No wonder she’d never dressed as a wealthy young maiden. Not only did she despise the source of the wealth—her stepfather, Hennek—but after all Hennek and his men had done to make her afraid of being harassed and attacked, she probably wore old, rough, patched clothing to make herself less appealing. And the fact that she so often carried a crossbow and arrows probably attracted less attention when wearing the clothing of a peasant.
She was walking slightly in front of him. Thinking of leaving her made his heart clench in his chest. He wanted to take her on picnics, to hold her hand and kiss her and touch her soft cheek. He wanted . . . to marry her.
Did she even want him to come back?
They reached the town square. Father was waiting for the rest of the townspeople to arrive. This could be his last chance. He touched Katerina’s arm and she turned to look at him. At least she didn’t flinch anymore when he touched her.
He bent his head toward a small tree growing in front of the Rathous on the otherwise bare cobblestone town square. She followed him until they were on the other side of the tree, away from his father and the men of the town council. She drew close and even leaned in, as if eager to hear what he had to say.
“You look beautiful today.”
“Thank you.” She squinted slightly and crossed her arms over her chest.
Had he said the wrong thing?
“You always look beautiful.”
She unfolded her arms and gave him an amused half smile. “Always?”
“Yes. To me you do.”
“I think you’re somewhat well-looking too.”
“You do? Only somewhat?”
She laughed. Such a beautiful sound, even if she was laughing at him. He smiled back.
“I’m sure you’ve heard it before from other maidens.”
“I am known as one of Duke Wilhelm’s most handsome sons.”
She took a deep breath and sighed. “I think you are very handsome.”
Air rushed into Steffan’s lungs. Perhaps she would want him to return to Hamlin. He had to tell her that he wanted her to wait for him, not to let anyone, like that Hans, get too close to her until he returned. But how would he tell her?
* * *
Katerina had always been honest. Part of her panicked at telling Steffan he was handsome, but she did think he was handsome. To say otherwise would be to tell a lie. And she had never been manipulative in the way other girls she knew would pout and tell a man one thing when the truth was something else.
“I must go visit my mother, but will you be glad to see me return?”
“How long will you be gone?”
“Three weeks? Maybe less.”
Three weeks was not a long visit when it would take him at least two days to get there and two days to get back. But it seemed like a long time for him to be away.
She gazed up at him, letting herself be captured by his blue eyes. It wasn’t often she even let herself look directly into them, for it was like looking directly into the sun—dangerous. And it was frightening how much she had grown attached to him. She had an urge to touch his cheek and feel the short stubble on his jawline, as the memory of their kiss swept over her.
He held out his hand, and she lifted her own and placed it in his. He held it gently. “Katerina, do you like flowers?”
“Yes.”
“I want to know everything you like, to talk with you, dance with you.”
“But there’s no music. And I don’t like dancing.” Had he gone daft?
“What I mean to say is, I want to be where you are, and if you don’t like dancing at festivals, we can just listen to the music, go hunting, have picnics. I want to know . . . if you want me to return to Hamlin.”
A bit of fear gripped her. If she said yes, what would that mean? But she would be honest with him. “I think I would like listening to music with you, going hunting, and having picnics, if you stay as you are now, kind and respectful, noble and good. As I know you are.” She leaned a bit closer to his broad chest as she said this. She wanted to kiss him, but she’d promised herself she would not, that the next time she would let him kiss her, if indeed he wanted to kiss her. But there were so many people around them, even in their out-of-the-way spot, more people were walking past them as the crowd grew in the town square.
He moved closer to her, and soon her forehead was resting against his shoulder as he wrapped one arm around her, loosely, casually. “Katerina.” He whispered her name. Her heart tripped.
He was still holding her hand. She felt him lifting it and then kissing it. She was so aware of his lips on the back of her hand, his breathing, his head bent beside hers, his chin now just brushing against her hair.
Someone was calling the crowd to attention. Duke Wilhelm’s name broke into her consciousness.
“Katerina Ludken?”
Kat stepped away from Steffan, who seemed reluctant to let go of her hand. A guard was standing behind her.
“Yes?”
“Duke Wilhelm would like you to hear the announcement.”
“Of course.”
She gave Steffan a quizzical glance, and they both walked toward the fountain, where his father was standing. The guard walked them through the hushed crowd right up to Duke Wilhelm’s side, who smiled at her just before he began speaking in a loud voice.
“I am here due to the bravery of two people. The town of Hamlin has had its children returned to their rightful parents, thanks to the good hearts, clever thinking, and determination in the face of danger of my son, Steffan Gerstenberg, and Hamlin’s own courageous Katerina Ludken.”
Many cheers went up from the crowd, both whoops and shouted words of gratitude and praise. Kat felt her cheeks growing hot. Even through blurred vision, she saw people she knew, women she’d bought things from in the marketplace, friends she’d played games with when she was a child, and men who had been friends with her father. And there was her mother, tears running down her face.
Steffan was standing so close, she let her shoulder lean into his side. His hand bumped hers, hidden between them. She took his hand in hers, and he squeezed it.
The Duke of Hagenheim went on. “I have been discussing with the men of the town council and a few others whom I should appoint as the next Bürgermeister. We all agreed the new mayor should be full of integrity, should love his townspeople above even his own life, and should fear God and not man. And the person I have chosen to be the next Bürgermeister, if she will accept it, is Katerina Ludken.”
Katerina went numb all over. Did Duke Wilhelm just appoint her as the new mayor?
She glanced around. Were people angry to have a young woman as their mayor? The first faces she saw were women with joyful smiles, so she quickly looked back at Duke Wilhelm so she wouldn’t see anyone else. She did hear some whoops and cheers and even some hands clapping.
Katerina, the new Bürgermeister. Was this a dream? It was so strange, and yet, so wonderful!
* * *
Steffan’s heart jumped into his throat as Father called out Katerina’s name. He’d never heard of a woman being given such a position, but he was so proud, of her and of his father for appointing her.
Father stared intently into her face as the crowd quieted. “Will you accept this office?”
“I will.”
Father handed her a sheet of parchment paper and hung a ribbon with a medal attached around her neck. “Henceforth you shall be known as Bürgermeister Katerina Ludken.”
She was the mayor. Would she think of him differently now? She looked truly happy, though a bit frightened, to be made the Bürgermeister in her stepfather’s place.
People began to crowd around her and congratulate her. He should have been the first one to tell her how glad he was that the town was getting the best possible mayor, but he was too late. People crowded him out until he had to step back. And she was smiling and receiving the well wishes. As she should. He was happy for her.
And now he had to leave her.
He looked around at the people and saw more than one man scowling. Another was shaking his head. They obviously disagreed with Father’s decision. Steffan did his best to catch their eye and stare them down. One saw him and immediately changed his expression to one of sheepishness, but two others started muttering to each other.
Perhaps Steffan should not leave.
He kept an eye on Katerina, glancing all around. Of course, Father’s guards were also watching over her.
Father approached him. “Will you be ready to leave in an hour?”
“Father, are you sure Katerina is safe? Some people are probably not very pleased with you making a young maiden the mayor of their town.”
“I’m leaving most of my men here. They will watch over her.”
“I know, but . . .”
“I understand.” Father put his hand on Steffan’s shoulder. “It is your decision if you wish to stay or go back with me to have a longer visit with your mother. It has been more than a year since she spent more than a few hours with you.”
“I am aware, Father. And I want to spend time with Mother.”
“Good. Then come home and you can return to Hamlin in a few weeks to make sure Katerina is well and everything is working smoothly here.”
He knew that was what he needed to do, but it was frustrating.
Katerina was looking around now as the crowd was thinning out. Steffan hurried over to her.
“You will be an excellent Bürgermeister, Katerina. I am very happy for you.”
“Thank you, Steffan. But I thought your father would appoint you. In fact, I heard him say it. I was standing outside your door in Keiterhafen and I heard him tell you he wished to make you the mayor of Hamlin.”
“He did say that, but I told him I thought you were a better choice. You know the town and love its people, and I assured him you would be very capable.”
“You said that?”
“No one is better for this job than you, Katerina.”
She leaned toward him until her face was pressed against his chest. He put his arms around her.
“How does it feel?” he asked, his breath blowing a few strands of her loose hair.
“It feels strange. I can hardly believe it.”
“I think he may have talked with some of the members of the town council, but he must have been very confident you were the best person for the job. I know no one will work as hard as you will, or love the people as much as you do.”
“It’s all so overwhelming. I hope I will not disgrace your father by failing miserably.”
“That could never be.” But how strange for him, remembering he had been wishing, hoping the new Bürgermeister would appoint him as the captain of the guard, and now if he wished for such a position, he would have to ask . . . Katerina.
Twenty-Eight
By nightfall Katerina was exhausted. And now she kept thinking how Steffan had left and they had not been able to say fare well in private. Everyone had been standing there, watching them.
She had been so busy, with so many people wanting to talk to her. The next thing she knew, Duke Wilhelm and his men were mounting their horses to leave, and Steffan was standing there, his expression stoic, and yet she could see sadness in his eyes.
Katerina had wanted to embrace him, but knowing he would not want to show vulnerability to the men surrounding him, and feeling strange herself, as if her new position demanded that she be dignified, she had simply said, “Thank you for everything.”
Everyone else was already mounted on their horses. Steffan had no choice but to mount up and leave with them.
Her heart twisted as she watched his back slowly disappear from her view and wondered . . . When would she see him again?
But she was quickly distracted by more people demanding her attention, not least of which was Herr Schuman, who had been appointed the town treasurer. Thankfully that was one task Katerina would not be responsible for, though she was to oversee his work.
Herr Schuman was a fastidious man, was married to a woman who had always been kind and friendly with Katerina and her mother, and was known for never cheating anyone in his brick-making business. But he was always scowling, and many times when he spoke, Katerina had to ask him to repeat himself because his voice was so low and growly.
One good thing about her new position was that she had been able to make Hans her new interim guard captain.
Katerina read over the financial report Herr Schuman had given her. There was one, and only one, thing that she could be thankful to Hennek for doing, and that was hiring a tutor to teach her when she was young. So many people barely knew how to read, and most could not read at all.
“Katerina?”
She looked up to see Hans standing in the doorway of the office that used to belong to Hennek. “Yes?”
“I thought I would let you know that Klaus and Reynart will be guarding Hennek—Klaus tonight and Reynart taking over in the morning.”
“They are Duke Wilhelm’s men?”
“Yes. And I’ve sent Wendel to gate duty. He will not be guarding Hennek anymore.”
“Did Wendel not wish to guard Hennek? Or did you need him at the gate?”
Hans shifted his weight from one foot to the other and stared at the wall behind her. “Wendel said Hennek was trying to bribe him to let him out, and I didn’t want to risk the possibility that Wendel wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation.”
Katerina took in this information and nodded. “That sounds wise. Who will take Wendel’s place?”
“I have not decided yet.”
“It might also be wise to try and find out what Hennek was trying to bribe him with.”
“Silver coins, I believe.”
“You can tell the other guards that Hennek has nothing anymore. He had a hiding place in the mine, but the silver has been removed and is in safekeeping.”
“Yes, I will tell them.” Hans was staring first at the floor, then the wall.
“Is something wrong, Hans?”
“No.” His eyes went wide, then he smiled. “No, all is well. I’m very pleased you are the new Bürgermeister. I cannot imagine a better one.”
“That is kind of you to say.”
“You are educated and clever. You will do well. And I’m very pleased you trust me enough to be your interim captain. I will always do my best for you.”
“Thank you, Hans. I am grateful to have someone I can trust in such a position.”
Hans bowed his head. “I shall go, if you do not need me. I was at the gate all day, and I interviewed boys for several hours who want to train as soldiers.”
“Very good. Yes, go home and get some rest. Thank you.”
As he left, she couldn’t help thinking of Steffan. He would be wonderful at training Hamlin’s new guards. But would he want to remain in the little town of Hamlin training soldiers? Steffan had been to places she’d never heard of, seen things she’d never imagined. And no doubt he had seen beautiful women who were good at dancing and wore beautiful gowns and whose fathers knew the king—or were even related to the king!
She groaned inwardly as she remembered kissing him. She might never see him again, but she would never forget him, never stop thinking about him—the look in his eyes the first time she flinched when he touched her, as if she’d kicked him in the stomach; the way he’d stepped in front of a wolf to protect her; the way his rock-hard arms felt around her. And she hoped she never forgot how it felt to kiss him, or the way he brushed her cheek with his knuckles, or the way he whispered her name that day in the town square, her forehead resting on his shoulder.
She let out a long sigh. She might be the Bürgermeister, but she was still a woman with a heart that couldn’t help falling in love.
* * *
Katerina sat at her desk signing off on the receipt for the treasurer to pay all the town’s soldiers.
It had been three weeks and one day since Steffan had left. He’d told her he’d be gone no more than three weeks. Was h
e well? She hoped no harm had befallen him. Or had he forgotten about her?
When she wondered whether he would keep his word, a sharp little pang stabbed her chest.
But she was so busy, she hardly had time to fret over that, even though things were going well most days. Other days ended with her collapsing on her bed and wondering if she’d ever learn all she needed to know about taking care of a town.
It was early. Katerina hadn’t been able to sleep and had risen to work on the receipts when it was peaceful and quiet. But now the sun was coming up. Why weren’t the servants making breakfast? They were noisy every other morning, but the house was eerily quiet today.
And where was Hans? He usually came around at this time to let her know of any problems that happened during the night.
Katerina’s fingertips were tingling as she stood up and went to the office doorway, listening. She stepped toward the kitchen and opened the door. No one was there, and it didn’t look as if anyone had been there. Everything was tidy and in its place.
She turned toward the stairs. As she put her foot on the bottom step, a loud thud came from the upper floor.
Katerina loosened the knife she always kept in a sheath hanging from her belt, then ran to grab her sword, the first thing she bought after her appointment as mayor. She’d laughed at herself, but she’d always wanted one, and now she had the money Duke Wilhelm had given her as her first year’s payment to buy one.
Katerina picked up the sword and hurried to the steps. She climbed them two at a time, but stopped abruptly when a man appeared at the top. No, two people, but it was too dark to see who it was.
“Who is there?” Kat demanded.
“It is only your stepfather and mother.”
Katerina’s heart stopped and a cold sensation went through her.
Hennek. She made out his aggressive, smirky smile. He was holding Mother around her neck, a knife point at her ear.
How could he have escaped? Where were the servants? How could this be happening? She had been so sure she and Mother were finally safe.
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