A Count of Romania?
Hello all! I am new to the forum, and have a life-long interest in Royal families world-wide. Today I have a rather strange question regarding Romanian nobility. Perhaps someone with knowledge of Romanian aristocracy will have an idea for me!
When I was 18 years old (1979) I went to Munich, Germany to work as an au pair with a German family. One summer evening, shortly after I'd arrived, I was stopped on the street by a very well-dressed gentleman who asked me the way to the U-bahn stop. He spoke to me in German and I responded in German, though it was clear that it was not his native language. I showed him where the stop was located and he asked me if I'd like to meet for dinner later that evening. I agreed.
We had dinner at an outdoor cafe along one of Munich's broad streets. He told me that he was a Count, originally from Romania. I believe he said that "count" was not exactly the correct term for his title, but it is what we would call it in English. He was very refined and obviously had money, so I tended to believe him, though of course I was skeptical. Since I spoke no Romanian and he very little English, we conversed in German. I remember he told me he could speak French, but my French was weak.
After a lovely dinner and a long and friendly discussion, we went for a walk along the row of shops that lined the avenue. He ushered me into a women's clothing shop and insisted on me trying on various tops, hats, scarves and he bought several items for me, though I protested, thinking "oh boy, he's going to want some pay-back for this!"
We stopped at a jewelry shop and he bought me an exquisite necklace, an aquamarine stone with tiny diamonds on either side. Again I protested, but he poo-pooed me and said that it was his pleasure and was only a thank-you for a pleasant dinner companion.
Needless to say, I was nervous when he escorted me back to my apartment (I did not live with the family for whom I was working) and insisted on going up to my floor. I unlocked the door and turned, prepared to be firm and tell him that he could not come in. I hadn't said a word when he simply took my hand, kissed the back of it, kissed my wrist and said "it has been a most wonderful evening, thank-you", and he left!
As you can probably guess, I'm trying to find out who this gentleman may have been! As I said, it was 1979 and I was 18. He was older than me, but I would say in is twenties or early thirties. He did tell me his name at the time and the name of his home in Romania, but of course I've forgotten. He mentioned waiting out the "course of history" to be able to reclaim the family residence and told me of all the countries he had lived in over the years.
Anyone have a clue as to who this mysterious Romanian Count may have been? It is a treasured memory of mine, and I would love to know.
Can't wait to see if anyone has a thought on this!
Kat