The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest (37 page)

Ulrich opened his mouth but nothing came out.

“Guards!” Lord Thornbeck’s face was dark and dangerous.

Two men appeared in the room, swords drawn.

“Take this man to the dungeon.”

“No, my lord, please!” Ulrich fell to his knees, putting his hands out in supplication. “Please!”

But Lord Thornbeck turned and stalked back to his desk, thumping his walking stick on the floor with every step. He sat
down and folded his hands in front of him. “Now, Jorgen, I believe you were going to tell me something.” He spoke as Ulrich’s pleas for mercy were still ringing through the corridor outside the open door.

Jorgen’s mind was reeling. “My lord, why? Why would Ulrich want to kill me? I know he never liked me. He always seemed to hate me when we were boys at school, but why now?”

Lord Thornbeck gave a little shrug. “I suspect he was jealous of you when you were boys and was still jealous of you, afraid you would somehow end up besting him. He saw the reports you wrote and gave to me every three months, which were very well done and showed intelligence, diligence, and organization that was lacking in Ulrich. And I complimented you on more than one occasion.”

Lord Thornbeck pushed back from his desk a bit and stretched out his bad ankle, wincing slightly, before continuing. “I began to see a lot of weaknesses in my chancellor that I did not like. I was thinking of giving you Ulrich’s position, before all this trouble came up with the poacher. Ulrich suspected as much. But I never imagined he would try to kill you until you came yesterday and told me his nephew had given you a false message. I could not find Ulrich anywhere, and now, of course, you have solved the mystery of where he was.”

The margrave quirked a brow at Jorgen, then gave him a more piercing look. “And now, I believe you have something to tell me.”

“Oh yes, my lord. You wish to know the identity of the poacher. I have discovered some very interesting information. But first, I will tell you—the poacher is Odette Menkels.” Even as he said the words, his heart crashed against his ribs as he felt as if he was betraying her. But he had no choice. Lord Thornbeck could find out fairly easily who had been injured and staying at his cottage for two days, if he didn’t know already.

“Yes. Go on.” The margrave didn’t seem surprised.

“Odette started poaching deer almost a year ago because she wanted to be able to feed the poor of Thornbeck. Her uncle, Rutger Menkels, provided her with three to five young men to help her dress the animals and take them from the forest. He also helped distribute the meat to the poor. But six months ago, he had just lost two shiploads of goods, as well as a caravan from the Orient, and, unbeknownst to Odette, he started selling the meat out of the back of The Red House.”

Jorgen tried to read the margrave’s reaction, but he wasn’t sure if his expression was cold, hard, or something else.

“Odette is the young woman who was wearing the white swan costume at my ball, is she not?”

“Yes, my lord.” No doubt he had seen Jorgen dancing with her.

“Mathis Papendorp seemed very interested in marrying her. I think I may have heard something about his having banns published.”

“Yes, my lord.” It made his heart sink just to acknowledge it. “But Mathis had a small part in all of this as well.”

“Yes?”

“Rutger had not lost his land shipment to robbers after all. In fact, my friend Dieter Vogel discovered that Mathis was playing a trick on a fellow merchant. This fellow merchant thought a caravan of his goods had been stolen en route to Thornbeck, but Mathis had connived to have his own men steal them, after bribing the guards who were protecting the caravan. Mathis planned to hold the goods until this friend helped Mathis get something he wanted.”

Lord Thornbeck was staring at him with a fierce look in his brown eyes. “I want names.”

“The merchant Mathis had duped was Rutger Menkels. Once
Mathis got what he wanted, then he would miraculously recover the goods from the brigands who stole them and give them back to Rutger. He seemed to think it was a great jest.”

“Very interesting. Go on.”

“It turned out that Rutger was not rich anymore. Instead of being one of the wealthiest merchants in Thornbeck, he is in debt after losing his last few shipments of foreign goods. Mathis made sure Rutger thought he was completely ruined. Then he told Rutger that he would help him restore his fortune if Rutger would use his influence to convince Odette to marry him.”

Lord Thornbeck nodded. “Thank you, Jorgen. You have been very helpful to me. You have rooted out a most unstable advisor in my chancellor and proven your loyalty to me by telling me that the woman you love was the notorious poacher.”

Jorgen’s face heated at the margrave’s words. “I surmised that you would find out anyway, my lord.”

“You surmised correctly. I had already found out the identity of the injured person you were harboring at your home. I merely wanted to see if you would tell me the truth yourself. And you also hoped that she would not be punished since she was marrying Mathis. Is that correct?”

“Ah . . . yes, my lord.”

The margrave said nothing for several moments as he stared down at his desk. “Tell Odette that I shall wish her to answer for her crimes as soon as she is enough recovered to stand trial.”

His throat clogged, and he had to swallow before he could speak. “Yes, my lord. At the moment, she is very ill. Her leg wound has turned septic.”

“I am sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do? The healer in the forest has a very good salve for septic wounds, I have heard.”

“Susanna—and my mother—are tending her now. I thank you, my lord.”

“She shall recover, then, I dare say. I shall expect her when she has. And her uncle I shall arrest today. And now . . .” Lord Thornbeck paused, staring at Jorgen for a long time. “I have need of a new chancellor to keep up with my letters and ledgers and other documents. I have been impressed with you, Jorgen, and I would like you to take over the position.”

“My lord, I would be honored.”

Another trace of a smile came over the margrave’s face. “Good. I shall speak with you later about all your duties and the other details of the office. For now, you may go.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Suddenly, Jorgen was not sure he had done the right thing. Odette’s uncle would be thrown in the dungeon, and with this new information, the margrave might not allow Mathis to protect Odette.

Jorgen would do what he could to protect her, but he would also be praying hard for God’s mercy and power to save her.

29

O
DETTE AWOKE THE
next morning to the turpentine smell. This time Frau Hartman was spreading it on her leg.

“Good morning. How are you feeling?” Frau Hartman smiled at her. No one else appeared to be in the room.

Odette pushed herself up. “Much better.” She no longer felt hot and feverish.

Jorgen’s mother wiped her hand, then fetched Odette some water. It tasted wonderful.

“Are you hungry?”

“Famished.”

“That is a good sign. I will go find you something to eat.” She smiled and patted Odette’s cheek before leaving the room.

Odette lifted the sheet to look at her leg. The wound was covered with a yellow salve that smelled of turpentine and beeswax. Her arm was covered with a bandage. It barely hurt but did itch. She reached up to scratch it, but it was still too sore, and anyway, the bandage prevented her from getting at it.

When Frau Hartman returned with a bowl of soup, Odette took it gratefully and ate it as quickly as she could keep getting the spoon to her mouth. She also ate the bread and stewed fruit she had brought her.

“Thank you, that was wonderful.” Odette sank back into the pillows. “Is Rutger well? I know he must be worried.”

Frau Hartman half smiled, half frowned. “Your uncle was taken away by Lord Thornbeck’s men yesterday. It is a good thing one of your servants came and told me how sick you were so I could look after you.”

Her stomach twisted at poor Uncle Rutger’s fate. “I am so grateful to you. And how is Jorgen? Is he . . . Is he well?”

Frau Hartman winked. “He is well enough. Only worried about you. He fell asleep after I told him your fever had broken and your wound seemed better.”

Odette nodded, her heart pounding extra fast. Perhaps Jorgen still cared for her. “He did not get in trouble with the margrave because of me, did he?”

“No, I expect not.”

It was hard to imagine Rutger in the dungeon.

The margrave should know by now that Odette was the poacher. Soon she would be locked in the dungeon beside Rutger.

Odette did not see Jorgen that day. But Frau Hartman stayed and took care of her. Cook and Heinke also stayed and helped, but the other servants had abandoned them after hearing that Rutger was in the dungeon. No doubt they suspected Odette could not pay them without Rutger—which was true.

“I feel guilty,” Odette said when Frau Hartman came in to bring her some food. “Letting you take care of me seems wrong.”

“Child, don’t say another word about it.” Frau Hartman pointed her finger at Odette. “It has been so long since anyone let me take care of them. This is what I love, and I will not let you
deny me the pleasure of seeing you get well.” She gave her a smile before leaving the chamber.

Later that day, Mathis entered her room without any preamble. “My darling Odette.” He came toward her bed. “I heard how sick you have been. I have sent for my own physician to come and tend you.”

“That is not necessary. I have all the help I need.”

“But I want to care for you. Are you sure?” His clothing was pretentious, and Odette found herself comparing him to Jorgen, who dressed sensibly in soft leather and linen. Mathis wore silk and fine wool and layers of clothing that were much too warm for late summer. The liripipe from his hat hung down past his waist, and the toes of his shoes curled over the top of his feet.

“Yes, I thank you. I am much better now anyway.”

“I also heard that your uncle was taken to the dungeon, and I assure you I am working to get him released. I shall protect you, Odette, and I shall save your uncle. This I vow to you.” He took her hand between both of his and bent to kiss it. “I shall use my influence—my money—to make sure your uncle shall be restored to his place in business and in society in Thornbeck. My wife shall be safe, and all her family as well.”

Odette’s stomach flipped, as it always did when thinking of marrying Mathis. She was grateful at the thought that he would save Rutger, but . . . She wished she didn’t have to be in debt to him. Even Jorgen had said she would be foolish not to marry Mathis.

“Thank you,” Odette said, hoping she sounded weak. “When I am fully recovered, please come back and talk with me some more.”

Mathis took the hint and stood to go. “My dear.” He kissed her hand again, then gazed into her eyes for a few moments before turning to leave.

Two days later, Odette was able to walk around her house with only mild pain. Her arm was better as well, and she felt much stronger. She had not seen Jorgen since the night she was so feverish and in pain, when he sat by her bed and bathed her face with water.