Max greeted his delivery merrily that morning with a plea for assistance.
'You marvellous creature, I thank you for the pastries, they really do make the morning pass by quicker. Just a quick favour before you go. My newest recruit is remarkably tardy and I need a quick sweep job. Would you mind?'
Maria didn't mind, sweeping gracefully across the floor, humming as she went. Max turned back to his client and soothed her bare neck by holding up a mirror up to it and complimenting the wonder of it. She looked very chic, a throwback to the flapper era and she agreed. He had trimmed off more than requested but as always with Max, he got away with it. He oozed rough charm and people tended to fall in line with his suggestions.
Maria respected that. She had quite a different kind of charisma, one that could grate on some people but would delight many others. A charm that worked on the elderly, small children and animals. Baroness Schraeder was none of those things but somehow, as she prepared to sit in the chair of expectation for her weekly dose of magic, couldn't help casting a glance at the girl from the bakery. There she was again.
'Can't you do something with her hair, Max?' She whispered. 'Surely if anyone can…'
'I have to wait until it grows out a little more and then I can subtly shape it. It'll take a bit of time. The poor girl has been hacking off her hair with her aunt's kitchen scissors all these years.'
They shuddered in horror.
'Where are you getting your assistants from?'
'From the convent orphanage, darling. They needed to be apprenticed and I graciously took one on. Except the one I chose is not here. This one does nicely though, maybe I'll ask her to stay instead.'
Typical Max, always did have the urge to protect the underdog. Especially if it was in his best interests.
'She works at the new bakery a few streets away.'
'Oh yes? Where the old haberdashery was? Sad to see it go. She's a girl of many talents it seems. Have you sampled the goods yet?'
'Very good. I can recommend the little pastries.'
Elsa watched Maria in the mirror. One of the old dames under the hairdryer was raving to her about the strudel.
'That's all?'
'The orphanage children were in a baking class when I went in. The girl gave me some free pastries instead. I shall go back and try something else soon. The Linzertorte looked delicious.'
She kept her tone light and vaguely disinterested but Max was not fooled. Elsa loved her desserts and would be going back. He changed the subject.
'She can sing too.'
'So I can hear' said Elsa drily. She was playing guess the tune with Maria's humming.
'She's in a marvellous little choir, the Edelweiss Mountaineers. I've been to a recital of theirs. Very good. She's a beautiful little soprano.'
Elsa was intrigued.
'Maria, the Baroness wants to know when your choir will next sing. She wishes to attend.'
'Well, it's not my choir, Max.'
'Yes yes, when are you next performing?'
'We have to decide on which event we will attend but you'll know soon enough. We're practicing a mixture of folk songs and some contemporary tunes.'
'Sounds marvellous. The Baroness and I shall attend.'
Maria looked delighted.
'Oh how wonderful! We so love to see new people in the audience.'
Elsa felt like she should be annoyed by being volunteered but now felt curious as to the many talents this woman had. Did she bake everything in the shop too? Elsa felt like she just had to return.
