Iny Lorentz - The Marie Series 02 Read Online Free PDF Page B

due to their being so richly blessed with children, something Marie herself had longed for so eagerly. Hiltrud had given birth to seven children, five of whom had survived and gave their parents hope they’d live to reach adulthood. The two eldest were Michel and Marie, nicknamed Michi and Mariele to distinguish them from their godparents, and they were already helping with farmwork while five-year -old Mechthild looked after her little brothers, Dietmar and Giso.
    Watching the three towheaded younger children playing by the stables, Marie was overcome by a wave of jealousy. While fortune had so lavishly smiled on Hiltrud, Marie grieved because she hadn’t been able to give Michel an heir. She instantly scolded herself for these thoughts, silently asked her friend for forgiveness, and wished her every possible good fortune, because she’d never forget how Hiltrud had saved her life against all odds those many years before.
    “You look as though you’re carrying more sorrow than you can bear.” Hiltrud was still able to read Marie’s mind and knew her friend hadn’t come just for a few slices of freshly buttered bread and idle gossip. Hiltrud’s eyes turned to the east, where they could still see a strikingly long cloud of dust. “I know why your heart is heavy. That’s Michel marching to Bohemia over there, isn’t it? May God be with him!”
    “If I spurred Bunny, I could be with him in less than an hour, and yet I feel as miserable as if he’d left me months ago.” Marie sighed and forced a smile. “Isn’t that crazy?”
    Hiltrud shook her head resolutely. “That’s not crazy at all. The day you no longer miss your husband is the day you’ve stopped loving him. When Thomas is away for even a single day, I get as restless as a mother hen who’s lost one of her chicks.”
    She paused, glanced into the butter churn, and nodded with satisfaction. “Done. Now I can treat you to a bite.”
    “Your butter tastes so much better than what we’re served in the castle.” Marie licked her lips, but her thoughts immediately returned to her husband. “I hope Michel will find enough to eat in Bohemia.”
    “Chin up, Marie! He’s a clever lad—I’m sure he won’t starve. Should he ever find himself in a tight spot, he’ll know what to do.” Opening a side door, Hiltrud went into her kitchen. Her three youngest children had been peering at her and Marie for some time, and they were now running across the yard, their little legs hurrying to catch up. Although it was only March, there was no kitchen fire burning because of the unusually warm spring weather, and inside the cool room, a long table of roughly hewn timber sprawled with benches and stools for more than a dozen people. The door to the pantry stood open, and Marie could see that Hiltrud still had ample provisions despite the early time of year, along with a remarkably large selection of baskets, buckets, and bowls. Dozens of sausages and hams were dangling from the kitchen ceiling, a testament to their owners’ prosperity.
    Once again, Marie’s thoughts drifted back to Michel, who would be making good progress in that fine weather despite the heavily loaded oxcarts. The faster he got to Bohemia, she thought, the sooner he’d be back with her. But then she remembered that each step brought him closer to the enemy, and a shiver ran down her spine.
    “The Bohemians aren’t really Michel’s enemies, but rather Sigismund of Bohemia’s enemies because they took up arms against their king and deposed him.” Only when Hiltrud replied did Marie realize she’d spoken her thoughts aloud.
    “Michel is marching against the Bohemians, so they’re his enemies as well.” Hiltrud’s worldview was much simpler than Marie’s, and she’d never wasted much time considering the motivations of the powerful. She didn’t think it appropriate for someone of her social standing, and the counts and princes did whatever they wanted anyway. It was enough that the