Girl in White by Sue Hubbard

Author:Sue Hubbard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ingram - retail and library
Published: 2022-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

On Sunday Paula woke to a blue sky flecked with white clouds. She and Clara were sitting on the end of her bed in their nightdresses planning a tour of Hamburg later that morning. As they chatted it felt as if they were back in Paris. It had been a long time since they’d been this close. Paula was pleased they’d decided to share a room. Not only did it save money, but it gave them the chance to talk in a way they hadn’t for a long time. For Clara could be so brittle and aloof that Paula was often left perplexed, wondering if she’d, inadvertently, done something to upset her friend. But when they were together like this she felt a renewed faith in their friendship. Just as they were getting ready to go out, there was a knock at the door. It was Rilke, his hair dampened and combed, holding a bunch of white roses.

‘For my two favourite young ladies in white,’ he said with an exaggerated bow so that Paula burst into a fit of giggles. He really could be so pompous.

Two packed days followed: sightseeing in a coach-and-four, a tour of the harbour and trips to museums. She and Otto paid a visit to a private art collection before meeting up with the others to go to The Magic Flute. What bliss Mozart was. Paula was thrilled that Milly was able to join them. She was proud of her sister and her growing success as a singer.

Then it was over and Carl Hauptmann saw them off at the station. Paula travelled back with Rilke and Clara as Otto had to stay for a few days to attend to business. It took hours to get home. First there was the train and then the long drive by mail coach back to Worpswede. When they pulled into the village it was a still, starry night and the Plough and Milky Way were clearly visible. As they walked down the wooded lane in the dark September air, arm in arm, Paula on one side of Rilke, Clara on the other, Paula felt a surge of happiness. Then suddenly Rilke announced: ‘I’ve made a decision. I’m going to stay. I’m sure I can work here. I want to be a part of this place, to experience the seasons and be snowed in with you and give my poems time to germinate. I need a proper home.’

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