Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund Read Free Book Online Page B

openhanded as he himself. But Luther could always count on Koppe for aid.
    “Very well,” said Koppe. “I was planning to sell my load tomorrow at market. But I’ll give it to you instead.”
    “We’re grateful for your generosity.”
    “Mind you, as long as I get a mug or two of Brother Gabriel’s Obstwasser.”
    Luther nodded at the stooped, frail form of Brother Gabriel in the gloom of the hallway as silent and unobtrusive as always. “Obstwasser we have.”
    As Koppe gave instructions for his men to unload the wagons, Luther took a deep breath and turned to face the nuns. In the years since he’d taken his vows, he’d had almost no contact with women and even fewer occasions to converse with them. He’d never been good at talking with the fairer sex. In fact, he had memories of making a donkey of himself, especially during his law school days. But the compassion that swelled again prodded him to issue some words of comfort.
    “My sisters in Christ,” he began, “welcome to Wittenberg and to your freedom.”
    A few heads lifted with slight traces of smiles. Although the petite nun with the blue eyes remained serious, she boldly met his gaze again from where she was settling the lay sister on a bench.
    “It took great courage to break free of the chains that have held you in bondage,” he said. “And although you’re safe for the present behind the walls of the Black Cloister, I don’t know what will happen once word of your presence here spreads.” They were all in grave danger and would likely face excommunication and persecution. But he wouldn’t scare them with that news yet.
    “Dear sisters, I promise to do my best to help each of you. If your families are unable or unwilling to receive you back, then I’ll attempt to find you suitable husbands or homes of employ.”
    More of them smiled.
    Some of the tension eased from his shoulders. Maybe he wasn’t so bad at relating to women after all. There was no sense in frightening them with the facts that most of the former monks had already married and that very few noblemen would marry them without a dowry.
    “In the meantime you’ll stay here. And while we have meager supplies, whatever we have is yours.”
    “Forgive me, Doctor Luther.” The blue-eyed nun stepped forward. The light from the wall sconce illuminated a purplish-green bruise coloring one of her cheeks. In spite of the mar, she had a pretty, heart-shaped face with high cheekbones and an elegant nose. “I cannot help but question the wisdom of housing a group of nuns in a place belonging to men. Would it not be scandalous, even sinful?”
    Wolfgang cleared his throat as though to agree.
    The nun’s gaze was unrelenting and made Luther squirm like a schoolboy. At least he wanted to convince himself that it was her intensity and not her loveliness that made him squirm.
    “I’m the only one left here at the monastery, along with old Brother Gabriel and my manservant, Wolfgang.” He nodded first at the wrinkled old monk and then at his dark-haired manservant, who hovered nearby with the ferocity of a mother bear. “We’ll sleep in the loft in the barn while you’re here.”
    She nodded. “Very well.”
    Just “very well”? No “thank you”? Perhaps he should have told her that she and her friends could sleep in the barn. He swallowed the words.
    “Since you’re willing to share whatever you have,” she continued, “then I must ask for a few specific medicinal herbs.”
    Her tone pricked him.
    “I must have comfrey—a fresh cutting if possible. And also herb Robert—the whole plant minus the root. And if not the whole plant, then I would have dried yarrow instead.”
    Luther stared at her. Even if her lips had a pleasant curve, the set of her mouth and chin had the bearing of aristocracy.
    “Further, I shall need a small amount of honey and chamomile.”
    Did she think that she was better than he was, that she could come into his home and order him around? He