The Secret Healer(16)

“If you’re looking for the true culprit, you needn’t look any further than the Trauenstein house.” Madlen fixed the sheriff with a steady gaze.

“What are you trying to say?”

“If you really want to find the perpetrator of the crime, I recommend that you go to the Trauensteins’ house and speak with Adelhaid yourself. Look at her injuries. You will see straightaway that her injuries have nothing to do with the administration of herbal concoctions.”

The sheriff’s face turned beet red. From anger or shame, Madlen couldn’t say. “I can’t very well examine the noblewoman myself,” he grumbled.

She forced a smile. “No, I didn’t mean that. Adelhaid’s injuries are obvious to all; her poor face, her whole body is black and blue. These wounds were not caused by one or more severe falls. They were . . .” She hesitated briefly. “Brought on by something else. When you see her, you’ll know at a glance that I speak the truth.”

The sheriff looked at her for a moment, then made a decision. “You stay here. I’ll assign a guard to the door.”

“Of course, I won’t go anywhere,” she promised.

“Good.” He stomped out and barked orders at a guard before disappearing around a corner.

As she went to the window, she felt the guard’s eyes staring at her. She could see the sheriff hurrying down the street toward the marketplace. It would take him only a few minutes to reach the Trauensteins’ estate. Madlen smiled. In her silent prayer, she thanked God for the idea of sending the sheriff to see Adelhaid. She could tell by the look on his face that he at least wanted to believe her. Certainly, the sight of Adelhaid would suffice to confirm her story. Again, she turned quietly to God to ask Him to help her through whatever might happen in the next few hours. So far, she’d avoided accusing Matthias of raping and beating his own wife, but surely it would be obvious that the death of the child was due to her husband’s abuse. With a sigh, she turned away from the window, paced the room for a while, and finally settled in the chair. The guard didn’t let her out of his sight for a moment.



It took longer than she’d expected and Madlen dozed off. When she heard the pounding of feet on the wooden stairs, she awoke instantly, standing as the sheriff entered the room.

“Did you see her?”

He nodded. “You can go for now, miss. I will appoint a constable to accompany you safely home.”

“Thank you.” She nodded obediently and considered whether to ask him about Matthias but lost her nerve. She was simply glad to have survived the whole ordeal in one piece. For a sheriff to take a commoner’s word over that of a rich nobleman’s was more than she could expect, especially since the sheriff’s job and salary depended on those same wealthy citizens. “Please, one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“You said that I could go for now?”

“That’s correct. I’m sorry, but it’s not over yet, my child.”

“Why not?”

“Adelhaid’s husband, Matthias Trauenstein, insists on filing charges against you. He grieves deeply for his dead child.”

It took every bit of will she had not to spit on the ground. “He insists on filing charges?” she echoed.

“Yes. Some of his fellow noblemen have heard about the death of the child. He thinks that they might get the wrong idea if there’s no guilty party.”

“If someone is to blame for the death of this child, then . . .” She broke off.

“Yes?” The sheriff threw her a challenging look.

“Then, at least it’s not me,” she finished.

“For your sake, I will try to persuade Matthias Trauenstein to drop the charges. I will send word as soon as something happens.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said politely and curtsied daintily. Then she lifted her head and looked him directly in the eyes. “I do not give thanks lightly, sir. I hadn’t dared hope that I would meet a man of such honor in the office of the law.”

“I take my duties quite seriously.”

“I know that now.” She nodded. “I wish you well, my dear sheriff.” With that, she left the room.





Chapter Six





Two days later, Madlen received a message saying that Matthias Trauenstein had refused to drop the charges. Anger and despair changed to fear and hopelessness. She had heard of such legal processes, and the outcome was always the same. The accused was always convicted, especially if it was a commoner’s word against a nobleman’s. Kilian thought that Madlen needed a lawyer. Madlen was torn. This unbelievable injustice made it almost impossible for her to think clearly. How dare this bastard do this to her? In the meantime, she’d heard some rumors floating around the city about him. She knew now why this cowardly dog Matthias wanted to hang this on her. In a few weeks, Matthias hoped that he would be elected to city council. It was common knowledge that this nobleman was moody, temperamental, and often completely out of control. Many people proclaimed that Matthias was behind Adelhaid’s miscarriages. The city council would never allow anyone in their ranks with such a tainted reputation. Matthias needed a scapegoat. And Madlen, who hadn’t done anything but save his wife’s life, had entered the picture just in time. Still, she couldn’t figure out how he’d persuaded Adelhaid to lie for him.