Sweet Silesia
Chapter 14
The day of the conference came quickly. After spending over a week escorting the carriage procession as it traveled between countries Gilbert was more then eager to sink into a dingy tavern with a good beer and a young serving wench under his arm. But the long journey ensured that it would not be an option. The slow procession made them late, which upon their arrival left them just enough time for a bath and a change of clothes.
Gilbert's heart pounded in his chest as he donned his fine linen trousers, starched white shirt and decorative military jacket. Straightening the cuffs of his shirt Ludwig's words of farewell echoed in his mind, "No matter what happens, keep a level head. Promise me that bruder."
Even as Ludwig continued to grow and begin a life of his own he still expressed concern in Gilbert's mental health, wether or not it was wanted.
A knock on the door signaled that his men where ready and waiting for him. Smoothing back his hair he placed his feathered try-corner hat on his head and departed the room.
The events of recent years had put him through many personal hells. Some of which he chose to completely ignore, refusing reality, just to ease the onslaught of flames.
Would tonight bring about the birth of another personal hell?
If so, how would it be possible to keep a level head then?
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"Why can't I go momma?" Sylvia pouted.
"Because a sweet girl like you doesn't want to spend an evening listening to boring old men," Elizaveta chided lovingly.
"Then why are you going?"
It was Elizaveta's turn to frown. "Because momma has too."
Patrice entered the room, finding mother and daughter laying side by side on the bed. "Mrs. Edelstein," she began. "The ambassadors are beginning to arrive."
Elizaveta sighed, not wanting to release the hold she had on her daughter. To her it was her only source of solace and at times her only cling to sanity.
"Now you be a good girl and listen to Patrice. Promise?"
"I promise." With that Elizaveta passed her child into Patrice's arms, feeling the weight of the locket under her daughter's nightgown. She couldn't help but smile yet frown as Patrice left the room.
"Goodnight momma," Sylvia chirped, vanishing from view.
Sitting in the chair of her vanity she let the hairdressers and makeup artists descend on her. Within a timespan of ten minutes her long locks where plaited and curled against her scalp, embossed with fresh flowers from the garden. While her face was powdered and decorated until she was as flawless as greek marble statue.
Standing from the vanity her freshly tailored dress was fashioned around her corseted form. Slippers where soon slipped onto her feet, pronouncing her ready to perform her duties for the night.
She knew this day would come, she never thought it would be as gilded as it was nor the form it would take. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she left her room and found Roderich's arm to lace with hers.
The cryer announced the arrival of the first ambassador and his party. The German territory of Prussia.
Recognizing the blue and red uniform, her heart sank.
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He did his best to keep hidden from view. His head bowed low, letting the broad hat shield his eyes in shadow. After the ambassadors had said their greetings they made their way into the ball room. He caught a glimpse of her as he passed. She was all done up and primed to resemble the perfection of a porcelain doll. A smile was painted on her face as she greeted the following ambassador and his party.
But it was only painted, only temporary.
The storm in her eyes said otherwise.
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Needless to say, the opening ball was a success. The wives of the ambassadors, as well as the other party members filled the room with laughter and enjoyable chatter. Musicians played, encouraging the usual stoicism of the politicians and soldiers to fade away. Glasses of champagne where passed around, causing all the more excitement amidst the crowd.
Once or twice Gilbert was passed a glass, he scavenged several more on his own, eager for the intoxication.
Interrupting his Lieutenant who was in the midst of conversation with a young woman he asked, "Did you complete the task I gave you earlier?"
"Not quiet yet sir. More will be spoken of later in the night when things become more serious. Please sir, have a drink and relax. Enjoy the party!"
"I've lost count of the glasses that have passed through my hands tonight Lieutenant."
"Then why don't you have a dance?" he smiled.
Gilbert raised an eyebrow before the lieutenant turned his gaze to the woman beside him.
"Monique, would you mind joining my commander in a dance?"
"As long as you promise me the next one," she grinned.
Within moments he found himself dancing with the attractive woman in a whirl of other couples.
She smiled at him as he caressed the small of her back. Her red lips emitted words as she attempted conversation. He replied as best he could, but his mind was elsewhere. Focused completely on the woman with the sad green eyes.
"Are you married General Beilschmidt?"
"I was."
"Was? What happened to your wife?"
"She's gone, along with our child."
"No wonder your men say you are a sad man."
"I'm a sad man?"
"You carry your grief on your shoulders for the world to see. She was a lucky woman to have a man who loved her so much."
He felt Elizaveta's eyes on him from across the room and in those slow minutes he hoped against hope that the room wasn't vibrating from his ever loud and ever quickening heartbeat.
He was thankful when the song ended and the young woman, whose name he never bothered to learn was swept away into the arms of another man as the next song began.
Seconds passed and he stood there on the dance floor, alone. The laughing couples that circled him suddenly became shark-like with their questioning glares. Standing at the heart of all he hated, he had never felt so cursed to be alone.
A lock of golden-brown hair suddenly grazed the corner of his eye and a warm hand enveloped his own.
"Dance with me."
It wasn't a request but a demand.
Without another thought he swept her into his arms, twirling once more in the haze of dancing, holding her as close as the dance would permit.
For those short beautiful moments nothing was wrong with the world. No heartbreak or pain. No child kept away never to be known. There was only bliss, serenaded by the sweet music. He longed to stare deep into her emeralds, but they where closed, as if she didn't want to wake from the dream and ease the pain of leaving him once more.
The song ended and she vanished. Leaving him alone once again.
He spent the next hour searching for her amidst the crowd, but she was gone.
He knew he was being pathetic, but he had to see her again. He had to know the truth. The truth about so many questions left unanswered.
He found a young maid refilling the champagne.
"Pardon me but where has the lady of the manor gone too?"
He paused, realizing the possible scandal he could cause with his words. He knew how maids loved to gossip. He soon continued, "I wish to give her my thanks for the evening and my regrets for departing so early."
He hated being so irritably formal, especially when he didn't mean it.
"The lady has retired for the evening on account of her health. But she does extend her condolences to all her guests."
He thanked the maid, told his lieutenant he was retiring for the night and quit the house, exiting out the front door.
He spotted a footmen, ready to fetch his horse from the stables. He ignored the servant, gesturing that he was walking. The footmen nodded, assuming he was another drunk german.
Gilbert felt the buzz in the back of his head. He knew he was tipsy, but far from drunk.
He crept around the interior of the manor. The bright, serene atmosphere of light and cheerful music seeped through the large windows. Now foreign to the dark and bleak night where he resided.
He hopped over the garden fence, watching for even the smallest aspect of life. Through the darkness he could see the woods where he first laid eyes on his Ellie.
He crept pass the bustle of the kitchen to the housing wing, adorned with balconies and overgrown vines amongst the bricks and trellises.
He had half a thought to scale the vines and sneak into her chamber, like a traditional forlorn lover would do. Yet his thoughts where interrupted by a child's voice.
"I can see the moon momma!"
His gaze shot upward to the highest balcony, now realizing it was lit with candlelight.
"Isn't it beautiful, Sylvia?" came her voice, as sweet as ever.
He gazed up the waxing moon, crescent in the diamond sky, for a spilt second before turning back to the balcony. His eyes found Elizaveta, balancing a young child on her hips. A girl with silver hair and big child-like eyes. She was just as beautiful as Ellie. Then it dawned on him.
Her child. The child Elizaveta had birthed years ago. The child that he forced out of his mind to ease the heartache. The child who gazed up at the moon in absolute wonder. His child. His daughter.
Gilbert felt his eyes tearing. The girl was his own flesh and blood yet he did not know her and she did not know him.
"Why is the moon so shy momma?" the girl inquired, as the moon remained hidden in shadow.
"Well," she began. "Long ago the moon fell in love with the sun. And he loved the sun with all his heart and the sun loved him very much in return. They swore that they would be together always. But as fate would have it a comet came one day, knocking them both into different orbits, forcing her to leave her beloved moon. Thats why he hides himself, to hide his broken heart and loneliness. But as time passes he heals, as does the sun. But one day he will become strong and full again."
A twinkle in her eyes told him she was telling their story. A twinkle that resulted in a single tear.
Was this her way of saying goodbye?
Was their last dance, in fact meant to be their last dance?
Was it all her farewell? To end everything that they had on a blissful note with hardly any tears shed or words spoken?
So many, even his closest friends had told him to let her go. Reminding him again and again that she was a lost cause.
Was this her letting him go, all the while implying that he should do the same?
But what about the girl?
What about Sylvia?
He couldn't let his daughter go. Not again.
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The conference concluded several days later, with alliances formed and enemies made.
The new emperor of Austria would be a woman, therefore war was on the horizon between the old German rivals.
The ambassadors trickled out of the Edelstein estate one by one, departing for their homeland.
The Prussian ambassador was the last to leave. Gilbert had escorted the man to his carriage and sent the footmen to fetch the horses for him and his men.
He hadn't seen Elizaveta nor Sylvia since the first night of the conference. Yet his mind barely wandered from the thought of them.
He was a father and that little girl called Sylvia was his daughter. He couldn't ignore a feeling of fatherly love for the girl festering inside of him.
The carriage door closed. His horse whinnied as he took its reigns. He knew who stood behind him.
"Mr. Edelstein," he said, adjusting the reigns, avoiding the man's gaze.
"You've been awfully quiet these past few days Beilschmidt."
"Is that a problem?"
"No. I actually quite enjoy it. Yet it only gives me more of a reason to suspect you."
"Of what?"
"Of anything. In the years that I have known you I've learned that the possibilities are endless."
"Good." He turned to face him at last. "Then I guess now is a good time inquire about my daughter."
Roderich was silent. His face set in stone.
"What about her?"
"She's my daughter. I'm her father. Figure it out!"
His anger slowly grew with every sentence. He had already lost his wife, he wasn't planning on loosing this battle.
"I'm afraid that you are no longer welcome here Beilschmidt."
Roderich turned to leave as Gilbert mounted his horse.
"Why would anyone want to be welcome in this guilded hell of yours!"
A/N: Soooo I'm back at school again. Which is both good and bad. Bad, because I have less time to write. Good, because i get my best ideas when I study. Anyway, this chapter was fun to write. I actually had this whole other draft written up for it, but once i started writing the opening paragraph everything just poured out of me. thus resulting in this chapter. Now that I think of it there might be a deleted scenes section after the epilogue. This chapter was a lot more fluid then the other one and it kinda made the whole story a little bi-polar. As readers i need to know what you think! Honestly, i'm not looking for compliments I'm looking for critique! Thanks! hope you enjoyed! see you next time!