Read Online To Journey Together by Mary Burchell - Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Burchell
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used to say that no one who had not known Imperial Vienna in the early days of the century could imagine how charming and elegant it could be. But it still retains a little of its elusive beauty."
"You make it sound—sad, somehow."
"Well, it is sad," Ilsa said. "At least, it has that touch of melancholy which clings to all things that represent a lost and lovely age."
Elinor said nothing. For suddenly she thought that described the von Eibergs too. That was partly
why they appealed so much to her warm and affectionate heart. Kenneth would have laughed at her for it, but the feeling was strong upon her.
The next morning Elinor slept unexpectedly late. Her employer had told her the previous evening that he would not require her, and, with a mind free from responsibility, she slept dreamlessly and long. To complete the indulgence, she had her breakfast in her room—or, rather, on the sunny balcony looking over the snowclad scene to the Zugspitze.
When she finally sought out Lady Connelton, it was to be greeted with, "Ken asked me to say goodbye to you. He left about half an hour ago to catch the train to Garmisch."
"He has left? Already?" She was far more dismayed than she wanted to be. "I thought he was going by the later train."
"He changed his mind," Lady Connelton said equably.
Elinor told herself it did not really matter. If they had parted on strained terms, that was his fault, not hers. But it depressed her not to have "made it up", as she phrased it to herself.
There seemed little the Conneltons required of her that day, and in the afternoon Rudi took her for the promised skating lesson. Ilsa was packing, so they tramped off together through the village, their footsteps crunching through the crisp, glittering snow, their breath clouding in the still, clear air, and their eyes bright with laughter and mutual interest.
The atmosphere was exhilarating to a degree and, by the time they reached the frozen meadow which did excellent duty for an outdoor rink, Elinor had, astonishingly, become convinced that she could skate. She had never felt so gay and confident in her life before, and the feeling undoubtedly had something to do with the way her companion's handsome eyes surveyed her.
Her unusual sense of confidence even survived the lacing on of hired skating boots and the first stumbling to her feet in this unfamiliar footgear. Then Rudi took her crossed hands in his, the strength
of his wrists making her feel unexpectedly secure, and, after a little initial sliding and slithering, to her amazement she found herself skimming along for whole stretches, feeling, she thought, as a bird must feel as it swooped over the icebound earth.
"It's glorious!" she cried, laughing aloud for sheer pleasure—and then almost immediately sat down hard on the ice.
They both laughed inordinately over that. Then he pulled her expertly to her feet, and for a moment she was almost in the circle of his arm, close against him, so that she could see the colour under his fine olive skin and almost feel the pulse of the vitality which emanated from him.
It was a curiously exciting and disturbing moment, one which left her tingling with something other than the sparkling cold. But it was over almost before the impression was registered, and presently they were skating off together again, Elinor not even noticing that the fringe of spectators watched her and Rudi rather more than they watched anyone else.
All too soon the afternoon light began to fade, and the brief, lovely experience was over. As they walked homeward, Elinor tried to tell him how much she had enjoyed herself. But he brushed her thanks aside.
"You're a natural skater," he told her. "If only we were staying longer—" He broke off, just as his sister had, and sighed regretfully.
Elinor felt sorrier than ever about their going. And more than a little puzzled too. For she had never met anyone who appeared more foot-loose and fancy-free than the two von Eibergs.
"You make it sound—sad, somehow."
"Well, it is sad," Ilsa said. "At least, it has that touch of melancholy which clings to all things that represent a lost and lovely age."
Elinor said nothing. For suddenly she thought that described the von Eibergs too. That was partly
why they appealed so much to her warm and affectionate heart. Kenneth would have laughed at her for it, but the feeling was strong upon her.
The next morning Elinor slept unexpectedly late. Her employer had told her the previous evening that he would not require her, and, with a mind free from responsibility, she slept dreamlessly and long. To complete the indulgence, she had her breakfast in her room—or, rather, on the sunny balcony looking over the snowclad scene to the Zugspitze.
When she finally sought out Lady Connelton, it was to be greeted with, "Ken asked me to say goodbye to you. He left about half an hour ago to catch the train to Garmisch."
"He has left? Already?" She was far more dismayed than she wanted to be. "I thought he was going by the later train."
"He changed his mind," Lady Connelton said equably.
Elinor told herself it did not really matter. If they had parted on strained terms, that was his fault, not hers. But it depressed her not to have "made it up", as she phrased it to herself.
There seemed little the Conneltons required of her that day, and in the afternoon Rudi took her for the promised skating lesson. Ilsa was packing, so they tramped off together through the village, their footsteps crunching through the crisp, glittering snow, their breath clouding in the still, clear air, and their eyes bright with laughter and mutual interest.
The atmosphere was exhilarating to a degree and, by the time they reached the frozen meadow which did excellent duty for an outdoor rink, Elinor had, astonishingly, become convinced that she could skate. She had never felt so gay and confident in her life before, and the feeling undoubtedly had something to do with the way her companion's handsome eyes surveyed her.
Her unusual sense of confidence even survived the lacing on of hired skating boots and the first stumbling to her feet in this unfamiliar footgear. Then Rudi took her crossed hands in his, the strength
of his wrists making her feel unexpectedly secure, and, after a little initial sliding and slithering, to her amazement she found herself skimming along for whole stretches, feeling, she thought, as a bird must feel as it swooped over the icebound earth.
"It's glorious!" she cried, laughing aloud for sheer pleasure—and then almost immediately sat down hard on the ice.
They both laughed inordinately over that. Then he pulled her expertly to her feet, and for a moment she was almost in the circle of his arm, close against him, so that she could see the colour under his fine olive skin and almost feel the pulse of the vitality which emanated from him.
It was a curiously exciting and disturbing moment, one which left her tingling with something other than the sparkling cold. But it was over almost before the impression was registered, and presently they were skating off together again, Elinor not even noticing that the fringe of spectators watched her and Rudi rather more than they watched anyone else.
All too soon the afternoon light began to fade, and the brief, lovely experience was over. As they walked homeward, Elinor tried to tell him how much she had enjoyed herself. But he brushed her thanks aside.
"You're a natural skater," he told her. "If only we were staying longer—" He broke off, just as his sister had, and sighed regretfully.
Elinor felt sorrier than ever about their going. And more than a little puzzled too. For she had never met anyone who appeared more foot-loose and fancy-free than the two von Eibergs.
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