Page 83 of The Noble Servant

“Don’t worry. I shall be near.”

“Thank you.” Magdalen lay on the blanket he had spread out for her. He had even made her a small pillow.

“I hope my clothes will be dry by morning,” she said.

“You are not enjoying wearing men’s clothes?”

“I am grateful for them, but I am not used to them. I shall be glad to give them back to you.” How much more awkward this moment would be if she believed Steffan might want to marry her. It was good that he did not.

“How is your head feeling? Are you in much pain?”

“Only a small headache.”

After a short pause he said, “Are you certain you are well?”

“Yes.” But she didn’t feel sleepy. In fact, she was afraid to fall asleep, afraid she would dream about the man who had grabbed her.

“Can you believe that about Katrin? She betrayed us. And I had no idea.” A pang went through her middle at the remembrance of what Katrin had done to them.

“I did not realize she was our betrayer either, although I did have some suspicions.”

“Did you?” Magdalen must be a poor judge of character.

“She was the obvious person, though she seemed so kind and innocent.”

“And yet I never suspected her. I do not easily trust people, but I was completely fooled. Is it not strange that she warned us to flee?”

“Ja. Perhaps my uncle wanted us to flee.”

“But why? What purpose did that serve?Nein, I think she warned us because she was a little in love with you.”

He made a sound of air blowing between his lips. “That seems unlikely.”

“Not at all. You were the only handsome young man among the servants. That is what she once said.”

“You think I am handsome?”

Magdalen laughed a short, quick laugh. “I suspect you know you are handsome. Leastways, Katrin thought you were.”

After a pause, Steffan said, “I suppose she had little choice but to inform on us. My uncle probably brought her to Wolfberg from Arnsbaden, and she felt her loyalty was owed to him. He probably threatened to murder her family if she did not ferret out information for him.”

Tears rose to Magdalen’s eyes again. “I feel as if all anyone ever does is betray me.”

“I have not betrayed you.”

“I felt a bit betrayed when you took my letters but did not send them as you promised.”

After a slight pause, he said, “That was wrong of me. I deceived you. Please forgive me. The letter to Thornbeck has been sent now.”

“You did save my life tonight. That can make up for a lot of sins, I suppose. I forgive you.”

“Indeed, we are fortunate all the clanging of swords did not bring Hazen’s men upon us.”

“The forest is rather good at muffling sound. I suppose it is all the trees and ferns and moss and endless bushes. But you did save me.” She let the tone of her voice take on the seriousness she was feeling. “And I am very grateful.”

“And I am grateful God let me be here when you needed me.”

Did he long to reach out and hold her hand the way she was longing to, so much so that her hand ached? How good it had felt earlier when he’d held her in his arms, so tender and warm. If only he would hold her like that again.