Page 57 of The Noble Servant

“Are you well?” she asked. “I found out the man you saved was once a servant here at the castle. He was sick during planting season and was unable to plant his vegetable garden early enough. He and his wife were nearly starving. You probably saved his life.”

Steffan did not look Katrin in the eye.

“I hope your head will be all right. I knew a man who was dizzy and had trouble walking for the rest of his life after a few blows.”

Steffan swallowed the bite he was chewing. “I assure you I’m not dizzy.”

“I am very glad to hear that. Maggie.” She leaned behind him to talk to Magdalen. “All the house servants seem to think your name is Agnes. That is very strange.”

“My mistress, Lady Magdalen, insists on calling me Agnes. It is very odd, but one cannot argue with one’s mistress.”

Katrin gave her a strange look, as if she was thinking something she could not say aloud, and turned around to eat her food.

Lenhart suddenly loomed in front of them on the other side of the table.

“Lenhart! I’m so pleased to see you. Are you well?”

Lenhart came around the table and embraced Magdalen. How good it was to see a familiar face, someone she trusted completely. She hugged him tight.

Steffan could not imagine his own sister, Gertrudt, hugging a male servant.

Both Magdalen and Lenhart were smiling with their wholefaces—their whole bodies, actually. Could the pain inside Steffan’s chest be ... jealousy? Magdalen trusted this boy, but she did not trust him, and rightfully so.

“Where are you working? Are you still in the stables?”

Lenhart shook his head. He held up one hand, then brought his fingers out straight and his thumb up to meet them. He moved his hand as though the tips of his fingers were a beak pecking the ground.

“You’re tending the geese? Oh, that is good! Be careful, though. One goose likes to bite. His name is Gus, and he has a black spot on the top of his beak.”

She went on to explain which other geese were prone to bite and which ones liked to be petted.

“Come and get your food,” the grumpy kitchen servant called out.

Lenhart went to fetch his bowl of food, then sat between Steffan and Magdalen.

No respect. Even when Steffan was in Prague, his wealth made people respect him. Now ... he had no control over anything or anyone in his life, and no one gave him any special treatment, not even Magdalen, the one person who knew who he was.

Magdalen was always kind to him, but she didn’t treat him as she should a duke. Magdalen, the girl with pretty green eyes. Magdalen, who was smiling so warmly right now at Lenhart, who was attentive to Katrin even when she talked too much. She had been so gentle and concerned about his wounds, washing his face and bringing him fresh water to drink.

What could Steffan do to make her smile at him the way she was smiling at Lenhart?

This was a foolish way of thinking. He’d always said he wouldhonor his grandmother’s wishes, which was never to marry beneath his station, to think of his people’s needs above his own, and here his people were, some of them starving and being mistreated by Hazen’s guards.

Steffan had been a fool to listen to his uncle and go to Prague, leaving his people in the hands of his evil uncle. He would not be so unwise again, and he would not lose his head over a woman.

He clenched his spoon so tightly, the handle broke.

“Are you well? You look a bit pale.” Katrin leaned toward him, staring hard.

“I am well.” Steffan sat up straighter.

Magdalen and Lenhart stood up as if to leave. She looked down at Steffan. “I hope they will not work you too hard today. I do not think you are yet recovered.”

Her wavy hair framed her face as she stared down at him. She was one of the fairest maidens he’d ever beheld. He’d hardly be alive if he didn’t notice. But that only increased his resolve not to fall in love with her.

Hazen trudged up the stairs. His head had been aching since he’d arisen from bed that morning, and now it was as if needles were stabbing him behind his eyes. He’d have to send someone to the village to buy some healing herbs.

His mind kept revisiting the fact that his guards whom he’d sent to kill Steffan had not yet returned. He had not given them the bulk of their payment, and it could only be collected when they’d shown proof of his nephew’s death. Many things could have delayed them, but such a long delay did not bode well.