The Secret Healer(86)

Ruppert had broken out into a cold sweat. He felt a trickle of blood make its way down his stomach, where the tip of the knife had broken his skin. He nodded.

“Good.” Agathe drew her knife back. “Now be on your way.” He scurried off, and she linked arms with Madlen. “People can really fool you sometimes.”



They walked a while silently until they reached the booths. Madlen was the first to dare speak. “Did something bad happen to you?”

“You need to accurately assess the men you meet. A woman must be able to defend herself; otherwise, all is lost.”

Madlen stopped and looked her aunt right in the eyes. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

Agathe dodged her niece’s intense look and peered over her at the booths. “We have to try to find someone else to help us now.”

“Will you tell me?”

Agathe paused, then shook her head. “We have too much to do. If we can’t find anyone to help us today, we won’t be able to sell anything tomorrow.”

Madlen understood that pushing the issue was futile. She swallowed down the feeling of terror and followed her gaze. “And if we can’t sell here, can we give something else a try? Maybe Fronicka can help us?”

“That’s not a bad idea. Come on, we’ll go and ask her.” They left the stands and walked back to the Golden Rooster, where they’d already spent five nights. When they entered, they asked after Fronicka, but the maid said that she was out shopping. The women sat in the tavern with spiced wine. Soon, the craftsmen would return after work, and then it would be anything but harmless there for the two women. Agathe knew how to save her skin, but she was worried about Madlen, who was even more vulnerable in her current condition. Agathe was relieved when the landlady returned to the tavern.

“Fronicka,” Agathe said immediately. “Can we speak to you?”

“Of course.” Fronicka handed her shopping basket to the maid, who disappeared instantly into the adjoining room. The landlady came to their table, and Agathe pointed at a chair. “We would like to ask you a question.”

Her interest piqued, Fronicka took a seat. “What can I do for you?”

“We’re seamstresses, and we have a few dresses to sell. It’s different here than back home; women may only do business on behalf of a man.”

“That’s correct,” Fronicka confirmed. “I have the tavern here only because it belonged to my husband when he was alive. I also paid a large sum to the city leaders not to take it away from me when my Ewald died.”

“I understand.” Agathe pressed her lips together. “Is there any way to sell dresses here without a middleman?”

“You don’t want to pay?” Fronicka affirmed.

“Above all, we don’t want to be dependent on a man,” Madlen explained.

“I like you,” Fronicka said, amused. “What kind of dresses do you have?”

“A more simplistic style than the women here wear,” Agathe admitted. “We’ll be adding some pearl work soon.”

“There could be a way,” Fronicka thought out loud. “Initially, you wouldn’t sell many; this type of business takes some time to develop.”

“How?” Madlen said, perking up.

“You must understand that the real business deals are not made at the market in Emmerich. At first glance, there seems to be a wide selection of goods, but if you look closely, they offer the same old stuff, made the same old ways. People buy these things, but what the people really want is something unique.”

“Unique?”

“Exactly. And you can only get those things if you know the right people.” She pointed at the door. “Take my ham, for instance. My ham is famous far beyond Emmerich’s boundaries. I would never tell anyone where I get it. Nobody knows but me, and of course, I won’t tell anybody.” She smiled. “Or my honey, with which I sweeten my recipes. Everyone knows that it’s the best honey, but where does it come from?”

“You have a secret ham recipe and special honey?” Agathe was amazed. She had never heard of such a thing. In Worms, everyone knew where to get what product at what price. Such secrecy wouldn’t have occurred to anybody.

“But of course! Emmerich is home to people from all regions. And we are very proud members of the Hanseatic League. Emmerich may not be big, but it is important in commercial trade. If we find something only we can offer, we make sure to keep it under lock and key.”

“And how will this help us?”

Fronicka smiled again. “Let me see one of your dresses,” she said.

“They’re upstairs in our room. Shall I go get one?” Madlen offered.