisingly fresh and rested after so long a journey, and Julija commented on it after dinner, asking the Major how he managed to ride all day and still look as fresh as if he had just started his day's work.

The Major laughed. "I am used to it, Mrs. Grum," he said. "You forget I am a cavalry officer, and have spent innumerable days on horseback."

"So you did not find it tiring?" Lina asked shyly. There was a topic she could talk about without any awkwardness arising from it.

"Not at all, Miss Grum," he said. Although his tone was light and civil, betraying no concern at all, his eyes told a different story. Whenever he looked at her, there was a hint of pain in his eyes. Considering how she had treated him at the masquerade and ever since then, this did not surprise Lina. If only she knew how to make up for this, she thought. Spontaneously taking him into her arms to comfort him would not work. She would have to find another way.

"I confess the long journey did tire me," she said.

"Not surprising," Major Horvàth said with a bland smile. "I do believe I was better off on horseback. The roads were a disgrace."

So we are back to talking about the weather and the state of the roads, Lina thought bitterly. Look what you have done, Lina! Are you proud of yourself at least?

"How is Diana?" she asked to take the conversation to a more personal level. "I have not seen her for a while."

"You will be able to see her every day as long as we are here," Major Horvàth said. "I took her along with me."

"Indeed? Splendid," Lina exclaimed.

"I must make my apologies to Mrs. Grum," Major Horvàth continued. "I know you are not fond of dogs, ma'am, but the thing is that apparently Diana refuses to eat when I am not with her. When I returned from Hungary I found her in a pitiable state, for she had not eaten anything for a week."

"The poor thing," Lina exclaimed, thinking that she could well understand Diana's state of mind. She, too, had quite lost her appetite when she had heard that Major Horvàth had been gone.

"I took her with me this time," he said, "because I cannot let her starve, can I?"

This was just like Major Horvàth, Lina thought. He had taken the responsibility for her dog on himself, and he was going to stick to it, no matter what happened. The little dachshund with the lame hind leg could not have found a better place for herself if she had tried -- and her devotion to her master showed that, though a dog, she did know that.

"You certainly cannot," Julija agreed with the Major.

"Has she grown?" Lina asked.

"Very much," the Major said smilingly. "She no longer is a tiny baby, Miss Grum. A mischievous toddler, rather."

"Does she have the destructive streak often found in puppies?" Lina asked.

Major Horvàth laughed. "She does damage things at times, yes," he said. "But it is in the nature of young dogs to do this, and she does not mean any harm."

He was thawing, Lina thought and was happy about it. The way their first evening in Cousin Anton's house had passed made her look into the future with less anxiety than before. Perhaps they could find their way back to the friendship that had been between them.

~~~o~~~

The next morning, Anton Straub took those of his guests who cared for it on a tour around his vineyards. The tour was on horseback, and so Mrs. Grum declined the offer and stayed behind. Her husband took the chance to stay behind also -- stating that he could not leave his wife to herself when everyone knew Anton Straub's conversation bored him to death, Janos thought bitterly. This left only him, Anton Straub, Miss Polgàr and ... Lina. Soon, Straub and Miss Polgàr were riding ahead of them -- Miss Polgàr raptly listening to every bit of wisdom Straub imparted on her. Janos stayed behind and, for some mysterious reason, so did Lina. Janos wondered what she wanted -- he had had the impression she had been avoiding him, but now that he gave her an opportunity to join her friend and Anton Straub, she did not make use of it. Fine, so she preferred being with him to being with Straub -- but that was not much of a compliment, Janos thought. It only meant he was not quite as boring.

Being so lost in his thoughts, he only realised that Lina had spoken to him when she repeated her question.

"How is your friend Major Petek?" she asked. "I heard the story about his return -- it was quite a surprise, wasn't it?"

If she wanted him to share gossip with her, Janos thought, he'd be obliged to disappoint her.

"Imagine a dead man waiting for you in your library, and how you would react on it," he said dryly.

"I'd probably faint," Lina said. "Though I daresay you did not."

"No, but I did feel a bit weak for a moment," Janos admitted.

"Mrs. Petek must be very happy."

"I have never seen anyone happier," Janos said. "She loves her husband very much."

Lina sighed. "Yet she consented to marrying you."

Janos stopped Turul, staring at Lina. Surely he had misheard something? "Mrs. Petek never accepted my hand in marriage because I never asked her," he said pointedly. "What makes you believe we wanted to get married?"

"Miss Schiller told me so. She said her mother had heard it from you."

That Schiller woman, Janos thought. He should have known she was up to no good. "When did Miss Schiller tell you that piece of fabrication?" he asked.

"At the masquerade," Lina said quietly.

Suddenly, a great deal of things became clear to Janos. So that was why she had been so reticent when they had danced that last dance? Was that why she had encouraged Kodaly's advances? Had she been jealous? And if she had been jealous, did than mean she loved him? Or was he just deluding himself?

"Not long before the masquerade we had a conversation regarding Mrs. Petek," Janos said. "Do you really think I would not have told you if I had been engaged to her?"

"I was sure you would have told me," Lina said. "Until Miss Schiller said something else."

"You believed her rather than me?"

"Yes," Lina said, looking embarrassed.

"Why?"

There were tears in her eyes. "Stop asking me," she said. "I cannot ... I cannot really answer that question, I.... I cannot go on riding when I cannot see where I am going," she added. "Will you assist me in getting down from my horse?"

Janos dismounted, and helped Lina to do likewise. Janos tied the horses to a timber fence, and invited Lina to take a few steps ahead to calm her nerves. He walked next to her, wishing he could take her into his arms. But not yet. There was one thing he had to sort out before that.

She sat down on the top board of the fence, and after a couple of minutes she had somewhat quieted down. Janos decided that this was the moment for him to ask the question that meant so much to him.

"Was that why you kissed Kodaly?" he asked. "Because you thought I was engaged to Mrs. Petek? Or..." He did not go on. Lina stared at him with her eyes wide in horror, her face as white as a sheet.

"How ... how do you know?" she stammered.

"I was there," Janos said. "I saw you."

"You were there?" she asked, suddenly very angry. "This is the dirtiest trick anyone has ever played on me!"

"I beg your pardon?" Janos asked, not quite grasping why she was so furious all of a sudden. She had no reason to be angry with him.

"You were there, watched Captain Kodaly kiss me and did nothing!" she cried. "When would you have stepped in? When he'd started tearing my clothes off?"

With an angry laugh, Janos said, "Do you mean to tell me that Kodaly kissed you against your will? It did not look like that to me, Miss Grum, so I hope you will forgive me for not interfering. I try not to make a fool of myself on a regular basis."

"I did not want him to kiss me," Lina insisted. "It just ... it just happened, and I was so surprised that I offered no resistance at first ... but I did not want him to do this!" She gave Janos a desperate look. "You could have stopped him -- why didn't you? You saw what happened and did nothing to rescue me! I thought you were my friend! Why did you let me down? How could you do this and still call yourself my friend?"

Her accusations had made Janos angry as well. What kind of person did she think he was?

"Perhaps I may remind you," he said coldly, "that you just admitted you had thought I was a liar, a cheat and, as it seems, a coward as well. What kind of friendship is that?"

She stared at him in horror, and started to cry. As suddenly as Janos' anger had surged up, it subsided again. He reached out and touched Lina's shoulders, trying to pull her towards him.

"I am sorry," he said quietly. Lina pushed him away.

"Do -- not -- touch -- me," she said in a furious whisper, emphasizing every single word. Each of them hit him like a punch in his stomach. He let go of Lina and turned away.

"Very well, Miss Grum," he said, betraying his distress even though he tried hard not to. "I will not bother you again. -- Perhaps we had better join the others? I do not want anyone to get any ideas."

Lina nodded, and went back towards the horses. She climbed on the fence and mounted her horse without any difficulty. She did not wait for Janos to mount Turul, but rode away without looking back. With a heavy heart, Janos followed suit. He had to leave this place as soon as possible. It had been wrong to come here.

~~~o~~~

Lina lay awake half of the night, thinking of what she could do to mend matters. She had been furious at first, but later she had realised that Major Horvàth had been right. She had thought the worst of him with no evidence at all -- and was angry with him for thinking ill of her because he had seen her kiss someone else. To an observer, she thought, it must indeed have looked as if she had wanted that kiss in the conservatory. She could not blame Major Horvàth to have thought so, and she could not blame him for having reacted the way he had.

Apart from that, she felt he had treated her in a most honourable way. He had witnessed her misbehaviour, but had kept the story to himself. What would have been easier for him than dropping a hint in Jakob's ear and getting her into trouble? He had not done that. There had been nothing wrong with his conduct, whereas she...

Lina decided to talk to Major Horvàth in the morning, and to apologise. The way he had looked at her when she had told him not to touch her -- like a boy who had been beaten for something that had not been his fault. The recollection made her cry again.

Having been up for so long, Lina overslept. She arrived in the breakfast parlour late -- everyone but Eva had already finished their breakfast and gone about their business.

"You look worn-out," Eva said to Lina. "Did you not sleep well?"

"No," Lina said. "I had a miserable night. Where is everybody?"

"Mr. Straub took your brother on a tour round the stables," Eva said. "They want to drive us to Dürnstein later on -- do you want to come along?"

"Certainly," Lina said quietly. "But first I must talk to Major Horvàth -- I need to apologise for something I said to him yesterday."

"I thought there was something wrong with the two of you," Eva said. "But you will have to postpone your apologies, Lina. Major Horvàth has left."

"He has what?" Lina did not trust her ears.

"He said he had had a letter that demanded his immediate presence in Vienna, but I have to say I did not quite believe that. Anyway, he left about half an hour ago."

"Without saying goodbye to me," Lina said, miserably.

"He waited for as long as he could," Eva said. "But he asked me to give you his ... What was it? Ah yes, his best wishes."

Lina burst into tears. His best wishes. That was it. She knew she would never see him again.

© 2004, 2005 Copyright held by the author.

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