Valten scowled and turned away from his father.
Duke Wilhelm gave the guard his orders, telling him to head south of the town’s western gate to the Mueller house. Valten followed them out, still angry. Angry that his hand was bandaged as fat as a beehive, angry that he didn’t know where Gisela was, still angry at the thought she might have run away with another man, even though she had likely done no such thing.
The ball would begin soon. The music would start and the guests would soon be dancing. The night he’d looked forward to was about to commence without Gisela by his side.
Valten joined the festive atmosphere down in the Great Hall, but the song and laughter made his mood even darker. Valten went to find something to drink and then slipped back into the dark quiet of the library. He stayed there, nursing his thoughts, chafing at the time it was taking for the guards to ride to Gisela’s house and report back.
It was less than half an hour before a guard, out of breath and being trailed by Duke Wilhelm, burst into the library.
“Your grace, my lord.” He addressed each of them and then paused to catch his breath. “We found the house ransacked, and both the front door and the back door were open. We found no trace of Gisela Mueller.”
He also said the rest of the men were searching the road and the neighbors’ houses. It was the only information the soldier knew, so they dismissed him to stand guard outside the Great Hall.
What could this mean? Valten could hardly stop himself from leaving to go search for her. Why had the house been ransacked? It made no sense.
While they waited to hear the next report, his father talked to him, reassuring him that Gisela would be found, but he hardly heard the words.
Valten paced the floor of the library, imagining the violence he would wreak on the person responsible for hurting Gisela. His father gave up trying to talk to him and waited silently, staring out the small window.
Finally, they heard the heavy footsteps of another guard coming down the corridor and entering the library. “We found her.”
After traversing the road toward town and passing through the gate, Gisela’s carriage slowly made its way through the crowded streets. The sound of several horses’ hooves clacking on the cobblestone streets drew closer until Gisela heard shouts, and the coachman pulled the horses to a stop.
Gisela’s heart was in her throat as the door of the carriage was flung open and a strange man stood outside.
“Are you Gisela Mueller?” He was wearing the colors of Duke of Hagenheim’s guards.
“I am.”
“We shall escort you to the ball.”
“I-I thank you.” She sank back against the cushioned seat, drawing in a shaky breath.
The man slammed the door shut, there was more shouting, and they started forward again. The carriage began moving faster than before. After several more minutes, it came to a stop outside the castle.
Gisela was helped out by a guard and found herself surrounded by soldiers. Holding her dress’s hem out of the dirt, she crossed the empty courtyard toward the Great Hall. Light shone through the windows, and she heard music and singing and lots of voices. She could hardly breathe. Had her stepmother told Valten her lies? Did he believe them? Would he be happy to see her now? Or would he be dancing with some other girl?
Valten’s heart leaped at the news.
“What did you find out?” his father asked the guard.
“We went to the closest house and spoke to the owner, Ava von Setenstete, who told us Gisela Mueller was on her way here. She said Gisela had been locked inside her chamber, and that her stepmother had sold her to Friedric Ruexner.”
Valten’s hand went for his sword, but it was not there, as he was supposed to be at a ball.
“According to one of the von Setenstete servants, she escaped just ahead of Ruexner. Gisela went to Ava von Setenstete’s house, who helped her get ready for the ball, and was on her way here in Frau von Setenstete’s carriage. And we found her just as the woman said. She should be here soon.”
Valten’s father told the guard to apprehend Evfemia Mueller and have her kept in the dungeon. Valten’s head was buzzing, but he heard his father also say, “Have every man on high alert, looking for Friedric Ruexner. We must find him and bring him here.”
“Yes, your grace.”
Gisela was safe. Thank God. And she should arrive within moments. Valten headed out of the library and into the Great Hall to wait for her.
Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time, but Valten could not forget what the guard had said, that Gisela’s stepmother had sold her. Sold her. To Friedric Ruexner. His blood boiled as he searched the Great Hall and saw Evfemia Mueller standing near the back of the room. He watched as two guards ordered her to go with them. She went pale, as if all the blood had drained from her face. Her two daughters, who were standing nearby, covered their mouths as the guards led their mother away.