Lukas turned, but Rose caught him by the arm.
“Here.” She put two marks in his hand. “I’ll give you more if you fetch Lord Hamlin as quickly as possible.”
Lukas’s eyes widened. He took off at a canter.
Rose clasped her hands, prayed, and waited.
Chapter 17
Rose heard footsteps coming, too loud to be the footsteps of a little boy. She stared into the barely lit corridor, straining her eyes, her hands clasped in front of her. She forced herself not to hurry toward the sound of the heavy boots.
Lord Hamlin! She exhaled in relief. Tears stung her eyes—oh, he was a beautiful sight! Impulsively, she wanted to leap forward and hug him and tell him how grateful she was to see him. Instead, she clasped her hands tighter and pressed them to her chest.
He strode briskly toward her down the long corridor. “Rose.” He must have dressed quickly, as he wore only a white linen shirt and hose, no doublet. His dark hair was wet and clung to his forehead, and he had not shaved in days.
Rose almost forgot to curtsy. “Lord Hamlin, please forgive me, but I need your help.”
“What is the matter? Tell me.” Even in the dim light she could see how intensely he was looking at her. And even with several days’ stubble on his face, he was still so familiar, so handsome. There was such an earnest expression on his face, she believed he could—and would—help her. Gratitude swelled inside her, almost taking her breath away.
“It’s Gunther Schoff.”
“The young illuminator.”
“Yes, well—” Rose hesitated, but she had to tell him the entire story, and quickly. “My friend Hildy was attacked. Gunther learned of it. Rather than make her report the incident to the duke’s bailiff, he decided to punish the man himself.” Rose drew in a shaky breath then pressed her hand against her mouth so that Lord Hamlin wouldn’t see her lips tremble. She fought to keep her voice steady. “He found the man by the river. Hildy’s attacker was drunk, and Gunther beat him. He knows it was wrong, but he did it for Hildy.”
His eyes were riveted on her, his brows drawn together. Thank God, he was still giving his rapt attention to her half-rambling story.
“Gunther left him there. Three days later someone found him in the river. Gunther was accused of murder, and your father sentenced him to death.” Please sympathize. Please help us. Please save him. “You’re his only hope.” Her voice broke. Anxiety twisted around her heart as she tried to read his expression.
Lord Hamlin rubbed his stubbly jaw. “I suppose you know that the duke’s ruling cannot be changed.”
His words did not cast her down, because she could see by the look on his face that he was trying to think of something they could do. Just knowing he hadn’t given up gave her hope. Oh please, God, help him save Gunther.
“There is a way.” His face was suddenly alight.
She held her breath as she waited for his next words.
“How quickly can you get your friend Hildy to the Marktplatz?”
Wilhelm sat astride Shadow at the back of the crowd. He frowned at the number of people who had gathered in the Marktplatz to watch the hanging. Scanning the heads, he saw neither Rose nor her friend. She had left at least an hour ago. Had she been unable to locate Hildy?
From the castle courtyard, the drum began its steady, slow tempo, beating out the last minutes of the prisoner’s life.
Soon the procession came into view, making its way through the castle gate. A collective “Oh” issued from the spectators, who then fell silent.
The sight of the prisoner increased the sick feeling in the pit of Wilhelm’s stomach. Young Gunther Schoff’s hands and feet were bound as he followed behind Bailiff Eckehart. Wilhelm recognized Gunther’s mother and sisters huddled together, weeping openly as he entered the Marktplatz.
Wilhelm searched the crowd again but saw no sign of Rose or Hildy.
Gunther’s shoulders were stooped as he shuffled his feet toward the ominous platform. A rope dangled in the middle. Gunther’s eyes, too, darted through the crowd as he walked. Apparently not finding who he was looking for, he bowed his head again.
Make haste, Rose. She had to come quickly or he would have to figure out some way to delay the proceedings. He rubbed his sweaty palms on his thighs.
Gunther reached the scaffold. He stumbled on the first step but caught himself. He continued slowly up to the platform.
The bailiff climbed up behind him and declared, “This man, Gunther Schoff, was accused, judged guilty by Duke Nicolaus, and has been sentenced to die for the murder of the man Arnold Hintzen. May God have mercy on his soul.”
Wilhelm’s heartbeat quickened. No, it’s happening too fast. Where were Rose and Hildy?
Bailiff Eckehart slipped the noose around Gunther’s neck and tightened it. He turned back toward the crowd. Wilhelm nudged his horse forward a step and opened his mouth to speak as someone called out.