“A ball? He’s been the margrave for almost a year now and he has never given a ball.”
“He’s giving one now. The chancellor advised him to do it, even though the margrave doesn’t dance because of his bad ankle. Nevertheless, he thinks it will be a good opportunity for him to meet all the more prominent people of Thornbeck.”
“Ah.” Who would that include?
“I was surprised I was invited, and of course, you and your uncle. The Burgomeister and his son will be there too.”
“Oh. It sounds like it could be . . . pleasant.”
“I hear it is to be a masquerade ball. That was also the chancellor’s idea.”
“A masquerade.” What would she go as? She had never been to a masquerade. “What will you be dressed as?”
“I suppose I cannot go as a forester.” He said it like a question.
Odette laughed. “You will find something, I am sure. When is the ball?”
“Not for a few weeks. The margrave is inviting some nobles from other regions and wants to give them enough time to travel here.”
“I shall look forward to dancing with you then.” Memories flooded her, of how much she had enjoyed dancing with him at the Midsummer festival, his hand around hers. A tiny shiver raced across her shoulders. “In the meantime, I will work on my costume.”
“What shall you be?”
Odette thought for a moment. “A swan.” She could start searching for feathers for her mask now. “A white swan. And now you shall know how to find me at the ball.”
He smiled at her. But there was sadness in his eyes. “My father liked swans. There used to be a pair of them that lived in the lake near Thornbeck Castle. He would take me to feed them bread crumbs.”
It was wrenching to see the smile change to anger. He stared down at the ground, his mouth twisting. She had never seen him angry before.
“I am very sorry.”
“I believe this new poacher is the same one who killed my father, and I will not let him get away unpunished.”
Her stomach twisted. What could she say without arousing suspicion? “It could not be the same person. That was years ago.”
“Only four years ago. That poacher shot at my father, then chased him and shot him through the heart. He showed no mercy. And then he disappeared—until now.”
Odette forced herself to breathe, forced her voice to stay steady. “Why do you think it is the same man?”
“The feathers on the arrows were the same.”
She thought for a moment. She had to be careful what she said. “But . . . were the feathers so unusual? Couldn’t more than one person have the same kind of feathers on their arrows?”
He opened his mouth, then closed it, as if considering how to answer her. “I suppose it might not be the same person. White feathers are common.”
“Of course! White feathers are very common, probably the most common.” Her voice was too loud. She had to calm herself. “Very common,” she said quietly.
“My father was a good man. If it is within my power, I will avenge him.” He said the words without looking at her. “He did not deserve to die that way.”
“Of course not.” If only she could comfort him, put her arms around him or touch his hand. Her heart thumped against her chest, both at the longing inside her, and at the guilty feeling of knowing his painful thoughts at the moment were caused, at least in part, by her. “I wish it had not happened. I am so sorry.”
After a few moments, he nodded, then cleared his throat.
“I want to thank you for giving me the idea of bringing the animals we snared to the children. It is a joy to know they will eat well tonight.” He was looking intently into her eyes. “The world needs more people like you, Odette.”
She smiled to lighten the mood. “And you, Jorgen Hartman.”
“I should get back to my job now.” He took another step toward the forest.
“Will you come next week?”
“I have to meet with the margrave on Wednesday, but I shall see you on Friday, perhaps.”
Odette only hoped he would not have found more evidence of her poaching by then.
Rutger and Odette sat alone at the table, eating the main dish of roasted pheasant and stewed fruit.
“How was your lesson today with the children?” he asked, just after she had put a bite of meat in her mouth. “Did you see the forester?”
She took a few moments to chew her food. She stared down at her plate and finally swallowed. “Ja, he was there.”