The Silent Songbird (Hagenheim #7)(11)

She looked as if she might open her mouth and speak to him at any moment, but then he would remember what her friend had said.

His heart clenched every time he thought about her being hurt so cruelly by her mistress. No one deserved that, and certainly not this gentle, sweet maiden with the loveliest green eyes he’d ever seen. When he’d seen her red hair, he wondered for a moment if she was the woman in the window of the castle, whose heavenly singing voice was burned into his mind. But she was mute, so she couldn’t be the same woman.

They walked along the road, picking up another small group of travelers who asked to accompany them. But he made sure to keep watch over Eva and Mildred.

Eva’s eyes were wide and alert as she seemed to take in everything with childlike wonder, while Mildred wore a constant frown and grumbled under her breath.

They were passing a fast-moving stream only a few feet from the road. The bank was steep, and they could hear the rushing of the water as they traversed along the top of the bank.

Mildred suddenly sputtered, “E-E-Eva! You are too close to the edge.”

Eva glanced back. Westley’s heart stopped for a moment at her look of delight. She took one small step back, but she kept staring down at the water as if she’d never seen a river before.

Mildred marched to her friend and grabbed her by the arm, then returned Eva to the road to walk with the group.

A few minutes later, Eva was standing in front of a bush, staring down at it. She turned her head and motioned frantically to Mildred, who hurried over.

“It’s only a butterfly,” Mildred said.

Eva continued to watch it until it flew away. Her gaze followed its fluttering until it floated too far off the road to see.

Mildred smiled apologetically. “She was not allowed out of the house very much by her master and mistress.”

Perhaps the abuse of her past had addled her mind. But then again, if she had never been able to see these things that he had seen so many times before, her behavior was reasonable.

When they stopped to rest and eat some food, he glanced at Mildred and Eva. They were sitting close together, but they were not eating. And the only reason they would not be eating was if they had no food.

He and his men had plenty of bread and hard-boiled eggs, some nuts and dried fruit, since they had stocked up before leaving the castle. So he went to the cart and retrieved a provision bag and brought it to them.

Mildred’s cheeks colored. “We can pay you for it.” She motioned to her young companion, who seemed to realize what she was saying and grabbed their bag, rummaging through it.

Westley shook his head. “I do not need to be paid. Here, take the food.”

“No, no, we wish to pay. At the next village we can buy food.”

Eva held out a handful of coins. Where did two peasant women get so much money?

Mildred grabbed her hand, closed Eva’s fingers into a fist, and gave her a scolding look. Then she discreetly took one of the coins and thrust it at Westley.

He took it, sensing her pride would be hurt if he did not. He only hoped no one from the small group that had joined them had seen how much money was in Eva’s hand. He did not want her to come to harm, especially while she was under his protection. Several ideas came to mind about where they might have gotten those coins, but none of them were lawful.

But he did not like thinking ill of them. Mildred was dressed quite well, so perhaps she had come about the money honestly. He did not want to judge them guilty, but at the same time, the situation was highly suspicious.

Soon they came to a market town, and his men wished to look over the goods being sold.

“We shall all meet again in one hour,” Westley told them, “back at the town gate.”

They agreed and went their way toward the marketplace. Not wishing to buy anything himself, Westley followed Mildred and Eva far enough behind that they might not notice him.

They went toward the booths selling clothing and shoes. Eva took out her small purse and bought a pair of sturdier shoes for Mildred, which she needed since they’d be walking for another day and a half. She also bought some more clothes. For herself, she bought a dress and a brightly colored scarf, which she wrapped around her neck instead of around her hair.

Westley couldn’t help noticing how often men turned their heads to stare at Eva. A bald, middle-aged man leered at her, showing a couple of missing teeth. He called out to her.

“Hey there, with the red hair!” He added a lewd comment, suggesting she go home with him.

His hands clenching into fists, Westley stepped toward the man.



Evangeline’s stomach twisted at the sickening words this stranger said about her. Muriel pushed Evangeline behind her and planted her feet wide as she faced the man.

Westley stepped in front of him. “You will not trouble this young maiden. She is with me and my men.”

The bald man eyed Westley, who was much taller and broader in the shoulders. He held up his hands. “No one is troubling her.”

Evangeline’s heart fluttered, a pleasant sensation at Westley’s willingness to come to her aid. Holding on to Muriel’s arm, she sighed.

Muriel narrowed her eyes at her. Doubtless she would have something to say about Evangeline sighing over the peasant Westley. But such a noble peasant.

The bald man pivoted and walked away, holding his shoulders back as though trying to add to his height.