forgot. Kassandra closed her eyes and shook her head.
How awful, I did. I'll have to call her. But that's a very handsome dog. Does he have a name yet?
Bruno. And Ariana got a big white cat.
Did you? Ariana had steadfastly kept the news to herself. When would they ever share things? When the girl was grown, perhaps they would be friends. But now it was too late, and yet too soon.
Downstairs the clock chimed again, and Kassandra looked at them, feeling anguish clutch her. And Gerhard looked at her, crestfallen, tiny, chubby. Do you have to go?
Kassandra nodded' I'm sorry. Papa is having a dinner.
Aren't you having one, too? Gerhard looked at her curiously and she smiled.
Yes, me, too. But it's for people from his bank, and some other banks.
It sounds very boring.
Gerhard! Hedwig was quick to reprimand him, but Kassandra laughed.
She lowered her voice conspiratorially as she spoke to this delicious child. It will be ' but don't tell anyone ' that's our secret.
You look very pretty anyway. He looked her over with approval, and she kissed the chubby little hand.
Thank you. She pulled him into her arms then and kissed him softly on the top of his blond head. Good night, little one. Are you taking your new dog to bed?
He shook his head firmly. Hedwig says I can't do that Kassandra stood and smiled pleasantly at the heavyset older woman.
I think he can.
Very well, madam.
Gerhard beamed up at his mother and they exchanged another conspiratorial smile, and then her gaze turned to Ariana. Will you take your new cat to bed with you, too?
I think so. She glanced first at Hedwig and then her mother, as Kassandra felt something deep inside her die again.
You'll have to show him to me tomorrow.
Yes, ma'am. The words cut to the quick, but her pain didn't show as Kassandra gently kissed her daughter, waved at both children, and softly closed the door.
As quickly as the narrow black dress would allow, Kassandra made her way downstairs, arriving at the foot of the stairs in time to see Walmar greeting their first guests.
Ah, there you are, darling. He turned to smile at her, appreciative, as always, of how she looked. He made the introductions as heels clicked and hands were kissed. It was a couple Kassandra had met often at functions for the bank, but who had not yet visited their home. She greeted them warmly and took Walmar's arm as they entered the main salon.
It was an evening of civilized exchanges, lavish food, and the very best French wines. The guests spoke mostly of banking, travel. Children and talk of politics were strangely absent from the conversation, although it was 1934, although President von Hindenburg's death that year had removed the final threat to Hitler's power. It was a subject not really worth discussing. Since Hitler had become Chancellor the year before, the bankers of the nation had maintained their position. They were important to the Reich, they had their work to do, and Hitler had his. However little some of them might have thought of him, he was not going to stir up problems in their lair. Live and let live. And there were those, of course, who were pleased with Hitler's Reich.
Walmar was not among them, but it was a view he shared with few. He had been astonished at the gathering power of tie Nazis, and he had warned his friends several times privately that it would lead to war. But there was no reason to discuss it on that evening. The cr+!pes flamb+!es, served with champagne, seemed of far more interest than the Third Reich.
The last guest did not leave until one thirty, when Walmar turned tiredly to Kassandra with a yawn. I think it was a very successful dinner, darling. I liked the duckling better than the fish.
Did you? She made a mental note to tell the cook the next morning. They served gargantuan dinners, with an appetizer, soup, fish course, meat course, salad, cheese, dessert, and at last fruit. It was expected, so it was what they did.
Did you have a pleasant evening? He
How awful, I did. I'll have to call her. But that's a very handsome dog. Does he have a name yet?
Bruno. And Ariana got a big white cat.
Did you? Ariana had steadfastly kept the news to herself. When would they ever share things? When the girl was grown, perhaps they would be friends. But now it was too late, and yet too soon.
Downstairs the clock chimed again, and Kassandra looked at them, feeling anguish clutch her. And Gerhard looked at her, crestfallen, tiny, chubby. Do you have to go?
Kassandra nodded' I'm sorry. Papa is having a dinner.
Aren't you having one, too? Gerhard looked at her curiously and she smiled.
Yes, me, too. But it's for people from his bank, and some other banks.
It sounds very boring.
Gerhard! Hedwig was quick to reprimand him, but Kassandra laughed.
She lowered her voice conspiratorially as she spoke to this delicious child. It will be ' but don't tell anyone ' that's our secret.
You look very pretty anyway. He looked her over with approval, and she kissed the chubby little hand.
Thank you. She pulled him into her arms then and kissed him softly on the top of his blond head. Good night, little one. Are you taking your new dog to bed?
He shook his head firmly. Hedwig says I can't do that Kassandra stood and smiled pleasantly at the heavyset older woman.
I think he can.
Very well, madam.
Gerhard beamed up at his mother and they exchanged another conspiratorial smile, and then her gaze turned to Ariana. Will you take your new cat to bed with you, too?
I think so. She glanced first at Hedwig and then her mother, as Kassandra felt something deep inside her die again.
You'll have to show him to me tomorrow.
Yes, ma'am. The words cut to the quick, but her pain didn't show as Kassandra gently kissed her daughter, waved at both children, and softly closed the door.
As quickly as the narrow black dress would allow, Kassandra made her way downstairs, arriving at the foot of the stairs in time to see Walmar greeting their first guests.
Ah, there you are, darling. He turned to smile at her, appreciative, as always, of how she looked. He made the introductions as heels clicked and hands were kissed. It was a couple Kassandra had met often at functions for the bank, but who had not yet visited their home. She greeted them warmly and took Walmar's arm as they entered the main salon.
It was an evening of civilized exchanges, lavish food, and the very best French wines. The guests spoke mostly of banking, travel. Children and talk of politics were strangely absent from the conversation, although it was 1934, although President von Hindenburg's death that year had removed the final threat to Hitler's power. It was a subject not really worth discussing. Since Hitler had become Chancellor the year before, the bankers of the nation had maintained their position. They were important to the Reich, they had their work to do, and Hitler had his. However little some of them might have thought of him, he was not going to stir up problems in their lair. Live and let live. And there were those, of course, who were pleased with Hitler's Reich.
Walmar was not among them, but it was a view he shared with few. He had been astonished at the gathering power of tie Nazis, and he had warned his friends several times privately that it would lead to war. But there was no reason to discuss it on that evening. The cr+!pes flamb+!es, served with champagne, seemed of far more interest than the Third Reich.
The last guest did not leave until one thirty, when Walmar turned tiredly to Kassandra with a yawn. I think it was a very successful dinner, darling. I liked the duckling better than the fish.
Did you? She made a mental note to tell the cook the next morning. They served gargantuan dinners, with an appetizer, soup, fish course, meat course, salad, cheese, dessert, and at last fruit. It was expected, so it was what they did.
Did you have a pleasant evening? He
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