Chapter 16

"I can imagine, that she is at Lola's place perhaps." Mary said as she and Bash made a break from riding, to discuss their next steps. They were located not far from the nearest village.

Bash nodded. "They have always been very close. And I can well imagine that she turns to a friend in need."

"Or Greer." mused Mary. "But I doubt that she would go to a brothel. Daniel is with her." She rolled her eyes. "Maybe they had spent the night in one of the guest houses."

"She could have written at least where she's going." Bash sighed. He took the reins and swung himself back in the saddle. "She should know that we are concerned about her and Daniel."

Mary nodded. "And the nanny too. If you ask me, she acted on impulse. Whatever the reason had been for her sudden departure, I don't believe that it was a life-and-death issue. Kenna has always been inclined to exaggerations."

"Let's continue riding. I will find them until midnight." Bash urged.

Mary nodded and mounted. "Then to the next tavern. We can eat there and continue riding to Lola then. She lives only two villages from here." She pushed the horse to move forward.

When they approached the only tavern in the village, they immediately noticed how deserted it was.

Bash forced his horse to slow down and looked worriedly around. "Like a ghost town..." he muttered and looked for Mary, who was slowly following him.

"Kinda creepy." She pointed to the tavern, its door was boarded up. "I visited just a few weeks ago." She cleared her throat nervously. "What happened here?"

"I have a very bad feeling about this." Bash stopped his horse and dismounted. "Maybe we should knock on the doors and ask the villagers."

Mary looked around. "All the doors of the houses are boarded up." she noted. "The whole village is completely deserted." An awful thought struck her and she stared at Bash with fearful eyes. "The last time I saw something like that was four years ago, when the plague spread in France."

Bash looked at her concerned. „I hope you're wrong. But let's continue riding. If we hurry, we will be in the next village in a couple of hours. Perhaps Lola can bring light into the mystery."

Mary nodded. "I hope that I'm wrong just as you". she mumbled while she urged her horse to run on.

Although, the chamber in the brothel was a little too tacky for Kenna's taste, she appreciated that it was neat and not too small. Of course, these rooms were established for the girls who worked in the brothel, so the equipment was accordingly furnished. But Kenna was relieved to see that she even had her own dressing table and washing bowl. She had to share the chamber with Daniel. But that was no problem, since he preferred to sleep in her bed anyway. Bernadette had gotten her own chamber, what had lifted her mood slightly. However, she was still burdened with prejudice and refused to go in close vicinity to the whores.

Sighing, Kenna opened her bag and took out a hair brush that she put on the dressing table. She hadn't taken much with her, as she fled from the Castle. She had to ask Greer to give her some makeup that she could make herself nice. A look in the mirror showed her that she looked really drawn after the long journey. She longed for a bath too because she hadn't changed her clothes in two days. She grabbed the hairbrush and wanted to brush her long brown hair when the door opened and an agitated Bernadette rushed into her chamber.

"I can't stay here longer than a minute!" she exclaimed enraged. "Can you imagine, Milady? I was standing in front of the mirror, almost naked, when the door suddenly opened and a man entered!" She sighed theatrically. "I reached for a blanket, but I'm not sure it was enough to cover me completely."

"Did he touch you?" Kenna asked frowning.

"No, I screamed and he ran away."

Kenna exhaled relieved. "Then everything is all right."

"Nothing is all right! What happens when he comes back?" Bernadette brushed back her long blonde hair. „I couldn't bear that!"

"I think your screech scared him off forever." Kenna groaned slightly. She was tired and had no desire to deal with Bernadette's moral principles. "Go back to your room!" she said quietly. "I'll speak to Greer that this won't happen again."

Bernadette shook her head defiantly. "No, Milady! That's not enough. I want to go back to the Castle, now! And if the carriage won't bring me back, I'll walk!"

"Bernadette, be reasonable!" Kenna begged.

"I'm going! With or without you." The young nanny looked around. "Where's Daniel?"

Kenna pointed outside. "Greer took him to the kitchen. She was offering him a meal."

"You trust her with him?" Bernadette looked at her shocked. "He could be spoiled forever!"

"That's enough!" Kenna lost her patience. "Greer is an old friend. She would do nothing that harms my boy."

"As you say..." Bernadette pressed her lips angrily together. "You stay here, but I'm going!"

She opened the door and went decisively to the entrance. But she came not far because one of the whores blocked her way. Her face was pale and full of concern.

"Stop! No one is allowed to leave the brothel. It was just publicly announced that the plague has broken out again..."