Виктория Холт - The Judas kiss

"Why should they?" demanded Daisy. "Oh, how right you were to come here as Miss Ayres."

"If you were found out I should say I knew nothing about it," said Hans quickly. "I'd say you were someone my wife knew and she'd heard you wanted to stay for a little, and as we could do with a little extra, you became a paying guest."

"That's right," said Daisy. "That fits the book."

"But, Daisy, you couldn't very well say you didn't know who I was."

"Let's cross that stile if ever we get to it. When I'm asked awkward questions I always say I don't speak the language."

"It's the great opportunity," I cried. "It's manna from heaven. I was just beginning to think how hopeless everything was and that I should never get anywhere ... and now this."

"So you're going to do it," said Daisy.

"Yes. Please Hans, will you speak for me?"

Hans was a cautious man, and I could see that he did not wish to be involved in anything that could bring him trouble.

"Why should you know who I am?" I persisted. "You had hardly ever seen me in England. I am here as Anne Ayres. Even Daisy hadn't seen me for five years. If I'm found out I'll say I knew Daisy was here and I came as Anne Ayres. But I really don't see why my true identity should be discovered."

"Of course it won't be." Daisy supported me. I could see she was as excited as I was.

Finally we agreed that I should try for the post. Hans went off to speak to the comptroller of the Grand Duke's household, and within a few days I was making my way to what was known as the Grand Schloss to be interviewed by the comptroller and the mistress of the household for the important task of instructing the august young lady in English.

A carriage had been sent to convey me to the schloss and when it arrived at the cottage Daisy and I regarded it with something like awe. Engraved on the side were the royal arms of Bruxenstein—crossed swords under a crown and the words which translated were "Advance to Victory."

I had debated with Daisy for a long time how I should dress, and we had decided that I should wear my plainest clothes and that my hair—which was rather unmanageable, yet at the same time was my only real claim to beauty because it was fine and very abundant—should be taken right off my face and gathered into a knot at the nape of my neck, which enabled my dark-blue straw hat to sit on top of my head in a demure fashion.

I wore a dark blue skirt and coat with a white blouse, and I thought I looked capable and as though I had never even heard there was such a thing in the world as frivolity.

Daisy clapped her hands when she saw me and I felt I had left Philippa Ewell behind me and taken on a new personality: Miss Anne Ayres.

A liveried footman helped me into the carriage and jumped up at the back of it, while the driver of the two fine bays whipped them up and we were off. I knew that Daisy would be watching us from the top window of the cottage, as excited as I was, for Daisy had often said, "I can't bear nothing to happen. I'd almost as soon have anything ... rather than nothing."

As we gambolled through the town a few people stopped to stare at the royal carriage, which they immediately recognized, and I fancied one or two of them, who were able to catch a glimpse of its occupant, were wondering who this plainly dressed and rather prim young woman could be.

We went past the guards at tie gate of the schloss, who looked very splendid in their light blue uniforms and splendid helmets with the pale red feathers in them, and their swords clanked at their sides as they saluted the royal coach.

We came into a courtyard, where we alighted, and I was conducted into a hall a good deal larger than the one in the hunting lodge, but built on the same lines with the vaulted roof and the thick stone walls into which stone benches had been cut.

A liveried servant appeared and told me to follow him. I did so into a small room which led from the hall.

"You will please to wait for a moment," he said.

I nodded and sat down.

Some five minutes elapsed before I heard footsteps in the hall and the door was opened. A man and woman came in.

I rose and inclined my head. They inclined theirs.

"You are Fraulein Ayres?" the man asked. "I am Herr Frutschen and this is Frau Strelitz."

I wished them good day, which greeting they returned in a most courteous manner.

I knew that Herr Frutschen was the comptroller of the household and the friend of Hans and I gathered that Frau Strelitz was the mistress of the household, and that she was the one I should have to impress if I were to get the post.

"You are from England?" she asked.

I agreed that I was.

"And you are seeking a post here?"

"I was not looking for a post, but I heard of this through Herr Schmidt and I thought I should like to do it."

"You are not a governess."

"No, I have never worked in such a post."

"You are very young."

My heart sank. Could it be that my demure hair style had not done for me what I had hoped it would?

"I am nearly eighteen years old."

"And you came to visit this country?"

"My grandmother left me money and I thought it would be a good idea to realize a long-standing ambition to see the world."

"So you intended to go on and your stay here was temporary?"

"I had no definite plans. I thought this would be interesting."

The comptroller looked at Frau Strelitz. She nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Your task would be to teach a young lady to speak English fluently. She has learned the language but has difficulty with the accent."

"I understand exactly."

The woman hesitated. "It would only be for a year ... no more. Until the Countess marries."

"I understand that."

"That will be in about a year's time. She is fifteen years old at the moment. The ceremony will very likely take place when she is sixteen."

I nodded.

"You have been well educated, I believe."

"I was educated by a governess who was half German, which I think accounts for my own command of the language."

"It is good, good," put in the comptroller, who clearly wanted me to be given the post because of his friendship with Hans.

"Yes," agreed Frau Strelitz, "it is good."

"Fraulein Ayres is a very well-educated lady," said the comptroller. "That is important for the right accent."

"This is a very important post," went on the woman. "You must understand, Fraulein Ayres, that your pupil will one day be the first lady in the land. She is to marry the Grand Duke's heir. That is why we have to be so careful."

"Of course," I said. "I understand perfectly."

"Your references from a previous employer—"

"I have no previous employer."

"Is there anyone who could vouch for you?"

I hesitated. I thought of Charles Daventry and the vicar. But they had never heard of Anne Ayres. There was Cousin Arthur. I wondered if I could explain to them.

I said, "At home, yes. I have friends ... and the vicar, if you wished... ."

"We shall leave you for a moment," said Frau Strelitz. "Please excuse us."

"Certainly."

They went out, shutting the door behind them. I was in a fever of impatience. Something told me that I must get this post, that if I did not there could be nothing to do but admit defeat and go home.

Good luck was with me. In ten minutes they came back. The comptroller was beaming.

The woman said, "We have decided to give you a trial, Fraulein Ayres. I hope you do not think we are being impolite. It is such an important post because of the young lady involved. She herself must be happy in our choice. We will give you a week's trial ... and then three weeks after that. If at the end of that time we find you suitable, then ..."

"Of course," I cried. "I understand."

"We have decided not to write to England for references," said the comptroller. "My friend, Herr Schmidt, tells us that you are a lady from a good family. That is what we want—in view of the rank of our young lady. Nor do we want someone who is looking for a more permanent post. So if you would care to start at the beginning of next week, that would be good. Now, shall we discuss remuneration?"

I knew there would be no difficulty about that. All I wanted was to get into the royal schloss.

I was driven back in the royal carriage. I rushed into the kitchen where Daisy was bending over the stove.

"I've got it!" I shouted. "Behold the English governess of the most important lady in the land!"

We danced round the kitchen and young Hans toddled out and seeing our gaiety joined in. We were breathless with laughter.

"This is the beginning," I said.

On the following Monday the carriage came to collect me and my travelling bag. I was leaving some of my things at Daisy's and was in a fever of excitement when I presented myself at the Schloss and was taken to the same small room in which I had been interviewed. It was not long before I was joined by Frau Strelitz.

"Ah, Fraulein Ayres," she said, "the Countess is very eager to meet you. Her apartments are on the third floor. There is a schoolroom there and you will have a room in her apartments. She has a governess. You will work out with her the time of her studies, but the Grand Duke has stressed that her English must be improved. That is the most important of her studies at this time. The Baron, her future husband, who will be our ruler in due course when the Grand Duke dies—but that, God willing, will not be for some time yet—I was saying that the Baron speaks good English and she must do the same. When he visits her he will expect improvements."

"You may rest assured that I will do my best to see that that is brought about."

"I am sure you will. You may have some difficulty with Countess Freya. She is a high-spirited girl and naturally her awareness of her position has made her somewhat—well, expecting to have her own way. It is a great responsibility which is yours, Fraulein Ayres, and you do not seem a great deal older than the Countess."

She was looking at me dubiously. Perhaps my hair was not quite so severely controlled. I could feel it beginning to work out of its confinement.

"I have travelled, Frau Strelitz, and I am sure that a lady of the world such as yourself will understand that the acquisition of knowledge is not necessarily a matter of age."

"You are right in that, Fraulein. Well, I wish you good fortune. I must tell you that if the Countess does not take to you she would make it very difficult for you to continue here."

"I suppose that situation arises with any governess."

"And it is not as though you are dependent on this post for your livelihood."

"I shall pursue it with all the more zeal," I said. "With me it will be a labour of love rather than necessity."

I think I impressed her a little, for her manner warmed towards me.

"Very well," she said. "If you will follow me I will show you your room and introduce you to your pupil."

The Grand Schloss was worthy of its name. It was built on a hill overlooking the town, of which it commanded a good view from all its windows. There were liveried servants everywhere, it seemed to me, and I was taken through galleries past rooms at which the guards were stationed and finally to the apartments of the Countess.

"The Countess has occupied these since she came from Kollenitz. That was, of course, after the death of Baron Rudolph when she became affianced to Baron Sigmund."

I nodded. "It was then, of course, that she became so important," went on Frau Strelitz, "for both the Margrave of Kollenitz and the Grand Duke are eager to unite the margravate and the Duchy by this marriage."

Frau Strelitz paused and knocked at a door. A voice called, "Enter!" and we went in. A middle-aged woman rose and came towards us.

"Fraulein Kratz," said Frau Strelitz, "this is Fraulein Ayres."

Fraulein Kratz had a pale lined face and a rather harassed look. I felt sorry for her at once and could see that she was surprised by my youth.

A young girl had risen from the table and she came towards me somewhat imperiously.

"Your Highness," said Frau Strelitz, "may I present Fraulein Ayres, your English governess?"