https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango Sat, 11 Apr 2026 03:18:11 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/535/return-to-sorrentina-part-10-the-past-haunts-hugo-dieter https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/535 Fri, 13 Jun 2014 06:14:44 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/534/return-to-sorrentina-part-10-the-past-haunts-hugo-dieter https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/534 Fri, 13 Jun 2014 06:14:44 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/529/the-tale-of-the-silhouette-ship https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/529 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:49:06 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/528/the-tale-of-the-silhouette-ship https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/528 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:49:06 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/483/the-flight-to-fanciful-part-6-of-men-and-rooftops-by-lady-leena-fandango https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/483 Thu, 28 Nov 2013 22:19:09 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/481/the-flight-to-fanciful-part-5-of-men-and-their-manners-by-lady-leena-fandango https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/481 Mon, 18 Nov 2013 12:16:06 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/480/the-flight-to-fanciful-part-4-of-men-and-balloons-by-lady-leena-fandango https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/480 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 05:45:47 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/473/the-flight-to-fanciful-part-3-settling-up-with-don-alfonso-by-lady-leena-fandango https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/473 Mon, 07 Oct 2013 11:46:10 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/460/the-flight-to-fanciful-part-2-pulling-into-port-at-rocca-sorrentina-by-lady-leena-fandango https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/460

The Flight to Fanciful ~ Part 2 Pulling into Port
Lady Fandango stands at the rail and watches as the ship gets ever closer to the dock at Rocca Sorrentina. First, the island was a small dot on the horizon and then the landgrows bigger as she approaches. It was a swift and pleasant journey and she's happy to be arriving. She's visited here a few times in the past, but now that she's to become a resident, this trip is even more wonderful.
Lady Leena's agent, Silas Becker, wrote back to her in England and assured her that his meeting with Professore Stern went well. She's about to live in alovely two roomapartment in the Villa Vesuviana. Becker also let her know that many fine artisans and craftsman are on the island so anything she needs can be acquired there. She remembers the fine shops on her travels here and cannot wait to see what's new and different on the island.


Lady Aphrodite MacBain resides here and she can't wait to gossip and catch up with her old friend. She envisions many conversations with coffee and sweets, fresh baked by La Barista Aphrodite herself. Walks along the beach with the warm breezes and healing waters is just what Lady Leena needs to escape the coming winter in England. There was music on the island now, a new area where all could come together and listen in the open air, such a wonderfully mild climate here. Some tunnels underneath the island with relics, she was trying to recall from her past visits, with ancient ruins and history of their own. It would be good to explore and get her bearings once again.
Becker wrote that a meeting with Don Alphonso would be in order, he handles the financial affairs on the island,and that he was a very curious fellow. Perhaps just sending Becker down to deal with him would be more prudent. Speaking of Becker, Lady Leenascans the shore and looksfor her agent,hopinghe would be there to meet her as she disembarked.He happens to be near the dock and spies her on the ship andwaves to her.
Silas Becker bows and greets her warmly, "Good day my Lady, was it a pleasant journey? Everything isready, we can get you settled in without delay." Lady Leena smiles back at him, "Oh yes, the seas were fairly calm and I'm looking forward to my new adventures here. How are you fairing Becker? Your letter was happily received and you'vedone well getting things sorted out here for me."
"Thank you Lady Leena," Becker says.Smiling broadly he lifts his hand and points to the Villa on the hill, to my new home. Lady Fandango sighs happily and smiles back at him, eyes bright and happy, eager to begin her newchapter at Rocca Sorrentina.


]]> Wed, 04 Sep 2013 18:53:57 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/450/the-flight-to-fanciful-part-1-the-meeting-with-professore-stern-by-lady-leena-fandango https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/450 Fri, 23 Aug 2013 13:39:25 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/77/return-to-sorrentina-part-13-new-trepidation-as-the-north-approaches https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/77
Hugo recalls only hearing some generalities of Beatrice's distant past, "Very little, you've been a bit vague on the details of many things." Beatrice takes a deep breath and nods her head slowly, "Ah, I suppose that once I start, it will be hard to explain things without telling the full story. Will you promise to keep what I tell you a secret?" Hugo assures her, "Of course Beatrice, I won't tell a soul, you can count on me to keep your secrets." "Thank you, I trust that you will keep your promise," Beatrice replies as she moves away, finding a more out of the way location so no one can hear other than Hugo, he follows her, ever more curious. A Quiet Corner
Beatrice begins to tell the tale of her past, in almost a whisper, "The time of my departure from Prussia was a painful one despite its pleasant beginnings. I grew up playing in the gardens of Sanssouci, Frederick the Great's summer palace in Prussia. When I was 18, I married Duke Vaclav Wolf von Mecklenburg, from a small Duchy north of Prussia. He had joined the army of Frederick the Great of Prussia. Did you know of him?" Shaking his head from side to side Hugo responds, "I was a mere child when my family left Mecklenburg for England, I have no knowledge of your husband or the Prussian court I'm afraid." Beatrice continues looking wistful, "Just as well I suppose. He had joined the army of Frederick the Great, with whom he had a terrible falling out. The monarch of Prussia had begun to conquer half of Europe and became quite ruthless in his way of treating people, including his soldiers. Did you know this?" "I knew of this somewhat from history Beatrice, but most rulers are cruel in their own way, please continue with you tale," Hugo answers her, watching her carefully now. Taking a deep breath, Beatrice explains, "My husband, always outspoken, became more and more critical of him, occasionally quite publicly. He made many enemies as a result of his outspokenness -- enemies who, I fear, may exist today." Pausing for a moment to look around and see if there is anyone else listening, "He was eventually stripped of his rank as Captain and ordered to leave the army." Remaining as impassive as possible, Hugo couldn't imagine anyone challenging a sovereign, yet impressed, "Your husband must have been a brave man to talk in such a way." Nodding her head in agreement, Beatrice answers, "Brave yet headstrong but not always careful. I helped him a great deal in his personal fights for justice. We held meetings of other dissidents in our kitchen. I fed them and gave them wine - which further inflamed them I suppose." Beatrice shakes her head remembering. Hugo looks around their immediate surroundings as well, checking that no one is listening to their conversation as Beatrice continues, he reaches over and squeezes her hand. Beatrice tells Hugo more, "Disheartened and broken, his dreams of being part of united Europe destroyed, my dear Vaclav, filled with shame, abandoned me and the rest of his family and quietly left the country under the cover of darkness. I never saw him again." Beatrice removes a handkerchief from her sleeve, balls it up tightly and sobs into it, unable to hold back her sorrow. A Sobbing Beatrice Remembering the Past Hugo gently places his arm around Beatrice to comfort her, "There there, you poor dear, such a horrible time it must have been." Somehow finding release in telling her story, Beatrice continues to sob. Through her tears Beatrice continues, "I was informed, a few months later, that he died alone, of tuberculosis in a Viennese hospital run by nuns. We were never able to say goodbye to each other, a source of immense grief to me. I can't even say goodbye to him now. He must be buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in the Austrian Alps. I am not sure, however, whether this story is true. He was very healthy when I saw him last, despite his deep sadness." Hugo gently rubs the small of her back as she grieves, "A great loss, I am so sorry my dearest, I had no idea the depths of your pain." Beatrice begins to dab her face with the handkerchief, drying her tears to tell more of the story, "I have often wondered whether his cause of death is more sinister or that in some way I am also being tracked by those who might have killed him." Frowning and letting his hand rest in the small of her back, Hugo asks, "Do you think we shall come across those who may have harmed him?" Beatrice walks away, spying a small cafe' nearby and sinks down into a comfortable chair, exhausted from the wild emotions that fill her, sadness, loss and fear. Hugo following quickly behind her. A Comfortable Chair at a Cafe' Beatrice settles into the chair and explains, "When he left I was heartbroken. Of course I wanted to leave his cursed country, so I moved to Austria with my sister Elisabetta. We lived a hand to mouth existence in Vienna, surviving off the sales of my belongings. Using the rest of our savings my sister was able to study at a convent where she learned the genteel arts of sewing, embroidery and petit point. We eventually made our way across the high mountain passes to finally arrive in Venezia." Looking up at Hugo, Beatrice, with a huge smiles on her face, exclaims, "Where we met!" Hugo reaches down and pats her shoulder smiling in return, "Yes my dear, I remember our meeting in Venezia fondly." Letting a cloud cross her face again, Beatrice turns away and grimaces, "And now, I am returning to the land which gave me so much pain! I am wondering whether I might find the Viennese hospital and the grave where he is buried - that would give me some relief." Hugo squeezes her shoulder and reaches down to hold her hand tightly, "I hope so, perhaps we can find him together, I am at your service and want to help my sweet." Beatrice turns and looks back up at Hugo once again, smiling. Hugo adds, "To pay your respects would bring you some comfort. Putting the past to rest will help heal your soul." Hugo can't help but recall his troubled past in Venezia and endeavors to help this dear lady. Nodding in agreement, Beatrice adds, "Yes, I hope it might. It would mean doing a detour on the way to or on the way back from Prussia. I hope the Conte Foscari will agree." Hugo ponders Beatrice's statement and offers, "We may have to persuade him somehow, if it does not interfere with his business." Beatrice orders a glass of wine and adds, "I am also worried because I have sensed people watching us in the shadows. Have you noticed?" Hugo peers into the shadows narrowing his eyes and whispers, "I wonder ... " With Beatrice's wine arriving, she sip some wine from the goblet and sighs, a bit more at ease now, "Ahhhh - that relaxes me a bit." Still feeling as if they are being observed but trying to lighten the mood, Beatrice stands and asks, "Shall we walk a bit more?" Hugo takes her arm once again and they set off, seeing a small alcove and they duck into it. Feeling a surge of happiness and joy, Beatrice grins and makes some teasing remarks to Hugo, "This is nice and private, will you be acting like a cad again?" Tipping his head back and laughing Hugo then kneels down and takes Beatrice's hand, kissing it gently and looking up at her, "As the knights of old, I offer my service and protection my sweet. We shall weather this storm together, as we did in Venezia." Rising back to his feet, Hugo gathers Beatrice into his arms, Beatrice burying her face in the rough wool of Hugo's cloak and for once in a long time feels safe again. Beatrice whispers, "Oh Hugo, thank you. You have come to my rescue to often!" Hugo holding her tightly leans down and kisses her forehead gently, "All will be well sweet Beatrice, we shall try our best to put your ghosts to rest, once and for all." In the Alcove Lifting her head from the wool cloak, Beatrice looks up at Hugo and suggests, "Shall we go back to the tavern? Conte Foscari may be waiting for us, and there will be bouillabaisse courtesy of Madame Fanny." Nodding and discreetly looking around once more to see if they are being observed, Hugo releases her and answers, "Yes, let's be on our way," curling her arm around his once again protectively, as they start to make their way back to the tavern. ]]> Thu, 24 Sep 2015 05:34:15 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/15/the-christmas-tree-story-at-rocca-sorrentina https://livinghistoryvw.com/lady-leena-fandango/blog/15 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 06:17:07 -0800