Page 37 of The Noble Servant

Steffan stood not far away, watching, but she ignored him.

But as she passed him, he asked, “Should I watch the geese for you?”

“Oh, Ag—I mean, Lady Magdalen, won’t you find someone to watch the geese? This shepherd will not be able to watch both the sheep and the geese.”

“Of course.” Agnes looked down her lashes and said, “I shall have someone take care of finding a new goose girl.”

Magdalen was following behind Agnes, with the guard just beside her, when Steffan touched her arm and whispered, “Are you in danger?”

She shook her head, even though she was not certain, and whispered, “You should go.” And she handed him the two letters.

He stuffed them in his bag.

“What was that?” Agnes turned around.

“The shepherd was bidding me farewell. Farewell!” Magdalen called, waving her whole arm in the air as Steffan hurried off. “Take good care of those animals.” She turned back to Agnes. “He is very good with sheep, but he is not so good with geese.”

“As I said, I shall send someone to help with the geese,” Agnes said with the kind of tone one might use with a child.

Out of the corner of her eye, Magdalen could see Steffan gazing over his shoulder at her. She refused to look in his direction.

They went inside the castle, up two flights of stairs, and then down a corridor. Agnes paused in front of a door and told the guard, “You may stand guard here.”

The guard bowed, and she led Magdalen inside and shut the door behind them. Did Agnes plan to murder her here in the castle? Magdalen was determined to fight to the death. She glanced around, looking for a weapon.

Chapter Thirteen

Now, don’t try to attack me.” Agnes held up her hands. “All I have to do is scream and that guard will come and defend me. He will not hesitate to kill you.”

“I have no wish to attack you, Agnes. I simply want you to tell the truth about who you and I are.”

“I cannot very well do that. I am married now to the Duke of Wolfberg.”

Should Magdalen tell Agnes that her husband was not the real Duke of Wolfberg? She decided to keep this information to herself for now. “And where is Wolfie? I don’t see your doting husband anywhere.”

“You will be respectful, or I shall have you thrown in the dungeon.”

“Why did you bring me in here, Agnes?”

“I want to keep an eye on you. I can’t have you running back to Mallin, can I?”

“Are you not afraid your husband will recognize me and realize what a terrible mistake he has made?”

“Not very much.” Agnes aimed her nose at the ceiling. “Headmitted to me that he barely spoke to Lady Magdalen at the Thornbeck party. He doesn’t even remember what you look like.”

Was that what he told her? No wonder she wasn’t afraid he would recognize Magdalen.

“Here is your new clothing.” Agnes moved to take some clothes from a table.

“Why keep me here? Why not just kill me?”

Agnes shrugged. “I imagine my father plans to do just that. To be honest, I don’t want that on my conscience.”

“You have a conscience?” Perhaps she shouldn’t antagonize Agnes, but the bitterness just flew out of her mouth on its own.

Agnes pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “If you stay close to me, I can protect you from my father. But if he suspects you are trying to tell someone about what we have done, he will not hesitate to stop you, in whatever way he deems necessary.”

If I wish to survive, I must go along with her.“I understand.”