The timeframe didn’t seem likely, but he refrained from telling her that. “We must secure some weapons.”
“I have the candlestick I used to knock out the two guards, but I don’t know where we might get swords or knives.”
“We should also try to get some money, in case we have a longer than expected journey ahead of us. We may need to go to your father’s allies for help. Who is his strongest ally?”
“My mother’s family, the Godehards of Marienberg. My cousin, Duke Theodemar, will help us if we can get word to them. We can get there in a few days, if we have good horses.”
Anne asked something, and her voice sounded peevish. The young maid with the yellow-blonde hair and round blue eyes stood near the wall, still clutching her arms around herself and shivering, even though it was not very cold. Anne frowned indignantly.
“Attaining horses could be a problem, since the stable is guarded by Claybrook’s men.”
“If we have to walk, it will take a week at least.”
He wasn’t sure Duke Wilhelm and Lord Valten would survive a week.
“I have money in my chamber, which we will obtain before we leave. I hope it is enough.”
The priest had begun to translate their conversation to the gaoler, Anne, and Britta.
“Father Anselm, would you go up to my bedchamber and get a purse out of the small trunk beside my bed?” Margaretha asked. “It’s the trunk with the painted vines and flowers on it, and the purse is a simple brown leather pouch.”
The priest nodded and turned to go up the steps.
The gaoler said something in his gruff voice and started up the stone steps behind the priest.
“Where is he going?” Colin asked.
“Back to his post. He will tell us if he sees Lord Claybrook’s men coming this way.” Margaretha’s face was a vibrant contrast to the young maid, who looked terrified, and Anne, who looked angry and irritable. Margaretha’s eyes were wide and animated, and she spoke in a lively voice. “I can’t believe I knocked out two men and escaped. I hope I didn’t kill them or permanently injure them. But we have to think about what we will need to bring with us on our trip. Besides money and weapons, we should take some warm clothing and some food, in case we need to avoid entering the villages. I still can hardly believe Lord Claybrook would be foolish enough to try to take over Hagenheim. I hope my little sisters are not too frightened by all this. Adela can cry for hours when she’s sad or afraid.”
Not only had she spied on Claybrook and discovered his plot, but she had escaped from two of his guards. Margaretha, whom he had accused of being a flibbertigibbet and thought of as the pampered daughter of a duke, who talked on and on when she was excited. He never would have believed it.
His mind went back to what she had said earlier and he interrupted her chatter. “You knocked out Claybrook’s guards with a candlestick?”
“Not just one, but two guards.” Margaretha smiled as if she had just won a jousting tournament. She pulled a silver candlestick from her sleeve and held it up.
He had to admit, “I am impressed, Lady Margaretha.”
She smiled and seemed to be blushing, although it was hard to tell in the dark dungeon. “I rather enjoyed it. I only hope neither of them were seriously injured.”
He had no such hope as he rubbed his wrists where the irons had chafed his skin. They waited for the priest to return, and while Margaretha seemed to be trying to comfort her cousin and the maid in their native tongue, he began thinking of a plan to escape from the castle. How many doors led out of the castle? Wouldn’t they all be guarded? It would take a miracle to get out without Claybrook’s guards seeing them.
Margaretha turned back to Colin and said in English, “We will save my mother and sisters and brothers and bring them with us, won’t we? Claybrook has stopped them from leaving as we had planned earlier. Please. We must take them with us.”
Her face was very near his in the dim torchlight of the dungeon. He was struck with the beauty of her delicate features in the mellow light of the torches.
Dwelling on Margaretha’s beauty at a time like this? He blinked to clear his thoughts. “I don’t want to discourage you, but I think it unlikely that we will be able to get your mother and siblings away from Claybrook’s guards.”
Would she be logical and accept his reasoning?
“May we not at least try?” Margaretha seemed to be pleading with him with those deep brown eyes of hers.
He found himself saying, “We can try, but if they are guarded, you must accept that, having no weapons — besides your candlestick — we will not be able to overcome the guards and take your family with us.”