‘Early,’ Mama said, not taking her scarf off. She leaned against the table’s edge and took in the small room. ‘A fine home your father has made here,’ she said. ‘Of course, I imagine you will be going to live with the Pasches before long.’
‘Hans has made an outbuilding for us. But his hope is to buy land of his own, once we are married.’
Mama nodded. ‘You must ensure you build a chimney.’
Thea was confused.
‘With a few loose bricks,’ Mama added. She lowered her voice. ‘You never know when you might need a hiding place.’
‘Frau Nussbaum . . .’ Thea pulled at the dry skin on her lip.
‘No, you do understand. I know you understand.’ Mama’s eyes were fixed on Thea. ‘When the pastor visits this morning, I am sure he will be pleased to see this fine home your father has built. To examine everything within it.’
‘The pastor has returned to Neu Klemzig.’
‘No. He hasn’t. Pastor Flügel will visit this morning.’ My mother tapped her fingers on the table. ‘And if you still do not understand, please relay my message to your mother. Although I believe you have received that inheritance.’
Thea blanched.
‘Your mother saved my life,’ Mama said quietly. ‘I believe she tried to save my daughter’s. Well . . .’ She paused by the door. ‘Have you finished the dress?’
‘Almost.’
Mama nodded, then let herself out into the cold air. The door closed behind her.
Pastor Flügel announced himself outside the Eichenwalds’ cottage at dawn, stepping inside before Anna Maria had time to welcome him in. Thea had not told her of my mother’s earlier visit, and so the Wend’s surprise at Flügel’s intrusion was genuine. And while she tried to hide it, I could see, too, real fear when the pastor told her he had come to search for a book that, by direction of the Lutheran Church, must be burned. Someone had been bewitching animals. Anna Maria sat at the table, trying to catch Thea’s eye as the pastor peered under beds, rapped his knuckles on the wall and opened her dough bin and earthenware vats of fermenting vegetables. Thea was a calm surface of innocence, standing patiently in the corner of the room with her hands folded in front of her apron. It wasn’t until the pastor had left, rumpled and annoyed, and Anna Maria had spun around to her daughter, face red, that Thea pointed to the dirt floor beneath her feet.
‘Fetch the spade,’ she said.
Anna Maria clapped her hands together and laughed. ‘How did you know to hide it? Clever girl.’
‘Johanne Nussbaum warned me.’
‘Johanne Nussbaum?’ Anna Maria raised her eyebrows. ‘When?’
‘She came this morning.’
‘She surprises me.’
Thea dropped her eyes to the earth floor. ‘I nearly threw it on the fire myself.’
‘Oh, Thea.’
‘I did. I nearly burned it.’
‘Why would you do such a thing?’
‘I’m sick of the suspicion, Mama. Why else do you think I’m marrying Hans? Why else am I attaching myself to the family of an elder?’
‘What?’
‘The Pasches are respectable. The Radtkes will be less inclined to level accusations at Hans Pasche’s mother-in-law.’
Anna Maria shook her head. ‘One day you’ll study that God-given book and you’ll find the wisdom you need in its pages. Those books are as holy as the five the pastor reads from in the Bible. I never told you to marry Hans.’
Thea lifted her hands in the air. ‘I just . . .’
‘What?’
‘I know. I know that if you hadn’t given it to me, Hanne would still be here.’
‘You don’t know that. Hanne was sick. “Hanne, Hanne.” Think of yourself! You – you would have died. You looked on the face of God in that ship.’
‘Did I?’ muttered Thea. ‘She has such curly hair.’
‘Do not blaspheme,’ Anna Maria snapped.
‘Do not take Hanne’s name in vain.’
‘Thea! What has happened to you? You were always such an open child, such a bright and curious girl, and now – now you do not honour me.’ Anna Maria stood from her chair. ‘Where is your light? That inner light of yours? You hardly speak to me. You hardly speak at all! And when you do . . .’
‘I’m not a child anymore, Mama. And you no longer know what is best for me.’
‘A mother always knows what is best for her child.’