Page 48 of Heart of Snow
“What happened to ‘keeping the dog on his leash’? You didn’t give a fig for Carrera’s grasping or insinuations.”
“I didn’t see anything untoward.”
I lifted my skirts to show just how high his bloodied hand had traveled. “I hope whatever stole your attention was worth leaving your friend in the mud.” I shook my gown to straighten it, then turned toward the library, Belinda following as we coursed the path without another word.
I could hear Father’s pacing before we’d even entered.
He waved us inside. “Come in quickly and close the door behind you.”
“What is it?” I pulled the door shut with a click.
His eyes gleamed when he answered. “Dalwigk just learned that not only is the kaiser en route to Brussels as we speak, but he is traveling with prisoners in tow. He will arrive in a matter of weeks, at which time I’m hoping you, Margaretha, will be there to greet him.” He crossed the room and took my hands in his.“Now is the time for action. Are you ready to do all you can to bring my boy home?”
The chance to finally do something to save my brother ought to have filled me with joy instead of sitting like a boulder on my chest, squeezing the very breath from my lungs.
“Lady Margaretha is more prepared than she gives herself credit for,” Belinda answered behind me.
“Is that so?” he asked her, then he looked back at me. “Then you will do it? You will go now?” His eyes bored into mine as he awaited my answer.
It should have come easily. This was precisely what Belinda and I had been preparing for these last few months, but of a sudden, my throat seized, and I couldn’t respond. What was holding me back? What was this sinking sense of dread now overcoming me? I tried clearing my throat, but in the end, the only answer I could muster was a halting nod.
Father pulled me into a tight embrace, kissing my forehead. “You’re too good,” he muttered against my brow. He didn’t know the truth.
Releasing me, he sat down at his desk, pulling out a paper and dipping his quill. “I shall write to Queen Mary immediately, telling her you will arrive within a fortnight.”
A fortnight? Accounting for the time to travel, that meant I had a little under a week before we left. The familiar, comfortable routine of my life in Wildungen would end.
“You are dismissed.” Father’s quill danced over his paper, the cloud of melancholy that had hovered over him the last few months now completely evaporated. His excitement to finally be aiding his son was almost palpable.
Belinda and I dipped our bows, and we were moving to the door when Father called out, “Mistress Hatzfeld, I should like you to stay a moment, if you please.”
I gave her a look of wonder, but she ducked her eyes, a blush creeping over her cheeks as I opened the door and stepped out of the room. Father followed me to the door and closed it behind me, cloistering himself and Belinda in the library.
As curious as I was about this strange, private meeting, I knew I had very little time before Belinda joined me again, and there was something I needed to do. Hurrying to my tutor’s room, I riffled through his papers until I found a blank one, then scratched out a quick message to Friedrich.
Must speak with you. Meet me in the apothecary tomorrow after dinner.
—Margaretha
***
“You seem nervous,” Belinda whispered, casting a careful glance at my tutor’s nodding head. In a few moments, his chin would drop to his chest, his breath coming slow and deep, and I’d be running to the apothecary to meet Friedrich.
“My stomach aches,” I lied. “Perhaps you could fetch me a glass of wine.”
Belinda stood, setting down her needlework.
“More still”—I grabbed her hand—“some buttered bread?”
“We just finished dinner,” she whispered, but I put my hand to my belly, and she rolled her eyes, then crept out of the room. I strained to hear her fading footfalls, counting each step and holding my breath until I was sure enough time had passed. Tiptoeing to the door, I slipped through it, then closed it behind me before taking off in a near-sprint toward the south wing. The stairs winding up to the apothecary were steep, and when I arrived, I had to pause just outside, pressing a hand to my burning lungs until my breath steadied. I pushed into the room to find Friedrich wearing a trail into the floor as he paced by the table.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, crossing the room to meet me.
I signaled him to be quiet, peeking into the hallway once more before I closed the door behind me. “Father spoke with an informant yesterday. He learned the kaiser is on his way to Brussels. Father’s determined to send me there within the fortnight.”
Friedrich hissed. “So soon?” He rubbed a hand over his jaw and paced again but abruptly halted, his gaze settling on me. “But why did you call me here to tell me this when a note would have done as well?”
I hadn’t even considered that, hadn’t let myself think through the reason I so urgently needed to see him, and now with his eyes probing mine, I suddenly felt foolish. “You’re right. I suppose that would have sufficed.”
