Page 7 of The Noble Servant

As they neared the gate that led to the castle, Agnes whispered, “Not a word out of you, or Father will kill the mute boy.” She glanced in Lenhart’s direction.

Magdalen merely glared back.You and your father will pay for hurting Lenhart.

The cut over the boy’s eye was still crusted over, and his expression reminded her of a stray dog she’d seen once in the village of Mallin when some boys threw rocks at it. The thought of anyone hurting a kindly, innocent boy like him made her blood boil.

She had to be brave like Avelina and watch for an opportunity to right this wrong.

The gate was high and impressive, and the guards wore the gold and burgundy livery of the dukedom of Wolfberg. In the gray twilight, the castle emerged from the trees as they passed through the gate. The five towers loomed over them, one giant round one in the middle and one square tower at each of the four corners of the massive building.

The guards halted their little group, and Erlich made a show of helping Agnes down out of the cart. He told them in a gruff voice, “This is the duke’s future bride, Lady Magdalen of Mallin.”

He bowed to Agnes, who stepped forward and smiled at the guards.

Their mouths went slack and they bowed respectfully, then stepped back to let them pass.

As Magdalen walked past, their gazes lingered on her and her brown woolen kirtle. One of them gave her a lascivious wink.

Magdalen had to look straight ahead to hide her expression. It seemed these men respected only a woman of noble rank, and nobility was only as deep as one’s clothing.

A guard escorted them up the steps toward the door of the castle, while a servant came to lead away their horse, cart, and mules.

“Let this servant boy help with the horse and mules,” Erlich said. “He is fit only to serve in the stables, since he is mute.”

The guard nodded.

Magdalen picked up a bag of her things from the cart, but Agnes snatched it out of her hands, then shoved her own bag at Magdalen.

A woman appeared in the doorway and bowed to Agnes. “Lady Magdalen, I am Frau Clara, and I am the head house servant. Please allow me to welcome you to Wolfberg Castle.”

“Thank you, Frau Clara. Before we go in”—Agnes pointed at Magdalen—“would you please send this servant girl to do some menial task outside the castle? She has displeased me greatly, and I no longer wish her to be my personal servant.”

“I believe our most menial task would be seeing to the geese.” She looked down her pointed nose at Magdalen.

“Yes, that is the best task for her.” Agnes narrowed her eyes. “She cannot unleash her sharp tongue on anyone, gossiping and lying, which is her wont, for there will be no one around except the geese.”

The guard hurried up the steps and through the front door, which was guarded by two more soldiers. He disappeared inside, then several moments later he returned, accompanied by four servants who rushed toward the cart, gathered all their things, and carried them back up the steps and into the castle.

A middle-aged man with dark hair mixed with white emerged from the castle door and met them at the top of the steps.

Frau Clara said, “Lady Magdalen, this is Lord Hazen, the duke’s uncle.”

Agnes smiled at Lord Hazen, a short, balding man with small eyes.

“Frau Clara,” Lord Hazen said, “take Lady Magdalen’s servants to their quarters while I show the lady to her room.”

As Magdalen and Erlich walked away, Lord Hazen said, “The duke is not feeling well this evening, but I believe you will get a chance to meet him in the morning.”

The rest of their conversation was lost as Frau Clara hurried Magdalen along.

“No dawdling. And if you think you shall be turning your sharp tongue on me, you shall regret it. We do not accept such behavior here from our servants. You will find yourself without a position at all. You can sleep in the maidservants’ quarters and take your meals with the other servants. I expect Katrin will be pleased to let you take her place with the geese. She’s been asking to be promoted to the kitchen.”

Magdalen said nothing, her cheeks burning at the unjust scolding. What would the woman say when she discovered she’d been speaking this way to the actual Lady Magdalen?

And what if the duke did not realize Agnes was an imposter before Magdalen could convince him he was making a mistake? The thought of the Duke of Wolfberg marrying Agnes made Magdalen’s stomach churn. Her people needed her to help them have enough food again. She could not allow Agnes to ruin Mallin.

How furious Mother would be at Magdalen for allowing this to happen.

Frau Clara led her outside. They passed the kitchen, which was a detached brick building only two feet from a side door of the large stone castle. They descended a series of steps built into thegrass-covered mountainside until they curved to the right and revealed a gaggle of geese and a young woman beside them.