Page 42 of The Noble Servant

Alexander turned his gaze on Steffan. He quickly ducked his head again.

“I do not like to think of a simpleminded person suffering cruelty.” Alexander always was easily swayed. Thankfully. “What do you think, my dear?”

“Oh, of course,liebchen. I would not want him to come to harm either. I am ever compassionate to unfortunate souls like him.”

Now he just had to figure out a way to get past Alexander without being recognized.

Magdalen stared openmouthed at Agnes. She wanted her husband to think she was compassionate. Surely she was too coldhearted to be in love with him.

Agnes was smiling at Steffan’s cousin. It would be fitting and just if she worried that he would find out what a mean-spirited, selfish person she was, but it was too difficult to fathom that she could be genuinely in love with him.

“And if he cannot do the work or causes problems, we can give him some other job.”

Magdalen couldn’t help glancing back at Steffan.Dear God, don’t let his cousin recognize him.

“I will speak to Frau Clara. But I would like him to leave now.” Agnes’s gaze darted around the room, not focusing on anyone, and she fidgeted with her hands and her dress—one of Magdalen’s best and most expensive dresses. In fact, it was Magdalen’s favorite.

“Of course. St-Stoffel,” Magdalen’s heart thumped at her nearly calling him Steffan. “Come, Stoffel. No one is going to beat you anymore. We will find you some work to do in the castle.”

So many deceptions existed in this one room. Alexander did not know his wife was a servant from the household of the real Lady Magdalen. Agnes did not know that her husband was the cousin of the real Duke of Wolfberg. And indeed, since they both used false names, they were not married in the eyes of the law, nor in the eyes of the Church authorities.

And neither of them realized that the real Duke of Wolfberg was in the room, pretending to be a simpleminded shepherd.

Steffan got up and shuffled toward her, his shoulders slumped and his head down. She took his arm and led him out the door.

“Darling,” Agnes said with a tremulous smile. “I shall return in a moment. I need to speak with my servant and with Frau Clara.”

“Of course, my darling.” He stood in the middle of the room while she shut the door.

Agnes’s smile vanished. She gave Magdalen a sharp look. “Come with me, both of you.”

They went down the stairs. Magdalen dared a few quick glances at Steffan. He was pale, and he peeked at her in return, but neither of them attempted to speak as they followed Agnes.

Soon they found Frau Clara instructing a servant on how to clean the wall sconces.

“Frau Clara,” Agnes said, “can you find some indoor work for this young man? He is said to be a hard worker but simpleminded.”

With a scowl on her face, Frau Clara looked him up and down. Then she reached out and squeezed his upper arm. “He seems strong. He can attend the kitchen fires and fetch and carry firewood and water. Is he injured?” She pointed to the bandage on his head. “Is he able to work today?”

“He was beaten by one of the guards,” Agnes said.

“Is he violent? A troublemaker?”

“Oh no,” Magdalen said. “If you please, Frau Clara, he is a very gentle soul.” She dug her fingernails into her palm and prayed he would live up to what she was saying about him. “He has an attachment to me, you see, and the guard misunderstood his desire to see me for some kind of mischief. But as long as he thinks I am safe and well, he will be quite calm and hardworking. Isn’t that right, Stoffel?”

Steffan grunted and nodded without making eye contact with anyone.

“Very well,” Frau Clara said in a resigned tone. “If it is what Lady Magdalen wants.” She looked to Agnes.

“Yes, thank you, Clara,” Agnes said, without the title of respect everyone else used when speaking to Frau Clara, who didn’t seem to notice or mind.

Magdalen touched Steffan’s arm. “This is Frau Clara. You will do everything she tells you,ja?”

Again, he grunted and nodded.

“I will try to see you tonight at the evening meal,” she said softly.

“Come, Agnes,” Agnes said.