The Countess And The Tutor.

4.Princess in a Tower

Heinrich had met the Dowager Countess Boryana Melnikova once prior. It has been during the commemoration ball of King Erik Anderson which he had thrown in celebration of his crowning as Sweden's ruler. He had sensed that the noble woman held some sway and had walked up to talk about his school.

“You run a school for young women?” she asked, looking him up and down.

“What do you know about etiquette” she added before moving away not waiting for a reply leaving Heinrich feeling embarrassed and like he'd been slapped. Sitting across from her now, he felt an almost petty urge to remind her of the incident all those years ago but instead he sat and watched her cut up a pear as withered as she was so as to make certain it's nonexistent juice did not stain her pristine purple gown. She chewed the pear the spoke.

“This is my granddaughter Karolina. I'd like you to offer her the best your school has to offer. Money as you know is not a problem. I'd leave you two to get acquainted. I have some business in town” she got up and left, drawing the stares of everyone in the room. Silence hung over the table like a guillotine. Sharp. Karolina stared pointedly at the croissants on the table. Heinrich decided to break the ice.

“I'm Heinrich Von Tussle, but you can call me Herr Von Tussle” he said. Karolina looked up and observed him for a moment before replying.

“I'm Karolina Angelina Melnikova, you can call me Karolina” she replied. Karolina had a lot to learn thought Heinrich. A lady must always insist that a person of a lower station address her by her title. Heinrich might be of noble birth but he was nowhere near Karolina in rank.

“Would you mind taking a walk, my day?” he asked her. She shook her head. He stood up and offered his arm, she took it and they made their way out of the restaurant into the street. He led her to the garden he had passed on his way to the restaurant. The reading woman had left. The sat on the bench she had vacated. Just as Heinrich was about to speak, there was a rustling in the rose bushes in front of them and a plump orange tabby cat stepped out. He sat on his haunches and stared at them with round, yellow eyes. At once, Karolina was on the ground, crouching and stretching out a hand, cooing at the cat who watched her curiously.

“Lady Karolina!!” Heinrich sprang to his feet. Aghast.

“Don't touch it, it might be infested with lice!!”

“Relax Herr Von Tussle, it looks well fed, it's fur well groomed. I think it's lost and looking for it's owner”

“You don't know that!”

“Oh i do”

Karolina finally managed to entice the cat with a piece of bread she had hidden in her skirts. The cat jumped into her arms and she stood up, cuddling it to her bosom. It stared at Heinrich with baleful eyes.

“See?, i told you she said to Heinrich”

“Let's go find your owner” she said to the cat, kissing it in the head. It purred contentedly.

“Lady Karolina!!”

“Come along Herr Von Tussle, time is of the essence. Tick tock.”

They walked up and down the avenue, questioning pedestrians about the cat. Non claimed ownership. Heinrich was beginning to get restless and feared what the Dowager Countess might think were she to lay eyes on them. He was about voice his concerns when Karolina approached a frazzled looking woman standing at the entrance to The Grand Hotel Wien. She appeared agitated and when Heinrich caught glimpse of the book in her hand, he realized it was the same woman he'd seen reading in the garden. As she turned and saw them, she gasped, rushing up to meet them, exclaiming "Ginger"!!. Apparently the cat had wandered off while she had been reading. She thanked them profusely and walked into the hotel. Karolina turned a triumphant smile on Heinrich and once again, he was marvelled by her beauty. He felt a blush creeping up his cheeks and quickly looked away. He cleared his throat.

“We should go back, your grandmother might be looking for us” smiling, she stepped up beside him and they walked back to the restaurant. Arm in Arm.

.............................

The train sped through Switzerland. Slicing it's way through verdant green fields and above ripping, crystal clear rivers. The swiss alp loomed large and foreboding in the distance. Under the clear skies in a first class compartment, Heinrich watched Karolina sleep. She wore a jade, green gown with sleeves of Turkish lace. An emerald the size of a pigeon's egg hung around her neck. Her head rested on a cushion covered with soft Velvet. She exhaled softly through parted lips. She was beautiful even in sleep, Heinrich thought. Heinrich had always been a sensible man, he knew his place in life and scarce thought of anything he could not afford to have, but as he sat watching Karolina sleep, he felt something stir within him. He remembered the incident with the cat. While he thought it was unladylike, he found it endearing the way she had taken charge and made sure the Cat got back to it's owner, any other woman would have demanded he chase it away. Karolina's eyes popped open. The stared into each other's eyes for a heartbeat before she sat up and yawned. She stretched, the action pushing her chest out, her full breast threatening to spill out over the bodice of her dress. Heinrich gulped and quickly looked away. She looked out the window and then said “Do you normally stare at people as they sleep?.” Heinrich almost choked, blushing hotly, he fumbled for a reply “N..no, i was just.....”

“.....admiring the view?” Karolina asked, looking him straight in the eyes. She then burst out laughing.

“You're as red as beet Herr Von Tussle” she said, struggling to contain her amusement. She studied him. Heinrich Von Tussle knew how to dress, she concluded. He was looking quite dashing and she had to admit, handsome too. His coal black s**t was tied back behind his head with a golden ribbon, his jaw was square and he had deep blue eyes that were warm and welcoming. His shoulders and chest filled out his clothes well. Karolina looked down and saw that he clutched a book in his left hand. She leaned forward to get a proper look. As she did so, Heinrich smelled her perfume, something spicy with a hint of lavender. He inhaled deeply.

“What's it about?” she asked, glancing at him.

“Oh...it's about a princess in a tower and a knight” he replied.

Karolina giggled “My father thinks such stories are silly, what do you think? Herr Von Tussle”

“I think they are silly too” he replied.

“No you don't” Karolina countered as she leaned back. “If you did, you wouldn't read them” she added. Heinrich was lost for words. She was quite right. He indeed loved stories like this but had only said what he said to impress her, as if agreeing with her father would make her appreciate him more.

“What do you think? Lady Karolina?” he asked her finally. She thought for a while before replying.

“Every story has a shred of truth in it. Everyone needs saving, not just the princess, sometimes the princes too.” She turned and gazed out the window. Heinrich watched her.

The train sped on. On towards the alps.