The Secret Healer(81)
Johannes bowed politely. “Thank you. Yes, they are fine.” Johannes thought about where he’d met this woman before. She seemed to recognize him. “You don’t remember me? Reni is my daughter. You played together often as children.”
“Oh, of course.” Johannes hit the palm of his hand on his forehead. “Reni.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Actually, I didn’t want to bother you. I wanted to speak to Roswitha.”
“And what do you want with her, if I may ask?” Otilia smiled.
“Please forgive me if I seem rude. I would rather speak to her directly.”
“Actually, it does seem rather rude,” Otilia replied arrogantly. “You must understand that it’s my duty to protect my servants. Roswitha is very busy, and she’s a very shy young woman. She would be uncomfortable speaking to you alone. I’m sorry.” She pointed to the door.
“I don’t understand.” Johannes looked at the guard, who proceeded to guide him toward the door. “You’re throwing me out?”
Otilia laughed. “Of course not. With your fine upbringing, I trust you’ll have the decency to leave the premises on your own accord.” She smiled kindly.
“I’m running an investigation,” Johannes said angrily. “Roswitha is a witness, and I demand to speak with her immediately.”
“A witness? For what?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“And under whose authority are you conducting an investigation?”
“I’m not at liberty to disclose that.”
“Then I’m sorry. Come back with constables, whoever they may be, and let them take Roswitha. But not without giving her mistress a proper reason. You, of all people”—she tapped his chest—“should know the law.”
“Your behavior is outrageous,” Johannes said with disgust. “Or do you have something to hide? Is that it?”
“Oh, my dear Master Goldmann, this has gone too far. I have much to do, and you are wasting my time. I’m taking care of my servants, and that’s all. You must go.”
The guard came threateningly close to Johannes. “You should leave now.”
“Until recently, the maid served Agathe, the seamstress.” The guard tugged on Johannes’s arm and marched him over to the door.
“Her loss was my gain,” Otilia replied with a smile. “Have a pleasant day, Johannes Goldmann.” With these words, another guard appeared, a giant of a man. He opened the door, grabbed Johannes by the arm, and threw him out. Johannes almost tumbled down the steps but caught himself at the last moment. Stunned, he stood before the closed door. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before.
“She did what?” Elsbeth looked at him, her mouth wide open in shock.
“You understood me, Mother. Otilia threw me out onto her front steps.”
“But something must have happened. Why would Otilia do such a thing?”
“She had no reason.”
Elsbeth sat pensively on her chair. “That is quite odd. I’ve always known Otilia as an honest, friendly noblewoman. What would she have against you so suddenly?” Elsbeth rubbed her chin thoughtfully; then she looked at Johannes. “What do you want from this maid, this Roswitha?”
“She was Agathe’s servant.”
“And?”
Johannes could feel blood surging through his head. Should he tell his mother the truth? “I hoped that she would have information about Maria’s disappearance.”
Elsbeth looked at him sympathetically. “Oh, Johannes. I understand how hard this must be for you, but I’ve come to the conclusion that your wife has left you and doesn’t intend to return. You need to get your marriage annulled.”
Johannes had already considered this option himself, particularly in light of the fact that he’d become an instrument of the devil. Still, he preferred not to tell Elsbeth. His mother was a strong woman, but the truth would devastate her more than she would ever admit.
“I just want to know why she left,” he replied.
“I know, but you must prepare for the possibility that you might never get an answer.”
Johannes thought it over. “You know Roswitha, right?”
“I’ve seen her a couple of times, yes. Why?”
“I have to talk to her.”
“Johannes. Otilia is her mistress. If she’s forbidden it, you could get into trouble.”
“Not if it’s for an investigation.” The words popped out of his mouth.
Elsbeth looked at him intensely. “What do you mean by that, Johannes?”
He immediately regretted saying it. “I just thought that somehow if I . . .” He didn’t know what to say.