“No, he doesn’t live in Worms, but he’s heard the stories from a traveling barber.”
“What does he say she did?”
“She swayed a candle to summon the devil.”
Madlen opened her eyes wide. How could someone know about that? A dark foreboding gripped her heart.
“And where did the barber hear about this?”
“Someone told him. A woman whose brother was healed. She didn’t see it herself. But that’s what happened. And that’s what this woman did when she tore babies from their mothers’ wombs and took them with her. The husband of a pregnant woman who died came here to find out who was responsible. Together we’ll find this secret healer and bring her to the gallows. Unlike most, he knows what she looks like; usually she wears a mask.”
Madlen tried to calm her shaking hands. “And this man whose wife died. What’s his name?”
“Why do you want to know?”
She shrugged.
“You don’t know him,” Johannes continued. “His name is Matthias Trauenstein, a highly respected citizen of Heidelberg. Let the people of the Neckar River have what they want. Justice is just as important to them as it is to us here on the Rhine.”
Everything started to spin around Madlen. She felt sick and her stomach started to cramp. Her face contorted as she held her stomach.
“What is it?” Johannes looked at her worriedly.
“My stomach hurts,” she moaned.
“I’ll get the doctor!” He immediately jumped up and ran out of the room. Madlen steadied herself, breathing deeply. Elsbeth hurried in. “My God, Maria, what’s the matter? Johannes said you were in pain. Is it the baby?”
“I don’t know.” Madlen groaned. “I feel sick.” She’d hardly squeezed the words out when she felt bile rise in her throat. She desperately looked around for something but threw up right on the floor.
“Don’t worry,” Elsbeth called out anxiously. “You have to lie down.” She turned to the door. “Helene!” she called so loudly that it made Madlen wince. “Helene, come help us, quickly.” It wasn’t long before the young woman stood in the doorframe.
“We have to lay her down,” Elsbeth explained. “Johannes has already run to get the doctor.” She turned again to Madlen. “Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be all right. You need to lie down. Do you think we’ll be able to go upstairs together?”
Madlen nodded then pressed her lips together as she tried to get up. It was if the ground was collapsing underfoot. The whole room seemed to sway. Helene and Elsbeth supported her as she walked. She would have stumbled several times going upstairs if not for the women’s firm grip on her.
“Well, all right. We did it.” They led Madlen into her room and let her sink down onto the mattress. Her heart was beating far too quickly. Madlen knew that she must calm down. This was pure poison for the child. But the fear was so great that Madlen wasn’t able to calm her breathing.
“You are burning up, my child,” Elsbeth said as she lay her hand across Madlen’s forehead, then touched her face tenderly. “What happened?”
Madlen was unable to answer. The tears ran down her face. Her whole world had collapsed. What should she do now? How could she explain it to Johannes?
“Please don’t cry, my darling. The doctor’s coming soon. And everything’s going to be all right with the baby, of that I’m sure. Don’t worry.” Elsbeth tried her best to soothe Madlen. She sent Helene into the kitchen and told her to bring some spiced wine. She was noticeably relieved when she heard Johannes’s voice, and a few moments later, he and the doctor entered the married couple’s bedchamber together.
Johannes hurried into the room and bent over Madlen. “The doctor is here. Everything’s going to be all right now.”
The doctor approached the bed. “Maria, your husband brought me here. Describe exactly what kind of pain you have.” Elsbeth and Johannes went to the other side of the bed, and the doctor sat next to her. He felt her forehead and her cheeks.
“Your husband told me you’re expecting. Sometimes a woman in your condition can experience brief bouts of weakness.” As he spoke, he held out a sharp instrument used for bloodletting. Madlen’s eyes flashed in terror.
“I’m doing better,” she lied. “It’s just a moment of weakness, like you said. Thank you. I don’t need any help now.”
“Well, I’ll be the judge of that.” He held up the sharp medical instrument with a look of satisfaction on his face. Madlen panicked.