Chapter 7Being airborne was an unforgettable experience for Penny. She tried to forget all of her fears about the path her life has taken and tried to subtract her own self from everything else to enjoy the ride. From her airborne bubble she could see the fields below touched here and there by the moonlight and the dark blue hand of darkness. It was the strangest sight: a dark blue field of silvery lights in front and above, and a green- blue sea of land pierced by starry golden dots below.
They landed hours later on the fields surrounding Hessenhall; half a mile away the big house barely glowed under the ghostly light of the hour before dawn.
There were no lights coming from the mansion, which seemed still empty and unfinished in the distance. Penny saw that there were more houses nearby, all in the same style, but rather smaller; also in darkness.
A car was waiting for them. The driver greeted the Countess very ceremoniously but strangely enough, something made Penny think of certain familiarity and confidence in that welcoming, as if that man had been in the Countess’ service for a long time, or as if he knew her very well. The driver welcomed Penny and then helped her inside the car next to the Countess. After a few minutes’ drive the car passed by the main house and Penny could clearly see that the constructors' work still had to be finished. Mrs. van der Hess didn’t look surprised, as if she already knew. Afterwards she will remember this as the first time she noticed something odd about the Countess. Nevertheless then, it was just a weird feeling.
-I thought the house should have been finished by now. – Said Penny.
-It should have been, yes. I asked for a few last minute changes and additions and that had delayed the works of course. It will be finished shortly; in a couple of weeks or three maybe. – She added.
-Are you feeling all right Mrs. Van der Hess? - asked Penny after a moment. - You sound strange. Do you feel ill?
-Oh! No dear; do not worry. My body doesn’t agree with flying, that’s all. I feel a little dizzy and my ears and my nose clogged from going up and down in the air. I’ll be fine.
The driver parked by the barracks that the workers used during the week. The buildings had been clearly reconditioned a little more elegantly for someone to stay. The door opened and a man in work clothes stepped out to welcome them.
-Welcome back Milady. – The man said with profound respect to the Countess as she and Penny descended the car.
-Thank you Stevens you look good. I see you managed to put everything together, it seems nice.
-Yes, thank you Milady. I still need to hire some of the permanent staff, but Mrs. Clarks and I will be interviewing candidates during the week. Everything else is ready.
-Stevens this is Miss Penny Sillyn.
-A pleasure Miss. – He said bowing.
- She will be helping me with the work, as you know. She said as they entered the barracks.
Penny, just then, realized she didn’t know what the Countess had meant by “the work”. So far she had been just the link between the Countess and her contact in the Police Station and thought she was there to make sure the meeting with Captain Brando took place. She didn’t even know why that meeting was so secret and important.
Penny imagined the Countess must have had a serious reason for that. She also thought the Countess maybe needed a secretary but Penny had had all along the suspicion that the Countess’ offering of taking her to Argentina hid something else.
Right now, Penny was sure that hers wouldn’t be a secretarial post. Nevertheless she felt grateful and loyal to Mrs. Van der Hess, though she wished she knew the truth.
As she had read her mind the Countess said.
-Penny, do take a sit, it’s time for you to know the whole truth.
-Stevens can you ask Lily to bring us some tea please?
-Right away Ma’am - He said and left.
Penny sat down and waited in silence for a few moments while the Countess took off her coat and hat. Lily entered with a tray bringing tea and biscuits for a light breakfast.
-Oh! Lily just as I expected. So efficient!
-Welcome Milady. Miss Syllin. - She said bowing and Penny answered the same way. – I have asked for your favorite biscuits to be made. And here’s also your favorite tea with some honey, for your voice.
-Thank you very much Lily. It’s nice to be back.
Lily took the Countess’s coat and hat and left the room in silence.
The Countess filled a cup and handed it to Penny; then she filled one for herself. After sipping from it, she finally spoke.
-As you might have guessed Penny, we have entered the country illegally. Do not worry dear, you won’t be in trouble. – She stopped to think for a moment. - Let me go back a bit more and start from the beginning. My comeback to the country, a year ago, and my intention of getting back what was mine, have reignited in part of the upper class and the political “status quo” some of the fire that my ”departure” had turned to ashes. A lot of influential, rich and powerful men (I won’t name names for now) have been trying to clean up their past and get rid of evidence of their crimes and . . . activities since then. The thing is, Penny, that I am the richest of them all, although I absolutely lack power and influence . . . here. But that’s about to be changed. My friends in the old continent are a lot more powerful and influential than these . . . “men”, and it was not difficult for me to get informed . . . to say the least. That’s how I had the pleasure of meeting you. – She sipped a bit more tea.
-When I was here last year, I did more than just hiring an architect, but I won’t bore you with that now dear. At the time the invitation to stay at Regent st. as a guest of honor and all the publicity that the event would have had here and in Europe, was the perfect excuse to build up my cover story. You see? I wanted most people to think that I was just a rich, stiff and snob old lady who was interested only in ladylike things and activities, beside of course, “counting my money”. People seem to like that.
-I used my time in Europe wisely. I was in a couple of magazine covers, in news papers, I bought a Villa in Toscana and threw parties, I socialized, I did charity work, I showed myself in every social event you could think of, while “off stage” I used my influences to fit my plans here; London, Paris, Florence, Zirndorf, Madrid; all full of good and helpful friends.
Penny’s tea was getting cold. She was only drinking the Countess’ words, one by one.
-You know this next part, Penny dear. I will start pulling some strings with Captain Brando, thanks to you, but I needed some time in Argentina before that and I needed to get here under the deepest of secrets. The farm where we were taken to in Uruguay, is mine, as well as the planes. Therefore, as I said at the beginning, we entered Argentine territory illegally though only people worth of my absolute trust knows it. Now: you must be thinking, and you won’t be mistaken, that someone might be watching me and following my moves. You must be wondering also, how I will “really” get into the country legally and publicly if I am already here – She paused to study Penny’s face.
–As you are aware of, another carriage left Motevideo’s port, a decoy carriage, with a decoy “Countess”. I am staying at the Hotel Presidente in Montevideo right now and in two or three weeks time, I will enter back into Argentina as publicly and triumphant as I can (well, not really me). I will be in all the papers and magazines and the people’s attention will be exactly where I want it to be: far from the truth. Now you know it all. – She finished.
Penny’s eyes were wide opened and her cup of tea was cold on her lap.
-Mrs. Van der Hess, that’s a lot of information for me to process. I’m shocked you confided all that in me as you barely know me.
-I trust you dear. – She said. After a while watching Penny’s wonderstruck face, she added. – I had you investigated dear, I am sorry. I thought you had figured that out by now.
Penny had figured it out, but even so she felt violated.
-There’s something I still don’t understand – Penny said after thinking for a moment. –Why did you bring me here? Was it to work as your secretary? Or … is there something else?
-Oh dear, you almost had it right. You will have a secretarial post, of course . . . but you will not work for me, dearest Penny. You will work for Captain Brando.
End of chapter 7
