A man clad in livery came and fetched her – that is to say, he just indicated with a movement of his head that she was to follow him.
They crossed the inner courtyard, Jessica with her legs shaking, and into the Palace itself.
The changing of the guard was taking place just then. All the guards were changed, one by one. The two guards right inside in the large hall were replaced as Jessica passed, and the newly arrived guards were lead by an officer.
He turned to lead the replaced guards out. Jessica started.
The officer was Tancred! He stopped for an instant and looked at her, wide-eyed. Then he continued as if nothing had happened. As the King’s principal officer, he had to keep a straight face.Jessica followed after her escort, very moved.
She had not forgotten him after all. No, not at all! On the contrary! Seeing him again had been extremely painful.
That was what he looked like then! How had she been able to forget that? But Cecilie was right, he had matured a lot. Broader across the shoulders and his features were more masculine and authoritative. But why did he look so sad, so very sad?
And yet so incredibly dapper! Jessica, who had had an almost childish crush on him thought with embarrassment that now he was a man, a grown-up, attractive man. Whereas she had become thin and sickly because of the horrific, insidious illness.
She was so confused that she had not noticed in which direction they had gone.
I hope I’ll have an escort back, she thought. Because I’d never be able to find my way out of this place.
If she had expected to stand before the king, she was disappointed. Or maybe relieved. But it was bound to be a very important person who was sitting behind a heavy desk and looking at her.
She curtseyed deeply.
“You’re Jessica Cross, nanny to one of Corfitz Ulfeldt’s children, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
You could tell by his voice that Ulfeldt was not highly esteemed there. He asked her whether she had been on the couple’s floor on a particular night.
“Since I’ve heard that this question would be put to me, I’ve considered this very carefully. Yes, I can tell you with certainty that I was on that particular floor.”
He leaned forward and said, “It’s been asserted that on that night, a particular outsider was in that same corridor. Did you hear or see anything that would indicate this?”
Jessica answered as calmly and certainly as she could. “The little girl, Eleonora Sofia, was very restless so I often had to talk with her at night. Nevertheless, I believe I can say that if anybody had been in the corridor, I would have heard it. In order to come to the couple’s bedrooms, you would have to pass the door to the room that I was in.”
“And did you hear anything from inside the bedrooms?”
“If you could hear anything, it would have to be a loud scream or maybe gunshots. The walls are very thick.”
“Are you familiar with the rumours?”
“Yes.”
“Have you noticed something that might indicate that the rumours are true?”
“Absolutely not! The Ulfeldts live in an exceptionally happy marriage. Everybody knows that.”
“Well, we know that she’s loyal and devoted.”
“If I may give you my humble opinion, I think that the Lord Chamberlain depends upon his wife’s devotion.”
The man mumbled to himself, “The question is whether he’s worth it.”
Then he said in an audible voice, “Have you seen or heard anything that could hint at a conspiracy against His Majesty the King in the house in which you work?”
Jessica straightened her back and her eyes turned as cold as they could possibly be in a considerate, caring soul. “Would you please retract your statement because it upsets me. I don’t want to sit here and speak ill of my master and mistress, and I don’t want to be in a house where people band together against His Majesty!”
The man gave her a stern look. “Good,” he said. “Thank you, you may leave. And not a word to the Ulfeldts! Understand?”
Jessica breathed a sigh of relief. It was only now she could feel how exhausted she was.
She had hoped to see Tancred on the way out, but he had disappeared. The changing of the guard was over and he had returned to his regiment.
Anyway, now he knew where she was. So the next move was up to him.
However, she realised that there was a major problem. She worked in the Lord Chamberlain’s household, and Tancred belonged to the King’s lifeguards. And right now, relations between the two distinguished gentlemen was as tense as ever. She understood very well that the King would disapprove if one of his officers was visiting Ulfeldt’s house. That same evening she received a letter, which was handed to her by a young boy. Jessica cast a quick glance at the handwriting, managed to see Tancred’s name from the corner of her eye, which was sufficient for her. She left the work to the others and rushed to her room.
She was unlucky. First of all, Leonora Christina asked where Eleonora Sofia had put her mittens. Then one of the girls asked whether she could borrow a feather pen. And then it was time for supper.
But Jessica did not care at all if she got chastised for being late. She sat down to read the letter.
She smiled a little at herself when she noticed that her hands, which were holding the sheet of paper, were shaking. She tried to put the letter on the table but it had been rolled up so it rolled up once more. After putting something heavy on all four corners, she managed to read it.
Dear Jessica, it said. That was a good start!
I’ve tried to find you for so long! It’s now two years since we parted and so much remains unspoken after the shocking days at Askinge.
Jessica, are you finally able to accept my sincere prayer for forgiveness for the way I behaved towards you? I reproached you for not being quite open towards me – and then I made almost the same mistake without thinking about it. Please forgive me if you can!
It does me good to write this.
I wish you all the very best.
Your friend,
Tancred.
That was all.
No request of whether they should meet again.
But it was a kind letter. And it was a sign of life from him! He had not forgotten her. On the contrary.
If he now had peace of mind, might he be finished with her? Jessica decided to forget him completely.
She sensed that this was the right decision.
The Ulfeldt couple still did not know what Jørgen Walter had said about them to the King.
But one day in February, Jessica stopped suddenly on her way to the nursery.
The butler had ushered in a lady, a very elegant lady, to see Leonora Christina ...
The maid walked past and was greatly surprised.
“Honestly, has she no dignity at all?” she said when the lady had disappeared into Leonora Christina’s apartment. “What is Dina Vinshofers doing here?”
The household was at boiling point, and they soon found out what it was all about. Leonora Christina was pretty vocal as the lady paraded out of the room.
“Corfitz!” she shouted. “Corfitz!”
Everywhere she could see half-hidden servants stand motionless. Jessica was not much better herself as she stopped up on the first floor, and eavesdropped.
The Lord Chamberlain hurried up to his wife and Leonora Christina yelled, “Do you know what Dina said? She was here a moment ago and said that somebody has got hold of the key to our back entrance ...and they intend to murder us!”
Corfitz Ulfeldt shushed her and a furious, somewhat quieter discussion took place.
A while later, the family’s spiritual adviser arrived and said the same thing. Dina had also visited him.
Leonora Christina sent for the lady in question, and Dina repeated
the allegation. And this time she added that Jørgen Walter was part of the conspiracy.
Corfitz Ulfeldt completely lost his self-control. He became hysterical, barking orders right, left and centre. Each night his men had to keep watch in the garden and guard all the doors. The children were not allowed out and Jessica had great problems calming down Eleonora Sofia, because all the fuss made her nervous. Leonora Christina locked herself in her room with a friend – and twelve loaded guns.
This went on for a long time, and it got on everybody’s nerves. Jessica was upset because now she had no chance of seeing Tancred again. She had planned that via Cecilie Paladin she might casually bump into him. Now she never left the Ulfeldt household. The Lord Chamberlain suspected everybody.
Besides, she would not have had the stamina to go out. She was now in such a poor state of health that all members of the household had noticed it. Her headache would only disappear for a short while in the afternoon only to return at full blast at night. Her shoulders felt like hard lumps, the pain reaching far down her back so that she could hardly move. She had fainted several times now and the pain which she suffered in her stomach was unbearable. The rash had also spread.
If only she had somebody she could confide in! But she was afraid of seeming importunate.
How many small, lonely people in the world had lost their lives unnecessarily – simply because they did not want to trouble others with what bothered them?
However, at the moment nobody in the Ulfeldt household had the time to think about what might bother their staff. They had other things on their mind. Corfitz Ulfeldt’s situation did not exactly benefit from the fact that in April he sent some men to the King with the request for protection. He also wanted the King to let him know how the plans to murder the Lord Chamberlain were turning out.He also asked His Majesty to forbid his closest men from taking his life. This faux pas got even worse as the King had offered his own men to guard his house and Ulfeldt had declined because he was suspicious.
Now King Frederik was extremely angry and wanted to put an end to all this gossip. Corfitz was horrified when he was banned from leaving Copenhagen. So was Jørgen Walter. And Dina Vinshofvers was arrested.
It proved impossible to find out what her actual motives were. During the interrogation that followed, she maintained that she had heard the couple make plans to poison the King. However, she had never said anything about a planned assault against Ulfeldt, no, no! A few of the servants at Ulfeldt’s farm were summoned once more. But not Jessica this time.
She lay in her bed, weak and unable to get up. Her whole body was in pain, her limbs ached so that she did not dare move. Leonora Christina had heard that she was sick and was concerned to see how weak she was. But King Christian’s daughter was far too shocked at her husband’s problems to concentrate on a poor maid. She ran around to gather friends and organise a defence for her dear Corfitz.
That was why she summoned Cecilie Paladin.
Cecilie arrived very reluctantly. She felt ill at ease with this shabby business and the rumours about Dina, Jørgen Walter and the Lord Chamberlain. However, she felt that she had a certain obligation towards Leonora Christina. What was more, it was a long time since she had seen little Jessica Cross. It was best to say hello to the girl and to hear whether she was still happy.
Downstairs in the kitchen, “Ella” stood in the pantry. Thoughtfully, she fetched a bottle from a hiding place. ‘This must not be quick,’ she thought. It must take a long, long time. Maybe I should slow down? She’s too weak. It’s going too fast. I’ll reduce the dosage slightly ... And then! When she’s almost finished, she’ll find out. I’ll tell her everything then. All that’s she done to me! That lousy slut. That non-entity, who turned my father’s head. Who ruined my entire family. It was all her fault!’
A person’s view can become so distorted when they want to find a scapegoat. When they want to close their eyes to reality.
After Cecilie had spoken to the extremely agitated Leonora Christina, saying some gentle words to comfort her, she asked to meet Jessica.
“Who?” said Leonora Christina, confused. “Oh yes, indeed. Eleonora Sofia’s much-loved nanny. She’s bed-ridden at the moment. It would be so kind of you if you could find time to see her, Margravine. I myself am quite unable to gather my thoughts about anything at all. That woman asserts that my husband has also been unfaithful. With her! My Corfitz? Grotesque!”
Cecilie was horrified to see Jessica.
“But Jessica. My poor child,” she said, greatly shocked. “What’s happened?”
Seeing kind Cecilie was too much for Jessica. She burst into tears and could not say a word to begin with.
But then the story poured out: The horror, the loneliness, the pain in her whole body, the screaming headache, the bleeding wounds, the stomach pain.
Cecilie was overwhelmed. “But why haven’t you said anything?”
“I didn’t want to trouble you. You had so much ...”
“We must do something about this,” said Cecilie. “I’ll be back.”
She had thought of speaking to Leonora Christina about Jessica once more, but the lady had rushed out to continue her endeavours.
Then Cecilie got into the coach and told the coachman, “Drive home, fast! I must fetch some medicine.”
‘I probably still have a little of the Ice People’s old brew,’ she thought to herself. ‘some of what Tarjei gave me when Alexander was sick.’
But things did not quite turn out the way she had planned. When she came home and dashed into the dining room, where her husband and son were having a meal, she said quickly, “Little Jessica is seriously ill. Actually, she looks as if she’s dying. I need to mix some of Tarjei’s medicine, and then I’ll return to Jessica’s bedside.”
Tancred jumped up from his chair. “Surely she can’t stay there, can she?”
“She can’t be moved. She’s as frail as a porcelain vase.”
“I’ve never liked the thought of her being there. Those people ... Where are my jodhpurs ...?”
“Tancred!”
“She must be brought here, immediately. I don’t know what you’re thinking about, Mum! And won’t Mattias be visiting us in a few days’ time?”
He ran out of the room. Shortly afterwards they heard a horse gallop away from the estate.
Alexander and Cecilie looked at each other. The glances they exchanged said everything.
“At least it’s nice to see him so involved,” said Cecilie lightly.
“Yes. Otherwise he tends to be very glum.”
“I don’t understand what’s bothering him. Do you remember our vibrant Tancred? Always cracking jokes. And now ... Evasive and absent-minded – it’s as if he has no confidence in us any more. It really hurts me.”
“Me too,” said Alexander pensively. “Cecilie, it seems that things are disappearing from his room. As if he ... needs money and doesn’t want to let us know.”
“Tancred?”
“I’m not sure. It’s just a hunch. It really bothers me!”
Cecilie stared into space and said, “Girls? Or gambling debts? It’s just not like him, Alexander. I’m scared!”
“I’ve asked him whether anything’s the matter, which he vehemently denies. He doesn’t want to talk to me.”
“We must give him some time. Now he’s got to think of Jessica. Maybe that will help.”
“I hope so.”
But they were both very worried.
Chapter 9
Tancred rushed into the Palace where the Ulfeldts resided. Leonora Christina preferred to call it a farm. To begin with, the guards had turned him down, then searched him at the request of the household, and reluctantly let him in.
Leonora Christina met him in the hall.
“Tancred Paladin, what on earth are you doing here? Your mother was here ...”
> “I’ve come to fetch Jessica.”
“But you can’t just take her with you just like that. She’s my daughter’s nanny.”
“She’s fatally ill! It would seem that nobody takes care of her in this house.”
“Fatally ill? Nonsense,” said Leonora Christina with a pale smile. “Tancred, it was a great privilege for you to be allowed in. You’re in the service of the King and somebody has evil plans to kill my husband. So surely you should show your gratitude by behaving properly.”
“Where is she?” interrupted Tancred.
Leonora Christina bristled. Very stiffly, she asked a maid to show “this young lout” to Jessica’s room.
Tancred followed the maid with long steps so that his cape fluttered around him.
He stopped at the doorway and looked in. “Good heavens,” he mumbled.
Jessica’s delicate face was haggard. Her eyes were deep in blue shadows. It seemed as if she had problems with her vision and that this caused her great pain.
The maid wanted to stay behind as a chaperone but Tancred waved her out. She left reluctantly but probably thought that Jessica was so ill that nothing improper was likely to take place.
“Jessica, what on earth has happened?”
“I don’t know, Tancred,” she whispered. Now she could really see how grown-up he had become. She heard his deep, masculine voice and she was immensely sorry that she herself looked so utterly miserable now that she had met him at last.
“Put some clothes on and then we’ll be going home. I’ve told Leonora Christina.”
“But I can’t ... move.”
He hesitated. “Where are your clothes?”
“In the cupboard over there. But Eleonora Sofia needs me. I ...”
He gathered everything she owned and put it in a trunk. Then he wrapped her in the blanket.
“I hope Mrs. Leonora Christina can forgive me for taking this blanket with me,” he mumbled.
He lifted her up. “But, Jessica. You weigh hardly anything!”
Nemesis Page 12
