The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest (8 page)

Jorgen had heard the rumors. He wanted to upbraid Mathis for his insinuation, but he tamped down his anger. “How do you know it originated in the bedchamber? False rumors are started by people who enjoy gossiping.”

Mathis shrugged again and smiled. “I cannot argue with that.”

Jorgen added, “And the current margrave was injured trying to save his brother from the fire. The burning bed collapsed on his foot as he tried to drag his brother to safety. He still walks with a limp.”

“Ja.”
Mathis drew the word out, as though he doubted the truth of Jorgen’s statement.

The margrave must now have help to mount his own horse. A fact that greatly annoyed the former knight.

“I believe the victuals are now prepared,” Odette said cheerily. No doubt she was glad to end the uncomfortable conversation. “Shall we feast?”

When they reached the table laden with food of every kind,
Jorgen somehow ended up sitting beside Odette and across from Mathis, Peter, and Anna. While they ate, Odette seemed to purposely maneuver the conversation to more pleasant topics. She smiled frequently and laughed almost as much. Even the gossip about the margrave barely dampened his enjoyment of the evening.

Rutger stood and proposed to speak of Odette’s virtues, and everyone grew quiet. “More than fifteen years ago, my beautiful niece’s father and mother died in the Great Pestilence. As I had been in the Orient, it took four years for word to reach me.” He looked down at Odette. “Bringing Odette to live with me here, in this house in Thornbeck, was the best thing I ever did. No man could ever ask for a better niece, and indeed, she is more like a daughter to me. She is kind, intelligent, and never idle, either in mind or in body. The man who can finally convince her to marry him will be a fortunate man indeed.”

Everyone around the table murmured their approval. Odette’s cheeks turned pink.

“For the joy that she gives to me and to everyone privileged to know her, please raise your goblets and drink to my niece, Odette Menkels.”

Jorgen lifted his goblet with the rest of the guests. Odette was blushing redder now. She smiled and allowed her gaze to meet the eyes of the guests around the room. When the conversation started to rise again, she fidgeted with the cloth napkin across her lap.

“It is a lovely evening,” Jorgen said. “Your uncle seems to think very well of you.”

She looked up, a glint in her eyes. “I am blessed to have him as my guardian. I’m sure most would never allow me so much . . . freedom. And,
ja
, it is a lovely evening. I hope the sky is clear for your journey home tonight. How far is it?”

“Less than half an hour.”

“Do you live alone?”

“My mother lives with me.”

“I see. Is she in good health?”

“
Ja
, for a woman of her age.” He smiled.

She smiled back. “And do you have brothers or sisters?”

“I had a sister. But she died. My adoptive mother was unable to have children. She often helped the poor children who came to her door looking for food. When I was ten years old, her husband, the old gamekeeper, brought me home and they adopted me as their own. I was also orphaned by the Great Pestilence.”

Odette had been staring alternately at his eyes, then his lips, as he spoke. She seemed to listen intently.

Mathis’s voice broke into their conversation. “I wondered if you would tell Odette how you spent your childhood on the streets, stealing from vendors and shopkeepers.”

Like a rat.
It was the taunt Mathis and his friends had used to plague Jorgen when he was a boy attending the town school. The priests who ran the school would sometimes scold the boys, but Jorgen had been forced, many times, to defend himself with his fists after lessons were finished. Mathis laughed as though it were all in jest.

“But that was a long time ago.” Peter suddenly joined the conversation. “Jorgen is doing well for himself, impressing the margrave. As for Mathis and me, we have done little to distinguish ourselves besides go to parties in our fathers’ stead.”

No one spoke. Finally Odette broke the silence. “The gamekeeper and his wife sound like good people.” She lifted her chin in Mathis’s direction. “And I am sure they were blessed to have Jorgen for a son.”

Mathis squirmed but was quick to say, “As your uncle has been
telling me, you are a compassionate woman, very concerned for the poor. That is an admirable quality.”

“Children deserve to be treated kindly, whether they are rich or poor. A child cannot control his own fate.”

Mathis nodded meekly. He reminded Jorgen of one of those miracle players who performed on the church steps or in the
Marktplatz
, playing a part to elicit a reaction.

Some minstrels came into the room and began to play and sing a soft ballad, and the last course of the meal was brought in on platters—cake with apples and dates decorating the top, and a subtlety made in the shape of a swan. The guests all applauded the intricately devised bird made entirely of white almond paste, except for the black eyes, which appeared to be sultanas, and an orange beak, perhaps made of carrot. The feathers were quite detailed.

Odette clasped her hands and leaned toward him, her eyes sparkling. “My uncle knows I like swans. It is so beautiful.” She smiled at Rutger and he winked at her.

A servant gave them each a large slice of cake. Odette did not even look at hers. She was staring at Jorgen’s face. While the minstrels continued their song, she leaned even closer to him. “I hope Mathis did not make you feel uncomfortable. I realize you weren’t the best of friends as children.” Her eyes were so blue in the candlelit room.

“We are older now. I can hope that he has changed.”

A mischievous glint flickered in her eye. “You said you and Mathis fought. Did you fight a lot?”

“
Ja
, but he always had three or four of his friends jump in and save him.”

Again the little mischievous smile graced her lips. “Did you ever beat him up?”

“The last time I fought him, he was alone and I left him with a
black eye and a busted lip. After that, Mathis and his friends were a bit more . . . respectful.”

She kept asking him about himself, but there were certain things he hoped she wouldn’t ask, not wishing to tell her about some of the things he saw—and did—as a child.

As the margrave’s forester, he was not in her social class. His mind told him that she should not be interested in him—as he noted the wealthier clothing worn by the other guests. But his heart saw only her compassionate eyes, her gentle features, and her incomparable beauty.

Perhaps if he did not allow himself to look into her blue eyes, his head would not be overpowered by his heart. It was worth a try, unless he wanted to be nursing his bruised pride—and a broken heart.

Odette gazed into Jorgen’s blue-green eyes and imagined him as a child, alone and living on the streets, forced to defend himself against bullies. To see the confidence in his walk and the way he held his shoulders, the attractiveness of his dark-blond hair and features, she knew Peter was right. Jorgen had done well for himself. And since they had both been orphans, she felt a kinship with him.

But if he knew what she did every night, he would arrest her and have her thrown in the dungeon. Her Midsummer night’s dream of him doing just that came vividly to mind.

She was about to ask him another question when the minstrels strolled closer, coming to stand just behind where they were seated, and it was no longer possible to be heard over their singing and playing.

Then she noticed Mathis with an exaggerated expression of hope on his face. He was the mayor’s son, so she should make an effort to spend some time talking with him before the night was over.

When the minstrels finished their song, Rutger stood and announced that it was time for dancing. The guests began to speak in excited tones as they all rose, and the servants came to take away the trestle tables and benches where they had been eating.

“Odette,” Mathis said, hovering over her shoulder and forcing her to turn around to face him. “I have been looking forward to dancing with you tonight. Would you dance the first dance with me?”

Mathis’s pale skin, hair, and eyes contrasted well with his bright red, green, and pink robe. He took Odette’s hand between both of his. “You are the most beautiful maiden I have ever beheld. You are like an ethereal creature, a pure maiden sent from heaven to earth.”

Odette laughed. But when he did not seem pleased by her laughter, she forced the smile from her face and tried to look grateful. “I thank you for your kind words, Herr Papendorp. I was taken by surprise by your lavish praise. You are very poetic.”

“Please, call me Mathis. And that was rather poetic, wasn’t it? But I meant every word.” He lifted her hand to his lips while staring into her eyes.

She pulled her hand from his grasp, hoping she didn’t look repulsed.

The eager way he touched her hand was a bit disconcerting. She would much rather be dancing with Jorgen.

She had nothing against friendliness, but this man was looking at her as if he might ask her to marry him at any moment. Even if she wanted to marry Mathis, how could she be sure he would want to spend his money to help feed the poor?

“That is a sober expression for a woman who is dancing and enjoying herself.” Mathis broke into her thoughts as the dance was ending.

“My mind tends to wander sometimes. It is a lively gathering, is it not? Do you see my friend Anna?” She looked around the room and spotted her standing next to her husband. She looked beautiful tonight.

“Ah yes. She is Peter Voreken’s wife, is she not? I shall have to ask her to dance.” Mathis leaned close to Odette’s face, so close his breath brushed her cheek. “But first I would like to dance again with you, Odette.”

A man approached them.

“Mathis, won’t you introduce me to this beautiful young maiden?”

Mathis gave her an apologetic smile. “Odette, this is Ulrich Schinkel, the margrave’s chancellor. Ulrich, this is Odette Menkels, the niece and ward of Rutger Menkels.”

Without wasting any time, the stranger smirked and asked, “Would you do me the honor of dancing with me, fair maiden?”

He was a prominent person so Rutger would be pleased. “I will.”

She danced with Ulrich, but there was an arrogant self-consciousness in his expression that Odette didn’t like. When the dance was over, she said, “You may take me to my uncle. I am sure he would like to speak to you.”

They made their way over to Rutger, who stood alone since Peter and Anna had gone to dance.

Ulrich greeted Rutger, then said, “If I am not asking too much, would you please allow me to dance again with your fair niece? I do believe she is the most graceful and beautiful maiden in Thornbeck.”

The fact that he asked her uncle if he could dance with her
instead of asking her did not sit well with Odette. But Rutger smiled as though pleased and gave his consent. Odette allowed Ulrich to lead her back to the dance.

The dance with Ulrich seemed to take a long time.

When it was over, Ulrich opened his mouth, but Jorgen interrupted him. “Pardon me.” Jorgen stepped quite close to them. “I would like to dance with the birthday maiden.” He took her hand as if she had already accepted.

Ulrich looked daggers at him, but Jorgen kept his gaze on Odette. She nodded and he swept her away. They joined the circle that was snaking around the entire first floor.

“I am afraid that man, Ulrich, is angry with you.”

Jorgen smiled. “He hasn’t liked me since we were boys. I never mind it.”

Odette was pleased to have been rescued from Ulrich, and she let herself enjoy the dance, turning and clapping, sidestepping and turning again.

She glanced around but didn’t see the chancellor. She pictured Jorgen and Ulrich getting into a fight, like in their boyhood days. They were grown men now, and she did not wish to invoke jealousy or contention between them.

She couldn’t seem to stop staring at Jorgen and his blue-green eyes. He made her feel so safe and protected. She couldn’t ever remember feeling that way with anyone else. It seemed especially strange, considering his position.

When the dance ended, she turned to Jorgen. He stood very close to her side in the crowded room, which made him seem even taller. She could see the stubble on his jaw and the small dent in the center of his chin. The tilt of his head as he bent to hear what she was saying made her heart alternately skip a beat and thump against her chest. “I will sit down for a while now.”

“Are you well?”

“Only a little tired.” She still had to go hunting tonight, and she needed to conserve her strength. “You may dance if you like while I rest.” She moved toward an unoccupied bench against the wall.

Jorgen walked with her to the bench, then was called away by Rutger and a couple of other men who seemed to want to talk to him.

Odette sat and watched as Peter whisked Anna onto the floor. Several other couples were taking advantage of the musicians and dancing every dance. Perhaps she should have continued dancing, for now she was watching everyone else enjoying themselves. Who could she talk to? She glanced around. Where was Jorgen?