The Bride of the Immortal (42 page)

“I will, once the little lady has calmed down,” he replied.

Mairin couldn’t keep herself from following Adrijan’s fingers with her gaze as he folded the napkin quickly and precisely until it had taken the shape of a flower.

“Look here, I have something for you, little one,” he said to gain Engelin’s attention. “Won’t you cheer up?”

Carefully he put his creation on the girl’s reached out palms. With an ecstasy that was typical of a child she rejoiced in the small piece of art, having completely forgotten about her hysteria and crocodile tears. Proudly she presented the gift to her mother.

Mairin hadn’t expected Adrijan to be capable of handling the girl that well.

“Has Hilda informed you about tomorrow’s dress fitting?” he asked her quietly.

Even though he had lowered his voice and Änlin and Engelin had seemed distracted the girl suddenly turned around, her eyes glowing with excitement.

“A dress fitting? Oh, how wonderful!” she exclaimed. “Oh, may I come? May I look at the dresses?”

With effort Mairin suppressed the refusal that lay on her lips and while everyone’s attention was resting on her she was looking for a reasonable excuse.

“Of course,” she discontentedly replied, unable to come up with one.

“I will make sure that she doesn’t disturb anyone,” Änlin said, inviting herself as well.

Mairin threw a grumpy glance at Adrijan who avoided her gaze and seemed strangely focused on eating an éclair. Her mood had been ruined once and for all and she hardly took notice of the small talk that was led at the table. After a while Adrijan got up from the chair and announced that it was time for him to leave. Engelin, whose behaviour had been reformed by his presence, was upset about it, put down her precious newly acquired possession and held him back at the door.

“Mr. priest,” she said, tugging at his clothes. “There is something I want to tell you!” Engelin energetically gestured him to come closer, so she could whisper into his ear. Adrijan obediently crouched down and as soon as he was in reach, Engelin kissed him on his cheek. “Thank you very much for the flower!” she exclaimed and went back to her mother’s side, giggling.

Mairin was speechless as the girl sneakily stuck out her tongue at her. She sincerely hoped that it was the last act of Engelin’s devious conduct.

Countless dresses were presented by lovely young women, who repeatedly entered and left the room, each time wearing a different dream in white.

Mairin sighed. She didn’t much care which kind of dress she was going to wear to the ceremony that was to mark the beginning of her end.

The coming and going of the beautiful model brides was accompanied by exclamations of admiration and very soon she was tired of the repetitious “Oh!” and “Ah!” of the people who were meant to help her decide. To her left – and for her taste far too close – Änlin and her daughter were sharing a spacious armchair. Hilda and a few other maids who helped Mairin in her every day’s life stood behind her, from time to time whispering that
this
was the dress she should choose.

How many more garments could there possibly be? And what if she hadn’t decided by the time they had finished? Would the demonstration start from the beginning? Mairin was strangely amused by that thought.

“What an ugly dress!” Engelin suddenly exclaimed.

Mairin pricked her ears and took a good look at the dress the girl seemed to dislike that much. It was perfect in every way – it was exceptional, shocking and hated by Engelin. Just before the model could leave, Mairin slowly got up from the chair, savouring the moment.

“Wait! This is the one I want,” she announced firmly.

Hilda wasn’t any less astonished by the choice Mairin had made than everyone else. Engelin flounced out of the room in a huff, followed by her mother Miss von Kirchberg. The dress viewing was over and none of the people who were present – except for Mairin and herself – were going to be at the fitting later on. Hilda’s colleagues were stirred up and chattering in excitement.

“What is she thinking?” one asked.

“It’s far too revealing,” the other agreed.

“How could she!”

Mairin had returned to the chair after having made some arrangements.

“The fitting will be in half an hour in my rooms, Hilda,” her mistress informed her.

“Very well, Miss,” she replied awkwardly. Like the others, she wasn’t convinced of her strange choice but seeing that Mairin’s mood had changed for the better motivated her to support it.

“What a ghastly dress,” someone whispered behind her.

“That stuck up wannabe princess really has no taste.”

“What does Adonis see in her anyway?”

Adonis was only one of the flattering nicknames they had given the master of
Mondstein
castle.

“She must have some qualities for sure.”

Who had suggested that? Hilda turned around and cleared her throat, trying to tell them that they had gone far enough. Nervously she faced her mistress, wondering if she had overheard the chatter.

“Just look at her. I bet she hasn’t even done it yet!”

The person who had made the tasteless remark hadn’t even tried to keep their voice down. “That’s enough now,” Hilda admonished the maids. “Go back to work, all of you!”

Before she had become Mairin’s personal maid she had had little authority over the others, but now they had to follow her command. Some of them showed their dislike about it but all of them obeyed.

At last she and Mairin were the only ones to remain in the hall and relieved Hilda took a deep breath.

“Miss, I apologise for…” Mairin’s face had turned pale. “Miss Muriel, are you alright?”

“No, Hilda. I think I’m going to be sick,” she said in a low voice. She had put one hand on her stomach and raised the other to her mouth.

“This way, Miss!” Hilda said, leading her to the exit and hoping that she would hold out until they had reached the nearest bathroom. Where was it anyway? Was it to the left? Hilda repeatedly threw a glance at her mistress to see if was able to continue. Only moments later they had reached the end of the corridor. Right, they had to turn right, she remembered just in time.

 “We’re almost there now.”

Hastily she opened the door to the bathroom and turned on the lights. Mairin was struggling.

“It’s alright, Miss,” she said and put her mistress’s hands on the washing basin. “Bear with it a little longer, I’ll fetch help!”

Hilda furrowed her brows and started running. Could her mistress be pregnant?

Mairin swallowed hard.

“Stay down there!”
she demanded desperately yet the urge to empty her stomach was persistent. At first she had only felt moderately unwell, but meanwhile the feeling that she had to be sick had made its way to her throat. Again she swallowed. What was wrong with her? Mairin’s breathing was unusually fast and she started to feel lightheaded.

“Calm down!”
Hadn’t she just been satisfied with her decision? What was happening to her?

“Breathe steadily!”

It was no use. Having pins and needles in her arms added to her increasing panic.

And then she couldn’t hold it in any longer.

A strong pair of hands supported her as she was no longer in control of her own body. The same person who kept her from tumbling, turned on the water and then gently stroked her back while still keeping the other hand firmly around her upper arm.

“I’m here now. You’re going to be alright, don’t worry.” Adrijan’s voice only calmed her until she realised what she had just made him witness.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled. After the incident the unwanted feeling had subsided but to her dismay it was quietly growing stronger again.

“Don’t be silly. Try to breathe slowly. Concentrate on the flow of air. Imagine how it supplies your body with energy.”

Mairin did as he had suggested but soon her efforts were interrupted. Once more she was unable to hold back. This time she felt even weaker and her hands slipped off the edges of the washing basin as her body was shaken by the spasms.

Exhausted Mairin gasped for breath. Another wave had ended and she rinsed out her mouth with water. Perhaps this time she was going to be alright.

“Thank you, Adrijan, but I think I’ll be just fi-“

Mairin wasn’t able to finish her sentence and he was starting to seriously worry about her. The first thing that had come to his mind had been Änlin’s éclairs but Mairin’s condition didn’t give him the impression of food poisoning. There was neither enough substance nor was it the right time interval for the appearance of the symptoms. Was this part of a panic attack? There surely was no reason for that. Adrijan sighed. Vivian would have probably known at once what the cause of her suffering was.

“Hush, hush,” he said, continuing to support her. “It will be over soon. Try to control your breathing.”

“It’s no use,” she gasped.

“Try to focus. You are going to be alright, don’t worry. Repeat after me: Hilf, Ma-,“ Adrijan remembered Vivian’s wish at the last moment. “Never mind that.” Quickly he tried to think of something else he knew by heart – something, that wasn’t a prayer.