Page 88 of The Noble Servant

“We’ll spend the night inside the castle, but we’ll have to hide out here in the woods until it gets dark.”

“Inside the castle?”

“I know every inch of Wolfberg Castle, including one place I don’t think even my uncle knows about.”

“At least he wouldn’t think to look for us in the castle.”

She couldn’t help watching his face, noting every nuance of his profile, memorizing each line and curve of his jawline and nose and brow and lips. Ever since he kissed her cheek, she’d been half afraid, half hopeful he might kiss her again. But she could not encourage such a thing.

Twilight was falling as they neared the meadow where they used to graze their sheep and geese. They hid in the shadows and watched the new goose girl herd her gaggle of geese along the path and out of sight on their way to the goose pen. The sheep were nowhere in sight.

They sat and ate some of the food they had been given at the abbey. Then they went to the place under the rock where Steffan had hidden his important things. He dug up his metal box, dumped everything into his traveling bag, and waited for nightfall.

When it grew quite dark, they crept toward the castle. As theywatched from the cover of the trees, a guard strode by, keeping close to the castle. Several minutes later, he came by again.

When the guard was out of sight, they hurried to the small door at the rear of the castle that was always locked. Steffan took out his key, opened the door, then locked it behind them.

They were inside.

Steffan and Magdalen both wore their servants’ clothing, so they would not stand out too much, but all servants should be in their beds at this hour. They had to move with stealth and hope no one saw them.

Steffan headed down a corridor Magdalen was probably unfamiliar with as he made his way to the east wing of the castle. He found the door he was looking for. It was locked. He took out his key and opened it.

How fortunate that he had taken this key with him when he went to Prague.

The door led to a small room and a winding staircase that went up and around in a circular fashion. They walked to the staircase and started up.

“I’ve never seen a staircase such as this,” Magdalen said. “It almost makes me dizzy.”

They came to a small window. They were in the highest tower of the castle. Magdalen stepped onto the stair beside him and they both looked out.

The view of dark-blue waters seemed to go on forever, and from here they could see a glimpse of white cliff faces jutting into the edge of the water.

“You are so fortunate to grow up in a home as magnificent as Wolfberg Castle, and one from which you can see the ocean ... I can’t think of anything better.”

His heart grew so big it filled his chest. But he replied, “I am glad you approve of the view.”

“I like the hills where I live, with the thick forests, but you have both forests and sea. Did you miss it when you were in Prague?”

“I did. For a long time it was hard to go to sleep at night without that distant roar.”

“What was it like to be with men who were focused on learning?”

“Some were not always focused on our studies. Some were more focused on pursuing ... women and drink.”

“But not you?”

She just assumed he did not pursue the sins of the flesh. His heart expanded again at the thought of her faith in him.

“I had seen them, the way they looked when they came back from a night of drinking and carousing—sick and dirty and barely able to hold up their heads—and I was not tempted to join with them.”

“That was wise and mature of you.”

“I had two friends who felt the same way. We sometimes played tricks on the other fellows, and we went to dances and festivals. We enjoyed our time together.”

“Were they also dukes?”

“My two closest friends were earls’ sons, but we kept our titles a secret.” He suddenly wished she could meet them.