The Silent Songbird (Hagenheim #7)(13)

The guards headed toward Westley’s men. “We are searching for two women. One of them is very tall and has red hair.”

Westley hurried forward, but before he could reach them, Roger spoke up.

“Is the woman mute?”

“No, she’s not mute.” The guard’s tone was sneering. He glanced around, then his gaze lingered on Eva and Mildred. Eva must have been squatting, because she appeared even shorter than Mildred and she kept her face toward the ground.

The guard stared at her a few moments, then said, “Move on, men.” He motioned forward with his arm, and the ten guards rode out the gate and away from the town.

Westley made his way to the two women. “Is everything all right?”

“Oh yes, very well,” Mildred said.

“Eva seems frightened. Does she know who those men are?”

“Oh, she was only startled. She thought they might have been sent by her master. She still has difficulty believing he is dead.” Mildred turned to Eva. “He is dead, Eva. We saw him with our own eyes. Dead and cold, and that is the end of his tyranny.”

“But did you not say it was her master’s wife who beat her and made her lose her voice?”

“Yes, well, they both beat her, and they are both dead now.”

Her manner made him wonder if she was lying. It seemed too great a coincidence that King Richard and Lord Shiveley were looking for two women, one of whom was tall with red hair.

Was Mildred lying about their masters being dead? The Peasants’ Uprising had ended three years before, but tensions existed between villeins and their lords ever since, and even between servants and their masters. But though he was suspicious of Mildred’s story, he hoped it was not Eva and Mildred the king was searching for.



Evangeline’s hands were still shaking as she and Muriel walked along the road with Westley and his men. Richard would have been smart enough to send guards who had seen her before and therefore could recognize her. If they had seen her face and her hair, they would have known it was her.

A chill passed over her shoulders and she shuddered. What could she have done if they had seized her, intending to take her back to Berkhamsted Castle? There was nothing she could have done. Even the tall, strong Westley could not have stopped them, and he would not have wanted to defy the king for a mute maiden he had just met.

Clouds overshadowed the road, but she hardly noticed until drops of rain began to fall. The group ran toward a thick stand of trees just off the road. Muriel took her arm and pulled her along.

As they all stood under the trees, which only provided minimal protection from the hard rain, Evangeline and Muriel huddled under the blanket she had just bought at the market.

“I’m going for some privacy,” Muriel whispered to her.

Evangeline watched to see which direction she took, then put the blanket over her head again.

She had felt so merry and so free just a few hours before. She had hardly stopped smiling as the warm sun shone on her face. A beautiful blue butterfly unlike anything she’d ever seen before had flitted in front of her, lighting on a flower, mesmerizing and lovely. Trees and grass and fresh air surrounded her and lifted her until she felt as light as one of those butterflies. No one was telling her what to do or think or whom to marry. Life had seemed so full of promise. She was in the company of men who treated her like an equal, one of whom was handsome and smiled more than anyone she had ever met. He made her heart swell when he looked at her. But now . . .

She should have known Richard would chase after her, that Lord Shiveley would not simply let her disappear and not search for her. Of course they would send men after her to bring her back and force her to marry Shiveley. Still, she had not expected them to catch up to her so soon.

Westley’s expression told her he did not believe Muriel’s blatant lies. But Evangeline’s ruse of pretending to be mute had actually worked, and he and his men had not turned them in to the king’s and Lord Shiveley’s guards. But was it only a matter of time before she was caught?

“Eva?”

She felt a slight touch to her shoulder and jerked the blanket off her face. Westley was standing beside her.

“Why were you so afraid of those men?”

His brows were drawn together, and his gaze delved into hers.

She simply shook her head.

“Is someone looking for you?”

Evangeline could no longer look him in the eye. She had to tell him the lie, or he might tell them they could not travel with him and his group. She did not know much about the world, but she did know that people did not take it lightly when a villein ran away from his or her lord. A villein would be severely punished for running away. So she shook her head no.

Someone cleared their throat behind Westley. He stepped aside, revealing Muriel standing there.

“Do you need something?” Muriel glowered at him.

“Only inquiring after Eva.”

Evangeline frowned at Muriel and gave a slight shake of her head. You’re not under the king’s protection anymore, Muriel. They had to pretend to be humble and respectful. After all, they were supposed to be poor servants.

Westley gave Evangeline a questioning but kind look, then he left.

Evangeline scowled at Muriel, who huddled with her under the blanket.

“I don’t want that man getting too close to you.”