As promised, Dr. Reiter returned at midday. He took one look at Maria's face and frowned. Then he gently asked the Captain to step out of the room so that he could perform a more thorough examination.
As Georg walked out into the hall, he was stunned to see Elsa standing there, wearing her coral travelling dress, clearly waiting for him to emerge from the sickroom. Ashamed, he suddenly realized that he had completely forgotten about her for the entire night and morning. Even though he now knew that he would never be able to bring himself to marry her, she deserved better than being so neglected, especially after having had a party thrown in her honor the previous evening.
"Elsa, I do apologize-" he began, when the lady held out her hand and shook her head.
"No, don't. Don't say another word, Georg," the Baroness said gently. "I know that you have been busy." She glanced from his haggard face to the closed door behind him. "She is a fine girl, and a wonderful governess to your children, and it is natural that you are very concerned for her. I know that this is not the best time for you to have company, so I have packed my little bags, and I am going back to Vienna, where I belong. Max has offered to accompany me there."
Georg nodded slowly, realizing that Elsa was gracefully bowing out.
Elsa smiled at him, and then added a bit guiltily,
"I was asked by Maria to not say a word of this to you, but under the circumstances, I think it prudent that you should know about my disgraceful conduct towards her last night, in case it makes any difference in the treatment of her case."
The Captain immediately snapped to attention.
"I followed her to her room when she went to change her dress for dinner, and I accused her of falling in love with you, and I told her that while you fancied yourself in love with her at the moment, like all men, you would get over it soon enough." She saw an expression of sheer anger cross the Captain's face, and felt herself becoming more and more uneasy. "Being the lady that she is, Maria immediately realized that it was improper for her to stay here under such circumstances, and she began to pack her things. I know that you have every right to be angry with me, and I have no excuse for my behavior except for pride and jealousy, but please believe me, Georg: if I had thought for a minute that she was already in the grasp of a serious illness, I never would have spoken to her thus, or encouraged her to flee in the middle of the night. I am sorry, truly sorry, for meddling."
It took several deep breaths and all his discipline to calm the Captain down. He could imagine Maria packing furiously and then scampering down the hall like a frightened rabbit after hearing such things from Elsa, pushing her fever-compromised heart until it could take no more and caused her to collapse on the landing. If she had gotten a little further – out of the gate and a few steps down the road – it was possible that no one would have found her until it was too late. The idea of Maria dying alone in the road was enough to make his blood boil and run cold by turns.
By yet, what good would unleashing his wrath at Elsa do, especially now that she had confessed and offered an apology? And as convenient as it would be to have someone to blame for Maria's current condition, he knew that Elsa was not the kind of woman to deliberately risk the life of another. She had wanted Maria out of the way, not dead. And he had hardly been acting in a gentleman-like manner for days - openly courting a Baroness while allowing his eyes to wander after his governess more often than not.
He sighed, and ran his hands through his hair.
"Thank you for telling me," he replied. "I wish you a safe journey, and all the best otherwise."
"Auf Wiedersehen," the Baroness said. With that, she disappeared down the hallway, and out of his life.
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