Page 84 of The Piper's Pursuit

“I am sorry for what my husband has done. I knew he had done some dishonest things, but my daughter, who is as clever as any man, has discovered much worse things than I ever imagined, I’m afraid.”

Mother’s bottom lip quivered, but after a moment, it stilled. Did Mother finally understand? She was finally admitting the truth about that awful man.

“I know you will be forced to appoint a new mayor,” Mother went on, “so I will leave this place as soon as you say.”

“You do not have to leave as yet. I will not punish you for the sins of your husband. And though I wish you had sent word to me when you realized his corruption, you were his wife, and I understand why you did not. You were his victim as much as anyone else.”

Duke Wilhelm said this last part with a kind and gentle voice. It brought tears to Mother’s eyes as well as Katerina’s.Victim.As much as Katerina hated that word being applied to herself or her mother, by very definition they were victims. But they would not be any longer. If Katerina had the power to stop it, they would never be beaten up, either by words or by fists, ever again.

But it might not be in her power, so she prayed,Lord God, please be willing to lead Mother and me away from abusers like Hennek. God, give us both wisdom and clarity... and healing.

The servants brought them some food for a light meal, and as soon as they were gone, they discussed who might be a threat to the town and to their safety.

“My men report that there were five dead bodies in the mine, and I’m assuming they were all Hennek’s guards.”

“Yes, I’m sure they were, but I will identify them, if you wish,” Katerina said.

“I don’t think that will be necessary, but I thank you for being willing to do that. My men will have them buried after their families have claimed them, if they wish to do so. In addition to those, there were several dead and injured of Hennek’s men in Keiterhafen. You saw and identified all of them, I believe. And who else do you think might be left in the city who might wish to do harm to you?”

“There were many of the town guards who were loyal to Hennek, but I know one guard who was not loyal to him. His name is Hans.”

Duke Wilhelm had his men go find Hans. In the meantime, Katerina gave the duke the names of any other of Hennek’s guards who might still be alive and in town, and he sent men to find them and bring them in so he could question them.

While they waited for Hennek’s men to be rounded up and accounted for, Katerina and one of the duke’s men went and retrieved the parchments she had hidden in her hollow tree just outside town. At the same time, Duke Wilhelm went into Hennek’s office and found more evidence of wrongdoing—bribes, blackmail, and thievery—as well as evidence of simple incompetence. Katerina and Steffan consulted with him and shared in the discoveries.

As they combed through papers and parchments, written lists and ledgers, once or twice Steffan’s hand brushed against hers or their shoulders bumped into each other. Her heart would pound and all her senses would be focused on how near Steffan was, the way his head bent slightly closer to her than was necessary, or how reluctant he seemed to move his hand away from hers. But his father was in the room, so she pretended not to notice.

After a couple of hours, they questioned the guards that Katerina suspected of being loyal to Hennek. They all seemed eager to renounce Hennek’s evil deeds, most insisting that they knew nothing of the mine. And probably most of them were telling the truth. It was a secret too big, and too profitable, for Hennek to share with many people.

When Hans arrived, she noticed Steffan watching him, his eyes going back and forth between them. Was he jealous?

After Hans and the duke were introduced, Hans took her hand and said, “Katerina, I’m so thankful you are safe. Everyone is astonished at what Hennek did to the children, but so glad they are all home, thanks to you.”

“It was not only me. Steffan helped to free them. I could not have done it without him.”

Steffan met her eyes and held her gaze with his. “Katerina is the one who found them. She deserves the praise.”

Her heart fluttered at the warm gentleness of his voice contrasting with the intensity in his eyes. What was he thinking? Was he surprised at her clasping Hans’s hand? No doubt he was, since it had taken Steffan so long to gain her trust. But she and Hans had grown up together, her childhood friend, almost like a brother.

She didn’t have time to dwell on what Steffan was thinking, as Duke Wilhelm began to ask Hans his opinions about which guards should and should not be allowed to guard Hennek.

Twenty-Six

Steffan watched as Hans grasped Katerina’s hand in a familiar way. She smiled at this Hans, looking him in the eye, and stepped toward him, rather than flinching away as she always had done with Steffan.

Hadn’t she said Hans was to marry another girl?

He listened to the conversation about who should be dismissed from the guard, or at least not allowed to guard Hennek in the jail, but Steffan had very little to offer. He didn’t know the guards as Katerina and Hans did.

But he liked the way Father listened to Katerina. Father was actually a very wise man, listening to Katerina and Hans, making decisions about what would happen next, what punishments would be meted out, how to move on from Hennek’s poor leadership.

Later, during the evening meal, Steffan managed to sit beside Katerina. When he had a chance, he said, “Hans seems like a good man. Did you say that he was getting married soon?”

“Oh, no, he is not getting married after all.” Her brows scrunched in a compassionate expression. “It’s so sad, but he caught his future wife with another man. I can’t imagine any woman doing such a thing to someone as kindhearted as Hans.”

“Yes.” Steffan’s heart sank. Did she like this Hans enough to marry him? She certainly trusted him, and he was relatively handsome, if one liked the whey-faced look.

“You do not mind me participating in the discussions about the future of Hamlin, do you?” Katerina’s eyes were big as she took a sip from her goblet and gazed at him over the rim.