The small figure before me stiffens and draws herself up to her full height. Her forehead still barely reaches my shoulder. “You are seeking vengeance then?”
“I am what?”
“You will have your vengeance on my husband then, all these years later, through me. Is that why you have decided to marry me?”
God’s precious bones! Where is this coming from?“No, my lady. You can be assured that were I of a mind to seek vengeance upon your incompetent, self-serving fool of a husband I would have directed my attention at him, or at those more directly connected to him. Not at a child bride he merely took to lighten his declining years.”
“Then why…?”
“Drop it, my lady. Be assured that I bear you no ill will for your late husband’s crimes against my family. He is gone now, and good riddance. Let us not speak of him, nor be reminded of him further. Now, if you will allow me a few minutes, I am almost done here.”
I turn from her to complete my inventory of the Hohenzollern horseflesh, relieved to have got this awkward business out of the way.
A few minutes pass in silence, then Lady Natalia speaks again.
“I was wondering, if I may request, sir…?” She pauses, hesitant. I turn from my perusal of a particularly fine filly to bestow on her my undivided attention. I even manage a smile since I feel I owe her that much. It is enough, and she continues.
“Sir, what will become of the children?”
I frown in confusion. This I did not anticipate. “You have children, madam?” It was to be expected, I suppose. Two marriages, after all.
She is quick to dismiss that notion. “No, sir, no I do not. I am referring to the children of the castle. They have sought sanctuary in the chapel.”
“Ah, I see. They will be taken to Vienna I expect, with the other prisoners.”
“Prisoners! But, my lord, they are only babies…”
“I phrased that badly, my lady. The imperial forces do not make war on infants. Sanctuary will be respected, but the children will in all likelihood be conveyed to Vienna. There they will be cared for in the court of the holy Roman emperor, until other arrangements can be made.”
“Arrangements?”
“They will be fostered, or guardians appointed. I am certain you are aware of this process, my lady.”
“Yes, but I wanted to know that they will be safe.”
“They will. As will you, if you obey me and cause me no trouble.” In truth, Lady Natalia does not really strike me as the troublesome kind, but women have surprised me in the past. My late wife offers a prime example. She certainly departed this life with an alacrity I found most startling.
“Why are you so concerned about the welfare of babes when you have no children of your own at risk here? What is your particular interest?”
“None, sir. None at all. I was just—wondering. That is all.”
Is it? I suspect that is not all, nowhere near. But I have pressing work to complete if this castle is to be secured, further unnecessary bloodshed averted, and the wealth of Hohenzollern collected and redistributed with some degree of equity.
“Follow me. I will see you safe into our encampment outside the walls.”
Again, I do not wait for my bride’s acquiescence before striding from the stable.
She follows hard on my heels, clearly anxious not to be left to her own devices once more. This time I moderate my pace. I have made my point.
I am waylaid several times on my way across the courtyard, settling questions, issuing further commands, clarifying matters. On each occasion Lady Natalia halts beside me and remains silent. I find this encouraging.
At last we reach the outer gate and she trails through it in my wake. We attract several enquiring glances from the troops who have not yet entered the castle but chose to remain in camp. None of them sees fit to commenton the lady’s presence. Just as well, I am in no mood to issue further reprimands. Though I may make an exception for Lady de Chapelle herself.
I turn to regard her slender form, now several feet to my rear. “Do not drop behind, my lady. I wish to see you safely installed, then I must attend to my other duties. I do not have all day to dally.”
“My apologies, sir.” She pulls her cloak more tightly across her chest and breaks into a trot to catch up and remain at my side.
At the castle gate we are delayed by a throng of our men, all accompanied by females from among the Hohenzollern household, most of whom are in various states of distress. There is much weeping, and a number of our soldiers are experiencing not inconsiderable difficulty in preventing the women’s imminent departure. The ladies are far from happy.
