Page 86 of The Piper's Pursuit

When the song was over, Mother said, “Continue to play and sing, whatever you like, but please excuse me. I must retire to my room, and I bid you all a good night.”

The men all returned her good night wishes, nodding respectfully to her as she left.

Katerina turned to Steffan. “Please excuse me as well. I shall see you tomorrow, I am sure.”

His eyes bored into hers, then he took her hand and kissed it. “I bid you a good night, then, Katerina.”

Was it her imagination, or did his fingers linger on her hand, even as his voice lingered over her name?

She hurried away before she could imagine any other sentimentalities.

Once upstairs, she knocked on Mother’s chamber door. “It’s Katerina.”

Mother opened the door. Her smile was genuine. “My darling, come in.”

“Mother, I just wanted to see how you were doing. Are you well?”

“Of course. I am not so fragile.”

“But are you sad about Hennek? I was worried you would not believe all the terrible things we’ve told you that he’s done.”

“Oh, I believe them. I am grieved over the children being taken and mistreated. It is horrendous, and I am ashamed I never tried to speak out against him.”

“I was afraid you still loved him, and I didn’t want you to be heartbroken over him.”

“Not to worry, darling. The truth is, I’ve known for a long time that he was not a good man. In fact...” Her eyes were glistening with tears, but she was smiling. “I am glad I no longer have to live with him. We are free, darling, and I’m ashamed I stayed with him for so long.”

“No, don’t be ashamed.” Relief flooded Katerina, buoying her spirit. “We are free, and that is good! But you should not blame yourself. It was not safe for you to leave. Hennek would have done terrible things to you, to me, if you had defied him.”

“He threatened to hurt you if I ever left him.” Mother sighed. “I did love him. I didn’t want to believe that he was capable of such depravity, that he was cruel. Even when the truth was right in front of me, I wouldn’t believe it. For a while. But when I saw him goading you, saying one thing and doing something else, pretending to be a righteous, godly man when he was stealing from the town... I stopped loving him. I only feared him. But I’m sorry I ever married him, and I’m sorry for the ways he hurt you, Katerina. I never should have allowed—”

“Mother, you did the best you could. You have nothing to be sorry for, except that you fell in the path of a very bad man. You are too kind and gentle. Of course you did not believe that the person who promised to love you was actually dangerous.”

“But will you forgive me anyway, for not knowing what was happening? For letting him fool me into thinking he was good when I should have known better?”

“Yes, Mother, I forgive you.”

“I should have protected you.” A tear fell from one eye, then the other, and ran down her cheeks.

“I forgive you.” Katerina put her arms around her mother and they held each other tight. “All is well now. Duke Wilhelm is here, and he will make sure we have a man of good character to lead our town. We shall build our town’s defenses and rid ourselves of the evil within.”

***

Steffan made his way through the early-morning vendors set up in the town center, for today was market day. The spire of Hamlin Cathedral was a beacon up ahead, easily seen above the rooftops, drawing him to his destination.

Steffan went inside the church and sought out a priest. Finding none, he went into the garden behind the church. A very large rose bush, with vines climbing up the brick wall, was in full bloom, displaying red roses amidst the greenery of the vines. Steffan drew near to the bush and broke off a particularly perfect bloom. He would give it to Katerina, but would she even want it? Perhaps she hated flowers. He did not know that about her.

“Good morning.”

Steffan stepped around the bush and found a man dressed in priestly robes cutting blooms and putting them into a basket.

“Good morning. Are you the priest?”

“I am. How may I serve you?”

“I would like to confess my sins. Will you hear my confession?”

“Of course.” He smiled, showing wrinkles in his cheeks at the corners of his mouth. He moved slowly and his expression was mild. “Would you like to go inside, to the confession box? Or we can sit here, if you are not opposed. I do not think you will be overheard.”