Page 66 of The Piper's Pursuit

Katerina watched Steffan out of the corner of her eye. He was as wet as she was, but he was sitting tall and straight in the saddle. She prayed silently that the healing salve had done its job before it had been washed away by the soaking rain.

Hohendorf Castle was taller than she’d imagined, with towers rising high above the trees of the dark forest all around it. The rain gave it an even more unearthly appearance, as if fairies and trolls might emerge from behind the trees.

At the door they were met by a guard and a middle-aged woman who gave them a quizzical look.

Steffan stepped forward, his hand over his heart, looking very chivalrous and knightly even with his hair dripping with rainwater.

“I am Lord Gabehart’s brother, Steffan Gerstenberg of Hagenheim, and this is Katerina Ludken. Are the lord and lady at home?”

The woman’s brow creased. “Lord Gabehart and Lady Sophia are not here. But I am the head house servant.”

“Can you tell me where Lord Gabehart and Lady Sophia have gone?”

“To the Polish estate of his brother Lord Wolfgang for a visit. But you are welcome at Hohendorf Castle. Please, come in.” She and the guard stepped back and welcomed them in.

“We would like to stay the night,” Steffan said.

“Of course,” the house servant said.

“And perhaps get fresh horses for our journey tomorrow, if you can spare them.”

The guard nodded. “Of course. You are Lord Gabe’s brother. Whatever you need is yours.”

“And now let us get you some dry clothes and a warm place to rest.”

They followed the woman through a cavernous entry hall and a long corridor, and Katerina took the opportunity to say, “Lord Steffan needs a healer to look at his wounds and help him apply some healing salve and bandages.”

Steffan, who was walking beside her, frowned down at her.

“We have a servant here who serves as a healer. I shall send her to him.”

“Thank you,” Katerina said at the same time Steffan said, “That is not—”

Steffan cut his remark short and pointed a finger at Kat. She only smiled and raised her brows at him. She longed to know if his wounds were getting better, but thought it best not to offer to take a look herself.

At the end of the corridor they went up some winding stone steps. The woman stopped in front of a door. “Fräulein, this chamber is for you. You will find dry clothing inside the trunk against the wall.”

“Thank you very much.” Katerina went into the room but did not shut the door. Instead, she listened and peeked out as the servant and Steffan stopped at the next door.

“Lord Steffan, here is your room. I shall bring you some of your brother’s clothing, unless you think it won’t fit you?”

“I think it will. Thank you.”

The woman was coming down the hall in her direction. Katerina shut the door.

She quickly found a long linen chemise and a lovely silk dress that laced up the sides embroidered with flowers around the neckline and sleeves. She stripped off her wet clothes and left them by the door and donned the clothes from the trunk, which smelled of dried lavender and pennyroyal.

She sat unbraiding her hair and squeezing out the excess water when a servant girl opened the door and came in. “I am to start a fire for you.” She knelt before the fireplace. Her hair was pulled up into a knot on her head. She looked to be less than twenty years old but more than fifteen.

“Our Frau says you are to come down for supper in half an hour, and you may have a warm bath tonight after the servants are free from supper duties.”

“Thank you.”

The girl glanced over her shoulder at her. “You are very beautiful. But you have probably heard that many times before. Are you married to Lord Steffan?”

Katerina sucked in a breath and started coughing, as a bit of saliva went down the wrong way. When she was finally able to speak, she said, “Thank you, but no, I am not married to Lord Steffan, or to anyone.”

“You are very fair of face. You should make the young lord marry you and not travel the country alone with him, if you don’t mind me saying so.”