the meantime,” Colin went on, “you and I will alert your father’s guards to what Claybrook is planning, and find one of them to take a message to your father. But we must be careful.” Colin pinned her with his blue eyes. “Some of the duke’s guards may not be loyal to your father anymore. Claybrook may have bribed them or otherwise won them over to his side.”
Margaretha nodded. She was surprised she felt no fear, only excited energy surging through her. It was good to have a plan of action, and Colin seemed to know what to do.
When they were ready, Margaretha embraced first Gisela, then Kirstyn and Adela, kissing their cheeks. Her mother hugged her, then looked into her eyes. “I will be praying for you. You will not be afraid, but you will do whatever you have to do to stay safe.” Her look was fierce, even with tears in her eyes.
“I love you, Mother. God will keep us safe.”
She and Colin hurried away down the stairs.
Chapter
12
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Lord Claybrook entered the Great Hall only a few feet in front of them. She shrank back, instinctively throwing her arm back as though to hide Colin, who flattened himself against the stone wall. Lord Claybrook walked confidently through the doorway, never glancing in their direction.
Margaretha sat down on the steps, placing her hand over her heart. It vibrated against her hand, so hard was it pounding. “He nearly saw us.”
“If he sees you,” Colin whispered, “do not act as if anything is amiss. But if he sees me, our plan is ruined.” He grabbed her upper arms, forcing her to look at him. “You must help me find a few loyal guards, men you are certain would never betray your family. Then you will need to go to Claybrook in the Great Hall. Since he asked your mother to tell you to meet him there, he will become suspicious if you don’t show up.”
Margaretha’s heart fluttered. He seemed so wise and capable, his hands warm and reassuring as they gripped her arms. Thanks be to God that he was here, helping her.
“Will you come with me?” she whispered.
“Yes, but you must lead the way.”
He let go and she hurried to leave the castle by a back door. Colin followed just behind her to the gate.
When they arrived at the gate house, a guard was there, but Margaretha did not know him. With him was one of Lord Claybrook’s guards, wearing the blue and gold of Lord Claybrook’s uncle. Margaretha smiled at them, hoping she didn’t look suspicious. A glance behind her showed Colin hanging his head, no doubt trying to hide his face.
Margaretha turned back toward the castle, and when she did, she saw more of Claybrook’s guards near the stable. Were they trying to keep track of who was coming and going?
She clasped her hands and bit her lip as she walked, keeping to the back side of the castle so as not to be visible to Claybrook from the windows of the Great Hall. God , have you truly entrusted me , a girl who has never faced danger of any kind , to help save Hagenheim? To place such a responsibility on me , when I never imagined I would need to do anything like this . . .
“Do you know where you’re going?” Colin whispered behind her.
Margaretha kept walking as she turned her head to answer. “Of course. I know every foot of these — oh.” She ran into something . . . or someone.
“Careful, Lady Margaretha. You should look where you’re going.”
She took hold of his massive arm. “Bezilo.” He was as loyal as any of her father’s guards. She would wager her life on it. “We must speak with you, Bezilo, but we need to go where no one will hear us. Please come with me.” They were near the flower garden, which was behind the castle, sheltered partially by trees. She led the two men through the short iron gate and motioned them to follow her to the shade of a low-hanging mulberry tree.
Once they were under the relative seclusion of the thick leaves and branches, she told Bezilo in a hushed voice,
Margaretha nodded. She was surprised she felt no fear, only excited energy surging through her. It was good to have a plan of action, and Colin seemed to know what to do.
When they were ready, Margaretha embraced first Gisela, then Kirstyn and Adela, kissing their cheeks. Her mother hugged her, then looked into her eyes. “I will be praying for you. You will not be afraid, but you will do whatever you have to do to stay safe.” Her look was fierce, even with tears in her eyes.
“I love you, Mother. God will keep us safe.”
She and Colin hurried away down the stairs.
Chapter
12
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Lord Claybrook entered the Great Hall only a few feet in front of them. She shrank back, instinctively throwing her arm back as though to hide Colin, who flattened himself against the stone wall. Lord Claybrook walked confidently through the doorway, never glancing in their direction.
Margaretha sat down on the steps, placing her hand over her heart. It vibrated against her hand, so hard was it pounding. “He nearly saw us.”
“If he sees you,” Colin whispered, “do not act as if anything is amiss. But if he sees me, our plan is ruined.” He grabbed her upper arms, forcing her to look at him. “You must help me find a few loyal guards, men you are certain would never betray your family. Then you will need to go to Claybrook in the Great Hall. Since he asked your mother to tell you to meet him there, he will become suspicious if you don’t show up.”
Margaretha’s heart fluttered. He seemed so wise and capable, his hands warm and reassuring as they gripped her arms. Thanks be to God that he was here, helping her.
“Will you come with me?” she whispered.
“Yes, but you must lead the way.”
He let go and she hurried to leave the castle by a back door. Colin followed just behind her to the gate.
When they arrived at the gate house, a guard was there, but Margaretha did not know him. With him was one of Lord Claybrook’s guards, wearing the blue and gold of Lord Claybrook’s uncle. Margaretha smiled at them, hoping she didn’t look suspicious. A glance behind her showed Colin hanging his head, no doubt trying to hide his face.
Margaretha turned back toward the castle, and when she did, she saw more of Claybrook’s guards near the stable. Were they trying to keep track of who was coming and going?
She clasped her hands and bit her lip as she walked, keeping to the back side of the castle so as not to be visible to Claybrook from the windows of the Great Hall. God , have you truly entrusted me , a girl who has never faced danger of any kind , to help save Hagenheim? To place such a responsibility on me , when I never imagined I would need to do anything like this . . .
“Do you know where you’re going?” Colin whispered behind her.
Margaretha kept walking as she turned her head to answer. “Of course. I know every foot of these — oh.” She ran into something . . . or someone.
“Careful, Lady Margaretha. You should look where you’re going.”
She took hold of his massive arm. “Bezilo.” He was as loyal as any of her father’s guards. She would wager her life on it. “We must speak with you, Bezilo, but we need to go where no one will hear us. Please come with me.” They were near the flower garden, which was behind the castle, sheltered partially by trees. She led the two men through the short iron gate and motioned them to follow her to the shade of a low-hanging mulberry tree.
Once they were under the relative seclusion of the thick leaves and branches, she told Bezilo in a hushed voice,
Similar Books
