Part 48 (1/2)
”I thank you, but now that I have the chance of transport I'll go home and fetch me some things to take with me.”
Francesca ran to meet Pieter, who was coming back to her. He had been told about Vrouw Vreeburg and forestalled what she was about to say.
”The woman is not an army wife.”
”No, but be fair, Pieter! She is the mother of one.”
He sighed deeply. ”Let's hire a porter for you at the hostelry and then you may bring a traveling chest from your home with all you'll need.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a slight smile. ”But don't bring an easel.”
”I daresay the castle's carpenter will make me one.”
When Francesca had finished packing she said farewell to Maria, who was still in bed, for the old woman rose later these days.
”G.o.d be with you, child,” Maria said fondly.
Hendrick, well aware that Francesca might be traveling into danger, wanted to say something to cheer her on the way. ”When all this is over I'll welcome Aletta back into the fold if she wants to come on a visit.”
”She has been hoping for that.”
”I never told you, but I was present when she was married.”
Francesca held his hand in both of hers. ”I know,” she admitted. ”One day when I was in that art supplier's shop I asked about the anonymous order that was sent to the de Veere house. The description of the customer could only have fitted you.”
He grinned broadly at her. ”You always were like your mother. I couldn't keep anything secret from her either.”
When Francesca arrived back at Dam Square, Vrouw Vreeburg was looking out for her. Pieter, now in the saddle, seeing the porter trundling a sizeable box as well as the chest, guessed that the former contained a roll of canvas and painting materials. These were loaded onto the coach and Francesca stepped in to sit beside her fellow pa.s.senger. The soldiers, refreshed by food and drink, stood ready. Pieter at their head gave the signal and the column moved forward. The march out of the city and on to Muiden had begun.
Francesca and Vrouw Vreeburg found much of interest to talk about. It was not idle chatter but sensible discussion, and each had respect for the other's intelligence. They had both brought food, Vrouw Vreeburg having replenished a basket at the hostelry and Francesca had been well supplied by Griet. When the woman dozed Francesca looked out at the countryside, which was parched from the dry summer, the gra.s.s unnaturally brown at the wayside. It was the hard earth that had enabled the French to move their artillery at such speed and the low water levels had aided crossings.
They had completed half of the journey when Pieter came galloping up to the coach, his face very serious.
”We've sighted the French. They're advancing on us. I'm telling the coachman to detach this equipage from the column and drive on to the castle with all possible speed. Give warning there! There may be enemy troops advancing to attack it other than these! Good luck!”
Francesca heard him shouting to the coachman and then she and Vrouw Vreeburg were almost thrown from their seats as the coach took a leap forward. The horses set up a pace that would have rivaled that of any stage wagon. Her last glimpse of Pieter was as he gave orders to the soldiers, who were running to take up their firing positions.
”Well,” Vrouw Vreeburg exclaimed, straightening her cap, ”it's a good thing we came. If we should overtake more French troops on the road we can ride past, whereas an army messenger would have been stopped.”
The remaining miles were covered without mishap. The round towers of the castle stood high against the sky as they entered the town of Muiden. The way people were standing in groups talking solemnly together in the streets showed that something was wrong.
”I hope the castle hasn't been taken already!” Francesca exclaimed anxiously.
”Pray G.o.d that isn't so!” Vrouw Vreeburg cried.
At Francesca's instructions, the coachman, who had been keeping a moderate pace since they had come through the gates of the town, hailed three bystanders.
”Is anything amiss?”
One man exchanged a quick glance with the other two before answering. ”That depends on your personal view, coachman. The fortress over at Naarden surrendered earlier to a troop of French cavalry and their commander has sent five of those marauding troopers here with a representative from Versailles to claim the castle of Muiden.”
”I consider that to be bad news.”
The man looked satisfied. ”Then I'll tell you more. They have warned that resistance is pointless and all they wish to do is to save bloodshed. The magistrates are about to make their way to the castle now with the representative to authorize the handing over of the keys to him.”
Francesca, who had heard everything, called quickly to the coachman. ”Whip up!”
He obeyed with the same speed as he had done when they had first set out on their own, leaving the three bystanders gaping after him. Vrouw Vreeburg was full of outrage against the French.
”What villains! And what fools, those magistrates! Whatever can they have been promised in personal gain?”
”Maybe they are just frightened men who genuinely want to save the lives of the townsfolk,” Francesca suggested.
”You're more charitable than I!” They had been rattling along the narrow streets when suddenly the coach began slowing down again. Vrouw Vreeburg fumed with impatience. ”What has happened now?”
Francesca looked out once more and saw that the coachman had found his way blocked by a wider and larger coach gleaming with giltwork, a man mounted beside it in escort.
”It's the magisterial coach that is holding us up!” she explained tensely. Then leaning out farther, she saw a group of the town dignitaries in their official robes come through the entrance door of a courthouse and begin to descend the flight of steps prior to entering the coach.
Urgently she instructed the coachman. ”As soon as we come to a side street, turn down it! Somehow we must get to the castle first!”
”Very good, mevrouw.”
Francesca was about to draw her head back into the coach when she saw the horseman in escort to the gilded coach half turn in the saddle to speak to someone. A great wave of shock and fear swept over her as she recognized him. All color drained from her face and she sank back onto the seat. Her companion peered at her in alarm.
”My dear young woman, don't pa.s.s out of your senses now!”
”That has never happened to me yet.” Francesca sat bolt upright to dismiss the suggestion. ”I was unprepared for recognizing the Versailles representative. He is a man called Ludolf van Deventer, a Dutch traitor whom I had hoped never to set eyes on again.”
”What misfortune!”
The coachman was finding his way through the narrow streets. Then at last the castle of Muiden came into full view on the far side of the river. Reddish in color, square in shape, it was surrounded by a wide moat with a drawbridge, which was down. Francesca called to the coachman that he should drive straight into the castle as soon as they reached it. Then she glanced back through the window and saw with alarm that the magisterial coach and its escort had already come into sight. Five French cavalrymen were riding in front of the gilded equipage with their officer at the head of the procession.
The Dutch sentries at the gatehouse to the single way across the river to the castle did not bother to examine Vrouw Vreeburg's paper of permission to visit, being used to the comings and goings of the wives and relatives of those in the garrison, and they merely waved the coach through. Their attention was fixed on the approaching procession and they were smartening themselves up for its arrival, a sure sign that they already knew that the castle was to be surrendered.
At Francesca's instruction the coachman whipped up the horses across the river and brought her and her companion into a wide courtyard that lay in front of the moated castle. To her disappointment he was unable to drive straight into it as she had planned. A guard of honor was lined up in front of the drawbridge, barring the way and keeping it clear for the awaited dignitaries. Instead he was directed by a sergeant to drive on to a far corner of the courtyard, where he and his pa.s.sengers would be out of the way. As he obeyed, Francesca and Vrouw Vreeburg had a pa.s.sing glimpse of several wives, one highly pregnant, standing within the castle's entrance to watch the proceedings, some in tears at what was shortly to take place.
”I saw my daughter!” Vrouw Vreeburg exclaimed with relief. ”But I wonder why my son-in-law was not with the guard of honor. After all, he is the commanding officer.”
The coach had stopped. Francesca sprang out at once and threw herself into a run back across the courtyard, calling out to the soldiers as soon as she was within earshot.
”Don't surrender! If you do the French will have full control of the sluices. Amsterdam is already in danger from the enemy! We need the sea to help in its defense!”
The sergeant in charge, a large man with a protruding beer belly, was glaring. He had enjoyed his easy posting at the castle and intended to retain it under the French. His commanding officer was not of a like mind, but he was presently confined to his bed in the castle with a severe fever and was unable to receive the magisterial party and the Versailles representative. The surrender would be conducted without interference and the sergeant had no intention of letting a slip of a girl stir up trouble now.
”What's all this?” he boomed, setting himself solidly in her path.
”Defend the castle! Draw your men back into it while there is still time and hold it at all costs against the French! Those are the Prince's orders!”
The sergeant's reply was sharp and to the point. ”Clear off! At once! Return to your coach and keep your mouth shut or leave! We have important duties here today.”
”Listen to me,” she implored desperately, clasping her hands in front of her in appeal. ”I was traveling with a contingent of our soldiers coming under my husband's command to defend the castle, but they were engaged by a French advance party. The castle of Muiden must not fall into enemy hands!”