The Ring (21 page)

It went on like that until Christmas, as Manfred and Ariana reveled in their private world. Ariana spent all day around the house and in the garden, tidying up and reading, and in the evenings they ate quiet dinners and then stretched out for a little while by the fire, but they went upstairs far more quickly now that there was the lure of the wonders Manfred was teaching Ariana in bed. It was a deep romantic love they shared, and in spite of the loss of her father and Gerhard, Ariana had never been so happy in her life. As for Manfred, he had come back to the land of the living with zest and joy and humor. Those who had known him since the death of his children couldn't quite believe that he was the same man. But for the past two months he and Ariana had been infinitely happy, and now only the threat of Christmas worried both of them a little bit, with ghosts from past lives, past years, no longer around them to share in the young couple's newfound joy.

Well, what are we going to do about Christmas? I don't want either of us to sit around here and get depressed thinking about what isn't anymore. Manfred eyed her sagely over their morning tea, which they now shared in bed. It had been his turn to bring the tray up that morning. Instead I want to celebrate what we've got this Christmas, not cry about what we don't. Speaking of which, what do you want for Christmas? It was still two weeks away, and the weather had been crisp and icy for the past week.

She smiled at him now from her pillows, the look in her eyes a caress. You know what I want for Christ mas, Manfred?

What, my darling? He could barely keep his hands off her when she looked like that, the golden hair spread around her like a sheet of spun gold, the delicate breasts bare, the look in her eyes one of invitation and loving.

I want a baby. Your baby. For an instant he was quiet. It was something he had thought of more than once.

Do you mean that, Ariana? But she was still so young. So much could change. And after the war ' He didn't like to think about it anymore, but it could be that when she no longer had to live under his protection, maybe then someone younger would come along and ' He hated the thought.

But she was looking at him seriously. I mean it, my darling. I'd like nothing more than our son.

He held her tightly for a long moment, unable to speak. It was what he wanted one day. But not yet. Not in these ghastly times. Ariana, my darling, I promise you that ,'he pulled away to look at her gently'when the war is over, we will have a baby. You'll have your gift of a son.

Is that a promise? She smiled happily at him.

A solemn promise.

She held tightly to him and laughed the silvery laugh that he loved so much. Then I don't want anything else for Christmas. That's all I want in the world.

But you can't have that yet. Her joy was infectious and he was laughing now, too. Isn't there something else you'd like as well?

No. Except one thing. She glimmered at him happily.

What's that? But she was embarrassed to say it. Talking about having a baby was one thing, but asking a man to get married just wasn't done. So instead she hemmed and hawed and teased and wouldn't answer, and he threatened to get it out of her by that night. But Manfred had his own ideas in that direction. He desperately wanted to marry Ariana, but he wanted to wait until the country was once more at peace. The war couldn't last forever, and it w+|uld have meant a lot to him to get married at his family's schloss.

But he had had another idea about Christmas, and when Christmas morning came, there were half a dozen boxes under the tree. One was a sweater Ariana had knit for Manfred, another was a series of poems she had written him and rolled up in a scroll. And third was a box of his favorite cookies, which she had struggled over for several mornings and finally got just the way he loved. Lebkuchen, for Christmas, in all the traditional shapes, some chocolate covered, some not, with little brightly colored sugar decorations sprinkled on them. He was touched to the core when he saw how hard she had worked.

Manfred's gifts to Ariana were a little less homegrown, and she rattled all the boxes with anticipation and glee.

What should I open first?

The big one. In fact, he had two other big ones hidden in the closet down the hall, but he hadn't wanted to overwhelm her all at once. The first package she opened held a beautiful ice-colored blue dress, which hung from her shoulders and danced softly over her bare skin. It was a halter neck with a low V in the back, and after her winter of rugged skirts, sturdy shoes, and heavy sweaters, Ariana squealed with delight over the beautiful dress.

Oh, Manfred, I'll wear it tonight to dinner! Little did she know that that was more or less what he had in mind. The second package yielded a pretty aquamarine necklace to go with it, and the third a pair of absolutely perfect silver evening shoes. Draped in all her finery, Ariana lay across their bed, swilling tea like champagne and singing in a throaty baritone. Manfred laughed happily at her as he went to collect the rest of the boxes, which yielded a white cashmere dress that was a far cry from what she had been wearing, and a simple black wool that was easily worthy of the wardrobe she had had before. He had bought her a pair of plain black pumps, a black alligator bag, and a perfectly simple black wool coat that she slid into with delight, trying on one outfit after the other. Oh, I'm going to be so elegant, Manfred!! She hugged him fervently and they both laughed again.

You already are elegant! She was wearing the aquamarine necklace, the silver sandals, and the new black coat over white lace underwear. In fact, I'd say you look sensational! But there's one thing missing.' He began fishing in the pocket of his bathrobe for his last gift to her, this one hidden in a very small box. He tossed it into her open hands and sat back against the headboard with a grin.

What is it?

Open it and see.

She opened it slowly and carefully, and when the box lay open in her hand, there was the joy of one who is loved in her eyes. It was a very handsome engagement ring from Louis Werner on the Kurf++rstendamm. Oh, Manfred, you're crazy!

Am I? Somehow I thought that if eventually you wanted to have a baby, it might be a nice touch it, somewhere along the way we got engaged.

Oh, Manfred, it's so lovely!

And so are you. He slipped the round diamond onto her finger and she lay there grinning at it in the wild costume she had put together from the mountain of gifts he had just bestowed on her.

She propped herself up on one elbow as they sat there. I wish we could go out so I could show off all my pretty things. But it was said pensively, without any great urgency. For the past three months they had been content just to go for walks or strolls around Wannsee or one of the other small lakes. They went to an occasional restaurant for lunch, but in effect they had lived like hermits, and they were both happier with each other at home. But he had bought her such pretty things to wear that all of a sudden she was tempted to step out into the world again.

Would you really like that? He looked cautious.

She nodded excitedly. I would.

There's a ball tonight, you know, Ariana.

Where? In fact, there were several. Dietrich von Rheinhardt was having a party, as was General Ritter in her father's old house; then there was one at headquarters, and there were two other big parties being given by the brass. They could have gone to any of the parties they wanted to. Only Ritter's was one Manfred was anxious to avoid. But other than that one, Manfred relayed the list to her and they chose three. I'll wear my new blue dress and my necklace ' and my engagement ring. She grinned at him ecstatically, and then suddenly she remembered something she had never showed him before.

Manfred? She looked at him hesitantly.

What, my love? Her face had grown serious so rapidly that he wasn't sure what to think. Is something wrong?

Would you be angry if I showed you something? He grinned at the question.

I won't know until you show me.

But what if you're angry?

I'll control myself. She went to the room that had been her old room and returned with her father's book. You're going to read me Shakespeare now? On Christmas morning? He sank back into their bed with a groan.

No, be serious, Manfred. Listen to me ' I have something to show you. Remember the day you took me to Grunewald, and I got Papa's book. Well, the night my father left with Gerhard and ' For a moment her eyes were sad, her thoughts turned inward. She had long ago told him everything, and holding the book in her hand, she went on. My father left me these, in case I should ever need them, if something went wrong. They were my mother's. Without further ado, she flipped open the secret compartment and revealed the two rings, the diamond signet and the emerald. She hadn't dared to include the tiny gun her father had given her. When she had removed the book, she had quietly pushed the gun to the back of the shelf. To have been caught concealing a weapon would have meant instant death. But the rings were her treasures'all she had left. Not expecting what she was about to show him, Manfred gasped.

My God, Ariana. And then, Does anyone know you have these? But of course no one did. She shook her head. They must be worth a fortune.

I don't know. Papa said they might help if I had to sell them.

Ariana, I want you to hide the book again. If something ever goes wrong, if the war ends and we do not win, those rings could buy your life someday, or get you somewhere where you could be free.

You make it sound like you're going to desert me. Her eyes looked large and sad.

Of course not, but anything could happen. We could get separated for a time. Or he could get killed, but he didn't want to remind her of that on Christmas morning. You just hold on to them. And as long as you're so good at keeping secrets, Fr+nulein von Gotthard 'he looked at her mock reproachfully' I think you should be aware of this. Without explaining further, he pulled out a drawer and behind it showed Ariana where he had concealed money and a small, efficient-looking gun. Should you ever need that, Ariana, you know it's there. Do you want to put the rings there with it? She nodded and they put her mother's rings away, and she sat gazing happily again at her own. As of Christmas morning, 1944, Ariana Alexandra von Gotthard had become engaged to Lieutenant Manfred Robert von Tripp.

Their evening began at the Opera House on the broad boulevard Ariana loved so much, Unter den Linden, its graceful tree-lined expanse interrupted only by the Brandenburg Gate, which lay directly ahead.

Manfred watched with pleasure as she alighted from the car, the pale blue dress hanging from her body like a single sheet of ice, the aquamarines dancing from her neck. It was the first time in months that Ariana had worn clothes that even faintly resembled her old ones, and for just one evening it was lovely to forget the tragedies of the past year.

She clung to him tightly as they made their way through a sea of uniforms, to those of highest rank, to whom Manfred had to pay homage before they joined the others to enjoy the ball. Manfred introduced her somberly to two generals, several captains, and a handful of colonels whom he knew, each time making a formal introduction as Ariana stood very still, her head held high, her hand outstretched. She would have done any man honor, and Manfred's heart swelled with pride as he watched how poised she was. This was her first time under the scrutiny of half the senior officers of the Reich. Captive princess that she was, they were all a little bit intrigued, and she knew it. Only Manfred knew how frightened she was at the beginning of the evening, as he felt her hand tremble in his, leading her out onto the dance floor to waltz.

It's all right, darling, you're always safe with me. He smiled down at her gently and her chin went up just a little higher than before.

I feel as though they're all staring at me.

Only because you look so lovely, Ariana. But she knew even as she danced with him that she would never feel completely safe again. They could do anything, these people, take her home from her again, kill Manfred, lock her in a cell. But it was absurd to think that way it was Christmas, and she and Manfred were dancing and then suddenly, as they whirled around the floor, she remembered and her eyes laughed again as she looked into his.

Do you know, I came to my first ball here! With my father. Her eyes glowed, remembering the evening that she had come here, so excited and so filled with awe.

Aha, should I be jealous, fr+nulein?

Hardly. I was only sixteen. She looked at him imperiously and he laughed.

Of course, how foolish of me, Ariana. You've so much older now. But she was in many ways. She was a lifetime older than the girl who only three years before had danced in this same ballroom, in her layers of white organdy with flowers in her hair. It seemed a thousand years before. And as she thought of it dreamily, someone took their picture. She jumped in surprise and looked, blinking, into his eyes.

What was that?

They took our picture, Ariana. Is that all right? It was customary to collect dozens of photographs of the officers and their ladies, at each party, every ball. They ran them in the papers, put them up in the officers, clubs, had copies made for relatives. Do you mind, Ariana? For a moment disappointment filled his eyes. Six months before he would have been livid to have his photograph taken with any woman, but now he wanted a photograph of them, as though seeing their faces before him on paper would make it all seem more real. She understood the look in his eyes quickly and inclined her head with a small smile.

Of course it's all right. I was just surprised. Will I be able to see the pictures? He nodded and she smiled.

They stayed at the Opera House for over an hour, and then, looking at his watch, he whispered in her ear and went to fetch her wrap. This had been only the first stop of the evening, and the more important stop on their agenda was yet to come. He had wanted to get her accustomed to the sea of uniforms around her, the curious stares, the flashbulbs sending little black dots dancing before her eyes, because at the next stop she would be even more closely watched. As his fianc+!e she would pass under considerable scrutiny, and he suspected also that the F++hrer would be there.