Peter Rakoczy: The Music of My Life

Chapter 12: Truths and Half-truths

By the time Peter and the girls returned to Rakoczy manor, it was late afternoon and the sun was beginning to set.  Peter stopped the sleigh in front of the house and handed the reins over to Vasile.  Meanwhile, the girls rushed indoors chatting and laughing at the same time.

Judith and Erzy were sitting in the parlor by the fireplace, quietly knitting.  They both raised their eyebrows upon hearing the hubbub in the foyer.  Coats, boots, hats and scarves were being loudly discarded everywhere, to the maid's obvious displeasure.  They could hear her making clucking and tsk-tsk sounds every time a boot hit the floor.  

As soon as she was done, Nina ran into the parlor to see her mother. 

"Mama!  You'll never believe where we went!"  Nina exclaimed, her eyes sparkling wildly and her cheeks red with excitement.  She sounded out of breath and looked feverish.

"Slow down, Nina," Erzy was taken aback by her daughter's over-enthusiasm.

"I can't!  It's simply too thrilling!"  Nina twirled around, her skirt blowing a gust of wind in the small room.

"Guess! Please!" Nina kneeled down in front of her mother and took away her knitting items.  She then grabbed her hands and held them tightly.

Erzy shook her head and chuckled.  "I can't, my girl.  I truly have no idea."

"Bartholy Castle!"  Nina bit her lower lip after speaking, waiting to see her mother's reaction.

Erzy looked speechless and leaned back in her chair.  "What?  You went to Viktor's castle?" She finally managed to utter.

Nina nodded excitedly.  "Uh-huh!  But there's more!"

"I'm afraid to ask," Erzy said. 

"We went... inside!"  Nina giggled and covered her mouth.

Judith listened to her niece with bewilderment.  "How did you get in?  It's been abandoned for several years. It must've been locked up."

Nina turned to her aunt and shook her head.  "You're wrong.  Somebody lives there now!"

Erzy squeezed her daughter's hand, drawing her attention back to her.

"Was Viktor there?"

Nina slowly moved her head side to side, smiling slyly.  "No.  Not Viktor."

"Who then?" Judith's curiosity was piqued.

"Viktor's son.  Nicolae," Nina looked at her aunt as she answered.

Judith frowned.  "Viktor has a son?  I didn't think he ever married."

"He adopted Nicolae," Nina explained.  "I think Nicolae grew up abroad."

Nina stood up and meandered to a side table.  There was a porcelain bowl filled with various fruits on top of it.  She picked up a crisp red apple and took a big bite, making a loud crunching noise.

"I'm starving," she said while chewing.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Erzy scolded her.

Just then, the twins appeared in the doorway, nudging each other.  Their eyes were also unusually bright and they were giggling.

"Girls," Erzy greeted them.  "Come give Mama a hug."

The girls ran up to their mother and wrapped their arms around her.  They then kissed her cheeks.  Rose plopped onto Erzy's lap.

"Ouch," Erzy groaned.  "You are way too big to do this."  Nonetheless, she held on to her daughter tightly, and caressed her hair.  "So what have you two been up to? What did you think of the castle?"