Page 21 of Heart of Snow
“So Ulrich reminded me.” I smiled.
We walked out of the forest, meeting Mistress Hatzfeld at the edge of the dell and trekking back to the bonfire together. Before we reached the crowd, the countess turned to me.
“I think the best time for French lessons will be after dinner. My tutor always falls asleep while I’m reading, so it shouldn’t be difficult to sneak away.”
“Very well. Should we plan on Tuesday afternoons?” I’d be mucking stalls for a year to get this favor from Ulrich, but it had to be done.
“Yes. In Father’s library. Only, take care not to be discovered in that part of the castle.”
“I will, as long as you take care to keep your father from his library.”
Mistress Hatzfeld spoke up. “I’ll see to it.”
I cast her a curious glance, but she did not meet my eye. Bowing, I said, “Then I’ll be there.”
Countess Margaretha smiled and moved toward the bonfire, turning the wreath over in her hands a few times before throwing it into the flames. As she watched it burn, she repeated the phrase from tradition: “May all my ill luck depart and be burned up with these.”
Chapter 10
Margaretha
My tutor’s head drooped tohis chest, and Belinda and I exchanged looks. We waited for his gentle snoring before creeping from the room and toward Father’s library. I only hoped Friedrich had found his way there safely.
Tiptoeing down the hall, we rounded a corner and nearly bumped right into Father, followed by a smiling Carrera with two soldiers.
“Margaretha.” Father’s brow wrinkled, his worn face looking more weary with each day since the fall of the Reformation. “I was just in search of you. But why are you not at your studies?”
“Taking a small bit of exercise,” I answered with a nervous laugh, glancing between the soldiers. “Why should you seek me?” Normally I looked forward to Father’s visits, to the snippets of information he would share about Samuel’s whereabouts. But with the soldiers here, this seemed ominous.
“I came to tell you I’m leaving for Augsburg.” He looked down at his hands. “The kaiser has summoned me.”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
“Do not worry yourself,señorita.” Carrera stepped forward. “All will be well.”
His words did nothing to soothe me. I wouldn’t trust the Spaniard as far as I could spit, which I had half a mind to do if it could discourage that leering smile of his.
Father took my shoulders in his hands, drawing my eye. “The kaiser won’t even be there. I’m to meet with his representative, Bishop de Granvelle.”
“Why should that bring me any comfort?” My nose tickled, warning me that tears were not far behind. Drat my propensity for crying.
“If he had any intention of making an example of me, he’d want to witness it for himself.” He gave a sad smile.
“Oh, Father.”
Pulling me into his arms, he quickly whispered into my hair, “Dalwigk brought word. The kaiser and his court will not return to Brussels until winter.”
Winter? I bemoaned the setback. What would my brother suffer in the months between now and then? Was there nothing I could do to help him?
Of course there was. And I was on my way to do it now, though I still hated the idea of deception. But how else would I save my brother? Or save myself and Belinda?
“Do what you must to make yourself ready.” Father gave me a squeeze, kissing my hair and whispering his goodbye. “I’ll be here with you again in three or four weeks’ time.”
“Promise me.” I clung to his overcoat, refusing to let him go.
“I promise.”
Watching my father’s retreating back, I swallowed down my fear, clinging to his vow to return. And focusing forward. Five months from now I would be in Brussels. It seemed so far away, but that kind of thinking would do me no good. The time to prepare was now, and so I took firm steps down the hall, leading the way toward Friedrich.
