“I know how hard it must have been for you to tell the truth here.” He looked over at Trauenstein and swept his arm out. “I believe, without exception, that I can speak for everyone in the courtroom when I say that you and your mistress have our deepest sympathy. I expect that in regard to the charges against my client, no further testimony will be required.” He looked at the sheriff. “Or does it please the court to continue to question and embarrass the witness?”
“That will not be necessary,” the sheriff replied.
“All right. I move to exonerate my client immediately of all charges.”
Shouts of agreement rang through the courtroom. A woman barked at Matthias Trauenstein, saying that he should be ashamed of himself and that he should disappear from Heidelberg altogether.
“But my wife hasn’t even taken the witness stand yet.”
“Spare us further testimony, Trauenstein. We’ll be coming after you soon to explain how your wife’s injuries ultimately led to the death of your unborn child.” The sheriff snorted angrily. “The jury and I will retreat for our final judgment on the matter,” he announced. He rose to follow the jury. “This won’t take long.”
It wasn’t an exaggeration. Only a short moment later, they went to their chairs and sat behind the sheriff. “The defendant is acquitted of all charges. The city clerk will make a record of the verdict.”
Some spectators cheered, congratulating Madlen and shaking her hand before they left the courtroom. Although she should have been relieved, all feelings of liberation escaped her. She thanked Andreas then looked regretfully at Barbara, who still sat sobbing on the witness chair. Matthias Trauenstein was the first to leave; he’d basically bolted out of the courtroom. Madlen looked at Barbara again. She felt sorry for the young woman, and a feeling of bitterness boiled in her soul. Whatever her master would inflict on her now, Madlen wouldn’t be able to help her. Barbara would suffer greatly, of that Madlen was quite sure.
Chapter Nine
She cried all the way home. Her head felt clouded, incapable of even one clear thought. The last few days had been so tense and frightening as the trial loomed. Although everything had gone in her favor, she had no idea how to move on. Her heart still pounded wildly at the thought of what could have been. Her good-bye to Andreas von Balge was short and sweet; victory was written all over his face. She, however, felt miserable and just wanted to go home.
And yet, tomorrow it would no longer be home. Heinfried would arrive at noon, pay her father, and take her away. Just like that. She’d never thought about how much Heidelberg, her birthplace, meant to her. The Neckar seemed to be the boundary between Heidelberg and the rest of the world. Her hometown, which once felt suffocating and provincial, now became a place she never wanted to leave. Up until now, she had thought very little about what kind of man Heinfried would be. She certainly didn’t have it easy living with her father, but they always scraped by. Now, the idea of being dragged away from her home and brought to a foreign place she probably would not be able to stand made her blood run cold, not to mention the dreaded thought of having Heinfried touch her. Her brother had only embraced her a handful of times when she needed comfort. Thanks to Clara, however, she’d come to know true affection. It was normal for them to greet and bid farewell to each other with a warm hug and sometimes even a stroke on the cheek, like a mother’s touch. The thought that a complete stranger, her future husband, would touch her whenever he wanted made her break out into a cold sweat.
“You’re here!”
Kilian startled Madlen, waiting outside their cottage for her. She hadn’t noticed him there because she’d been looking at the ground her entire way home.
“And?”
“I was acquitted of all charges.”
“Thank God.” He grabbed her, and Madlen enjoyed the hug like never before. They remained in this thankful embrace for several minutes, finally stilling her wildly beating heart.
Kilian pulled away. “Let’s go inside. Irma’s cooked something so that you could rest when you got home.”
“Irma? Why is she cooking for us?”
Kilian looked at the ground and pushed away some dirt with the sole of his shoe.
“You and Irma?” Madlen blurted. “I would never have thought.”
“Not exactly.” Kilian looked at his sister. “She’s got a good heart and, of course, would be a good wife. But I just don’t want her, and I can’t seem to make that clear to her.”
Madlen noticed that her brother had a bad conscience. “Have you somehow given her reason to believe you feel something for her?”