thought the Kaiser had stumbled . . .” Gunther paused here, seeming to search for the right words, “. . . lost his way. Victoria was, you know maybe, the Kaiser’s grandmother. The people of England and Germany were very close before the war; my mother was English. How could my father fight them? And yet he was made to. He was killed. He had no idea how to fight,” he said sadly, rubbing Anna’s back again.
“I’m sorry,” Elsie murmured, realizing that it was the first words she had spoken since entering the cottage.
“My mother,” Gunther went on, after catching Elsie’s eye for just a moment, “especially as English woman, had no way of making money except to take in sewing and rent out rooms in our very old . . .” he made a gesture as if searching for the right word . . . “big? rambling? . . . house that was no good for nothing else. A big house full of books and some said Geister . . . ach . . . how do you say? . . . ghosts,” he said with a little flourish of triumph. “When I became older, I asked my mother why she did not return to England after war. She said she could not leave my father buried somewhere near border of France in mass grave. Also, that Heidelberg had been her home from time she was little girl. There is nothing and no one for her in England, she said. And so we rented out rooms, mostly to students, who became like older brothers or sisters to me. One or two were not so nice, but mostly they were kind; that or they ignored me. I liked to sit in corner and listen to them debate politics of day or discuss literature—Rilke versus Schiller, as example—before Mother would find me and put me to bed.
“Then about five years ago,” he continued methodically, “just as I am finishing my degree at university, a young woman by name of Liesel Klinkhammer came to rent room from us. She was not student, but she had job in one of the cafés in town. How she can afford this room, I do not know. Maybe it was that my mother felt sorry for her. I was not at home most days, either at university studying or working at local school, where I had just found job as a teacher.”
Anna murmured, then, and Elsie watched as Gunther began to sway a bit, rocking the child until she quieted.
“When I did see her,” he went on more quietly, “Fraulein Klinkhammer rarely speaks to me. She was very quiet and keeps to herself, but little bit by little bits, she begins to trust my mother. She tells her things. She was what my mother would call a Bauer . . . peasant? Like poor person. She tells my mother where she comes from. From a farm outside of city. As a young girl, she fell in love with boy from next farm over, she tells my mother. Heinrich is his name. He left countryside to travel to Heidelberg to find work. Fraulein Klinkhammer was . . . how do you say it? Verrückt in der Liebe? . . . crazy in love for him? . . . is what my mother said. So the fraulein followed this Heinrich to Heidelberg and found job and room. It is impressive, no?”
Without waiting for Elsie to answer, he went on. “My mother was very glad for the money. But she told Fraulein Klinkhammer to forget this man, to go home. As it was, Fraulein Klinkhammer did not listen to her. And you can take guess what happened,” he said, shifting his eyes toward the back of Anna’s head, still resting on his shoulder.
The little girl looked to be asleep now, as evidenced by not only her closed eyes, but also by her slack body, her arms drooped loosely around Gunther’s shoulders instead of tightly gripping his neck as they had just a few minutes before. Gunther shifted the weight of her and went on in a quieter voice.
“No one knew the fraulein was with child—even my mother, which is impressive. You would know this if you have met her, my mother. It was my mother that delivered the baby—right there in our house. She hears fraulein screaming and runs upstairs to find a big Unordnun . . .” Gunther shrugged, searching for the right word. “Mess.” He looked at
A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 1 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 2 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 3 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 4 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 5 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 6 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 7 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 8 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 9 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 10 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 11 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 12 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 13 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 14 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 15 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 16 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 17 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 18 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 19 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 20 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 21 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 22 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 23 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 24 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 25 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 26 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 27 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 28 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 29 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 30 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 31 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 32 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 33 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 34 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 35 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 36 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 37 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 38 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 39 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 40 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 41 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 42 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 43 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 44 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 45 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 46 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 47 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 48 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 49 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 50 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 51 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 52 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 53 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 54 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 55 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 56 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 57 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 58 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 59 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 60 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 61 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 62 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 63 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 64 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 65 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 66 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 67 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 68 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 69 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 70 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 71 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 72 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 73 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 74 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 75 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 76 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 77 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 78 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 79 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 80 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 81 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 82 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 83 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 84 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 85 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 86 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 87 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 88 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 89 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 90 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 91 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 92 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 93 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 94 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 95 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 96 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 97 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 98 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 99 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 100 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 101 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 102 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 103 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 104 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 105 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 106 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 107 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 108 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 109 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 110 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 111 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 112 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 113 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 114 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 115 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 116 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 117 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 118 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 119 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 120 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 121 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 122 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 123 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 124 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 125 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 126 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 127 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 128 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 129 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 130 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 131 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 132 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 133 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 134 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 135 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 136 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 137 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 138 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 139 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 140 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 141 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 142 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 143 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 144 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 145 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 146 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 147 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 148 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 149 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 150 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 151 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 152 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 153 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 154 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 155 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 156 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 157 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 158 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 159 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 160 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 161 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 162 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 163 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 164 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 165 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 166 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 167 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 168 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 169 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 170 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 171 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 172 A Child Lost (Henrietta and Inspector Howard #5) - Michelle Cox - Page 173