'Hello again.' Maria smiled in relief at the well-coiffed madam standing in front of her again. She feared that she'd scared her off last time and was glad to see her back. Now knowing her to be a Baroness, Maria was going to try her best to get her on side.
'You have a wonderful selection. I'm impressed. I think I will have a…Linzertorte.'
Maria settled her into a window seat as requested and set about making coffee and choosing the best slice of cake. Frau Schmidt bustled about supervising, Elsa took her book out and leisurely relaxed with her order and before long, the café was gently populated by people curious to sample the atmosphere. If the Baroness Schraeder favoured the cakes in here, that's where they would go. Everyone knew that the Baroness had impeccable taste.
Elsa murmured greetings and small talk to the people around her but kept to herself, her book was absorbing and the cake was a delight. She expressed her opinion to the hovering Frau Schmidt which pleased her to no end.
'Maria will be pleased. She bakes endlessly at the crack of dawn every day. Bread, pastries, cakes, she's a whirlwind.'
Elsa raised her eyebrows.
'This is one of the best cakes I have ever eaten. My compliments.'
Maria was duly called over and Elsa repeated herself. Maria smiled brilliantly, with a blush to her cheeks.
'Thank you Baroness, I'm glad that you like it.'
'What would you recommend next time?'
'Oh I couldn't tell you ahead of time. It's so easy to change your mind at the counter. You might think you want one thing on the day and then decide on something else when you get here. Let's wait and see?'
'Wise words' chimed the Baroness Nonberg from a nearby table. She had just polished off a large slice of Sachertorte and was beaming merrily.
'This is so delicious that I don't regret not getting the apfel strudel but I will get it next time. I simply cannot wait. I will be ordering a selection for next month's dinner party.'
Maria pressed her hands to her face, overwhelmed by all this praise and Elsa warmed to her. She wasn't often around people who had no interest in impressing with grand gestures, to create and supply for the joy of it instead. Elsa was fascinated with the woman in front of her. She baked to perfection. She sang like a lark. She was, quite frankly, a breath of fresh air.
