Iny Lorentz - The Marie Series 02 by The Lady of the Castle Page A

looking out the door curiously.
    “Oh, that,” the housekeeper replied with a shrug.
    Opening his sheepskin coat, the herald laughed cheerfully.
    “Sir Michel Adler was made a knight of the Reich by the kaiser for his courage in battle. If that isn’t a reason to celebrate and give the messenger a cup of good wine, then I don’t know what is.”
    “You’ll get your cup of wine and more.” Appearing at the main door, Marie held out her hand for the officially sealed letter and tore it open. She was so nervous, she could hardly read the document, but the messenger was right. Her Michel had been elevated to the rank of a free knight, which made him equal to Mechthild von Arnstein’s husband, Dietmar.
    “Lead the messenger to the kitchen, Marga, and give him wine and a decent meal. But first call Kunz to take care of the horse. I don’t want man or beast wanting for anything,” she instructed her housekeeper. The woman nodded sullenly and harshly ordered the man to follow her.
    Marie disregarded Marga’s bad mood and pressed the message against her glowing cheeks. She wanted to sing and dance at this sign that he was alive, and she regretted not being able to ride to Hiltrud to share this joy.
    All of a sudden she turned and followed the servant taking the messenger’s horse to the stable. “Kunz, hitch the little carriage. I’m going to the goat farm.”
    The haggard servant cast a wary eye at the overcast sky. “I wouldn’t take the open carriage, mistress. It’s mild for November, but it’s going to rain.”
    Marie laughed. “We’ll be there in less than half an hour, and you can give me the furs from the sled for the cold and get a tarred sheet to protect us from the rain.”
    Grumbling, the servant nodded, handed the horse to one of the stable boys, and walked to the carriage shed to get the cart and push it out into the courtyard. He had thought less of his mistress than of himself with his warning. He’d be exposed to the weather far more than she, but when his mistress set her mind to something, there was nothing he could do but obey. Morosely he got to work, dawdling so much that the first raindrops were falling even before they’d left.
    Marie let Ischi wrap her up in the carriage until only the tip of her nose was sticking out. “Come on, Kunz. Hurry up!” the maid told the servant. He put on his old hat and threw a felt shawl around his shoulders. Still annoyed he’d had to leave the warmth of the stables, he vented his anger on the horse, making the carriage bounce across potholes like a leather ball. Marie had to hang on with both hands, but because she was so excited, she didn’t say anything, enjoying the fast ride despite the jolting and bumping. When they reached the goat farm, Mariele helped her out of her coat, and Marie waited until Hiltrud had served Kunz a generous snack and a jug of wine. The older man’s mood brightened visibly at the sight of a rosy ham and sausages.
    When her friend pulled her into the living room where they could sit and talk comfortably on a cushioned bench, her voice failed her at first. Hiltrud stroked her hair. “Calm down, my dear! Think of your baby. What news do you have that brings you here in such a state?”
    “I received a message from Michel, or rather, about him. He was brave in battle and has been made a knight of the Reich by the kaiser.” Marie could barely sit still with excitement and handed her the document. “Here, read! A messenger from the count palatine brought this today.”
    Hiltrud had learned enough letters with Marie’s help to understand most of the message. Sighing, she gazed at her friend with mixed emotions. “Congratulations, Marie. That really is great news for you. I’m only sorry that we’ll have to say good-bye soon.”
    Marie shook her head. “But why? I don’t understand . . .”
    “Look here! It says the kaiser will invest Michel with an imperial fiefdom, so you’ll move to wherever the kaiser