“Thaddeus Lee,” the other said.
“Now I shall tell you a secret that you must not tell another soul.” Margaretha cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered in the red-haired man’s ear and told him about the tunnel in the dungeon that led outside the wall of the town. Then she told the brown-haired man, as he leaned down and offered her his ear.
“When we get to the bottom of the steps, go to the right.”
The men nodded, then escorted her down the dark steps.
“Who goes there?” A guard stood at the bottom of the steps holding up a torch, his other hand reaching for his sword hilt at his belt. The old gaoler was nowhere in sight.
Thomas greeted him and said, “Lord Claybrook ordered Lady Margaretha to spend the night in the dungeon.”
Men — her father’s own knights and soldiers — lined the walls, chained hand and foot. She even recognized Britta’s sweetheart, Gustaf. The sight of them made her clench her teeth and itch to use the heavy cross in her sleeve.
Thomas and Thaddeus had let go of her arms while they talked with the man guarding the dungeon. She heard a thud and turned to look.
The guard sank to the floor. Thomas stood holding his sword at an odd angle. Apparently he had struck the guard with the butt of the hilt. The guard lay unmoving on the stone floor.
“We must set these men free.”
Thaddeus was already taking the keys from the large ring hanging from the guard’s belt. He systematically unlocked each man’s manacles.
The men had obviously been shackled to the wall for quite some time. The ones who could barely walk were supported by the ones who were stronger and not injured.
“Come this way.” They grabbed all the torches they could find and Margaretha led them all down the corridor to the chamber at the end, then pressed the trigger stone to open the wall and lead them into the secret tunnel. When they were safely through, they closed the stone wall back into place.
Margaretha led them all as they moved, one in front of the other, in the narrow tunnel. Finally, without encountering any bats or even any rats, they came to the end.
“Here is the door leading out,” she said to Thomas and Thaddeus. They put their shoulders up to it and pushed the door open easily. The dark of night greeted them, with stars and moon shining in the clear sky, as they all climbed out of the tunnel and onto the grassy meadow.
“I want to go with you to find my father, but I hate to leave my family. It is possible Claybrook may kill them when he discovers I’ve escaped.”
“I don’t think he will,” Thomas said. “He will use them for bargaining if things don’t go well and the castle is besieged. Besides, he’s too sick at the moment to order anyone killed.”
That was certainly true.
“But what will happen to these men?” Thaddeus asked her, looking around at the men who had been chained in the dungeon. “Some of them are not able to come with us.”
“You are right.”
“Lady Margaretha.” One of the men approached her, and she realized it was Sir Edgar. “The men who are not able to come with you to find your father will all find succor at my home, which is only a short walk from here. My wife and servants will personally attend the injured ones.”
“Thank you, Sir Edgar. That is very good of you.”
While Sir Edgar gave instructions to the injured, Margaretha turned to Thaddeus and Thomas. “Do you think we can find Duke Wilhelm without being captured by Claybrook’s men?”
“I think so,” Thaddeus said. “Most of Claybrook’s men are either guarding the city gates or guarding the castle.”
Thomas said, “Since you are with us, Lady Margaretha, we should find Duke Wilhelm and his men without much delay, as the people know you and will not be afraid to tell you. But we should hurry, since we don’t know how potent the poison was that Lord Claybrook drank. Perhaps he will only be sick for a short time.”
As the injured started for Sir Edgar’s house, the rest of her father’s men that they had rescued from the dungeon joined with Thomas, Thaddeus, and Margaretha, and they started walking east, away from Hagenheim Castle.
Margaretha’s feet were still sore from all the journeying she and Colin had done, but she was too grateful to have escaped Claybrook to complain. She walked through the trees, across meadows, crossed a stream, over hills, and still they walked.
One of the men they had rescued from the dungeon knocked on the door to a family friend’s house to ask if he had heard where Duke Wilhelm, Lord Hamlin, and their men were. He did not know, but he told them the name of someone who might, and explained where to find him. So they walked on.
Margaretha had not slept well in many days, and she felt she could almost sleep standing up. Finally, they came to the large stone manse that belonged to another of Duke Wilhelm’s guards. Margaretha went to the door, along with the others, and knocked. When she had explained to the parents of this guard who she was and that they were looking for Duke Wilhelm and Lord Hamlin, they pulled Margaretha inside and immediately bustled about, finding her a chair to sit on and bringing her a goblet of wine.
The woman of the house told her, “My dear Lady Margaretha, you look worn half to death. Stay here while the men go and join your father.”
“Then you know where he is?”
“Bless your soul, yes. My husband has been helping him round up men for the battle for Hagenheim Castle, to take place at dawn tomorrow. These fine men can join him, and you can stay here and rest yourself in a nice warm bed.”
It didn’t take long for the good woman to convince Margaretha that she should stay and get as much sleep as possible before being reunited with her father. She was almost too exhausted to climb the stairs to the bedchamber the lady had sent her servants to prepare for her. When she did lie down, the bed felt exquisite.
When she was alone and the candle had been extinguished, she pulled the heavy iron cross out of her sleeve and clutched it to her chest, feeling comforted, as it was not only a weapon but the representation of all her hope. “Thank you, Jesus,” she whispered, “for Claybrook becoming sick, and for Thomas and Thaddeus helping me escape.”
Her thoughts immediately turned to Colin. Where was he? Was he well and safe? Was he trying to come to her? And where was her father and Valten? Had Colin left Toby in Marienberg? Was he safe and happy?
When she had been with Colin, she missed her mother. Now that she had been with her mother, she missed Colin. Remembering how he had held her in his arms when she cried, she felt a strange, almost painful tug at her heart. How she wished to see him again, to talk to him, to tell him everything that had happened to her. She wanted him to hold her again. She wanted him to feel about her the way her brothers felt about their wives. She wanted him to get that look in his eyes that Gabe had for Sophie and Valten had for Gisela.
“Colin, Colin. I escaped. Again. Now I just want you to be safe and come back for me. Please come back.” She closed her eyes, her hand touching the cross beside her in the bed.
Chapter
31
It was twilight when Colin and the rest of his party arrived at Duke Wilhelm’s encampment. Now they were all gathered — a mighty force, including several men of high rank and all their knights and soldiers who were allied with Duke Wilhelm.
Colin had been surprised to find his father at Marienberg when he and Toby made their way there a few hours after Margaretha had been captured by Claybrook’s men. He soon learned Colin’s father had felt it his duty to come to Germany and try to bring Claybrook to justice for the heinous murder the man had committed. And he had also come looking for his son, worried that Colin would get himself killed, no doubt. He had stopped in Marienberg because he had heard that Claybrook was on a mission to woo Duke Wilhelm’s daughter. He also knew that the Duke of Marienberg was a near relation of Duke Wilhelm, and that Claybrook’s uncle lived in Keiterhafen, which was near Hagenheim.
When Colin arrived at Marienberg Castle, speaking only English, th
e castle servants had not understood him. He had been quite surprised when they went and fetched his father. Colin had been nearly overcome by his father’s joy at seeing his son unharmed. He would not admit it to anyone but himself, but there had been a few tears shed, by both men.
Now the plan was to attack Claybrook and his men at Hagenheim Castle an hour before dawn, as Duke Theodemar of Marienberg, Lord Glynval, and all their combined fighting men, had joined Duke Wilhelm and his knights and allies. As they waited for the appropriate time to attack, Colin realized he might finally be able to speak to Duke Wilhelm.
Colin compelled a new friend he had made, Sir Gerek, who was one of Duke Wilhelm’s knights, to translate his meeting with Duke Wilhelm. But first, the Duke of Marienberg would make the introductions for Colin and his father.
“Duke Wilhelm,” Duke Theodemar said, “allow me to present the Earl of Glynval and his son, Lord le Wyse, both of England. I have only recently made their acquaintance, but I can assure you, they are well worth having as allies. And now I will allow Lord le Wyse to explain why they are here to fight against Claybrook, while I see to my men.”
Sir Gerek quietly interpreted for Colin and his father.
The uncle and nephew exchanged a few more words of friendly greeting before Duke Theodemar excused himself.
“Your Grace,” Colin began, as he faced Margaretha’s father for the first time, trying to appear both humble and confident. “I came to the Holy Roman Empire with the intention of capturing Claybrook and taking him back to England to face the consequences of a murder that he had committed there. I was attacked and left for dead by his men and was brought to your healer at Hagenheim Castle.”
Up to that point, Duke Wilhelm had looked at him with piercing but expressionless blue eyes. His brows lifted when Colin mentioned Hagenheim Castle, and as Sir Gerek interpreted Colin’s English into German for Duke Wilhelm.
“Before I could recover enough to come to you with my story, you had left Hagenheim. I managed to tell your daughter, Lady Margaretha, of Claybrook’s true character, and she bravely eavesdropped on Claybrook and discovered what he was about to do in Hagenheim. We were both captured by him, but we escaped and tried to make our way to Marienberg. We traveled for several days — ”
“You traveled with my daughter? Who accompanied you?”
His heart leapt to his throat at the look in Duke Wilhelm’s eyes. “Sir, we were alone most of the time.” He continued quickly, so as not to give the duke a chance to interrupt. “But I assure you, your daughter is as virtuous as ever, and I wish to ask your blessing and permission to marry her, if she is willing, for I have fallen in love with her.”
Duke Wilhelm studied him with slightly narrowed eyes. “And how does my daughter feel? Is she in love with you?”
“I don’t know, sir. I would like to discover that myself, as soon as I see her again.”
“And where is my daughter now?”
His throat went dry, and he had to swallow, hard, to get the words out. “I do not know for certain. She was taken by Claybrook’s men. I believe she should have arrived back at Hagenheim one or two days ago.”
Duke Wilhelm said nothing, but stared at Colin from beneath those lordly brows of his. Colin had to force himself not to squirm, but to meet him stare for stare.
“Your father is an earl, from England, and you have no title. Is that true?”
“My father is the first Earl of Glynval, for services rendered to King Richard. I am the oldest son, and my father’s family has long held many lands and estates in England, from Lincolnshire to Surrey.” He hated laying out his pedigree to prove his worth, as if he was a stallion or a hunting dog, but he would do anything to win Margaretha’s father’s permission to marry her. “More importantly, sir, you have my word that I would cherish your daughter and treat her well, bringing her back to Hagenheim for visits, whenever feasible, and that I am a God-fearing man whose priorities are God and family.”
Duke Wilhelm’s tense features relaxed, but he never took his eyes off Colin. “I believe you are an honorable man, Lord le Wyse. If Margaretha wishes it, and if her mother approves of you, you have my blessing to wed.”
Margaretha opened her eyes in the strange bed and immediately remembered where she was. She could not have slept long, as it was still quite dark outside. What had awakened her?
A strange noise was coming from outside. It was not loud, but it was pervasive, almost a rumbling sound. She slipped out of bed, still wearing her mother’s emerald green dress, and looked out the narrow window.
A hundred men or more and their horses were passing by the house at a fast walk. She immediately recognized her father in his chain mail and sitting on his favorite horse.
Margaretha drew in a startled breath, hurriedly slipped on her shoes, and raced out the door and down the stairs. She ran across the main floor of the house. A young man was guarding the front door, and he jumped up from his stool at the sound of her footsteps pattering across the flagstone floor.
“Open the door,” she cried. “It’s my father!”
The boy obeyed, unbolting the crossbar and pushing open the massive wooden door.
Margaretha hurried outside. There were so many men. How would she find her father? “Father!” she called out. “Father, it’s Margaretha!”
The crowd of men parted, and her father appeared on his horse. He dismounted and came toward her.
Margaretha threw her arms around him. “Father! You’re here! We have been waiting for you to come.” His mail hauberk was not comfortable against her cheek, but she hardly cared.
“My Liebling, Margaretha.” He kissed her forehead. When he pulled away and looked down into her eyes, there was something almost sad about his smile. What was he thinking?
“Father, I’m so glad you’ve come. Please be careful. Claybrook has guards at all the gates and inside the castle, but he was poisoned last night and I don’t know how sick he is, but maybe he will die. I escaped with two of Claybrook’s men who were coming to join you.”
“Yes, Thomas and Thaddeus told me what transpired.”
“Oh, good. They found you.”
“And there is someone else here who has found me.” Her father stepped back and Colin stepped closer.
“Colin!” Even in his mail hauberk, he took her breath away.
Margaretha’s voice set Colin’s heart to pounding. When her father stepped away to watch the two of them greet each other, it beat even harder.
She closed the distance and threw her arms around him, as she had done her father. “Oh, Colin, I knew you’d come.” She stood on the tips of her toes and pressed her cheek against his — about the only part of his body not covered in chain mail.
“How did you recognize me?” It wasn’t what he had planned to say to her upon first seeing her again. But he was very aware that her father was only a few feet away.
“Oh, Colin! You are well! You are here! I thank God.” She pulled away to look at him. “You look so handsome in armor.” Her smile made his chest tighten. “I must look a fright after walking for hours, then sleeping in my clothes — my mother’s dress at that. I probably have spider webs in my hair too, from walking through the tunnel.” She rubbed her hand over her hair, which hung loose around her shoulders.
“You look beautiful to me.” He longed to say more but a lump formed in his throat. He only hoped that later they would find a few moments to be alone.
Margaretha had yearned to see Colin again, but now she felt shy. It was strange to be surrounded by people, when she so wanted to speak to him alone. And by the look on his face, he was feeling the same thing. Somehow, telling him he was handsome in his armor, and the way he had told her she was beautiful, had seemed incongruous with her father standing only four feet away. She felt herself blushing.
Strange how she was more interested in talking with Colin than with her own father! And it had been longer since she’d seen her father. Should she feel guilty?
The other men c
ontinued on their way, and her father was turning to leave too.
Colin leaned closer. He only said, “I have to go,” but a world of words were in his eyes.
Margaretha held tight to his arm. “Take me with you.”
He got that anxious look, just as he had when she had asked to take Toby with them. “You should stay here. It will be safer.” But the edge in his voice proved that he didn’t believe she would.
“You must take me with you. Nothing bad will happen to me.”
Her father, who had mounted his horse but was still very near them, said to Colin, “The two of you will stay at the rear of the fighting men, and you can be Margaretha’s guard. We should be able to defeat Claybrook’s men rather quickly, since we greatly outnumber them.” He smiled a bit ruefully, as if he knew something she didn’t. “I’m sure you’ll keep her safe.”
Margaretha turned a triumphant smile on Colin. “Yes, you’ll keep me safe.”
“There’s an extra horse in the back,” her father said.
Once Margaretha was mounted on a horse, Colin rode beside her, and they cantered until they were near the front of the great company of knights and soldiers. Several carried torches so that they would be able to see their way through the dense forest up ahead.
Colin kept glancing at her, and she at him, but they had little opportunity to talk. The other men crowded around them, laughing and shouting, eager to begin the battle for Hagenheim Castle.
The journey was accomplished much faster on horseback than it had on foot, and soon they were at the edge of the meadow outside the town wall where the entrance to the tunnel was located.
After they tied the horses to the trees next to the meadow, Colin stepped toward her. He was so close, if she had lifted her hand, she would have brushed his arm. He looked into her eyes as if he was about to ask her something important.
Her heart skipped a few beats, and she focused on his perfect lips. How would it feel to kiss them? Did he want to kiss her?
Her father cleared his throat from only a few feet away. “We’ll go through the tunnel to attack.”