'I apologise for my rudeness' said the Baroness over an excellent plate of strudel.

Maria looked surprised. She hadn't expected anything from this woman who now smiled stiffly but prettily. Like she hadn't had much to smile about recently. Maria couldn't imagine going a day without joy.

'The mountains are not for everyone. I understand if it was not what you expected.'

She was being diplomatic, she knew the real reason why the Baroness had been standoffish.

'Well, they are majestic. But that wasn't the reason as to why I was so ungracious today.'

Maria could hardly agree, she had been the best behaved of rude people.

'You hardly compare to the most obnoxious of tourist, I can assure you.'

The Baroness's smile relaxed just a little. She forked up the last crumbs of strudel, drenched in vanilla sauce. She was very fond of strudel, a culinary indulgence she could not resist. Maria had brought them to Café Brun, a simple family run restaurant nestled nearby. The others had been talking and laughing over a big table but the Baroness had eyed the huddle with trepidation, with one foot out of the door. Maria had ushered her to a quiet window table and sat with her, recommending the apple strudel.

'In winter they do a chestnut one. I do love the cherry one as well if that is more to your taste.'

'It all sounds delicious but I will take your recommendation. I must return to try everything else.'

Maria smiled.

'I'm glad your day wasn't entirely wasted' she said, lightly in jest.

To her relief, the Baroness laughed, a delicate silvery stream that was most pleasing to hear. Maria didn't want to be accused of being impertinent.

'I can't say it was. I appreciate all your efforts to cheer me up today. Thank you.'

Maria was curious to wonder what kind of man would stand up someone like the Baroness.

'Perhaps next time you can bring your gentleman friend along?' She said casually, tidying up the grains of sugar on the table. She was a very helpful person.

'I'm not sure Georg is that interested in nature. He lives beside a beautiful lake and countryside but doesn't seem to appreciate it. While I'm most certainly a city girl, I do like going to his villa once in a while. So peaceful. Sometimes I wish I could live there.'

'I'm not sure you'd stay for long, Baroness. You're very cosmopolitan. I'd imagine that you prefer the bright lights.'

'Well, there is that. I doubt I could really live anywhere other than Vienna. I know I could host parties in any villa in the countryside and I wouldn't be short of guests but it won't do to feel so isolated and provincial with no fashionable dressmakers or restaurants within reaching distance.'

'I can imagine how you thrive on that kind of atmosphere. I have no head for it myself but it suits you perfectly.'

As did her outfit, Maria had noticed. Such fragile elegance. She estimated that the Baroness was never short of admirers. That Georg had better watch out for interlopers upon her person.

'Do you give many grand balls, Baroness?'

'A fair few. I attend many more in comparison. My tailor is never kept idle. He alters everything for me so that it looked like I never wear the same outfit twice.'

Maria was impressed.

'How very canny of you, Baroness. I make my own clothes but I'm hardly up to the standard of a tailor.'

Elsa observed the other woman's outfit. Plain but competently made. It seemed to be comprised of a skirt and top in a strange green and white pattern. It almost reminded her of curtains.

'What an individual outfit you are wearing, my dear.'

'Isn't it?' Maria beamed guilelessly. 'They are some of my play clothes.'

'Play…clothes?' Elsa had a different idea of what play clothes were and this was not it. She dared not say that her last item of play clothes were crotchless and only covered a small part of her body. Maria seemed rather too sweet to know about that.

'So I can be active, climb trees, splash in the stream and not mind messing up my clothes' explained Maria. 'I made them out of a set of curtains that my previous employer's housekeeper was going to throw away. Waste not want not' she said cheerily.

Ah. That explained everything.

'Very resourceful of you. I only know how to sew on buttons. I wasn't a very good student of housekeeping skills. My mother despaired of me' Elsa said lightly. 'Luckily my husband didn't marry me for that.'

She left it blank as to what her husband had married her for but Maria had already guessed. The Baroness must have come from money and she was a stunning piece. Maria thought the husband may have been a little older and no matter his title, wouldn't have said no to an attractive younger wealthy wife. It was clear now that she was a widow. This Georg was not her husband. Elsa seemed to sink back into a gloom as she stirred her coffee daintily.

'How long are you in Salzburg for?'

'Just the weekend.'

Maria felt a pang of disappointment. She wanted to know more about this mysterious lady.

'I take a lot of city breaks. I'll be going to Lake Constance in a couple of weeks. But I come to Salzburg quite a bit.'

Maria perked up at that.

'Lake Constance sounds lovely. I've heard it's very relaxing.'

'I have an event over that weekend but I hope to enjoy some solitude while I am there.'

Maria hadn't realised how busy the upper classes could be.

'What kind of event?'

'For my business.'

Maria did her best impression of a goldfish.

'You have a business?'

'Perfume. I set up a shop in Vienna.'

Maria hadn't any use for perfume. Even if she had, she knew she'd never be able to afford what the Baroness was selling. But she was intrigued.

'If you ever come to Vienna, come and visit me.'

Elsa smiled and slipped a card from her bag into Maria's hands. She thanked her and got up to go. Maria would think of nothing suitable but to rush to open the door for her.

'I hope you have a good rest of the day. And enjoy Lake Constance.'

The other woman considered her for a few seconds. She was warming to this irritatingly cheery tour guide.

'Maybe I shall see you around the next time I visit.'

Elsa didn't know why she said that. Or why Maria looked so delighted.

'I shall look forward to it, Baroness.'