Page 13 of The Piper's Pursuit

Kat turned to glare at Steffan, and her nose nearly touched his chest, so close was he following her. But he only shuffled his feet as if anxious to catch up with Bridda’s mother.

They both followed the mother into a room with a trestle table, two benches, and some large wooden chairs against the wall filled with pillows and blankets. In one of those chairs sat Johannes holding Bridda in his lap.

All the black dust had been cleaned from her face and hair. She wore clean clothes and was eating a small apple while resting her head and shoulder against her father’s chest.

When she saw Katerina walk in, Bridda’s eyes grew slightly wider as they fixed on Kat, following her, never even blinking.

“Fräulein Katerina!” Johannes’s eyes were misty as he sat up, still holding Bridda close to his chest. “Please come and sit down.” He indicated the chair beside him.

“And I am Steffan.” The duke’s son still hovered just behind her.

She could explain who he was to make it less awkward, but she had not invited him, nor did she even want him here.

“I am a friend of Fräulein Katerina and her father, Herr Hennek.”

“Steffan?” Johannes studied his face. “We heard the son of the Duke of Hagenheim was in Hamlin. Are you he?”

“I am.”

“It is an honor, my lord.” Johannes nodded and indicated a chair. “Please sit and be comfortable. My house is yours.”

Katerina forced herself not to glare at Steffan. Could she trust him not to tell Hennek anything of their conversation? If anyone should be disinterested and unable to be bribed by Hennek, wouldn’t it be the son of the powerful and wealthy Duke of Hagenheim? But what if the rumors were true and Steffan hated his father? What if his character was so corrupt that he could be persuaded to join with Hennek in some way?

Trustworthy or not, she’d deal with him later.

Katerina smiled at Bridda. “Good morning,Schätzchen. Do you remember me?”

Bridda shrank a little closer to her father’s chest.

She addressed Johannes. “May I ask your daughter a few questions?”

“Of course, but she has hardly spoken.”

“I only want to ask you what you remember about where you have been.”

The girl only stared back at her with large blue eyes. Her expression didn’t change, and her lips stayed closed.

“How did you get lost from your mama?”

Still she didn’t speak.

Johannes squeezed his daughter’s arm. “It is well, Bridda. You may tell her what happened. She is Katerina, the mayor’s daughter.”

The little girl’s gaze moved from Katerina to the man behind her and her eyes locked on to him. Still, she neither moved nor made a sound.

Katerina turned slightly and spoke to Steffan. “Lord Steffan, I think she might be more likely to talk to me if you were not here. Your presence seems to disturb her.”

“I do not think she is disturbed by me.” Steffan’s gaze flitted from her to little Bridda, to Johannes, and back to her. “But if you think it best, I shall wait outside.” He stood and bowed.

“Please, take some food and drink, my lord,” Johannes said. “My wife makes very good cherry pasties and nut bread.”

Bridda’s mother stood in the doorway and urged Steffan to go with her.

Good. He was gone.

“Bridda, did someone take you away from your home?”

Still she didn’t speak.