The Secret Healer(49)
“Yes.” Mechthild turned back to the kettle and fanned the steam rising out of it. “Shall I serve up the next batch now, or wait?”
“We should let him sleep for a while,” Madlen decided. “I’ll tell you exactly what to look for. Then I’ll go.”
Less than an hour later, as Madlen walked back to Agathe’s house, a thought crossed her mind. She’d seen the frightened look on Roswitha’s face when she entered the room to wrap Sander’s legs with the cold compresses and saw Madlen chanting. What did she think of her now? That she’d cured him with some kind of secret magic? This line of thinking could be dangerous for Madlen. She was annoyed with herself for going against Agathe’s advice. Hadn’t she sworn to never again help someone and put herself in harm’s way? How could she be so stupid? Hadn’t she learned a thing from the destruction of her former life? Her heart beat in her throat when she opened the door to Agathe’s house.
“Maria, Roswitha? Is that you down there?”
“I’m here,” she shouted upstairs. “I’m coming right up.” She barely had enough strength to drag herself up the stairs, but she had to tell her aunt the truth. Hopefully, she would not be too cross. She entered hesitantly. Agathe sat in bed, working on a dress draped over her legs. She looked up and stretched out her hand as Madlen entered.
“There you are. Where were you for so long?”
Madlen cleared her throat. “I was with Roswitha at Sander’s house.” Madlen waited for a scolding, but Agathe only smiled sweetly.
“That’s what I thought. How is he?”
“You’re not angry?”
“Come, sit next to me.” Agathe tapped on the bed and waited until Madlen sat down next to her. “Why should I be angry at you? It’s simply your nature to help others. Naturally, I would like you to listen to me and be more cautious, but I understand.”
“I thank you so much.” Madlen was relieved, although the look on Roswitha’s face popped back into focus. “But it would have been better if I had listened to you.”
Agathe looked at her seriously. “What happened?”
Madlen described the whole scene to Agathe as accurately as possible. “I discovered this method quite accidentally when I attended my first birth,” Madlen said.
“And do you use it often?”
Madlen shrugged. “Only when I think it might help.”
“You didn’t try it on me when I lay devastated by coughing spasms.”
Madlen smiled. “You were calm and responding well to the treatments.”
“I understand.”
Madlen hesitated. “Do you think that I should explain what I was doing more clearly to Roswitha?”
“Only if she asks. If I were in your place, I would treat it as a normal part of the process.”
“It is for me.”
Agathe smiled. “For you, yes. But you wouldn’t have told me about it if the look on Roswitha’s face didn’t alarm you.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Agathe grabbed Madlen’s hand. “Don’t worry about it too much. When Sander is cured, it will be clear to Roswitha that you were the only one who could have saved her sweetheart’s life. Nothing more and nothing less.”
“I hope so.” Madlen sighed. “Well, let’s not talk about it anymore. How are you?”
“I’m wonderful. I haven’t had this much strength in many weeks.”
“I’m so glad.” Madlen bent over and laid her ear on Agathe’s breast. She heard only calm, even breathing, nothing that caused concern.
“And what is the healer’s prognosis?” Agathe asked, as Madlen stood.
“I’m really quite satisfied,” Madlen said, looking at her seriously. “Maybe tomorrow I’ll allow you to get out of bed.”
Roswitha didn’t come home that night nor by noon the next day. Though Madlen was very worried, she hesitated to return to Sander’s house. On the other hand, she feared that Roswitha might herself be at the mercy of the infection.
“Since Roswitha isn’t here, I’ll need to go to the market myself,” Agathe said. “Will you accompany me?”
“Do you really want to go out again so soon? I can go alone.”
“No, my darling. I’m completely healthy again; I feel fine. It’s time to go back to work and I need some new goods.”
“Fine, I will go with you.”
An hour later, as they went past the market stalls, Madlen’s mind drifted elsewhere. She thought about Roswitha and how she only had Mechthild’s help to fight for the life of her beloved. Did this shy young woman know enough? Could she make the necessary assessments for a successful treatment? Madlen made a decision.