The Storm Sister (The Seven Sisters #2) (47 page)

‘My dear Frøken Landvik, thank you for sparing the time to see me at such short notice.’ He reached for her hand and kissed it.

‘Please, do sit down. Can I offer you some tea, or coffee?’ she stuttered, unused to receiving guests by herself.

‘Perhaps a glass of water?’

Frøken Olsdatter gave a half-nod and left the room.

‘I’m afraid I have little time as I must return to Bergen tomorrow, and as you can imagine, I have many calls to pay here in Christiania. But I wished to see you. Frøken
Landvik, you have the most exquisite voice, though I will not flatter myself that I am the first person to tell you so. Indeed, I hear that Herr Bayer has provided a guiding hand in your
career.’

‘He has,’ she acknowledged.

‘And from what I heard last night, he has done an excellent job. But his boundaries are . . . limited in terms of giving your potential the full range of opportunities it deserves. I am
lucky to have the ability to personally introduce you to musical directors all over Europe. I am travelling to Copenhagen and Germany very soon and can mention your talent to those I know there.
Frøken Landvik, you must understand that however much we wish it not to be so, at present Norway is a mere speck on the European cultural landscape.’ He paused and smiled as he saw the
look of incomprehension on Anna’s face. ‘What I’m trying to say, my dear, is that I wish to help you further your career outside our homeland.’

‘That is most kind of you, sir, and a great honour.’

‘But first, may I ask you if you are free to travel?’ he asked as Frøken Olsdatter came in with a jug of water and two glasses.

‘Once the production of
Peer Gynt
is finished, then yes, I have no further commitments in Norway.’

‘Good, good,’ he said as the housekeeper left the room. ‘And you are not married or engaged to any young man presently?’

‘No, sir.’

‘I can imagine you have many admirers, for not only are you a possessor of great talent, but you are beautiful too. In many ways, you remind me of my dear wife, Nina. She too has the voice
of a songbird. So, I will write to you from Copenhagen and see what can be done to introduce your exceptional voice to the wider world. Now, I must take my leave.’

‘Thank you for coming, sir,’ Anna said as he stood up.

‘And may I congratulate you once more on your performance. You have inspired me. We will meet again, Frøken Landvik, I am sure of it. Goodbye.’

He kissed her hand and then glanced up at her in a way that Anna had learnt to recognise as indicating interest in her as a woman.

‘Goodbye,’ she said, bobbing a curtsey as he left the room.

‘What do you mean, he has left Christiania?!’

‘Just as I said, he has to return to Bergen.’

‘Then all is lost! God only knows when he will be back.’ Jens fell back into his uncomfortable chair in the orchestra pit as he gazed up mournfully at Herr Hennum.

‘The good news is, I managed to have him listen to your compositions before he left. And he gave me this to pass on to you.’ Herr Hennum handed Jens an envelope addressed
‘
To whom it may concern
.’

Jens stared at it. ‘What is it?’

‘It is a letter of introduction from him to the Leipzig Conservatory.’

Jens punched the air with joy. This letter was his passport to the future.

‘I will be leaving for Leipzig when the run of
Peer Gynt
ends. Come with me, Anna, please,’ Jens begged her as they sat together in the drawing room of
Otto’s apartment, his arms furled around her delicate frame. ‘I refuse to leave you behind in Christiania in Herr Bayer’s clutches. Once you refuse his proposal, I have no faith
that he will behave like a gentleman.’ He softly kissed her brow. ‘Let us do as all young lovers in stories do and run away together. You say he has your wages in safe
keeping?’

‘Yes, but I am sure he will hand them to me if I ask.’ Anna bit her lip and hesitated. ‘Jens, it would be a grave betrayal of Herr Bayer after all he has done for me. And what
would there be for me in Leipzig?’

‘Why, Leipzig is the centre of the musical world in Europe! It could be a wonderful opportunity for you. Herr Grieg himself told you that the world here in Christiania is narrow and that
your talent deserves a wider audience,’ Jens cajoled. ‘His music publisher resides there and he himself spends much of his time in the city. So there would be nothing to stop you
renewing his acquaintance in future. Anna, please, think about it. I believe it is the only solution for us. Presently, I can think of no other.’

Anna looked at Jens uneasily. It had taken her a year to get used to life in Christiania. What if she couldn’t do it again somewhere else? Besides, now she had grown more confident, she
had begun to love being Solveig, and she would miss Frøken Olsdatter and Rude . . . But then again when she tried to imagine a life in Christiania without Jens, her heart gave a painful
wrench.

‘I know it’s a lot to ask,’ he said, reading her mind, ‘and yes, you could stay here, and become the most famous soprano in Norway. Or you can aim higher, living a life
of love with me and having success on a far larger scale. But of course, it will not be easy, for you have no money, and I have very little other than what my mother gave me to pay for my board and
tuition in Leipzig. We would live purely on music, love and belief in our own talent,’ he finished with a flourish.

‘Jens, what on earth would I say to my parents? Herr Bayer will be bound to tell them what I’ve done. I will bring disgrace on our name. I couldn’t bear for them to think . .
.’ Anna’s voice trailed off and she put her fingers to her brow. ‘Let me think about it, I must have time to think . . .’

‘Of course you must,’ Jens agreed gently. ‘We have a month until the end of the run of
Peer Gynt
.’

‘And I could not . . . I could not be with you if we remained unmarried,’ Anna said, blushing furiously that she even had to mention such a thing. ‘I would rot in Hell for
eternity and my mother would boil herself in her cooking pot rather than face such shame.’

Jens stifled a smile at Anna’s vivid imagination. ‘So, Frøken Landvik,’ he said, taking her hands in his, ‘are you trying to gain a
third
proposal in your
streak of suitors?’

‘Of course not! All I’m saying is that—’

‘Anna.’ He kissed her tiny hand. ‘I know what you’re saying and I understand. And I promise you, whether we were eloping to Leipzig or not, I would want to propose to
you.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, really. If we go to Leipzig, we will wed in secret before we leave, I promise. I would not wish you to compromise your morals.’

‘Thank you.’ Anna felt greatly relieved that at least Jens’ offer was serious. That if they did ‘elope’ – Anna pushed down a shudder at the idea – they
would at least be man and wife in the eyes of God.

‘Tell me, when will Herr Bayer be back, panting for your answer?’ he asked her.

‘I have no idea, but’ – she glanced at the clock on the wall and her hand flew to her mouth as she realised the time – ‘I do know I have to leave for the theatre
now. I must be there an hour and a half before the curtain rises for my face to be painted.’

‘Of course. But Anna, please, you need to realise that even if I was not going to Leipzig, if you refuse Herr Bayer’s proposal, I have a feeling he would not make our life easy in
Christiania. Come here and kiss me before you go. I will see you later onstage, but promise me you will give me your answer soon.’

Anna arrived back at the apartment after the performance feeling completely drained. She wanted nothing more than to go straight to bed and sleep.

‘Anna, how was your evening?’

Frøken Olsdatter looked at her questioningly as she brought Anna her hot milk and helped her out of her dress.

‘It went well, thank you.’

‘Good, I am glad for you,
kjære
. I should tell you that I received a telegram this evening from Herr Bayer. His mother passed on earlier today. He and his sister must stay
for the funeral, and then he will return to Christiania on Friday.’

Only three days
, thought Anna. ‘I am sorry to hear his news.’

‘Yes, but perhaps it is a relief that Fru Bayer is finally free from pain.’

‘And I will look forward to seeing Herr Bayer on his return,’ Anna lied as Frøken Olsdatter left her room. As she settled into bed, she felt her stomach constricting in
nervous knots at the thought of Herr Bayer’s return.

The next morning, still brooding on her predicament, Anna went in to breakfast.

‘You look pale, Anna
kjære
. Did you not sleep well?’ asked Frøken Olsdatter.

‘I have . . . things on my mind.’

‘Then you might wish to share them with me. I may be able to help.’

‘There is nothing anyone can do,’ she sighed.

‘I see.’ Frøken Olsdatter scrutinised her closely, but did not press her further. ‘Will you be requiring luncheon?’

‘No, I must go to . . . the theatre early today.’

‘Very well, then, Anna. I shall see you at supper.’

Over the next three days, Frøken Olsdatter and the daily maid went into a frenzy of cleaning. Anna spent time practising how she would explain to Herr Bayer why she could not accept his
offer of marriage.

The exact hour of his arrival was not known, but at half past three, unable to stand the tension in the apartment any longer, Anna put on her cape and told Frøken Olsdatter that she was
going to take a walk in the park. The housekeeper gave her one of her looks – a mixture of disbelief and cool acceptance – which had become a regular expression recently.

As always, the clean, chilly air revitalised her. She looked out at the fjord from her favourite bench and saw the shimmering silver water in the already descending twilight.

I am where I am
, she told herself,
and there is little I can do except act with gratitude and grace, as I have been brought up to do
.

As she stood up, thinking of her parents brought a tear to her eye. They had written her a brief but supportive letter consoling her on Lars cancelling their engagement and his recent abrupt
departure for America. At that moment, she wished with all her heart Herr Bayer had never found her and she was safe and sound at home in Heddal and married to Lars.

‘Herr Bayer will be back in time to join you for dinner,’ Frøken Olsdatter said, accosting her at the door as she arrived home. ‘I have filled you a bath and laid out
your gown.’

‘Thank you.’ Anna moved past her and went to prepare for the confrontation.

‘Anna,
min elskede
!’ he said, greeting her intimately as she entered the dining room. He took her hand in his large one and gave it a whiskery kiss.
‘Come, sit down.’

As they ate, he told her about his mother’s sad passing and the details of the funeral. Anna hoped vaguely that due to his grief, maybe he’d forgotten about his proposal. However,
when they went through to the drawing room to take coffee and brandy, she sensed the atmosphere change.

‘So, my dear young lady, have you thought about the important question I asked you just before I left?’