by Ellin Carsta
“You do that very well,” Franz said.
Madlen felt better than she’d felt in a long time. How she relished helping people. A sense of strength and joy swept through her.
“I think that’s enough.” Franz’s voice was warm, almost tender.
Madlen let the cloth slide back into the bowl. She picked up a dry one and dabbed at the remaining water underneath Peter’s eyes.
“Now we’re going to snuff out all the lights,” Franz explained, “so that when you open your eyes, the brightness won’t be too much for you.”
“Thank you.”
Madlen’s heart was beating in her throat as Franz put out three of the lanterns. Now the room’s only illumination came through the crown glass window and from one flickering lamp. Franz sat down on the other side of the bed so that they flanked Peter on both sides.
“Now, open your eyes slowly.”
Peter kept his eyes closed at first as he breathed deeply. His eyelids fluttered. He waited a moment, then pressed his lips together, opened his eyes, closed them, and blinked. Then he opened his eyes wide, closed them again, and opened them. He looked straight ahead. Madlen didn’t know if he could see and didn’t dare ask. She looked right into his eyes, trying to detect any emotion. A tear ran down Peter’s cheek. Madlen didn’t know what to think. She looked at the doctor, who had a broad smile plastered across his face.
“Was it a success?” Madlen asked Franz nervously.
“You’ve fixed your hair differently,” Peter remarked as he regarded Madlen. “It looks charming.”
Madlen touched her hair, grasping the implication of what Peter had said.
“You see my hair,” she whispered. “You see my hair!” she called out, tears of joy streaming down her face. Without a thought she bent over to put her head onto Peter’s chest and embrace him.
“Yes, I can see. Everything’s going to be all right now, you have my word.” He looked at Franz. “There is no way I can ever repay you. Regardless of how much money I give you, I will be forever in your debt.”
Madlen let go of Peter and stood up.
“Healing changes lives,” the doctor said, gazing at Madlen. She returned his look. “Don’t ever forget what healing has done for your father-in-law and what it means for your entire family.” He cleared his throat. “And never forget what this moment means to you.”
“I’ll never forget,” she promised.
“Good. I will be staying at Otilia’s house here in Worms for four more days. Then I will leave for Heidelberg. Please come over soon and share your decision with me. And if you wonder for even a split second whether medicine could be your destiny, then accept my invitation to come hear my lectures for a few days. I would be delighted to accompany you to Heidelberg.”
“I will think about it. I promise you.”
“That’s all I can ask.” The doctor turned to Peter. “You should rest. You certainly can’t expect to take to your work again. You may be overwhelmed by many different sensations. Give yourself some time to get up, and get up only when you think you’re ready.”
Peter reached out to take Madlen’s and the doctor’s hands. “You both have my eternal thanks. You are good people, better than I could ever hope to be. As God is my witness, I vow that from this day forward, I will be a righteous man, a man of integrity.” Then he let go of their hands.
Madlen choked back her tears and stood up. “I’ll go tell Elsbeth that you are doing well and are able to see again.”
“Can you ask her to come see me? There are many things that I must ask her forgiveness for.”
“I’ll tell her.”
The doctor stood up as well. “I wish you a good recovery. I believe that God took away your eyesight for a reason. And now he’s given it back to you. May God be with you.”
“And with you, Doctor. May God protect you.”
Madlen said farewell to the doctor and told Elsbeth the good news. Before they removed the bandages, Madlen had sent the children to the market with Helene, who promised to bring Veit and Cecilia to Agathe’s house afterward.
Madlen went into Peter’s study, plopped down on the comfortable chair behind his desk, and propped her legs up on a small stool. She was starting to doze off when Elsbeth came downstairs. Madlen sat up immediately. She could see that her mother-in-law had been crying. “Well?”
Elsbeth sank down on one of the visitor chairs, covered her face with her hands, and dissolved into tears. Madlen got up and walked around the desk. She set her hands on Elsbeth’s shoulders, then pulled her close. “Shh, shh, everything’s going to be all right,” Madlen whispered.
“I know,” Elsbeth finally said. Then she looked up at her daughter-in-law.
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s as though, after so many years, God gave me back the man to whom I gave my heart.” She laughed, cried, then laughed again. “It’s truly a miracle!”
Madlen pulled up the other visitor chair, sat down in front of Elsbeth, and took her hands. “The doctor said that God sometimes afflicts people so He can teach them something. Then He gives them their health back when they’ve learned the lesson. Do you think this might have happened to Peter?”
Elsbeth looked at Madlen thoughtfully. “Yes, I believe that’s what happened. Peter had lost his way, and our Lord, in all His wisdom and benevolence, took away his eyesight. And He was all the more benevolent to let him regain his vision.”
As Madlen started to respond, someone knocked on the front door. “I’ll get it.” She stood.
“I’ll come with you,” Elsbeth said. “I think we know who’s at the door.”
They went to the door, holding hands. Madlen opened it and Elsbeth stepped forward. “What can I do for you? Did you bring the information from the bishop that we requested?” Elsbeth asked.
The guard stared at her. “We have a message from the bishop stating that he wishes to speak to Johannes Goldmann’s wife.”
“And what would be the reason?”
“It’s confidential. We’re only supposed to say that he is with an envoy from Cologne who wishes to speak with the lawyer’s wife about a certain matter.”
“Johannes is back from Cologne?” Madlen said. “Is my husband with the bishop?”
“No, not your husband. Just an envoy.”
Madlen’s body temperature went from hot to ice-cold. Of course it wasn’t Johannes. He would have come to her first and taken care of business matters later. Even so, this didn’t explain what the bishop of Worms wanted with her. “Did something happen to my husband?”
“I do not know.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“I will, too,” Elsbeth said. “Wait a moment. I just need to inform my husband.”
“Good. But please hurry. The bishop is rather annoyed that we didn’t succeed in bringing you earlier.”
Elsbeth gathered up her skirts, then ran upstairs. A few minutes later she ran back down the stairs so quickly that Madlen was afraid she might fall. The women exchanged a look, then followed the guards.
Madlen stumbled more than she walked, her thoughts fixated on Johannes and his welfare. She kept telling herself that nothing had happened to him. But why would he have sent an envoy if he was coming back to Worms anyway? Or had someone else sent the envoy? As she contemplated the situation, the guards stopped. Madlen looked up and saw that they were already standing in front of the bishop’s estate. Two guards flanked the entrance.
“Please wait here.”
The women nodded mutely as the guard took his leave.
“The bishop will receive you now,” said the guard when he returned. “Follow me.”
Madlen and Elsbeth trailed after him. The building’s interior more than made up for what it lacked on the outside. It was glorious. Madlen looked around. The foyer was at least twice as big as the foyer of her house in Cologne. The walls were handsomely decorated, and small tables with silver candlesticks helped to light the room.
“This
way,” the guard said. He knocked once, then opened the door.
“There you are.” The bishop came out from behind a massive desk to greet the women. A man Madlen had never seen before sat in the visitor’s chair. He arose and stood there calmly.
“Please, take a seat,” the bishop said. “Because this is about business matters, I’ve chosen this room for our discussion.” He motioned toward the chairs. “Please sit down. I assume you know my guest?”
“No, unfortunately not,” Madlen answered.
“My name is Leopold Baumhauer. I’m in the service of the archbishop of Cologne. I bring a message from your husband,” the man said as he dropped to his knee.
“Is Johannes all right? Has something happened to him?”
“The last time I saw him he was doing quite well. On account of his duties, he’s currently not at liberty to leave Cologne to resolve the issues that await him here.”
The bishop walked behind his desk and took a seat. He waited until his visitors sat down, too, before speaking. “I do believe it would be best if you would more thoroughly explain to the attorney’s wife why we have summoned her here today.”
Leopold pulled out a rolled parchment. “This will undoubtedly explain a lot to you.”
“Can the reading of the scroll wait until after our discussion?” the bishop asked, a bit impatiently. “This affair has already taken up more time than necessary, so let us discuss only what concerns me.”
“Gladly,” Madlen agreed. “But it’s still not at all clear why my mother-in-law and I are here.”
“It is because she is Johannes Goldmann’s mother and you are his wife that we are gathered here,” Leopold said.
Madlen was as confused as ever.
The bishop waved his hand as if shooing away an annoying insect. “With all due respect, you can clear up that matter later. Briefly: we are here because our revered archbishop relayed a document through this envoy instructing me to pay off Peter Goldmann’s debts. The entirety of the funds will be reimbursed to me by the archbishop, plus some compensation for my efforts.”
Madlen and Elsbeth looked at each other, their mouths open in astonishment.
“You’re paying off my husband’s debts?” Elsbeth asked.
“So it seems. The archbishop had no idea what the exact sum would be, which is why he asked me to resolve the unfortunate matter in his stead. This will also help to restore your husband’s reputation. The document didn’t exactly say that part, but sometimes it’s best to read between the lines.” He raised his eyebrows. “Be that as it may, it’s the archbishop’s wish that I follow his instructions to the letter. First thing tomorrow I will announce that your husband’s creditors, upon presenting the relevant documents, will be paid back in full, at which time Peter Goldmann will be relieved from his debts and, I imagine, from the greatest of his worries.”
“What do we have to do in return?” Madlen asked suspiciously.
“In return? My good woman, I am only complying with the archbishop’s wishes. And the archbishop will be compensating me with a few coins for my help.”
“Ten percent of what you spend to repay these debts, to be exact,” Leopold confirmed. “Which is substantially more than a few coins.”
“Whether ten percent or just a piece of silver, it makes no difference to me. I am simply doing this to engender the goodwill of the archbishop.”
“Of course,” Leopold said. “And as he wrote, the archbishop owes you, shall we say, a personal favor, should you ever face difficulties while in office.”
“This is the way allies build their alliances,” the bishop said affably.
“Perhaps,” Leopold said, then turned to address Madlen. “It was important to your husband that this matter be agreed upon not only by the archbishop, the bishop, and myself. He wanted you to be made aware of it as well. That’s why I’ve insisted on your presence here today.”
“I understand. This is typical of how my husband would deal with such a matter.”
“Well, as far as I’m concerned, then, the matter is resolved.” The bishop rose. “If you would excuse me, my office brings with it many responsibilities.”
“Of course,” Leopold said, standing. Madlen and Elsbeth got up, too, not having fully processed all that had just taken place.
The three politely took their leave, then walked out together.
“You said your name is Leopold Baumhauer, correct?” Madlen asked.
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Lord Baumhauer, have you already found accommodations? You’re not riding back to Cologne today, are you?”
“No, certainly not. I’m planning to remain in Worms for quite a while.”
“Oh?”
“Indeed. This is the second part of the archbishop’s mission assigned to me.”
“And what is this mission?” Madlen asked.
“I’ve been authorized to revive the Goldmann family business, to help it to flourish once again,” he explained cheerfully. “Tomorrow or the next day, we’ll be bringing the necessary funds to the counting house in order to restock the warehouse.”
“But, but, we can’t just—” Elsbeth started to argue. Leopold raised his hand to silence her.
“My mission is clear. And I will fulfill it, come what may.”
“But my husband can do this now, since his cataract operation was a success. He can see again, and therefore he is quite capable of taking care of the business by himself!”
“That, my good woman, will not be possible.” He was friendly but firm. “The archbishop is paying off your debts, and it is with his money that I will purchase the merchandise to stock the warehouse. The business will be run in the Goldmann family name, but that is only a front. Whether you like it or not, henceforth the archbishop has the final say in your house and in your business until every last penny is paid back to him. I have been assigned to make this happen. So, be happy and let me do my job.”
Elsbeth and Madlen were speechless.
“So, would you be so kind as to show me the house where I will be living and working during this time? I’m practically dying of hunger.”
Elsbeth was the first to shake off her dismay. “Certainly,” she said. “Please, come this way.” She took Madlen’s arm and pulled her along. Peter had just regained his health, and Elsbeth couldn’t imagine how he would react to the news that they no longer had a say in their own house or business. In a split second, her recently acquired resolve had blown away like so much dust in the wind. The archbishop’s envoy looked quite satisfied as he walked next to her, whistling a little ditty. Elsbeth felt she was in an absurd dream from which she hoped to wake up.
Chapter Ten
“I’ve bidden you here today to fulfill an important mission for Friedrich, our archbishop.” Johannes stood before twelve guards seated at the long dining table. Johannes had found it necessary to receive them in his own home. First of all, to make clear that henceforth all reports were to be made directly to him. Secondly, he could offer them a sip or two of spiced wine, something he certainly couldn’t offer at the archbishop’s residence. He hoped his hospitality would inspire their loyalty. Friendliness combined with the right amount of discipline had always worked for him, and he hoped to continue to succeed with this approach. He held up a parchment.
“You will see in this document that the archbishop has transferred his full authority to me during his absence. Therefore, I stand before you as your direct employer.” Johannes handed the document to the first guard and instructed him to read it before passing it on to the next man, though he doubted that even half of those assembled were literate. “A copy of this same document can be found in the scribe’s office at the archbishop’s residence, in case anyone doubts its authenticity.”
The guards exchanged looks all around. They had no reason to distrust him, but Johannes waited until the document had made the rounds before continuing. “You are all good men! Of course, the archbishop holds this opinion as well. We have his
wholehearted trust. Therefore, I’m going to need every single one of you in order to help solve the two murders that occurred within the last few days.”
The men shifted nervously in their seats. “Are you certain the vicar was murdered?” the man who sat directly in front of Johannes asked. “I heard that it could have been his heart.”
“Your name is Anderlin, right?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Good. Please bear with me as I learn your names. Well, Anderlin, whoever told you that Bartholomäus died because of his heart was misinformed. He was poisoned, and his death was excruciating.” Johannes let his words sink in. “And two nights ago, the archbishop’s vassal, Bernhard von Harvehorst, was attacked, beaten, bound, then hanged from his neck.”
“Von Harvehorst is dead, too?” one of the guards asked.
“Yes. And what is your name?”
“Linhardt, my lord.”
“Yes, Linhardt, he is dead.”
“I’m Georg,” the man next to Linhardt said. “I heard about von Harvehorst’s death and that he’d hanged himself. And that it was probably because of his wife.”
“I heard that claim as well. But it is incorrect—the doctor and I saw the man ourselves. He did not hang himself.”
“Who do you think is responsible?” Linhardt asked.
“I have no idea. And that’s why I need all of you. It is the archbishop’s wish that these crimes be solved immediately. After Bartholomäus’s death, his servant, Christopeit, disappeared. Apparently he was escorted away by two men. I’ve already asked in various inns around town, and nobody seems to have seen Christopeit since then.”
“Do you suppose there is a link between the two deaths?” Georg asked.
“Yes. But then we can’t call them simply ‘deaths,’ can we? They were murders! Two cowardly, cold-blooded murders. It’s up to us, the men in this room, to bring the killer or killers to justice.” He let his gaze fall upon each man in turn. “I don’t know much yet, but the murders seem to have been an indirect attack on the archbishop. Somebody is trying to hurt him. Everyone here has thus far successfully protected Friedrich, and we must ensure that this murderer does not come near our employer. He who protects the welfare of the archbishop also protects the welfare of the entirety of Cologne.”
