The Wandering Harlot (The Marie Series) Read Online Free PDF

“No, sir.”
    “Then do what Utz tells you. Now go! I’ll see you tomorrow in court.”
    The counselor turned around and walked off without saying good-bye. Utz lit a pine chip, held it up in his left hand, and with the other hand pushed the secretary toward the shore of the Rhine.

IV.
    Marie felt as if she were a ghost hovering outside her body and looking down in disbelief at what was happening. Was she really being dragged and pushed through the dark streets, barefoot and in a thin nightshirt? This could not be happening.
    Clenching her teeth, she prayed softly that she would wake up and find herself back in her own bed, but no Baby Jesus or saint came to her aid. At first she was relieved when Hunold pushed her to the floor in the tower dungeon and bound her arms in an iron ring, for she thought the nightmare had come to an end. Surely she was about to wake up in bed, cuddled in her warm quilt and thinking of something to dispel the terrible dream.
    Time passed, though, and all she could feel was the damp cold creeping in from the hard-packed dirt floor, and all she could see was an impenetrable darkness without any moonlight. She slowly began to understand this was not a nightmare and that she really had been accused of immoral behavior. Since the rope around her wrists bound her to the ground, she pulled her legs up, put her head on her knees, and tried to pray, but her words were drowned out by her violent sobs.
    Over and over she asked herself why the two men had lied. She had rarely had contact with the secretary, since he was usually caught up in business matters and was often traveling. Had the carriage driver thought all this up in order to humiliate her? But the two men knew they would have to swear to their assertions before a cross and a judge.
    Thinking about what would happen the next day, Marie felt reassured. A matron would examine her in the morning and determine Marie was indeed a virgin. Linhard and Utz would be revealed as slanderers in court, and Marie would be exonerated.
    Once she had convinced herself that she was not in danger after all, Marie wondered why Counselor Rupert had been so quick to believe the two men’s assertions. Did he regret signing the marriage contract, and was now happy to have found this way to withdraw his offer? Or was he just stunned by the sudden accusations? No doubt he now realized his hasty reaction would lose him a fortune, and he would want the truth to come to light. It was in his own interest to help her now.
    Just then, Marie heard someone sliding the bolt aside and inserting a key in the lock. It was her father and her fiancé coming to get her! So this was all just a cruel prank or horrible misunderstanding. The key turned very slowly, almost silently, and the door opened without a sound. Outside someone was whispering, and a light appeared as if several torches had been lit.
    Marie looked expectantly toward the door. To her disappointment, Hunold appeared in the opening, grinning and holding a torch. Turning around, he pulled Linhard forward and gave him a shove that sent him stumbling across the room. The secretary’s face was twisted in a terrified grimace. The bailiff stepped aside and Utz entered. The carriage driver placed his torch in a ring, looking at Marie as if he wanted to devour her with his eyes. Feeling ill, Marie turned away as Hunold closed the door, locking it behind him. Then he placed the torch over Marie’s head.
    Marie was frozen with fear and sat up as far as her fetters permitted. “What do you want from me?”
    Hunold bent over as if to grab her, but the carriage driver pushed him aside and looked Marie in the face. “You don’t want Linhard and me to commit perjury tomorrow in court, do you?”
    Marie crawled back toward the wall. “I don’t understand . . .”
    “Don’t worry, you will in a moment.” Utz forced Marie onto her back. Then Hunold walked over to Marie and ripped her nightshirt off as far up as her neck. At