The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

Author:Marie Benedict
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2022-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Unity

January 25, 1937

Munich, Germany

Muv’s laugh echoes throughout the lofty gilt ceilings of the parlor. Farve accompanies her, and soon their host does as well. Unity smiles at the sound, marveling at her great fortune. Her most beloved people—Muv, Farve, and Hitler—together in one place, their delight in one another evident and their merriment reverberating throughout the space. Has Unity ever been this happy?

What a blessing it has been that Diana decided to stay in London and not accompany her parents on this trip. While Unity is grateful that her beautiful sister shares her passion for the Nazi cause, Diana does prefer to be the only Mitford in the limelight, and this often leaves Unity in the shadows. Why, she often wonders, does Diana insist on monopolizing all the attention here in Germany when she’s center stage everywhere else in her life? Not to mention that she’s got Hitler all to herself during those visits to Berlin. Unity simply wants a few morsels of Hitler for herself, and finally, today, she has them. It is as if those long, painful weeks away from him never happened.

“Another éclair, Lady Mitford?” Hitler asks Muv through Unity, his hand already on the handle of the silver tray of strudels and éclairs displayed on the table between them. The Führer sits in a deep-plum upholstered chair next to Farve, while Muv and Unity perch on the matched set arranged across from them. Unity has spent several evenings here alone with the Führer, sharing delicacies and studying her sketches; as an artist himself, Hitler understands well how satisfying her notebook can be, and they bond over the manner in which art can be a powerful force in politics.

“How gracious of you, Herr Hitler. I would love another,” Muv answers, and Unity translates. She pauses before taking one from the tray. “This is a special honor,” she says to Hitler, knowing Unity will capture her words and emphasis.

Hitler offers the éclairs to Unity and Farve, who each dutifully take one. She doesn’t think she’s ever seen her blustery, mercurial father appear as cowed and humble. While Hitler’s eight-room flat on Prinzregentenplatz is indeed luxurious and festooned with flowers, she knows it’s the man who has impressed Farve and not his residence.

Unity had introduced them before, of course. Her parents have been in Hitler’s company at two Parteitags and several rallies, and they’ve seen each other at Osteria Bavaria. But this is a horse of a different color. A private invitation to tea at Hitler’s flat, Muv had asked, incredulous, just us four? Even Farve had chimed in, inquiring as to whether Unity had gotten the details straight. And when she informed them that it is an indescribable honor extended to a very, very few—only to those in the innermost of Hitler’s circle—and that he postponed a trip to his mountain home to see them, Unity relished their awestruck reaction.

“I see where your daughters get their marvelously blue eyes, Lady Redesdale,” Hitler says, gingerly placing the tray back down on the table as Unity translates.

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