Magic In Vienna Part 15

Something in Cordelia's voice made her companion give her a sharp glance.

"He's what they call an eminent physician, like Gerard's an eminent

surgeon. They can't help themselves. Now, tell me, what shall we do

tomorrow?"

They had their plans nicely laid when the men rejoined them and presently Gerard and Eugenia went back to their hotel. Cordelia, left in the drawing room while the doctor saw his guests down to the street, thought it prudent to go to her room and was in fact half way along the corridor when he called softly from the hall.

She had to stop. She turned round and asked: "Yes, Dr Tres...o...b.., you

wanted me?"

"Indeed I do." He held the drawing room door open for her and she went past him, to stand in the middle of the handsome carpet facing him.

"We'll have some coffee, shall we?" He asked and without waiting for her answer tugged the old fas.h.i.+oned bra.s.s bell handle by the ornate

stove. "You've arranged something {for tomorrow morning withEugenia?""Yes, thank you. Eileen's coming with us, unless you object?"

He sounded testy.

"Why should I object? I may not be an ideal uncle but I'm no ogre."

She made haste to agree. And when the silence went on for too long: "You wanted to see me, Dr Tres...o...b..?"

"Sit down. My sister and her husband will be here in two days time. They would like to stay in Vienna for a few days--I take it that you are free to return with them when they wish. You have no other job to go to?"

He'd asked her that before; perhaps he had forgotten.

"No nothing."

"Eileen would like you to stay with her."

"Yes, she told me so." She didn't add anything; Eileen was an indulged

child, almost for certain if she said that she wanted Cordelia to stay, no one would stand in her way. She felt reasonably sure that the job was hers as long as she liked to have it.

The coffee came and she poured out for them both. "I am leaving for London myself in ten days or so." The doctor had gone to sit in his chair with the air of a man who had all the time in the world.

"Perhaps we shall meet there."

"That's not very likely," said Cordelia matter-of factly "I mean, you're. . . Eugenia said you were an eminent

physician--governesses don't mix with them."

He said idly: "But you will not remain a governess all your life, Cordelia."

"I'm not trained for anything."

He said quietly: "You could live at home for a while and take some

course or other. You live near London?"

She had no intention of telling him.

"Oh, I don't think I'd like to do that and I quite like being a governess, you know."

"Indeed? You could conceivably find yourself with four children to look after instead of one, all of them ten times worse than Eileen.

Even a saint wouldn't like that." He settled back in his chair.

"Why not train as a nurse? You have 0 levels, haven't you? A levels too probably," and when she nodded.

"So there would be little difficulty in being accepted for training. I could put in a word for you at Clare's."

She said too quickly: "Oh, no--no, thank you. I don't think I'd like that." And nor would she, meeting him, perhaps from time to time, and each meeting would rekindle her love, far better to make a clean break; go back to England and never see him again. She remembered then that of course he was Eileen's uncle and if she stayed as governess to the child, they would be bound to meet at some time or other. She would have to leave Eileen once they were back home--she wouldn't be missed when Eileen started going to school again--and get something well away from London... "What are you plotting so busily?" asked the doctor.

The? plotting? Oh, nothing--just thinking." She put down her cup and saucer.

"If you don't mind, I'll go to bed."

She hardly expected him to answer this, nor did he. He got up and held the door for her. As she went past him he observed: "Things have a way of working out, Cordelia--there's no need to fret your charming head too much."

She gave him a startled look as she went and quite forgot to say good night.. .

She pondered that remark while she got ready for bed and came to the conclusion that he was referring to her chances of staying with Eileen. It surprised her a little that he should concern himself about that; he had never shown much interest in her. And that's a pity, she told herself getting into bed. She hopped out again and went to look at herself in the dressing table mirror.

"But what can you expect?" She asked her reflection, there was nothing in her appearance to catch the eye, especially the eye of someone like Eileen's Uncle Charles.

She sighed and got back into bed and presently she went to sleep.

She was her usual neat calm self at breakfast; Eileen, cautioned to contain her excitement at the idea of spending the morning with Eugenia and herself, sat through the meal in such a concentration of unspoken feeling that her uncle looked up presently to remark, "You appear about to explode, Eileen, if you have something to say, do say it."

"I mustn't--Cordelia told me to be quiet while you're here, so that you are not disturbed."

Cordelia watched his eyebrows lift.

"Surely a little too stern, Cordelia? Am I so irascible?" His voice was so cold that she blushed and then, peeved that he should criticise her so unfairly: "Yes, you are just that at breakfast. We neither of us mind," she explained, 'we know that you like to read your letters and not talk and we do our best not to disturb you."

"I stand corrected. Do tell, Eileen."

"Eugenia's coming and we're going to ride all over Vienna in a fiacre and go to the shops; Cordelia told me just now--and she wants to buy things and I love shopping. I think Cordelia ought to buy herself a pretty dress too--we'll both be able to help her choose it. You could take her out to dinner. Uncle, so that she could wear it."

The doctor's gaze flickered over Cordelia's outraged face, he said heartily: "What a splendid idea, Eileen. I'm glad that you're growing into a girl of sound common sense. Don't you agree, Cordelia?"

"I don't want a new dress," said Cordelia, goaded.

"Now that is something I cannot accept--all females want new dresses.

Besides, Eileen is so anxious for you to have one, and surely it is a very trivial wish to grant her," he added outrageously: "She has been very good and brave over her appendix and deserves a treat."

Cordelia choked.

"A treat.. .I'm sure Eugenia's shopping will take up all our time."

The doctor rose from the table.

"I see that you are determined to thwart the dear child and I will say no more. I shall not be home for lunch."

He patted Eileen on the shoulder, gave Cordelia an intimidating look and went out of the room. He paused at the door and un.o.bserved by the still fuming Cordelia, winked at his niece. / When he had gone, Eileen said thoughtfully: "Uncle Charles has changed since we came here. Do you suppose it's us?"

"I really don't know and I'm not particularly interested Eileen, it was rude of you to discuss me with your uncle, I'm annoyed."

Eileen got up and wreathed her arms round Cordelia's neck.

"Darling Cordelia, I didn't mean to, really I didn't, only I do think it's a good idea for you to have a new dress. I mean, they are so pretty and not very expensive and you haven't bought anything for weeks. It isn't as though you're unemployed and you're coming back with us. .

Put like that it sounded sensible enough and almost for certain the doctor's 'what a splendid idea, Eileen' had referred to the buying of a new dress, not an invitation to dinner.

"Well," said Cordelia slowly, 'if I buy one, what colour shall I get?"

The morning was a success for all three of them. Eugenia was borne off to the Hof Palace, settled in a fiacre, and driven from one famous building to the next while Cordelia and Eileen gave a running commentary; tiring work, so that they had to stop for coffee after an hour and since Eugenia had invited them to have lunch and there was still enough time, they drove on to give her a glimpse of the Schonbrunn Palace before going back to the inner city within the Ring for lunch, where they dismissed the fiacre and led Eugenia to Sacher's Coffee House.

"Gerard said most particularly that we were to come here," she explained, 'and that you would tell me what to eat. Such a pity that we can't stay longer."

Over a lunch of omelettes, followed by a Sacher Torte and coffee they decided to look for Eugenia's presents and then tackle the more serious business of a dress for Cordelia. Kamtner Ring was their obvious goal, and here they spent the rest of the afternoon while Eugenia chose presents, and then, since they were hot and thirsty took them to Demel's cake shop, where they drank more coffee and ate enormous cream cakes.

Much refreshed, they began their search for something suitable for Cordelia. She had fixed a modest price, and neither Eugenia nor Eileen, who considered privately that there was nothing they would wish to be seen dead in for that amount, said a word, but began a systematic search through the bigger stores. Eileen might be only a twelve year old, but she had a very adult view of fas.h.i.+on, and she and Eugenia fell simultaneously on a shrimp pink crepe dress, simply cut, and for that very reason, looking much more expensive than it was.

"Pink?" queried Cordelia, doubtfully.

"But would that be suitable? I mean I never go anywhere--I thought something beige..."

She was howled down and made to try the dress on. It was undoubtedly charming and suited her; although she couldn't think of an occasion when she might wear it, she bought it.

The afternoon was ending, shops were beginning to close and Eugenia said that she would have to go back to her hotel.

"Or Gerard will wonder where I am," she explained, 'it's been quitesuper, and when we're all in London we must meet. Gerard will have'phone numbers and know where to get you." She kissed Eileen and thensaluted Cordelia just as warmly on her cheek.

"I hope you'll wear that dress soon', she said, 'it does something for you."

On their way back to the apartment Eileen said: "Wear your new dress tonight, Cordelia."

"No, dear. It's--it's for special occasions--you know, when something unexpected happens and you want something pretty to wear."

And when they were back in the apartment she smoothed its prettinessand hung it away in the big clothes closet in her room. It had been awaste of money, perhaps she would never wear it; it wasn't at all thekind of dress she had meant to buy, but Eileen and Eugenia had been toomuch for her. Eugenia had been nice, she would have enjoyed beingfriends with her, but she was married to a successful man and theyhardly shared the same background. Perhaps, thought Cordelia,swallowing a watery giggle, she would find herself being governess toEugenia's children. Just for a moment the giggle was in danger ofturning into a sob.

"Don't be silly," said Cordelia loudly and went along to see what Eileen would like to do before dinner.

They were in the middle of a game of Scrabble when Thompson came along to see where they were and a moment later the doctor came in.

"Had a good day?" he wanted to know.