Matthias Trauenstein stood up straight again. “Adelhaid told me herself that she wanted to appear. I beg of you: Would it be possible for her to come tomorrow? I’m afraid she doesn’t have the strength today.”
The sheriff traded looks with the jurymen. Andreas von Balge followed their gestures. “They all agree,” he whispered.
“We have nothing against her testifying tomorrow morning,” the sheriff announced. “Today we’ll hear the maid’s testimony and, first thing in the morning, your wife’s. But one thing is quite certain, Matthias Trauenstein, your wife must absolutely appear here tomorrow.”
Matthias acknowledged him with a bow. “It’s of the utmost importance that she does so. Believe me.” He took his place.
“Good. Good.” The sheriff cleared his throat. “Now to you, maid. Your name is Barbara, correct?”
“That’s correct, sir,” she squeaked, looking up for only a split second.
“And from what house do you come?”
“My father is Hugo, the barrel maker’s servant, my lord.”
The sheriff nodded. “Now please tell us in your own words what led to the death of the Trauenstein infant.”
Barbara’s face turned red. Quickly, she glanced at Matthias Trauenstein, who threateningly raised his eyebrow. “My mistress didn’t feel very well,” she finally began. “She was only a few weeks away from delivery, and her usual midwife was no longer available.”
“She passed away. Everyone in this courtroom knows this,” the sheriff corrected.
“Yes, my lord.” She lifted her head. “I knew that Madlen had learned many things from Clara . . .” She hesitated and looked again at her master.
“Stop that,” warned the sheriff. “Look at us over here.”
“Yes, my lord.” She straightened her chair so that she could follow the sheriff’s orders and look only at the jury.
“Continue.”
“Like I said, Clara was dead, and I thought Madlen would be able to help my mistress. So I went to her.” She paused for a moment.
“Maid, at this rate, we’ll be sitting here till dawn. Must I ask you to continue after every single sentence?” the sheriff said indignantly.
“Forgive me. Madlen and I ran to the Trauensteins’. When we arrived, Madlen told me to fetch some herbs.”
“Which herbs?”
Barbara counted off on her fingers. “Arnica, sage, artemisia, oil, and honey. I went to look immediately. We had everything except for artemisia.”
“So far as I know, none of these herbs are poison?” the sheriff asked.
“No, my lord.”
Matthias Trauenstein started to clear his throat loudly. Barbara pressed her lips together. Her shoulders trembled. “But Madlen had her own herbs,” she continued, so quietly that it was little more than a whisper.
“What did you say?” Andreas von Balge addressed the witness.
“It’s not your turn,” the sheriff scolded. “Let the witness make her statement before you examine her. You are well aware of procedure.”
“Forgive me. But there was never any talk . . .” Andreas broke off. “I will question the witness afterward, as is our right.”
“So, maid, you said that the defendant herself brought herbs with her. What kind exactly?”
Barbara looked at Madlen for a half second, then focused back on the ground. “As far as I could tell, it was foxglove.”
A murmur went through the courtroom. Even the uneducated knew that this plant would put any sufferer out of his or her misery.
“Foxglove?” The sheriff raised his eyebrows high. “Are you quite sure of that? Look at me when you answer.”
Barbara looked up. “Yes, my lord, I’m sure.” She pressed her lips together until they turned white.
“What happened next?”
“Madlen prepared a paste and rubbed it deep into my mistress’s belly.”
Again, the courtroom erupted; some coughed in embarrassment for the maid, and others whispered to their neighbors.
“Quiet!” the sheriff thundered. He turned again to Barbara. “And then?”
“My mistress got sick, her stomach cramped, and she suffered terribly.”
“That happened only after the defendant applied the herbal ointment?”
“Yes, my lord. She started bleeding, and Madlen said that she had to get the baby out before it died.”
Up to this point, Madlen had listened to Barbara’s testimony dispassionately. But now Madlen put her hands in front of her mouth in astonishment. “Why are you saying this?” she gasped. Her heart beat so wildly in her chest that she felt she might pass out at any moment.