Letters in the Grove Read online

  Her stomach growled and she worked to ignore it. Their supplies had been left behind in the cabin. The fish was probably still sitting on the spit, now dark as coal.

  Victor was the only one not to lie down. He resided by the dying embers of the fire and watched her. Light caught his dark eyes and Teresa gulped and shifted her gaze.

  Unless God sent them a miracle, sleep was her only hope for release from her current nightmare.

  Chapter Twenty

  Gustav woke to a black sky. The earth beneath him was graced with more than its fair share of roots and rocks. Soft snores were emitted around him. Afraid to move, Gustav adjusted his gaze, but there was very little he could see. Without turning his neck, he was at a loss.

  Legs swathed in a ruined gown lay next to him. The familiar fabric assured him Teresa was with him. Horses neighing in the area told him they were not alone.

  What had happened? The last thing he remembered was staring at his wife as she bathed and then a searing pain to the back of his skull.

  “Don’t move,” whispered Teresa.

  “How did you—“

  “I could sense the change in your breathing. Just be still and listen. Victor Wulf and a group of men have taken us hostage.”

  “What is our situation?”

  A soft chuckle rent the air. “Our situation is grim.”

  This was not the news he’d hoped for, but it was no less than he’d expected. Unable to move, his body grew stiff. As the night hours rolled on, Gustav tired of his position and decided to risk awareness of his alert state.

  “I see you are awake, Herr Braun.”

  Gustav was surprised when Victor Wulf appeared nearby.

  “Do not look so shocked. Your wife and I have become well acquainted in your absence.”

  Gustav drew his brows together. Angrily, he clenched his fists at his sides.

  “I see you were unaware of our relationship. No matter. In time all will be revealed. Not only to you, but to my friends as well.” Victor sauntered back to the fire, his maniacal laughter echoing behind him.

  Teresa tensed. Struggling to a sitting position, he folded her into a secure embrace, his arms throbbing from the effort. With his lips to her ear, he whispered, “Don’t worry, mein engel, I will protect you.”

  She relaxed against him. Her lashes fluttered closed against her cheek. The reminder of the night, Gustav stroked hair away from her face. His gaze never left that of Victor’s and Victor’s never strayed from him. It was a competition he was determined to win.

  First light had the entire crew on their feet, packing their gear and mounting their horses. The men sucked on dried meat as they rode. One man came over and offered Teresa a piece. She took it and handed it to him. “You need to keep up your strength.”

  Instead of protesting, he broke the meat in half and handed her back a piece. She accepted the offer.

  Today Teresa sat in front of him. He smelled the rose scent of her hair and his heart rate accelerated.

  “How do you think they found us?” she whispered without facing him.

  “They must have known our end destination.”

  “Hmm, perhaps you are right. There would be no way for them to have gotten their horses along the path we took to the cabin.”

  “Aye, I agree.”

  “What are we going to do? They have us surrounded. We are both weak from hunger and lack of sleep. I see no way out.”

  “I guess we will just have to follow along until they tell us what they want.”

  Teresa stiffened. “I won’t go back to the dungeon.”

  “Perhaps that won’t be necessary.”

  “Aye, it will, for I won’t give them the answers they seek.”

  Gustav was at a loss for words. What could Teresa mean? What had his wife done in his absence? In light of recent events he didn’t know if he could wait to reach France to find out.

  For days they traveled. His head throbbed and he wished for a place to rest. Eventually they reached the first road they’d taken when leaving Germany. Returning to Augsburg was bittersweet.

  The route led them directly to Herr Raeder’s home and Gustav tensed with worry.

  “Gustav, I’m sorry,” Teresa said as they were pulled off the horse and separated.

  Swinging his fists, Gustav fought to reach her, but it was no use. There were too many of them.

  They dragged her around the back of the house while he was held with his hands pinned to his sides and waiting at the front.

  “Good evening, Herr Braun. So nice of you to return for another visit.”

  “Herr Raeder,” he pronounced between his gritted teeth. “Forgive me for coming to your home under such circumstances. I wasn’t prepared for a visit.”

  Rudolf’s brow rose, and his lips twitched into a grin as he clapped his hands. “Guards, escort Herr Braun to my private chamber. I will deal with him there. And what of Frau Braun, was she located as well?”

  “Aye. Herr Wulf has returned her to the dungeon.”

  Gustav fell to his knees, his head hung in anguish.

  “Do not concern yourself for your wife’s situation. When I tell you of her transgressions during your absence I’m sure you will agree the dungeon is the best place for her.”

  Hauled to his feet, Gustav allowed them to drag him inside. Marble floors gleamed as sunlight shot through high-arching windows. Helga waited off to the side and shuffled behind the group. He continued to gaze at her. Something about her seemed strange, she seemed so familiar.

  Escorted by force to Rudolf’s solar, Gustav refused the offer of a comfortable chair and remained standing, his arms burned from being tied behind his back.

  “Very well, you may stand if that is your wish.” Rudolf settled in a large wooden chair outfitted with padding befitting a king. He tapped his finger to his chin. “We might as well get on with it. I know you have been gone from Augsburg for two long years. And I’m sure you are aware that during that time changes have occurred.”

  The ropes chafed, but he refused to fidget as he said, “Changes are always being made in Germany.”

  “True. But these changes are not what the majority wants.”

  “Is that so?” Gustav cocked a brow.

  “Aye, it is. My finger is on the pulse of our society, as is that of the prince-bishop, and we know even though the people believe we have agreed to peace in Germany, the best thing for us is to choose to be Catholics. Without the support of the Holy Roman Empire where would we be? Why, we would be nothing! Therefore all this nonsense over Protestant reform and common men reading the Bible in their own tongue needs to cease.” Rudolf shifted slightly in his chair, placing his elbows on the desk and steepling his fingers. “Now that we have given Lutherans the right to congregate in certain parts of Germany, other sects feel they can do the same. Those fool Calvinists and Anabaptists are standing in line to have their name added to the list. As if any Prince of Germany would go such a route.” He shook his head and stroked an ornamental letter opener. The tip of his finger grazed the blade and a dollop of blood appeared. He wiped it away with a cloth. “The point of this is that your wife has been involved in helping these less-than-acceptable movements gain footing.”

  Gustav’s eyes remained riveted to the red stain on the white linen rag even as his jaw dropped. How could Teresa be involved in an underground religious movement? Would he not have known this? Would there not have been some evidence?

  “I see you are shocked, as were we. Of course we thought that Frau Braun was as staunchly Catholic as the rest of us. Rest assured, if the prince-bishop had to choose, Lutherans would not be allowed to practice in our fair city. As we work toward such a goal we can’t have our citizens making our work harder.”

  Gustav moved his jaw and forced a bored expression. “What has Teresa done?”

  “Quite simply she belongs to an organization that has been spreading secrets of our activities throughout the city.”

  He drew his brows together. �
��I don’t understand.”

  “This information could be detrimental to our ultimate goal of peace under the Holy Roman Empire, which of course is all we seek.”

  “How so?” Gustav wriggled his wrists and tired to loosen his bonds.

  “The parchments that have been located so far are written in a code that we have been unable to break.”

  Gustav stopped, “What you are saying is you don’t know what the missives say about you, if they say anything at all.”

  Rudolf scooted the chair back and clasped his hands together in his lap. “Precisely. We need your wife to give us the code so that we can decide our next course of action.”

  “Did you ask her?”

  Rudolf threw his hands into the air. “Of course! Why do you think she was in the dungeon the first time?”

  “I’m taking it that she refused to comply with your suggestions.” Gustav surveyed the room with a critical eye. If he could get loose could he overpower Rudolf and escape? And then what? How would he get to Teresa?

  “Most vehemently. But no matter, we will break her. Victor is good at what he does. He will make sure she gives us everything we want.”

  Cold chills ran along Gustav’s spine. What could he say to help his wife? He stopped working at his bonds. “Perhaps you should try a different tactic. The one you are currently using doesn’t seem to be working.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “Let me speak with her.”

  Rudolf’s head slapped the back of the chair in laughter. “Why do you think she would give over her cause for a man who left her to languish in poverty for two years?”

  He sucked in a breath. “How did you know that?”

  “I have my sources. But even with that, you may be right. I am a fair man so I will allow you to visit your wife in the dungeon for one full day, at the end of which time you will be removed. If she doesn’t comply then Victor will be allowed to apply his methods and you will be released.”

  Gustav nodded agreement, praying he would find a solution before it was too late.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Incredible! How could it even be possible?” Teresa beat her head against the wall. Pain raced across her forehead and she stifled a moan. How could she already be redelivered to her former prison?

  She swiveled at the footfalls on the stairs. Gustav came into view and her heart increased in tempo.

  The cell’s door creaked open and he stood before her. A thin streak of dried blood clung to his hairline and Teresa wished for a wet cloth to wipe it away.

  The door shut with a resounding thud and Gustav jerked. She raced to him, ripped a portion of her gown and applied it to his face. He grabbed her hand and drew it to his lips. “Teresa, are you well?”

  A tear slipped from her eye and she nodded.

  He massaged her knuckles. Her eyes glazed over with unshed tears. He squeezed her hands. “I will protect you.”

  She stiffened and threw her head back. “Do not worry for me. I have been in hopeless situations before. I am not afraid.”

  Gustav sucked in air and tried to lead her to the makeshift bed. “We need to talk.”

  His changing demeanor worried her and she backed away. Her palms grew damp with sweat. “What have they done to you?”

  He clasped his hands before him. “You said before there were things you’d done that I knew nothing about. Things you would tell me about later. Well now is later. I need to know what has transpired in my absence.”

  “Gustav, I—“

  “Teresa, no more excuses. You must tell me. Your life depends on it.”

  A shiver raced along her. What was he searching for?

  “Engel, I know how you feel. But to do this will not betray your cause.”

  “What?” Her breath caught in her throat.

  “Teresa, you must tell me what you know. I have one day to convince you. If you refuse, they will find other means to extract the information.” He settled on the bunk and studied his hands. “I would say not to worry that Max would rescue us, but I’m afraid that is impossible. They left the day we did and they have no idea we are in danger.” He paused. “We are on our own.” His gaze shifted, his eyes implored her. “We have no choice but to cooperate.”

  Teresa sat beside him, her legs swinging underneath the bunk. “I love you, Gustav, but even you cannot make me tell.”

  He stood and stalked to the opposite wall. His fist connected with the stone and she cringed. Coming to kneel before her, his knuckles cracked and bleeding, he clasped her hands tightly and studied her face. “You will tell me what you have done. Then I will decide the parts we will tell Herr Raeder. You must trust me in this.”

  The consequences of refusal would affect more than just her. But what could she say? Should she say that for the first year of his travels she spent the time in the company of her unwed friends? That they carted her all over Augsburg as if she were a special toy? That after she revealed his work in the Huguenot movement that she was shunned by their peers? That his lack of funds forced her to find employment? That she had couriered letters and secreted them along with their love letters? That she had become a mastermind in the religious movement of Augsburg?

  “Teresa, stop this internal debate. We don’t have the time. Tell me about your life for the past two years.”

  ****

  His hand throbbed from striking the rock wall. It was not his finest moment, to be sure. Why couldn’t he make Teresa understand the precariousness of their situation? Was she so stubborn she would give up her own life to protect what she knew? Was he not exactly the same?

  Before Teresa spoke she moseyed to the door and glanced through the bars. Satisfied they were alone, she returned to her former position on the bunk. Gustav listened as Teresa sighed, her shoulders slumping.

  “When you first left I was afraid for you, but that changed. Your frequent letters of encouragement helped immensely, and before long I was just thrilled to be your wife.” Her lips twitched into a semblance of a smile which was quickly followed by a grimace. “Then the letters slowed. And my funds dwindled. I let the servants go first. Then I started selling what I could.” She placed a strand of hair behind her ear. “At first it wasn’t easy, but I managed. I took in laundry from the neighbors, anything to keep me in our home. My friends, who at first sought me out, stopped visiting after I revealed your work in the French Huguenot movement.” She gnawed her lip and blew out a puff of air.

  Butterflies danced in his stomach. Why had he not found a way to send more funds? Why had he stayed away so long?

  She continued, “On days I didn’t have work I would help at the children’s home. The woman there was very grateful and shared information about the children as well as food from her larder. I became quite intimate with the caregivers and the children’s parents.

  “Other than those things, my life has been fairly dull.” She shuffled her feet along the uneven pavers.

  She was hiding something. Gustav rose and paced. “I don’t understand. Herr Raeder says you have been working for the Protestant movement. That you have been sending coded messages through the grove.”

  Teresa jumped to her feet and clenched her jaw. “I do not have to suffer through these accusations. The letters I sent through the grove were for you.”

  He swallowed. Could he hope they had her confused with someone else? “Do you think they watched you delivering letters to me and became convinced you were delivering notes to someone else?”

  She shrugged and gazed at the ground. “I don’t know. Your guess is as good as mine.”

  Gustav sighed. His original assumption was correct, she didn’t trust him and she was lying to him. Lying to her husband. He returned to the bunk and leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes. Religious freedom was the ultimate goal of all involved, not domination. Unfortunately, some sides didn’t see it that way. Herr Raeder had his goal of pushing Catholicism while nobles pushed their own goals. Somehow his wife had been cau
ght in the middle of the mess, but she didn’t even want to admit her role to him. How was he going to protect her if he didn’t know the truth? Was there a way to convince Herr Raeder that he had the wrong person? That the letters Teresa left in the grove were all dedicated to Gustav, whether they truly were or not?

  A cool hand caressed his forehead. “Do not be angry with me.”

  He opened his eyes and stared at her expressive face. He swallowed. If she lied again, what would that do to their relationship? He prayed for understanding as he asked, “Did you ever suspect any other notes were passed in the grove along with yours?”

  Teresa stopped rubbing his shoulder and glanced away.

  Gustav pinched the bridge of his nose. “Teresa, is it possible the Protestants within Augsburg are working to help those in surrounding areas to grow? Perhaps making their own princes choose a different route? Perhaps passing notes you don’t know about?”

  Teresa’s hands flittered about her face, showcasing her heightened nerves. “I guess anything is possible, but that is more your realm than mine.”

  “If this is all a misunderstanding, then why must you be silent? Just tell Herr Raeder what you told me. Tell him that he is wrong, that you had nothing to do with passing letters of ill intent.”

  Quietly, she said, “I did tell him.”

  Teresa shied away, and a pit grew in the bottom of his stomach. He clasped her hands. “Is there more you’re not telling me?”

  “Nay.” Teresa studied the floor.

  “Teresa, if you know more you should tell me. It is the only way I can help you.”

  “I already told you. I don’t have what Herr Raeder is looking for.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  He was known as Berend because once in his lifetime he’d had the unfortunate opportunity to meet a bear. The creature had struck him and placed a mark across his cheek. Since that time, Berend, or brave as a bear, had become his name. No one knew him as anything else.